Rating: 
Summary: Can't wait for the Film!!!
Review: This ultra-cool novel is thoroughly entertaining cover to cover.
I can't wait to see the Movie. Characters range from the super cool to the corn-ball and hysterically funny!
A must read...would convert anyone to an Elmore fan!
Rating: 
Summary: This Leonard offering left me Blue.
Review: Maybe I've lost my love of everything Elmore, but "Tishomingo Blues" was a bit of a disappointment.There is no doubt - this book is stamped from cover to cover with Mr. Leonard's touch. The story is well researched, the characters are intriguing, and the wit is ever sharp. Unfortunately, these elements didn't make up for an average plot. Sure, the civil war reenactment is a great setting, and Mr. Leonard nails the Deep South atmosphere like a pro. But the story just doesn't pull the reader from page to page like some of his other works. There was simply nothing here that had me wondering what was going to happen next. My lack of enthusiasm for this book may just be a case of burnout. I've come to expect a lot from Mr. Leonard, and this one didn't deliver for me. However, this is a well-written book, with lots of great elements. If you're looking for a quick read of typical Elmore, this will do. If you're looking for Mr. Leonard's best work, dive into "Get Shorty."
Rating: 
Summary: A CON MAN'S GAME IN CIVIL WAR UNIFORM
Review: Unlike a lot of other reviewers here, I am not that familiar with Elmore Leonard's work. I am at a disadvantage because I can't compare this novel to his other writing, but that works as an advantage too. I came to it without any preconceived notions based on his other writings. What Leonard has done in TISHOMINGO BLUES is to set a gangster war in the center of a re-enactment of a Civil War battle and located the whole thing in a semi-rural, somewhat redneck, contemporary southern city; albeit, a city with gambling resorts. To add spice to this setting, the main protagonist, Dennis Lenahan, is a carnival daredevil who dives into a tank of water from a height of 80 feet. Further added to the mix is protagonist number two, blues lover and con man extraordinaire, Robert Taylor from Detroit. There is no shortage of "evil-doers" in TISHOMINGO BLUES. Even the good guys are bad guys, just more likeable. They're our bad guys. On the side of our good bad guys is Germano "Jerry" Mularoni, Detroit gangster. On the other side, the first rank "baddies" are Arlin Novis, Juniper "Junebug" Owens, and Jim "Fish" Rein. Non-aligned is John Rau, a member of the Criminal Investigation Bureau. For color, we have Charlie, a one subject huckster, whose only subject of conversation is the two innings of Major League Baseball he once pitched. There are also several other lesser characters includingling Tonto, an aptly named side-kick. For love interest there are a few Southern Women with names like Verline and Loretta. Put this whole bunch in Civil War Uniforms, both Union and Confederate, arm them, and give every one of them a reason to "do in" some or all of the others, and you have Leonard's plot in a nutshell. There are no clean motives in this book. There are no moral issues to be decided. This said, Leonard does work up our sympathies for the two protagonists and before the sun sets on the battlefield (actually, even before it rises) we know for whom we're rooting, whatever their motives. That's one of the beauties of Leonard's writing, we know who our crooks are. I found TISHOMINGO BLUES worth reading just to find out who does what to whom and how and when.
Rating:
Summary: Pretty standard Elmore Leonard...
Review: Elmore Leonard is the king of weird characters and strange plots. This one centers around a high-dive artist and a Civil War reenactment. Aside from the unique setting, this book is your basic Elmore Leonard. The good guys are shady, but likeable, and the bad guys are just plain bad. Leonard's dialogue is always the best part of his writing, and that doesn't change here. It took a while for things to get rolling in this book, and once they did, the end seemed to fall together a little too fast. I was wondering what was going on and what the whole point of story was 200 pages into a 300-some page book. There is, however, enough wrapped up in the plot and the strange setting to keep the reader interested, if for no other reason than to see how all this weirdness runs together. Also, the final female character was lobbed in at the last possible moment in kind of an odd fashion. Like most of Leonard's books, this isn't a literary masterpiece expounding on the meaning of life, but one can always rely on Leonard to be entertaining, and he certainly acheives that here.
Rating: 
Summary: Don't bother.
Review: Elmore Leonard used to be a great writer. This book proves it.
You're only as good as your last work. I hope he puts more effort into future endeavors.
Rating:
Summary: Movie Script Blues
Review: Elmore Leonard's books are usually page turners because I must find out what's going to happen next. This one had me thinking, "Yeah, yeah. I could see that coming." It read like he knew this one would be picked up for a film. It has more "wallpaper" than most of his novels, complete with a big Civil War reenactment complete with costumes. It was amusing at times, but didn't seem to have the hard hitting action and character development of his older novels. But of course, if they do make a movie, I'll go see it, and of course I'll buy the next Elmore Leonard novel. He is still one of the best.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: I haven't read an Elmore Leonard book that wasn't worth the price. The guy knows what he's doing. Dysfunctional character development, plot twists, dialogs. He's a master. And I don't read any other crime novels. He's just very idiosyncratic and unique for his genre. He writes characters that you'd expect to see in a Wes Anderson or Cohen Brothers movie.
Rating:
Summary: Another Disappointing Leonard Novel
Review: Humorous mysteries and fantasies can provide wonderful laugh-aloud reading, and I especially like the ones with a serious undertone (Elizabeth Peters' "Amelia Peabody" adventures, Terry Pratchett's Discworld, and so on). I keep hearing that Elmore Leonard writes them, but he doesn't. This novel hasn't a single saving grace. I often donate my used mysteries to church for resale--but not this one. If you enjoy a cast of entirely conscienceless, immoral characters, a stultifying plot, and an easy-to-spot solution, be my guest. But if you enjoy a good mystery (and there are plenty of good ones out there), you shouldn't bother with this book.
Rating:
Summary: Worth it just to learn the word "farb"
Review: Leonard is a master and I loved this book. I've been reading him since '67 ("The Big Bounce") and he never disappoints. In this one, the unique, utterly original setting (the Civil War re-enactment) was a match for the masterful dialogue, so that you're dazzled and amazed by both. And it's worth the price, just to learn the word "farb." Now I just have to figure out how to work it into a converation.
Rating:
Summary: Take the Plunge
Review: This is a wild ride! Elmore Leonard introduces some of the quirkiest characters that you'll ever come across. The book would have earned a fifth star from me if he would have delved even more into the backgrounds of these crazy folks. A traveling high dive artist gets hooked up with a yankee con man in the South and lands smack dab in the middle of a Civil War reenactment that pits a northern godfather wannabe against the Dixie Mafia. The sidekick thugs on both sides of this battle will keep you shaking your head in disbelief. Nothing to be taken seriously. You'll have fun with it!---Robert John Estko, author of the suspense thriller EVIL, BE GONE.
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