Well, shit. My last read before this was In the Devil Wind, the final Sandman Slim novel from Richard Kadrey. And now comes Petrified Dreams, the final Hap & Leonard novel. Two of my favorite series of all time, ending. Once again, for emphasis: well, shit.

As someone who reads a lot, and reviews a little, I sometimes get asked who my favorite author is. The answer to that question is fluid, and can depend on what I’ve read recently, but more often than not my answer is Mr. Lansdale his ownself. He’s always good, better than good, no matter what genre he’s writing in, but in my humble opinion he’s at his very best with the Hap & Leonard books.

The Hap and Leonard novels are special for so many reasons. Because Lansdale somehow makes the friendship between two wildly different men feel just as authentic as the violence, danger and dark humor surrounding them. Hap Collins is a thoughtful, reluctant idealist. Leonard Pine is a fiercely opinionated, unapologetic force of nature, and their arguments are often as entertaining as their adventures. Lansdale blends hard-boiled crime, Southern grit, outrageous comedy and genuine emotional depth, creating stories that can be brutally funny one moment and unexpectedly moving the next. At their heart, the books are about loyalty, friendship and two flawed men trying to do the right thing in a world that rarely makes it easy.

In Petrified Dreams, Joe Lansdale brings Hap and Leonard back for one last go-around, a darkly comic and operatically violent adventure that proves their friendship remains as formidable, and complicated, as ever. When trouble comes knocking, the mismatched duo find themselves pulled into a dangerous situation. As always, Hap’s reluctant conscience and Leonard’s uncompromising sense of justice make for an irresistible partnership, especially when truly bad people are threatening them and theirs. As usual, Lansdale fills the story with sharp dialogue, bruising action, eccentric characters and the East Texas atmosphere that has become a hallmark of the series. Petrified Dreams is another lively reminder of why Hap and Leonard will always be two of crime fiction’s most memorable partners.

I hope Lansdale reconsiders. But if not, thank you, sir, for countless hours of exciting, harrowing, sometimes hilarious, and often profound, entertainment.

Petrified Dreams will release October 6, 2026, and is available for pre-order now. Don’t miss this chance to say goodbye to the boys.