827. Get Shorty

Get Shorty
Elmore Leonard
1990
Around 385 pages

I think I've had identical reactions to every Elmore Leonard novel so far on this List. They are just really fun, and he is one of my favorite authors to read on vacation. If it's geographically appropriate of course.

Ernesto "Chili" Palmer is a small-time loan shark based in Miami. After a run-in with a mobster Chili goes to Las Vegas in pursuit of Leo Devoe, a dry cleaner who has scammed an airline out of $300,000 in life insurance by faking his death, as well as avoiding his $10,000 debt to Chili's employers. After relieving Leo of the money in Vegas, Chili gambles it all away. At the casino, he gets a new assignment. The casino is looking to collect from Harry Zimm, a horror film producer. Chili, interested in the movie business, heads for Los Angeles to make Zimm pay.

As usual, Leonard's pacing, plotting, and dialogue is on point. It's also fun to explore Hollywood during this time, and Leonard's real life experience with dealing with the industry's dirtbags clearly influenced this story. 

Unfortunately, our last Elmore Leonard on the List, but I will definitely be tackling his body of work once I've completed my sentence.

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

Adapted to film in 1995, and a television series in 2017.

UP NEXT: Wise Children by Angela Carter

738. La Brava

La Brava
Elmore Leonard
1983
Around 430 pages

I love that Elmore Leonard is sprinkled throughout the List to give us a reprieve from some of the more hard hitting social commentary novels that we have to contend with. Not that his stories are light and breezy, but they are definitely more fun than the Apartheid. 

Joe La Brava is a former secret service agent, who now spends his time capturing Miami street life on camera. He gets knee deep in a case involving a former movie star and organized crime. Jean Shaw was an excellent femme fatale, which is to be expected from a character named Jean Shaw.

Our leading men in these gritty stories are rarely likable, but I enjoyed Joe as a protagonist, and he had a more unique background than just former cop turned P.I. Now I'm in the mood to watch Scarface.

Thrillers are good for my soul. 

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

There was a planned adaptation starring Dustin Hoffman, but it fell through due to contract disputes.

UP NEXT: Fools of Fortune by William Trevor

710. City Primeval

City Primeval
Elmore Leonard
1980
Around 275 pages

In all the excitement of criticizing Umberto Eco, I forgot to herald in the 1980s. To me, Elmore Leonard is the quintessential 80s author, so it's more fitting to do it with him anyway. Welcome to the party pal!

"Oklahoma Wildman" Clement Mansell kills a crooked Detroit judge. Homicide Detective Raymond Cruz pursues him. I never want to give too much away with crime novels, but Leonard tells a well-paced and gritty story that would make his ancestors (e.g. Raymond Chandler) proud. 

I always like to read Elmore Leonard on beach vacations. They are all fast reads that don't sacrifice quality. Given the fact that Timothy Olyphant is in the miniseries adaptation, I will definitely have to tune in during my private Mandy time.

Looking forward to Leonard's other entries!

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

Adapted into a Justified sequel in 2023.

UP NEXT: A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole