Stick

My favourite Leonard to date. I loved the Miami setting and getting to see Stick outwit and out-cool everyone around him. The story is straightforward if a little meandering but there is a ton of fun in the dialogue and characters. Cornell is especially great and really deserved his own story. Some scenes get bogged down in the specifics of investing and film financials but Leonard isn't exactly the first author to want to show off their research. The audio performance by Muller is fantastic as always and continues to improve the already stellar writing.

Just got done with Swag, to which this is the sequel, in which I praised the comedic chops of Elmore Leonard as something above the usual noir fare, but that dynamic is sorely lacking in this much more dour followup. Not quite the dame and guts type noir, but more grounded and revolving around a main caper it's really hard to get excited about. There's sprinkles of what would come around in later books, from the Hollywood grifts that blossom in Get Shorty, to henchmen of a certain character obsessed with their hats which might ring a bell from the Raylan stories.
Definitely not a required read after Swag.

Well written, of course; but I felt like I had one extra set of characters to keep up with. And surprisingly, I thought the book was a little too long. So, while not my favorite Elmore Leonard book, it was still 95 per cent ahead of any other writer, living or dead.

A note on the movie adaptation: My recommendation would be to skip. Has very little of the book actually in the movie. Feels like someone heard about the plot and then wrote a movie on what they remember hearing. So far, the worst movie adaptation of a Elmore Leonard book I have seen.

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.

Quality stylish unique writing style as I have come to expect from this master storyteller. So why only four stars well it's because of a slower start than I am used to. However clever intelligent mystery with superb characters throughout and an enjoyable intriguing read.

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.