Happy Hour in Hell is the second novel in a three-book supernatural noir series from fantasy author Tad Williams (of Otherland and Shadowmarch fame). Heaven and Hell are the ultimate Cold War opponents, and each side has its own set of agents and advocates pursuing their own agendas, as well as those of their higher-ups (or lower-downs).
Bobby Dollar--Doloriel the angel, more formally--has secretly fallen for a demon woman, but she's been taken back to hell by her master, who already hates Bobby (see the first book, The Dirty Streets of Heaven, for the details). Dollar knows an angel in Hell is a bad idea, but he loves Casimira and will do anything to get her back.
Bobby has to consult several shady characters to find out how to get into Hell, all while being pursued by an unhinged serial killer who looks like a warped giant spider. Dollar doesn't know whom to trust, but heads to Hell anyway, finding his way through a variety of laugh- and gasp-out-loud moments of sheer, hellish torture and insanity.
The atrocious, vile imagery of Happy Hour in Hell alone makes the story appealing; Williams has created a flawed angelic hero worth rooting for. The noir-style first-person narrative adds to an already delicious read, one fans of Raymond Chandler and Damon Runyon will appreciate. There are also plenty of hints regarding a larger overarching plot line involving the machinations between Heaven and Hell to keep readers engaged throughout. --Rob LeFebvre, freelance writer and editor