Synopses & Reviews
Elmore Leonard, a literary icon praised by
The New York Times Book Review as "the greatest crime writer of our time, perhaps ever," has captured the imagination of millions of readers with his more than three dozen books.
In this short fiction collection, Leonard demonstrates the superb characterizations, dead-on dialogue, vivid atmosphere, and driving plots that have made him a household name and once again illustrates that the line between the law and the lawbreakers is not as firm as we might think.
Federal marshal Karen Sisco, from the bestselling novel Out of Sight, returns in "Karen Makes Out," once again inadvertently mixing pleasure with business. In "Fire in the Hole," Raylan Givens, last seen in Riding the Rap and Pronto, meets up with an old friend, but they're now on different sides of the law. In the title story, "When the Women Come Out to Dance," Mrs. Mahmood gets more than she bargains for when she conspires with her maid to end her unhappy marriage.
All nine stories are Elmore Leonard at his vivid, hilarious, and unfailingly human best.
Review
"In terms of flawless craft and, more important, in terms of pleasure, When the Women Come Out to Dance is top-notch work from one of our most gifted and consistently entertaining writers." Charles Taylor, The New York Times Book Review
Review
"If Leonard were a new kid instead of a past master, this fiction collection would make his name." People
Review
"The way some novelists write short stories, you might worry his would be Leonard Lite, but in fact they're more like Leonard Concentrate the usual vivid characters, wry dialogue and plot twists, vacuum-sealed in a smaller jar." Detroit News
Review
"No living writer in America can evoke so much using so little....His newest collection of short stories will thrill both fans and the uninitiated." Business Week
Review
"[Leonard] can invent coolheaded characters who leap off the page, equip them with pricelessly terse dialogue and dream up the kinds of plots that might have worked for O. Henry, if O. Henry had had a serious interest in lowlife, double-crossing, and crime." Janet Maslin, New York Times
Review
"Leonard's prose is a delivery system honed to bring fans quick hits of pleasure. The effect of this, his thirty-ninth book, is to leave you a little high and definitely addicted to the author all over again." New York Daily News
Review
"Other writers have to downshift to write a short story. Leonard's not-one-word-wasted style doesn't have to be changed a lick. His craftsmanship is such that many readers won't even notice it which is the highest compliment one can pay." Philadelphia Inquirer
Review
"[H]ighly original premises and fresh, three-dimensional characters....But perhaps Leonard's greatest accomplishment is in transforming a notoriously underread form the short story into something with mass appeal." Keir Graff, Booklist
Review
"Fresh evidence why it's a mistake to pigeonhole Leonard as a writer of westerns or crime novels. Like his mentor, John D. McDonald, the man's interested in everybody who relishes a good fight, whether it's with sharp-tongued words or shotguns." Kirkus Reviews
Review
"[L]ongtime aficionados will relish the desperate men, heat-packing dames, and punchy dialogue that Leonard can deliver in his sleep. It might just be enough to tide you over till he reloads with a full clip." Ben Goldstein, Maxim Online
Review
"Leonard fans may wish for something meatier, but the razor-edged dialogue and brisk storytelling won't disappoint." Publishers Weekly
Review
"Elmore Leonard's...most accomplished female characters in years." USA Today
Synopsis
Driven by terrific characters and superb writing, these short pieces (including two novella-length works) are Elmore Leonard at his economical best.
Synopsis
The unrivaled master of crime's first collection of noir stories. . . . “If you thought you knew all the places Elmore Leonard could take you, think again.”--Mike Lupica
In more than 30 books spanning half a century, Elmore Leonard has captured the imagination of millions as few writers can. A literary icon praised by the New York Times Book Review as “the greatest crime writer of our time, perhaps ever, ” he has influenced many contemporary writers and is known for both the quality and accessibility of his writing.
In this first collection of short pieces, including two novella-length works, since his western anthology Tonto Woman, Leonard demonstrates the superb characterization, dead-on dialogue, vivid atmosphere, and driving plotting that have made him a household name.
Synopsis
Elmore Leonard, a literary icon praised by
The New York Times Book Review as "the greatest crime writer of our time, perhaps ever," has captured the imagination of millions of readers with his more than three dozen books.
In this short fiction collection, Leonard demonstrates the superb characterizations, dead-on dialogue, vivid atmosphere, and driving plots that have made him a household name -- and once again illustrates that the line between the law and the lawbreakers is not as firm as we might think.
Federal marshal Karen Sisco, from the bestselling novel Out of Sight, returns in "Karen Makes Out," once again inadvertently mixing pleasure with business. In "Fire in the Hole," Raylan Givens, last seen in Riding the Rap and Pronto, meets up with an old friend, but they're now on different sides of the law. In the title story, "When the Women Come Out to Dance," Mrs. Mahmood gets more than she bargains for when she conspires with her maid to end her unhappy marriage.
All nine stories are Elmore Leonard at his vivid, hilarious, and unfailingly human best.
About the Author
Elmore Leonard wrote forty-five novels and nearly as many western and crime short stories across his highly successful career that spanned more than six decades. Some of his bestsellers include Road Dogs, Up in Honeys Room, The Hot Kid, Mr. Paradise, Tishomingo Blues, and the critically acclaimed collection of short stories Fire in the Hole. Many of his books have been made into movies, including Get Shorty, Out of Sight, and Rum Punch, which became Quentin Tarantinos Jackie Brown. Justified, the hit series from FX, is based on Leonards character Raylan Givens, who appears in Riding the Rap, Pronto, Raylan and the short story “Fire in the Hole”. He was a recipient of the National Book Foundations Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, the Lifetime Achievement Award from PEN USA, and the Grand Master Award of the Mystery Writers of America. He was known to many as the ‘Dickens of Detroit and was a long-time resident of the Detroit area.