By: Elmore Leonard

So, I generally like Elmore Leonard novels. I liked this one, but it felt dated. This was released in 1980 and set I am guessing a few years prior (Bee Gees and lots of 70s references). It sounded like when I grew up – which would not fly today. That includes the shrugging attitude towards sexual assaults.

And Leonard’s writing takes a Western story and places it in 1970’s Detroit. Detective Raymond Cruz is hunting the ‘Oklahoma Wildman’ Clement Mansell – who guns down a crooked judge in what today would be a road rage incident. This is not a mystery – we know who done it, the cops know who done it – it instead is a battle of wits and circumstances. Until the final showdown. Leonard’s writing and pacing are superb.

I bought this book because they are using it as the bones of the next Justified project. Reading the story, Cruz reads like a Raylan Givens prototype in a Justified situation. I can easily see how Givens can replace Cruz, the US Marshalls replace the Detroit police, and any of the Justified marshals can be a part of the action. Good book, I can see an even better Justified story in it.

336 Pages

3.5/5