Book Review – The Hat – C.S. Boyack

BEWARE, SPOILERS MAY LURK…

41ttPYmy6PLThose 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

 

68 thoughts on “Book Review – The Hat – C.S. Boyack”

    1. It was honestly such a creative, funny, entertaining read, Craig. I’m into Viral Blues now and equally loving it. Clovis is freaky cool, and Lisa is just awesome. And of course, the Hat is “frigging” hilarious.

      Liked by 1 person

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      2. I see why they’re fan favourites. Lisa is such an innocent despite being a robot, and Clovis is just who we all secretly want to be!
        I love that you put a post-credits scene in! I’ll be on the lookout for it. You already had me laughing my ass off this morning with the little graphic “Meanwhile at Suttler’s Creek”… 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  7. I agree with every word of your review, Jessica! The Hat was a winner all the way around, and I’ve got Viral Blues awaiting me, too. Some Wizard guy came along and interrupted my progress through my TBR stack, but I’m all caught up with him now, and in the process of returning to my normal reading habits. (As a matter of fact, I’m about 1/3 of the way through Guns of Perdition even as I type. And don’t think that doesn’t make using the keyboard tricky!) 😀

    Super to see Craig’s work featured here today! Great post, Jessica. Lots of folks should take your advice and run, don’t walk, over to Amazon to download The Hat. 🙂

    Liked by 3 people

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      1. No need to ask, Jessica. I’m still wallowing in the glow of glutting myself on every moment of Harry’s life, and champing at the bit for September 29 and Battle Ground to arrive. But in the meantime, I will be whittling away at that TBR pile, and finally getting to some other books I’ve been dying to read. As for Perdition, well, color me gobsmacked. Weird westerns. Who knew? (Apparently everybody but me!) I will hold off on all my kudos until I’ve finished, but let’s just say I picked exactly the right book to read first, after my total immersion in the Dresden Files. Wow, girl! Some amazing writing going on here!

        Viral Blues will probably be next up for me. Still not ready to come back to the world of reality! 😀

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Aw, thanks Marcia *blushing* …
        It’s funny because weird western was never a genre I thought I’d write (pretty pure dark fantasy background) until Grace popped up in my subconscious and demanded to be written. Dang characters.

        Liked by 1 person

    2. And I do so love creative and weird! Can’t believe it’s taken me so long to get around to enjoying The Hat. So glad it finally got to the top of my TBR pile. I’ve now snuck Viral Blues to the top as a result of enjoying the first one so much 🤗

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  17. Pingback: Book Review – Viral Blues – C.S. Boyack – Jessica Bakkers
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