Riding the Rap

Along with Rum Punch, this is the greatest book I have ever read. Leonard kept me turning the pages and the bad guys were the funniest I have ever read about(or met). The most greatest thing about this book was that I felt sorry for some of the sleaze-ball criminals. Read and enjoy.

This is the second time I've been priveleged to enter the world of Elroy Leonard, a world peopled by a multitude of hip, wierd, complex and most importantly believable characters. The other book I read was written some 20 years ago and it's amazing that one of his latest books, Riding The Rap, is so bang up to date. References to Resevoir Dogs no less! Rayland Givens, the good guy of the piece, is a great character: a good guy but with enough ambivalence about what he does and why he does it to keep him interesting and you guessing what his next move will be. Is the phsycic reverend really phsycic or is it all just a clever charade? And what will Bobby Deo, the cool dude hoodlum with the penchant for pruning, do next? Leonard gets you asking all these questions and, with a masterfully paced and ecomomical style keeps you turning the pages to find out the answer which, believe me, will not disappoint you. Alltogether a cracking read and I'm pleased as (rum!) punch to find out that Givens appears in another Leonard novel. I can't wait to reaquaint myself with the taciturn and straight shooting Texas ranger and another bunch of Leonard lowlifes!

AMAZING! ONE OF MY FAVORITE NOVELS! LEONARD'S BEST! UNFORGETTABLE! A GREAT SEQUEL TO "PRONTO"!

Can't wait until they make the movie. Harry Arno is missing again and three thugs have him. They qualify for dumb cops of the century. The Texas Ranger has the unenviable job finding Harry. What complicates the matter is Harry's ex-girl is asking him to do it. The doublecross at the pool towards the end of the book caught me off guard. It concerns two of the thugs. Harry is a lovable crook, though I would like to see him reform before he comes to a bad end. Leonard's writing reminds me of Carl Hiassen, in that they are witty and full of great dialogue that moves the story along, until finally you don't want them to end