"In this collection of nineteen unforgettable crime tales, Joe R. Lansdale brings his legendary mojo and gritty, dark humor to harrowing heists, revenge, homicide, and mayhem. No matter how they begin, things are bound to get ugly--and fast"--

In the 1950s, a young small-town projectionist mixes it up with a violent gang. When Mr. Bear is not alerting us to the dangers of forest fires, he lives a life of debauchery and murder. A brother and sister travel to Oklahoma to recover the dead body of their uncle. No matter how they begin, things are bound to get ugly--and fast

Introduction /

by S. A. Cosby --

Introduction /

by Joe R. Lansdale -- Steel Valentine -- Driving to Geromino's grave -- Mr. Bear -- Job -- Six-finger Jack -- Shadows, kith and kin -- Ears -- Santa at the café -- I tell you it's love -- Dead sister -- Booty and the beast -- Boys will be boys -- Billie Sue -- Phone woman -- Dirt devils -- Drive-in date -- Rainy weather -- Incident on and off a mountain road -- Projectionist