Riding the Rap

Rating:
Summary: Riding the Rap
Review: This is Elmore Leonard at his best. A Stetson-wearing hero, a soothsaying love interest, three greedy but likable villains, and--like in all Leonard novels--a story told through dialogue and not showy exposition . . . how could you go wrong? And if you really want to be entertained, buy the audio version read by the brilliant Frank Muller.

Rating:
Summary: leonard's best
Review: This is my favorite of the six Elmore Leonard books I have read. The dialogue is pure genius, the best I've ever read in any crime book.

Rating:
Summary: Whets the appetite for more!
Review: This is the second time I've been priveleged to enter the world of Elroy Leonard, a world peopled by a multitude of hip, wierd, complex and most importantly believable characters. The other book I read was written some 20 years ago and it's amazing that one of his latest books, Riding The Rap, is so bang up to date. References to Resevoir Dogs no less! Rayland Givens, the good guy of the piece, is a great character: a good guy but with enough ambivalence about what he does and why he does it to keep him interesting and you guessing what his next move will be. Is the phsycic reverend really phsycic or is it all just a clever charade? And what will Bobby Deo, the cool dude hoodlum with the penchant for pruning, do next? Leonard gets you asking all these questions and, with a masterfully paced and ecomomical style keeps you turning the pages to find out the answer which, believe me, will not disappoint you. Alltogether a cracking read and I'm pleased as (rum!) punch to find out that Givens appears in another Leonard novel. I can't wait to reaquaint myself with the taciturn and straight shooting Texas ranger and another bunch of Leonard lowlifes!