Pronto (1993)

I picked up the book due to my recent obsession with the new show based on Raylan Givens, and it was interesting to think about the ways the character was changed for television. I don't know if the book's version of Raylan would work in a different medium.

Actually, I'm not entirely sure he works in this one, because I spent most of the book scratching my head over why Raylan is so invested in helping Harry. I can understand why he'd want to protect him, but Harry's such a loathsome character that his relationship with Raylan serves primarily to diminish the man.

Nevertheless, aside from this one quibble, I enjoyed the book. Leonard seems to have a talent for seamlessly blending genres, as Pronto jumps between comedy, drama, suspense, and action as easily as its characters seem to jump between Miami and Italy. It's a slight read, but enjoyable. ( )

Harry Arno runs a sports book in Miami for Jimmy Cap. The Feds want to take down Harry's boss so use him as bait by letting it be known that Harry is skimming off the top. Jimmy tells his enforcer, Tommy Bucks aka The Zip, to take care of it. When Harry manages to kill the guy who they send after him is when the story starts to get interesting. Harry is arrested but manages to make bail and is being looked after by a US Marshal who goes by the name of Raylan Givens. Harry, for the second time in their lives, manages to give Raylan the skip and flies off to Italy to escape from it all having a fondness for the place due to an incident in his past. Raylan is none too happy about Harry doing a runner so uses some personal time to go after him. However, he's not the only one following the trail that Harry leaves and soon all the major players are in Rapallo and it's only a matter of time before things come together.

This is the first appearance of the US Marshal with a cowboy hat and a fondness for ice cream that has now become more famous for the TV show Justified starring Timothy Olyphant. It's pretty much a typical [[Elmore Leonard]] book with a few twists and turns in the story that keep you guessing and reading until the last page. He does throw in a few clunkers every now and then but I'm glad to say this isn't one of them. I've yet to watch the TV show but after reading this I definitely want to and I will also be reading the next book in the series at some point too. ( )

A satisfying good bounce around story that gets you thinking ahead what may and may not happen ( )

I’m trying to get caught up with Elmore Leonard’s novels. This one is a lean mean tale featuring U.S. Marshall Raylen Givens and bookie Harry Arno. The feds make trouble for Arno and his boss wants him dead. Arno runs to Italy in Ezra Pound’s old neigborhood and Givens decides to go after him. A satisifying story.

Published in paperback by Dell. ( )

Elmore is the man ( )