Harper Collins
Publication date: Aug 28th, 2012
Never before in my life have I picked up a book, started reading, and thought, “If a book could have a theme song, this one would have Long Way Back from Hell by Danzig. If it made it to the big screen, it would at least have to get played over the closing credits. Fuck, I could easily put together a soundtrack for this myself…with B-sides even.”
Sandman Slim is back in Devil Said Bang, the 4th book in the series and it picks up right where the 3rd left off. God has left the building, the Devil has pulled some shit and Sandman Slim is trapped in Hell with a new job title: he is the stand in for Lucifer himself. Slim is bored. Being Lucifer is more of a pain in the ass then one might think. Slim mostly just mind-fucks his staff and rides around Hell on a motorcycle that, shit, it’s nothing you would ever see on SAMCRO. All the while trying to figure out how to get back to the real world where he has unfinished business. The story is full of imaginative detail, dark humor and brutal violence. Readers of Charlie Huston’s Joe Pitt books will find a kindred spirit in Sandman Slim, as will those raised on Peckinpah and punk rock.
If you are not familiar with this series, stop now. Go back to book one and catch up. This is not the place to start. If you are up to date on the series, you are in for a ride. The only thing I have issue with is the ending and my issue isn’t really even an issue. It’s a thing many people have felt at the end of a book in a series. You know there is more to come, but you will have to wait. I can’t get over how well this series has gone. If you feel this review is sparse in detail, well it is. Telling you more would be like trying to tell you about the 4th season of The Wire if you have only seen the first three. You are going to want to take the ride yourself.
Dave Wahlman
