Veil's Visit: A Taste of Hap and Leonard

Hap and Leonard #6.5

by Joe R. Lansdale, Andrew Vachss

Introductions by both authors.Veil's Visit, an original short story co-authored by Joe R. Lansdale and Andrew Vachss.Death by Chili, a new Hap & Leonard short story by Joe R. LansdaleExcerpts and story notes from the Hap & Leonard novelsCaptains Outrageous, a novella length standalone excerpt from the Hap & Leonard novel.And Lansdale "interviews" Hap & LeonardLimited to 150 signed hardbacks and 1000 signed trade paperbacks. Published by Subterranean Press, 1999.

Genres: Crime, Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Audiobook, Humor, Noir

160 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Champion Mojo Storyteller Joe R. Lansdale is the author of over forty novels and numerous short stories. His work has appeared in national anthologies, magazines, and collections, as well as numerous foreign publications. He has written for comics, television, film, newspapers, and Internet sites. His work has been collected in more than two dozen short-story collections, and he has edited or co-edited over a dozen anthologies. He has received the Edgar Award, eight Bram Stoker Awards, the Horror Writers Association Lifetime Achievement Award, the British Fantasy Award, the Grinzani Cavour Prize for Literature, the Herodotus Historical Fiction Award, the Inkpot Award for Contributions to Science Fiction and Fantasy, and many others. His novella Bubba Ho-Tep was adapted to film by Don Coscarelli, starring Bruce Campbell and Ossie Davis. His story "Incident On and Off a Mountain Road" was adapted to film for Showtime's "Masters of Horror," and he adapted his short story "Christmas with the Dead" to film hisownself. The film adaptation of his novel Cold in July was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival, and the Sundance Channel has adapted his Hap & Leonard novels for television.

He is currently co-producing several films, among them The Bottoms, based on his Edgar Award-winning novel, with Bill Paxton and Brad Wyman, and The Drive-In, with Greg Nicotero. He is Writer In Residence at Stephen F. Austin State University, and is the founder of the martial arts system Shen Chuan: Martial Science and its affiliate, Shen Chuan Family System. He is a member of both the United States and International Martial Arts Halls of Fame. He lives in Nacogdoches, Texas with his wife, dog, and two cats.

Reviews

[Char · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a short story set in the world of Hap and Leonard, but Mr. Lansdale co-wrote it with Andrew Vachss. I've been a fan of both of these authors for some time now, but never knew they wrote a story together.

What made this especially fun was that Joe Lansdale narrated it himself.

Read 2.7.20.

[Michael Fierce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably more of a 4 but rounding up to a 5 for filling in some gaps in the series, for Lansdale's as-always great writing, and for Hap and Leonard being the most entertaining crime-solving duo since Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, and for the cool cover.

[Dave Edmunds · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Veil was average height, dark hair touched with gray, one good eye. The other one roamed a little. He had a beard that could have been used as a Brillo pad, and he was dressed in an expensive suit and shiny shoes, a fancy wristwatch, and ring. He was the only guy I’d ever seen with the kind of presence Leonard has. Scary."

3.5⭐'s

Initial Thoughts

If you've been following my reviews at all you'll know I'm a massive fan of Big Joe Lansdale's Hap and Leonard series. The finest redneck noir you can get your hands on. I've read the first five novels and enjoyed them immensely. Almost as much as Leonard Pine enjoys his vanilla cookies.

So, when my good pal Bully, who introduced me to the series, dug up a reading list for it that fits in all the connected short stories I was over the moon. I love me some chronological order and was chomping at the bit to taste some of Champion Joe's finest short stories.

After finishing Rumble Tumble, the fifth entry in the saga, it was time to read Death by Chilli, which can be found in The Big Book of Hap and Leonard, which was ok but extremely short. That's probably why they call them short stories! Then it was on to this beauty, which did have a bit more meat on the bones. For you vegans out there don't worry, that's just an expression. No animals were harmed in the making of this review.

It's worth noting that Lansdale co-wrote this one with Andrew Vacchs, who I know very little about. But I have had a little looksy at his work and it seems to centre around a particular character by the name of Burke, who's the investigator of some hyper violent and nourish crime. Any experts out there, let me know in the comments.

The Story

So what's Veils Visit all about? Well Veil is an ex hitman of sorts turned lawyer. From one criminal enterprise to another! And when Leonard Pine is in desperate need of representation, after burning the local crack den down for the fourth time...or fifth time, I've lost count... he rocks up in Texas to lend a hand and repay a favour to his old friend Hap Collins.

