The Devil's Bag Man

Jess Galvan #2

by Adam Mansbach

In this chilling sequel to The Dead Run, New York Times bestselling author Adam Mansbach mixes horror, the supernatural and gritty suspense to deliver a high-octane, high-concept adventure filled with nasty bad guys, fearsome magic, and an unlikely hero caught in the dangerous terrain of the Tex-Mex borderland

Locked in a Mexican jail for a crime he didn’t commit, Jess Galvan made a devil’s bargain to escape and make it back home. Now, he’s trapped in his own personal hell, his mind and body inhabited by the soul of Cucuy, a fearsome, five-hundred-year-old Aztec priest and major crime kingpin determined to bring about hell on earth. Estranged from his daughter, Sherry, and now his own body, Galvan’s every moment is a battle to keep the evil priest at bay. But there is a silver lining—his presence has endowed Galvan with superhuman strength and endurance.

Meanwhile, in the bowels of Ojos Negros prison, Cucuy’s second-in-command, Domingo Valentine, is trying to run the empire Cucuy left behind when he vanished, but the drug cartels they once controlled are at war with one another. Desperate for answers, Valentine springs the imprisoned leader of a deadly biker gang and now they’re on the hunt for Galvan—who must find a way to exorcise his inner demon and save the world from annihilation.

Genres: Horror, Fantasy, Paranormal, Fiction, Supernatural

416 pages, Hardcover

First published July 21, 2015

About the author

Adam Mansbach is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Go the Fuck to Sleep, as well as the novels Rage is Back, The End of the Jews (winner of the California Book Award), and Angry Black White Boy, and the memoir-in-verse I Had a Brother Once. With Dave Barry and Alan Zweibel, he co-authored For This We Left Egypt, a finalist for the Thurber Award for American Humor, and the bestselling A Field Guide to the Jewish People. Mansbach's debut screenplay, for the Netflix Original BARRY, was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award and an NAACP Image Award, and he is a two-time recipient of the Reed Award and the American Association of Political Consultants' Gold Pollie Award, for his 2012 Obama/Biden campaign video "Wake The Fuck Up" and his 2020 Biden/Harris campaign ad "Same Old," both starring Samuel L. Jackson. Mansbach's work has appeared in The New Yorker, New York Times Book Review, Esquire, The Believer, The Guardian, and on National Public Radio's All Things Considered, The Moth Storytelling Hour, and This American Life. His next novel, The Golem of Brooklyn, will be published by One World in September.

Reviews

[Bandit]

Because so few commercial hits in genre fiction remain as stand alones, because Dead Run was a lot of fun and because you just knew its macho hero will be back...behold the sequel. There is a lot of good things to say about it, mainly it's at least as good as the original. There is more of the same ingredients that made part one such a potent brew, mainly nonstop action. There is a lot more about the Aztec mythology, which is the backbone of the story and a fascinating one at that. This time around the book finds the characters trying to adjust into a semblance of normal life after the devastating events on the first book, only to find that the violent world of ancient deities isn't done with them after all. And then it's off to Mexico for a series of particularly brutal Mexican standoffs and, as they are known in Mexico, standoffs. Mansbach's literally credentials really shine though, constantly an consistently elevating the story above the whambam B action flick's equivalent it might have been in less able hands. The pacing is great too, the novel really speeds by. The main detractor here might have been the exceedingly protracted (basically the entire last third of the book) last act that tended to devolve into a sort of trippy, metaphysical acid trip. And yet the ending itself was quite satisfying and apt, although how final it really is only time (and presumably sales) will tell. To be honest I didn't remember the original very well, but Mansbach does a good job of bringing the reader up to speed throughout the book until it starts ringing some bells, so it can probably be read as a stand alone, but I'd recommend the correct order. Highly entertaining and a very fun ride. Recommended.

[Jim Stennett]

If you haven’t read The Dead Run, you need to before attempting this one. I’m guessing there will eventually be a third entry in the series from the way this one ends. As far out as the first one is, this one takes it that much further. Recommended if you liked TDR, but unlike TDR, it takes about a third of the way into Bag Man before things really heat up.

[Anthonia]

Talk about a thrill ride from the beginning to the end. I enjoyed reading this book. Mostly, non-stop action in this book that i really enjoyed reading. A very well-written paranormal thriller. A must read.

[Yeva]

Even though I loved the first book, I felt ambivalent about this one. It lacked the surprise factor of the first book, but it did have some truly cool scenes. Is there a follow up to this one? The end sucks, though.

[Tysha]

I am so impressed with this sequel. I didn't want the ride to end. The d and depth of each character is phenomenal. Throughout this book and the first one, The Dead Run, you truly get a sense of who each character is. And there are many characters that you will get to know. The story takes you on a ride with action, suspense, and the supernatural. If you are sensitive to profanity, this book is probably not for you because there is a lot of it. But it's not forced and unnecessary at all. I highly recommend this book, especially after you've read The Dead Run.

[Paul]

Phantasmagoric southwestern noir seems to come with all the goods but fails to deliver. You've got ancient Aztec gods, drug dealers, gangbangers on one side, a superhuman god-possessed ex-con, his estranged daughter and a well meaning sherriff the other. The only thing at stake is the literal state of the world.

Yet thin characterizations, disappearing subplots and what the fuck moments that are disconnected from the story itself dooms this one.

Mansbach as written much better books than this one.

[Jean-Michel Desire]

Different, gory, with its won charm, however, not truly along my favorites genre, even if it involved the older civilizations which happen to be a favorite topic of mine. Think of it as zombies of a different realm and with a different agenda. On the positive side, it is well written and has its entertaining chapters. Be aware before venturing into this paranormal adventure.

[Rhi]

1.5 stars

[Bob]

Trippppppyyyyyyy. But very well written.

[Etienne]

Cheap pop litterature, not worth reading!

[Jaye]

I saw this one before I finished the first book. It picks up a few weeks after the events of The Dead Run. Jess Galvan is trapped in his own body and mind, which have been hijacked by the Aztec priest Cucuy. He's trying to stay apart from his friends and family, but Cucuy's minions drag them all together again. This book retains the frenetic pace of the first episode, and leaves hints that a third book might not be unlikely. More please!

[Kori]

To be fair, this isn't a genre I usually read (supernatural horror/thriller). I am a fan of Adam Mansbach's children's parodies, so I decided to give this a try. Unfortunately, it couldn't keep my attention, no matter how often I tried.

*Received an advanced copy through Goodreads First Reads*

[Eric Loflin]

A good sequel to "Dead Run". It picks right up about 3 weeks after the first book. The story did kind of wonder off and get sidetracked a few times, but all in all, it was a very solid read. The ending was a little abrupt. Not really sure if it was setting up for a 3rd book or not.

[Carol]

INTERESTING STORY OF GOOD AND EVIL. A MUST READ. A GOD FROM LONG AGO, TAKES POSSESION OF A LIVING HUMAN. GOOD STORY..

[Troy Burkes]

One of the greatest book's I've ever read. Want to know what it feels like to be a god? Read this book!

[John]

Interesting but need to read previous book to make much sense of it at the beginning.

[PaulH]

I really disliked this novel. The story line was very confusing throughout, and there was zero character development. I was never felt involved, and towards the end of the book I was skipping pages out of boredom. I didn't want to impose this book on any other person, so I tossed it in the recycling bin. Hopefully it is made into something more valuable to society, such as an egg carton.

[Tierartz]

enojyed it. I'll look for more of his