Stick (edition 1985)

I have this adage: If all else fails, read Elmore Leonard. If I'm at a loss on what to pick up next, I can always turn to Elmore Leonard for a guaranteed good read. He's a master of characterization and dialogue, and he makes it all look so easy.

Stick is no exception. The main character is a likeable anti-hero, who is just trying to get his life back on track after spending some years in Jackson, a prison in Michigan. A simple job, intended to earn Stick some spending money goes south, and he spends the rest of the book trying to get what is rightfully his. Stick is filled with colorful characters, and a plot that will keep you reading late into the night. ( )

Perfectly acceptable Elmore Leonard book. Snappy dialog, fast moving plot, utterly unflappable characters. You either like 'em or you don't. I do. ( )

From book jacket:
"On Florida's flashy Gold Coast, in the fast and dangerous world of dirty deals, laundered fortunes, and quick killings, Stick found a perfect scam. The mark: the big wheeler dealer who tried to trade Stick's life. The set up, assisted by a beautiful bolde expert on a money and men, was going to be a pleasure. The sting: sweet revenge."

That comes close. Takes awhile to pick up on the coversational style of Leonard's writing, but after that, it's a quick read. ( )