Book Review – The Hat – C.S. Boyack

BEWARE, SPOILERS MAY LURK…

Those of you who have been following my blog for a while know I like my fiction pretty dark. However, I do enjoy a good laugh (especially if the humour is pretty dark). So, when I finally got around to reading C.S. Boyack’s ‘The Hat’, it didn’t take more than the first few pages to realise I was onto a winner.

The idea of a sentient hat tickled me going into this book, and from the moment heroine Lizzie St. Laurent opened a box of her grandfather’s belonging and discovered the Hat, I was grinning at ‘his’ antics. This is a dude with a wicked sense of humour, a damn good taste in music, and a warped idea of what constitutes as fun. Hilarity and adventure arise from Lizzie and the Hat’s fateful meeting, as they launch into an investigation to find a snatched baby.

The Hat quickly enlightens Lizzie as to the realities of the world – you know, vampires and ghouls do exist, magic guns are a thing, and big ass basses make for the best stringed instruments out there – and a wary, wry, warm friendship unfolds between the unlikely pair. Lizzie and the Hat shopping for clothes is one of my favourite scenes – an ancient Roman artefact quipping about female fashion…it doesn’t get any better.

This book was right up my alley. The writing is clever, the humour sharp, and Boyack keeps the pace tight and action flowing. That said, there is a fair amount of heart in this book; the friendship between Lizzie and the Hat is really lovely to see develop, as is Lizzie’s confidence in her own abilities. Of course, heart doesn’t get in the way of blasting a few bad guys away with some hand cannons, so for me, it’s the best of both worlds.

If you’re looking for an entertaining read that’ll get you grinning, you can’t go wrong with The Hat. If you want a buddy comedy with a lot of heart, you should grab a copy of The Hat. And hell, if you want to pick up a few fashion tips while you’re reading…get your hands on a copy of The Hat…who knew there were so many different types of headgear out there?

 Purchase your copy HERE