Book Review: When the Women Come Out to Dance by Elmore Leonard

Synopsis: This is a collection of short stories.

Many of these stories involve previous stories by Leonard. In fact, I can say for certain the story from Tishomingo Blues is an off screen scene we have described in the book. I have to admit, the concept is brilliant: compile deleted and character sketch scenes and sell them in a collection. It's more money for not much more work.

The story that sticks with me most is Tenkiller, wherein Ben Webster--grandson of Carl Webster from The Hot Kid and Up in Honey's Room, returns to Oklahoma and discovers squatters have taken over his ancestral land.

The other one that really leaves a mark on me is Fire in the Hole, which follows the takedown of a white supremacist. The pure racism just sent shivers. It's something I don't really get. Maybe it's because deep down I'm a good guy. Maybe because I'm a mongrel. Whatever it is, racism really gets to me.

Book Review: The Hot Kid by Elmore Leonard

Synopsis: Carl Webster, a young US Marshal works to capture various bad guys in the thirties while building his myth.

This one took me a while to really get into. There are a series of flashbacks and flash-sideways to establish the characters. I wasn't paying enough attention to completely figure out what it was all about. Later on I realized it was to establish Carl and Jack Belmont, the antagonist. Perhaps if I'd been paying more attention, my favorite part of the book wouldn't have been so cool. About half or three-quarters of the way through, I realized that Carl and Jack have almost identical backgrounds. And they are equally hesitant to shoot.

Once I got into the story, once I knew what was going on, It was an enjoyable story. Something along the lines of The Untouchables. As I've spoken of minor character traits in previous Leonard books, I'll add one here. There's a point where Carl is facing down some pretty tough people while someone is cooking in another room. He stops in the middle of a dour statement to say, "That smells good." As I've said before, that makes him so much more human than rescuing any number of kittens.

Oh, another Elmore Leonard trait: denouement? What denouement? This is the second Elmore Leonard book I've read that ends immediately after the climax. Done right, that's not a bad thing. And Leonard does it right.

Book Review: Tishomingo Blues by Elmore Leonard

Synopsis: After daredevil high-diver Dennis Lenahan witnesses a murder by the Dixie Mafia, he is threatened into silence. Then he meets a slick con man from Detroit and gets drawn into his plots to usurp the Dixie Mafia's turf. The whole of the climax takes place during a Civil War reenactment.

Okay, this being my second Elmore Leonard book (and I'm working on my third), I'm starting to understand his style. His protagonists are super-slick cool guys who typify who a man wishes he were. Throw in so quirky characters (good, bad, and neutral). Then add some great dialogue and interesting locations, and you've got something.

This one's a little slow at the beginning. It's entertaining, getting to know his characters (mostly people I'm glad I don't live next to, but despite a murder and various other crimes going back and forth, not much really sparkles plot-wise until we're moving into the reenactment.

But once we're in uniform, wow. It's just fun. I think it's the details Leonard includes with the die-hard reenactors (such as the CIB cop who is hesitant to arrest the bad guys until after the reenactment, and who dresses down the protagonist for not having his rifle on him at all times). Another thing that's pretty cool is that we spend some good time coming up with plans, and they completely fall apart in a way I don't think I've ever really seen before (let's face it, climax plans always fall apart. It's neat to see it happen somewhat originally).