A Bone Dead Sadness by Joe R. Lansdale – This very interesting and well written novella that features Marvin Hanson, a character from Lansdale’s first published novel, Act of Love. Marvin is a private investigator near LaBorde in East Texas, who also is friends with Hap Collins and Leonard Pine, too tough good ole boys who are featured in Lansdale’s Hap and Leonard novels. In this novella, Marvin is hired by a wealthy elderly woman to find her son, who vanished 25 years ago. Even though she had hired a few other PIs who failed, she did not want to give up. Marvin takes the case and is well paid for his services. However he encounters a few obstacles while pursing the long-cold case, including some violent thugs who try to scare him away from the investigation. Like many of Lansdale’s protagonists, Marvin is an intriguing, tenacious, ethical, but vicious, character who finishes what he begins. It’s a very enjoyable novella. ( )