Rating: 
Summary: A few good parts make Pronto barely readable
Review: Pronto started out great, but slowly became a predictable story about a bookie who gets in trouble with the mob. Harry was totally selfish and all of the characters were boring. However, the sequel Riding The Rap is good.
Rating: 
Summary: Spaghetti with a twist
Review: Spaghetti with a twist
Just he kind of Leonard novel that reminds us why he's earnt a reputation for being the best crime fiction writer in the business. Pronto is a beautifully crafted modern day western which pits the laconic US Marshall Raylan Givens into a to the death struggle with imported Italian Mafiosi hitman 'The Zip'. The story focuses on Raylan's efforts to stop 'The Zip' taking fatal revenge on veteran Miami sports bookmaker Harry Arno. Harry has quietly been on the skim from 300lb Godfather, Jimmy 'The Cap' Capotorto to the tune of $1000 a week for the last 20 years. Made wise to Harry's scamming by the Feds, Jimmy sends Harry a message in the form of low-life hit man Earl Crowe. Harry gets his gun off first and despite the efforts of the Feds to get him to trade what he knows, doesn't wait around for another visit from the murderous 'Zip' . Harry skips his bond and the baby sitting Marshall Givens and makes a nostalgic dash for Rapallo, Italy. Holed up in a picarequse Italian resort Harry is soon pursued by his ex-stripper girlfriend Joyce, 'The Zip', gangster sidekick Nicky Testa and Givens looking to redeem himself for letting Harry skip, knowing that if he doesn't do something, Harry's ass is grass. 'The Zip' who struts his macho stuff back in his homeland and endlessly humiliates Stronzo Nicky demonstrates his penchant for violence with a cold bloodied murder. The inevitable show down back in Miami between Givens and 'The Zip' reeks of spaghetti western; ' you've got 24 hours to leave the County, or I will come after you with a gun'. Givens - the cowboy in the city - charms us with his laconic humour, gritty moral sentiments and his steely sense of justice. Pronto is an exhibition of superb narrative delivery, crackling dialogue; believable characters and curious inside information about the criminal world. The inevitability of the endgame matters little, as Leornard weaves another masterly crooked tale. Don't miss it. Copyright©1997POR
Rating:
Summary: Spaghetti with a twist
Review: Spaghetti with a twistJust he kind of Leonard novel that reminds us why he's earnt a reputation for being the best crime fiction writer in the business. Pronto is a beautifully crafted modern day western which pits the laconic US Marshall Raylan Givens into a to the death struggle with imported Italian Mafiosi hitman 'The Zip'. The story focuses on Raylan's efforts to stop 'The Zip' taking fatal revenge on veteran Miami sports bookmaker Harry Arno. Harry has quietly been on the skim from 300lb Godfather, Jimmy 'The Cap' Capotorto to the tune of $1000 a week for the last 20 years. Made wise to Harry's scamming by the Feds, Jimmy sends Harry a message in the form of low-life hit man Earl Crowe. Harry gets his gun off first and despite the efforts of the Feds to get him to trade what he knows, doesn't wait around for another visit from the murderous 'Zip' . Harry skips his bond and the baby sitting Marshall Givens and makes a nostalgic dash for Rapallo, Italy. Holed up in a picarequse Italian resort Harry is soon pursued by his ex-stripper girlfriend Joyce, 'The Zip', gangster sidekick Nicky Testa and Givens looking to redeem himself for letting Harry skip, knowing that if he doesn't do something, Harry's ass is grass. 'The Zip' who struts his macho stuff back in his homeland and endlessly humiliates Stronzo Nicky demonstrates his penchant for violence with a cold bloodied murder. The inevitable show down back in Miami between Givens and 'The Zip' reeks of spaghetti western; ' you've got 24 hours to leave the County, or I will come after you with a gun'. Givens - the cowboy in the city - charms us with his laconic humour, gritty moral sentiments and his steely sense of justice. Pronto is an exhibition of superb narrative delivery, crackling dialogue; believable characters and curious inside information about the criminal world. The inevitability of the endgame matters little, as Leornard weaves another masterly crooked tale. Don't miss it. Copyright©1997POR
Rating:
Summary: One of Leonard's best ever!!
Review: This is one of the best Leonard's I have read. I can't understand the previous posts about this book (particularly the most recent one) For anyone who has the slightest comprehension/appreciation of crime/suspense fiction, just read the first chapter--one of the best openings to a crime novel I have ever read. Harry Arno is one of the great Leonard characters.
Rating: 
Summary: Good stuff!
Review: This is the characterization that is so often missing from crime novels today. They are REAL people who happen to get caught up in some crazy stuff.I liked the pacing and the dialog is the best that is out there, bar none. They talk like real people, not like tag lines in a movie script. A great introduction to a different type of crime novel.
Rating:
Summary: Good stuff!
Review: This is the characterization that is so often missing from crime novels today. They are REAL people who happen to get caught up in some crazy stuff. I liked the pacing and the dialog is the best that is out there, bar none. They talk like real people, not like tag lines in a movie script. A great introduction to a different type of crime novel.
Rating:
Summary: Great Characters!
Review: While browsing the other day I picked a copy of this smallish tome. What a great read . I loved the characters. I had watched Get Shorty several months ago and was not disappointed with The Zip, Jimmy Cap, the Texas Ranger, Harry Arno and his girl Joyce.
I must confess I read Riding the Rap first and did not know it was a continuation of this novel.
Leonard's use of plot, story lines and dialogue kept me entranced . I look forward to reading all this authors vast list of mystery gems
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