Frank H. (perryfran) reviewed on 8/18/2020 + 1185 more book reviews

This is the second Leonard novel which features Raylon Givens, the U.S. Marshal who went on to be in one of my favorite crime TV series, Justified. In this one, Raylon is still working in the Miami area as he did in the prior novel, PRONTO that I read a couple of years ago. Raylan gets involved in the kidnapping of his girlfriend's ex-boyfriend, Harry Arno (who also appeared in PRONTO). Arno is a crooked bookmaker and when he tries to collect on a debt, the tables get turned and he gets kidnapped by a trio of three dull-witted boobs who really don't know what they're doing. They are clueless as to how to conclude the ransom caper, wanting Arno to provide them with money he has in a Bahamian account. Things really start to go bad and get more and more violent while Raylan is trying to figure out how to get in the house where they are holding Arno. His relationship with his girlfriend also seems to be going nowhere but he does make the acquaintance of a cute fortune teller who may be a good substitute.

I enjoyed this one mainly because of Raylan who is really a no-bullshit character. Leonard as usual mixes a hard-core crime novel in with a large dose of sardonic humor which makes the story all the more compelling and enjoyable. I recently read the story FIRE IN THE HOLE which was the basis for the Justified series but I still need to read Leonard's last novel which features Raylan titled RAYLAN. I'll be looking forward to it.

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