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tjkory's review
adventurous
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
antij's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.75
jopaterson's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
lacifaeria's review against another edition
4.0
minus one star because i really would have like to have seen further development of the female characters. still, who doesn't like a bit of revenge porn every now and then? it was a fun read, especially since I am also reading Blindness at the same time and it was good to introduce some levity, even of the hunting down relentless bad guys kind. The red herring was a nice touch, but maybe pulled more exposition away from Teddy Magyk than it should have, especially with such juicy details dropped in about being molested or why he had a penchant for raping old ladies. I would have also liked to have seen a bit more about Linda and Vincent, because sometimes it felt like their relationship was there specifically to flesh out Vincent as a character. But I almost would have rather not had it included, because it wasn't necessarily necessary to understand this cat and mouse game between Vincent and Teddy. soooo yeah. Like, if there were just a bit more to making the villain a bit more three dimensional, it would have been really great. You get a sense of his motivation a bit but I would have liked to see that more. And I think that's the thing of it for me: the most interesting relationship in the book is between Vincent and Teddy, so I would have preferred the other ones, even though comedic at times with Jackie and LaDonna and Deleon (awesome second string bodyguard) and useful, fall away to the periphery and not take up so much time--and then to have that gap reapplied towards the characterization of Vincent and Teddy. Find out what drives them as individuals and then see how that drives their antagonistic relationship. Still, I think it does what it's supposed to do. A page turner where the bad guy dies at the end. And that's pretty satisfying.
ivybeans's review against another edition
4.0
This was my introduction to Elmore Leonard. It was a fairly enjoyable read about a hard-boiled cop and a serial killer who was a Mommy's boy. Of course, there was also a romantic sub-plot. Much like other crime novels that I have read. I might read another Leonard book for some light reading in the future.
tresdem's review against another edition
3.0
The writing itself was fantastic, though fairly stylized. It's kind of repetitive and snappy as well as dialogue heavy. None of this to it's disadvantage and it's certainly immersive enough.
But oof, this is not a book for me and probably not an author for me. It's very man view point centric so much that the female characters suffer for it. I appreciate the time it's written and even the character view point, but there was nothing in it I could relate to.
It was also pretty hard to get through and I kept putting it down. The central mystery wasn't all that engaging to me and it wasn't really that much of a mystery. I can't even classify what kind of novel it is except to say I'm no aficionado of the genre, or even appreciate it that much. I just read it to see if I liked it...and I didn't, so I probably wouldn't read something by Elmore Leonard again.
Tho I'd recommend it to anyone who likes really male centric view points and gritty storytelling.
But oof, this is not a book for me and probably not an author for me. It's very man view point centric so much that the female characters suffer for it. I appreciate the time it's written and even the character view point, but there was nothing in it I could relate to.
It was also pretty hard to get through and I kept putting it down. The central mystery wasn't all that engaging to me and it wasn't really that much of a mystery. I can't even classify what kind of novel it is except to say I'm no aficionado of the genre, or even appreciate it that much. I just read it to see if I liked it...and I didn't, so I probably wouldn't read something by Elmore Leonard again.
Tho I'd recommend it to anyone who likes really male centric view points and gritty storytelling.
leucocrystal's review against another edition
4.0
"'Wonderful things can happen,' Vincent said, 'when you plant seeds of distrust in a garden of assholes.'
'Wait, I want to write that down.'"
Same. Goddamn, even what some might consider "lesser" Leonard works are still so packed with his particular brand of gems and delights that they'll still occasionally knock you on your ass, and you'll enjoy it. He was so great.
'Wait, I want to write that down.'"
Same. Goddamn, even what some might consider "lesser" Leonard works are still so packed with his particular brand of gems and delights that they'll still occasionally knock you on your ass, and you'll enjoy it. He was so great.
tresdem's review
3.0
The writing itself was fantastic, though fairly stylized. It's kind of repetitive and snappy as well as dialogue heavy. None of this to it's disadvantage and it's certainly immersive enough.
But oof, this is not a book for me and probably not an author for me. It's very man view point centric so much that the female characters suffer for it. I appreciate the time it's written and even the character view point, but there was nothing in it I could relate to.
It was also pretty hard to get through and I kept putting it down. The central mystery wasn't all that engaging to me and it wasn't really that much of a mystery. I can't even classify what kind of novel it is except to say I'm no aficionado of the genre, or even appreciate it that much. I just read it to see if I liked it...and I didn't, so I probably wouldn't read something by Elmore Leonard again.
Tho I'd recommend it to anyone who likes really male centric view points and gritty storytelling.
But oof, this is not a book for me and probably not an author for me. It's very man view point centric so much that the female characters suffer for it. I appreciate the time it's written and even the character view point, but there was nothing in it I could relate to.
It was also pretty hard to get through and I kept putting it down. The central mystery wasn't all that engaging to me and it wasn't really that much of a mystery. I can't even classify what kind of novel it is except to say I'm no aficionado of the genre, or even appreciate it that much. I just read it to see if I liked it...and I didn't, so I probably wouldn't read something by Elmore Leonard again.
Tho I'd recommend it to anyone who likes really male centric view points and gritty storytelling.