Cold in July by Joe R Lansdale

I became a fan of Joe R Lansdale long before his work was adapted into TV shows and movies. I just loved Cold In July and his Hap and Leonard novels, which feature black humour and dark crimes. I’d like to see his early books become more popular because I think a lot of people are missing a treat.

SPOILER-FREE REVIEW

What would you do if someone broke into your house in the middle of the night? That is the situation facing the main character at the beginning of this concise novel. Joe R Lansdale turns that simple premise into a tough thriller that deftly changes tone into a black comedy with a brilliant shift in the plot.

WHY IT DESERVES FIVE STARS

This book could have been a superb conventional thriller – but Joe R Lansdale didn’t want to write one of those. There are plenty of them. Instead, he wanted to write something different – which he did here by playing with genre expectations. It was a risky move – but it worked for me.

Sharp dialogue, strong characters and a brilliant twist make Cold in July something unexpected and entertaining for anyone with a dark sense of humour. A cult classic.

You will like this if you like: Cape Fear, Elmore Leonard, Carl Hiassen, Dexter, Banshee, Dirty Harry.