Watching the very good adaptation of Joe Lansdale's Cold in July the other night reminded me that I always meant to get stuck in to a second Hap & Leonard story after only finding the first one so-so, I;m very happy to say that Lansdale really stepped it up a gear second time out to bat with Mucho Mojo. Man I love me a mixed sporting metaphor.

Hap and Leonard, a black guy and a white guy, a gay guy and a straight guy, two assholes who don't necessarily have a heart of gold or agree with each other on just about anything but are willing to do put their lives on the line to track down the man who has been killing unloved black children and getting away with it for the past ten years.

Somehow Lansdale has managed to blend truly dark subject matter with humourous dialogue without making light of the scenario, he has created two characters who love each other and love to irritate each other, creating a dynamic that is irresistible to even the most experienced of noir readers. Not only do they jive talk whilst solving a mystery they enter in to heated sociological debates and observe the life of their town, it's stuff like that that lifts this series to the next level in noir circles, moves it beyond mere thriller or mystery territory. Hap and Leonard are living breathing characters and they won't hesitate to let you know about it.

To anyone paying attention, how important is it to read this series in order? I have book 5 on my shelf but no sign of 3 or 4 just yet.