Quiver

I've been reading Elmore Leonard for most of my life. I've always felt certain that no one could ever emulate the style and verve he brings to stories. He's got a rhythm and flair that's all his own. Kind of like the way Willie Nelson picks his guitar and sings through his nose. It's just something unique. I've never seen another writer try to write a book in Elmore Leonard's language. But now I have, and strange how relieved I feel to announce that writer is none other than Elmore Leonard's son, Peter. If anybody was going to be able to do it, successfully, it only stands to reason it be family. Elmore has slowed down in recent years, so often as much as two years go by before we get another book. With Peter now taking up the reins of the novelist, I've got new books to look forward to. And I do look forward to them if QUIVER is any indication. I looked around, but I didn't find much more information about Peter Leonard other than he was Elmore Leonard's son. I'd like to know more, but for now I'm happy with his books. QUIVER is his first novel and it just came out in paperback. I was attracted by the cover and the plot revealed on the back. I like crime novels that can be fairly simplistic, and this one certainly fills the bill, except for all the Elmore-like twists and turns it takes. Sadly, I didn't even notice the author's name other than to realize I hadn't read him before. It wasn't until later that I discovered he was Elmore's son. I picked the book up and started reading it, automatically noticing the Elmore Leonard style and pacing. Curious and a little irritated, I turned back to the author's page to find out who would dare do such a thing because the style is so evocative of one writer. I admit that I was chagrined when I discovered the author's identity. In this case, the talent seems to have bred true. A lineage has been born. QUIVER has the same kind of collection of good guys, bad guys, and ne'er-do-wells that show up in an Elmore Leonard book. Kate McCall is one of the feisty heroines that Elmore often creates for his novels. Peter gives Kate an interesting background and continues building on it throughout the book. I was pulled in by 16 year old Luke McCall's story as well, trying to imagine what it might have been like to accidentally kill your father while hunting. That side of the story seems to have gotten a little short shrift, but it still works okay. I just felt that Luke had a lot to get over and work through. He moved from point A to point B a little too quickly. Add in an old boyfriend who's just gotten out of prison, and three career criminals that figure on an easy score, and you've got a suspense potboiler guaranteed to keep a reader flipping pages. I really enjoyed the dialogue a lot. Peter Leonard has an ear for the way people talk, and his action scenes are gripping. Peter Leonard's next book, TRUST ME, will be out on March 31. Elmore's next book, ROAD DOGS, will be out later th

Quiver is a novel that doesn't disappoint. The story starts out strong and never wavers, but along the way we're introduced to memorable characters with varied and interesting backgrounds. Leonard's got a way of giving us just enough description about their past to paint a vivid picture of their personality. Leonard has a real gift for dialogue, and in this story, we're treated to lines that never ring false to the ear. Whether they're delivered from a street smart hit man from Detroit or a Native American tracker Up North. Each chapter builds the tension and suspense of the cast and their predicament until the conclusion, which is both exciting and satisfying. Growing up in the city of Detroit, I found both the people, locales and cultures Leonard describes as accurate to the life I remember and know now, especially when the story weaves from the wealthy suburbs of Birmingham and Bloomfield to the beauty of northern woods. A terrific debut novel that is sure to be the first in a long tenure of fiction.

Let us acknowledge, rather than ignore, the 800-pound grizzly bear in the middle of the room. QUIVER is the debut novel of Peter Leonard, the son of thriller genre icon Elmore Leonard. And yes, in many ways it reads like one of his father's books. All of the familiar elements are there: the story is set in Michigan; it features true-to-life characters who are extremely interesting and, in some cases, deeply flawed (but nonetheless oddly appealing); and those selfsame characters are involved in a caper that goes off the rails, almost from the get-go. Oh, and how could I forget? Peter Leonard's narrative is as compelling as anything you will read this year. Leonard begins his inaugural literary journey with the equivalent of a somersault while walking on a high wire: he takes one of the most interesting characters out of the story before it even begins. The book opens with the aftermath of the funeral for Owen McCall, tragically killed by his 16-year-old son Luke as the result of a hunting accident. The author matter-of-factly drops little factoids about McCall --- not the least of which is that racing and wise investments made him a very rich man --- mostly through the memories and recollections of Katie, his widow, who at various points recalls their courtship and rock-solid marriage. Katie, however, had an interesting past before meeting Owen, and a part of that past shows up like a bad penny in the wake of Owen's death. Jack Curran is freshly processed from prison and out on parole after doing stand-up time for his part in an armed robbery. He is a somewhat charming loser who sees no reason to change his ways. Returning to Detroit, he decides to renew old acquaintances with widowed Katie, who is tied to multiple emotional horses, including loneliness, passion, loyalty to Owen, and her all-but-certain knowledge that deep down Jack has not really changed. Meanwhile, Jack finds himself caught up with his two partners from the armed robbery, both of whom are looking for the proceeds of the heist that he no longer has. Teddy Hicks has his own very brief past with Owen, and is a dangerous and fatal combination of a mean streak and terminal stupidity, fueled by Celeste, his sociopath girlfriend. DeJuan is possessed of an animal cunning that in turn is camouflaged beneath a personable, almost likable exterior. Jack offers up the wealthy Katie to the unhappy pair, who, with the help of Celeste, hatch a scheme to separate Katie from a part of the family fortune through Luke, who himself is acting out his anger and frustration at his pivotal role in the turn of events that brought his father's life to an end. A local deputy sheriff, meanwhile, has designs on Katie as well, ones that will lead to a violent climax played out against the backdrop of rural Michigan as one woman's past and present abruptly collide with fatal consequences. Writing after the style of Elmore Leonard is no sin --- even if you are related to him --- and anyone attempting such

The author recalls having written a screenplay and showing it to his father, Elmore Leonard. "Wanting to be a screenwriter is like wanting to be a co-pilot," was the response. "You want to write, write a book." Well he wrote the first chapter, submitted it to his father and waited. "Boy, you're on the way." And the rest of the chapters complete the tale. When he read the entire manuscript, Leonard pere commented: "You've got a sound. It took me ten years to get my sound. You've written a terrific novel." And so he has. The plot is a relatively simple one: Kate McCall becomes a widow when her husband is killed by their son in a hunting accident. Over the next seven months, the boy becomes withdrawn and runs away. Then he is kidnapped with $2 million demanded in ransom. The real value in the book is the characterizations. It would not be fair to compare the personages to those of Elmore Leonard. But why not? They're right up there with the master. Leonard fils deftly moves the plot along, with double-crosses and unexpected twists, leading up to a deadly standoff. The novel is a pleasant surprise and we hope Peter is hard at work on his next one. Highly recommended.

This is a terrific novel with interesting, sympathetic characters and a fast paced story. Unpredictable and cleverly written, I highly recommend it to anyone who likes realistic dialog, a tight plot and just the right amount of suspense. Hard to believe this is a first novel until you realize Peter is the son of Elmore Leonard - it must be in the genes.