The problem is Leonard has admitted to doing the crime. It's not like Leonard to beat around the bush. And this case looks a stonewall, straight to the local penitentiary, case if ever there was. But our man Veil has other ideas. This is going to be the most fun you've ever had in court. Well at least since the Johnny Depp/Amber Heard trial.


Hap and Leonard set for court

The Writing

“No problem. I can just go pro hac vice.”

“I hope that isn’t some kind of sexual act,” Leonard said. “Especially if it involves me and you.”

Lansdale's writing is brilliant as always. Humour, action, character, dialogue. He smashes it all out the park. But I'd be interested to know how much influence Andrew Vacchs had on this as it reads just like any other Hap and Leonard story. As I've already said I haven't read any of Vacchs work, but after this little sample I certainly want to.


Andrew Vacchs

The Characters

We all know by now what we're getting with our main boys of Hap Collins and Leonard Pine, an odd couple that go together like peanut butter and jelly. But this new character of Veil was really enjoyable and fitted in fantastically well.

The larger than life lawyer certainly brings a lot to the table and I'm guessing he is a creation of Andrew Vachss. I'd be interested to find out if he appears in any of his work and how much he embodies the personality and character of this author.

Final Thoughts

Being a short story I was planning on making this a short review. But as always once my fingers get typing they get a mind of their own. Much like Ash's hand in the Evil Dead Part Two. Who's laughing now? But I digress.

This is a perfect little snippet of Hap and Leonard when you're just looking for a savoury appetizer to satisfy your hunger. As short stories go, it's a pretty fine effort. And reading them in sequence is always a bonus. So get on that internet and find one of those reading list thingys.

Thanks for reading. Cheers!


Champion Joe

[Karl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dustjacket/ cover art by Tim Truman.

Contains:

Veil's Visit,” an original Hap & Leonard short story co-authored by Joe R. Lansdale and Andrew Vachss, in which Leonard (finally!) gets dragged into court to answer for burning down that crack house.

“Captains Outrageous,” a novella-length standalone excerpt from Lansdale's next Hap & Leonard novel

“Death by Chili,” a brand-new Hap & Leonard short story by Lansdale

And Lansdale “interviews” Hap & Leonard

This is copy 89 of 150 Signed and numberd editions.

[Taksya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Veil's visit è il solo racconto di questa antologia ad essere inserito in Una coppia perfetta.
Racconto breve, scritto a quattro mani da Joe R. Lansdale e Andrew Vachss, posizionato tra Capitani oltraggiosi e Sotto un cielo cremisi.
Assistiamo al processo di Leonard, dopo la distruzione della casa del crack, e scopriamo qualcosa di più su passato hippie di Hap.
Breve ma divertente, niente scazzottate ma una pausa ogni tanto serve.

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot shorter than I expected. This is often listed as a bridge between The Two-Bear Mambo and Bad Chili, so I had waited until I could find this story to read Bad Chili and it wasn't worth it.

The story is fine, basically a truncated My Cousin Vinny which features our usual protagonists in judicial trouble for a change and a visiting New England lawyer (who is maybe a character from the works of Andrew Vachss? Not sure) named Veil.

Pretty sure this isn't how trial law works and the defense used to drag Leonard Pine out of trouble for burning down the neighborhood crackhouse for the fourth or fifth time is tenuous at best. Even if you're a Hap and Leonard completionist, you can safely skip this one. The paperback anthologies and the ebook only short stories are more substantial than this.

[Read n Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

Next, some of the best buddy stories I have read in a while

[Colleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good short story about how Leonard beats the arson rap

[Mr. Mustela frenata · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.88

[John Grazide · Rating 4 out of 5]

Veil's Visit is the title of a short story introducing Veil (Andrew Vachss) as he helps Leonard in a trial. Pretty short but a cool collaboration between two of my current favorites.

Also in this book are excerpts from the Hap and Leonard novels (at the time of publication)

I think what I like most about this is the introduction by Vachss and Lansdale. It really shows the respect they have for one another, not often seen. This is a rare book but essential to any serious Lansdale library.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good little story of how Leonard didn't go to jail for burning the crackhouse. Collected in Hap and Leonard.

[Noah Soudrette · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun look back at Hap's past, and a hilarious, but terribly unrealistic trial. Good stuff and a few bonus short stories. Sadly the second half of the book is excerpts from the other other novels.

[Susan]

Joe reads this marvellously funny short story.