Rating: 
Summary: This is not Leonard's Finest Hour
Review: Having read other books by Leonard, I found "Riding the Gap" to be weak in comparison. The book is a tale of three unlikable hoods who kidnap a bookie with the intention of getting him to give them money he has in an offshore account. The kidnapping is investigated by a marshal, Raylan, who is a likable main character, but that's about it. He seems to stumble thorugh his investiagtion. There are few plot twists and little surprise. If this is the first Leonard novel you read, then you will probably enjoy it more than a seasoned reader and writer of hard boiled mysteries like myself. Instead of reading this book, try get "Get Shorty" by Leonard and then come back to this one. You will then recognize the tremendous skill of this writer.
Rating: 
Summary: "Mis-Givens" die hard.
Review: Here's the scenario. Out of impulse, I walk into a store and who should I find but Mr Leonard sitting there in those flashy primaries he always wears. Sitting there and smiling at me, knowing he's got the stuff I want.So there's no escape. I like his books. I buy his books. Not just that, I sit back and smoke them, inhaling every last deadbeat, no-gooder he scratches into the story. So what can I say about "Riding the Rap". I liked it, of course. But I didn't like it as much as the book it follows on from, "Pronto". I don't know whether it would be different if I had read "Riding the Rap" before "Pronto" but do I know it made a big difference to how I read the "Rap". In "Pronto" I had grown attached to his well drawn character, crack-shot US Marshall/Cowboy, Raylan Givens, so much so that I didn't want to see him come off the rails in any further adventure that Leonard might employ him in. So I had some misgivings about "Riding the Rap". Fortunately they weren't all well founded. In this, his latest novel, Leonard is successful in taking his hero to new levels, retaining his character but also revealing new aspects, even letting Givens's law abiding nature rule the plot a little. Givens is again in search of old acquaintance and almost friend Harry Arno. This time Harry has been kidnapped and is in serious danger of being killed. Leonard turns up the temperature nicely as Givens hunts for Arno while the trio of kidnappers begin to distrust each other and eventually lose control. It's a good book. As a crime novel it's still up there and won't disappoint if you're looking for a crackling good yarn. But be warned, Mr Leonard. Your cowboy only has a six-gun. Use your remaining shots wisely.
Rating: 
Summary: Awwwwww.... not his best
Review: I guess even Leonard is entitled to an off day. Somehow this book gets stuck in the mud along the way which is so unlike the usual fare from this terrific writer.The story is about a policeman who's trying to help an old friend that was kidnapped. Unfortunately, after a great beginning, the plot gets kidnapped and dies in an uninteresting shoot-out at the book's conclusion. I'll still keep reading Elmore Leonard's stuff because he so rarely misses. Buy this one at a discount and read it on a plane; if you don't finish and accidentally leave it on your seat when you land, you won't have missed too much.
Rating:
Summary: Awwwwww.... not his best
Review: I guess even Leonard is entitled to an off day. Somehow this book gets stuck in the mud along the way which is so unlike the usual fare from this terrific writer. The story is about a policeman who's trying to help an old friend that was kidnapped. Unfortunately, after a great beginning, the plot gets kidnapped and dies in an uninteresting shoot-out at the book's conclusion. I'll still keep reading Elmore Leonard's stuff because he so rarely misses. Buy this one at a discount and read it on a plane; if you don't finish and accidentally leave it on your seat when you land, you won't have missed too much.
Rating:
Summary: An introduction to E.L.
Review: I have not read many crime novels in my days, but i did really enjoy Riding the Rap. It was a fairly easy read which made it good to fly through it in a couple sittings. I really liked the story and like how the plot developed throughout the book. The characters all seemed to very well developed and interesting. I have not read any other Leonard books, but i will definetly seek to read more. I would recommend this book if you are looking for a simple read that will not take a whole lot of energy or time, but are looking for something exciting that will keep you interested until the end. It was not a real crime thriller or focus too much on the legality of the whole situation. As i read it, i was simply riding along with the characters as they proceeded on their journey of trying to become very wealthy. They simplicity of the story made it easy to stay interested and did not have a lot of low points. I hope that as i read more of Elmore Leonard, i can be as motivated as to get to the end as i was with this book.
Rating:
Summary: An introduction to E.L.
Review: I have not read many crime novels in my days, but i did really enjoy Riding the Rap. It was a fairly easy read which made it good to fly through it in a couple sittings. I really liked the story and like how the plot developed throughout the book. The characters all seemed to very well developed and interesting. I have not read any other Leonard books, but i will definetly seek to read more. I would recommend this book if you are looking for a simple read that will not take a whole lot of energy or time, but are looking for something exciting that will keep you interested until the end. It was not a real crime thriller or focus too much on the legality of the whole situation. As i read it, i was simply riding along with the characters as they proceeded on their journey of trying to become very wealthy. They simplicity of the story made it easy to stay interested and did not have a lot of low points. I hope that as i read more of Elmore Leonard, i can be as motivated as to get to the end as i was with this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Elmore Leonard is the best, but better wth new characters.
Review: I love Elmore Leonard novels. I am always pleased to find a new one. I save them to read when I have a chance to savor them. However, sequelizations, even good ones, always leave me cold. I would swear even the bad guys are familiar, particularly Chip, although the names have been changed to protect the innocent. Don't get me wrong! Any Elmore Leonard book is worth reading, and this one was definitely very enjoyable
Rating:
Summary: Diverting but not lasting
Review: I'd not read an Elmore Leonard book prior to this, and by the end I could tell why his books sell so well. It's very much a "beach book," guilty pleasure type of experience. The plot is what I gather to be standard Leonard fare, cops and robbers running around in Florida getting in odd situations and spouting wise-a** remarks left and right. It's all very diverting, but don't expect anything lasting.
Rating:
Summary: Riding the Rap - Leonard
Review: I'm not quite sure what I missed when I read Riding the Rap but I obviously missed something. I'm afraid that I can't honestly continue the string of rave reviews. Every character in the novel was flat and few were likable. While the intent of the writing style might have been realism, it was just plain irritating. Leonard has probably written some great books but it'll be a while before I go back to the bookstore to try another.
Rating:
Summary: Riding the Rap - Leonard
Review: I'm not quite sure what I missed when I read Riding the Rap but I obviously missed something. I'm afraid that I can't honestly continue the string of rave reviews. Every character in the novel was flat and few were likable. While the intent of the writing style might have been realism, it was just plain irritating. Leonard has probably written some great books but it'll be a while before I go back to the bookstore to try another.
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