The Big Bounce (1969)

This book is located more towards the noir end of the crime genre than the previous two books I've read from the author and whether it was because I was expecting something different I didn't enjoy this as much as the others. The characters were very straightforward and there was none of the wise-cracking and uber-cool dialogue that I've come to associate with Mr. Leonard's work. The plot has small-time crook Jack Ryan being employed as handyman to some beach-side cabanas. It's there that he gets involved with the local head honcho's main squeeze and she tries to embroil him in a plot to steal $50,000. The ending is a bit of a surprise as there isn't really a true one to the story. ( )

Jack Ryan tends to get in trouble - he beats up his crew chief with a baseball bat, he caught a bad back which bounced him out of pro baseball, and now he's met Nancy. And Nancy can turn out to be a lot more trouble than she's worth, even more than committing a simple B&E. That girl's plain crazy and gets off on the fun.

A significant little novel in crime circles, The Big Bounce established a new voice in crime fiction back in '69. Most of the elements of Leonard's crime fiction show up here: the Michigan setting, the amoral femmme fatale, the small-time man in the middle of a big-time crime. Leonard spends a fascinating time with Jack Ryan, finding out what makes crime so seductive. Yet how does Leonard get away with a non-ending? This book didn't build up to anything, it didn't fall apart, it didn't do much. Just puttered around like an old man on vacation. Not Leonard's best, but a small novel with a distinct taste which sticks around.

Don't buy this book!: The most astonishing and strange thing about this book I find are the quotes from newspapers saying it's a great book. When I finished the book I thought the clue, story and good ending everyone is talking about were simply missing as I bought it secondhand on a trip trough China. I found out that the book really has no ending, no suspense, no clue and no good reason te read it. Too bad I just found out after I finished it. It's really a question of whether it should be called a story. I have no clue why someone would read or write it, as it is about as interesting as listening in on a conversation between some dull people on a train.

This is older EL from 1969, which I actually prefer to his later, more "commercial" material. This story concerns Jack Ryan, recently released from prison, and his entanglement with his former boss's mistress, and her idea to heist the boss's $50,000 payroll (lots of money in 1969 when the book was written). Jack struggles with his attraction to her, and the wisdom of pulling the job. Under the surface, never expressed is his ongoing debate about whether to sink deeper into a life of crime or "go straight". The ending is somewhat shocking, somewhat ambiguous, and very satisfying. ( )