Although LaBrava certainly plays a major part in this Florida-based mystery, the story belongs to Jean, a former Hollywood B actress who LaBrava falls for. Some shady types are giving her a hard time and Jean and LaBrava and the third member of their triumvirate, Maurice, outsmart them. The crackling dialog never crackled better. This is one of his few books (OUT OF SIGHT, UP IN HONEY'S ROOM) where a woman so dominated the action. Leonard certainly gets pleasure out of describing Jean. I don't know if this is my favorite Leonard (maybe Freaky Deaky or Get Shorty) but it's a fine one.
10 comments:
FREAKY DEAKY is certainly among mine, even given the title annoys me...I've yet to read LABRAVA. Too much of everything causes missing out, FOMO or no...
Too much indeed.
I read this years ago when I was systematically going through (almost) all of Leonard's mysteries and some of his westerns, but I have absolutely zero memory of it and would have to look at the plot to remember it, unlike other of his titles, for what that's worth.
It is sort of different from the other books I read. Less humorous more about longing, regret.
Like Jeff Meyerson, I read Elmore Leonard's books systematically. LABRAVA varies from Leonard's usual patterns. It's an excellent book, well worth rereading.
I used to devour everything Leonard wote but stopped sometime around CUBA LIBRE. Don't know why. I've always meant to get back to him.
That George Kelley?
Meanwhile, Pres. Damned Fool blathers about Let's Make Deals! to stop new war actions between Israel and Iran..."But this cuts into my dictatorship plans!"
I like Elmore Leonard's work, Patti, although I haven't read it all. This is one of those I've not read, and it sounds as though I'm missing out. I'll have to look for it.
I went to the cemetery where he is buried today. It's one of the oldest in Michigan and not at all elegant. It suits him.
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