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Split Images
“Constant action and top-notch writing.”
—New York Times
A Palm Beach playboy who amuses himself with murder finds himself on a collision course with a vacationing Motown cop in Elmore Leonard’s Split Images—a gripping and electrifying example of noir gold from “the coolest, hottest writer in America” (Chicago Tribune). Split Images is Grand Master Leonard at the top of his game, a bravura example of how exemplary crime fiction is done by a writer who stands tall among the all-time mystery greats: John D. MacDonald, Dashiell Hammett, James M. Cain, et al. The brilliant creator of U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens (of TV’s Justified) now brings us a cast of vivid and unforgettable characters on both sides of the law, in a twisting masterwork of unrelenting suspense that the Washington Post calls, “Brilliant...impressive...superb.”
—New York Times
A Palm Beach playboy who amuses himself with murder finds himself on a collision course with a vacationing Motown cop in Elmore Leonard’s Split Images—a gripping and electrifying example of noir gold from “the coolest, hottest writer in America” (Chicago Tribune). Split Images is Grand Master Leonard at the top of his game, a bravura example of how exemplary crime fiction is done by a writer who stands tall among the all-time mystery greats: John D. MacDonald, Dashiell Hammett, James M. Cain, et al. The brilliant creator of U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens (of TV’s Justified) now brings us a cast of vivid and unforgettable characters on both sides of the law, in a twisting masterwork of unrelenting suspense that the Washington Post calls, “Brilliant...impressive...superb.”
282 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 1, 1982
358 people are currently reading
833 people want to read
About the author
Elmore Leonard
213 books3,682 followersElmore John Leonard lived in Dallas, Oklahoma City and Memphis before settling in Detroit in 1935. After serving in the navy, he studied English literature at the University of Detroit where he entered a short story competition. His earliest published novels in the 1950s were westerns, but Leonard went on to specialize in crime fiction and suspense thrillers, many of which have been adapted into motion pictures.
Father of Peter Leonard.
Father of Peter Leonard.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 161 reviews
June 5, 2022
I just reread this book, and I liked it even better than I did when I wrote this review ten years ago, so I'm rating it four stars instead of the original three. I don't know what I was thinking then--must have been having a bad day or something, but this really is a fun read. My original review is below:
As is almost always the case in a book by Elmore Leonard, the characters in Split Images take precedence over the plot.
Robbie Daniels made millions in the Detroit industrial company that he inherited from his father. But Robbie has little interest in being a captain of industry. He much prefers the role of Palm Beach playboy. He especially likes golf, women and guns. He also likes killing people.
Robbie fantasizes about the idea of killing truly despicable bad guys who are beyond the reach of the law. He recruits Walter Kouza, a former Detroit policeman, to assist him in his mission. Walter has relocated to Florida, but he's bored with his wife and his life and he sees the opportunity of going to work for Robbie as his last chance at a better life, even if Robbie does have homicidal intentions.
Angela Nolan is an attractive journalist who's interviewing Robbie for an article on how rich people live while Detroit homicide detective Bryan Hurd is vacationing in Florida, hoping without much luck, to get away from homicide for a couple of weeks.
The four characters find their lives intersecting in a story that moves back and forth between Florida and Michigan. Each has his or her own objectives and inevitably this will produce complications. As always, it's fun to watch a master story teller at work as Leonard throws these characters together into the boiling pot and then stands back to see what might come bubbling up to the surface.
As is almost always the case in a book by Elmore Leonard, the characters in Split Images take precedence over the plot.
Robbie Daniels made millions in the Detroit industrial company that he inherited from his father. But Robbie has little interest in being a captain of industry. He much prefers the role of Palm Beach playboy. He especially likes golf, women and guns. He also likes killing people.
Robbie fantasizes about the idea of killing truly despicable bad guys who are beyond the reach of the law. He recruits Walter Kouza, a former Detroit policeman, to assist him in his mission. Walter has relocated to Florida, but he's bored with his wife and his life and he sees the opportunity of going to work for Robbie as his last chance at a better life, even if Robbie does have homicidal intentions.
Angela Nolan is an attractive journalist who's interviewing Robbie for an article on how rich people live while Detroit homicide detective Bryan Hurd is vacationing in Florida, hoping without much luck, to get away from homicide for a couple of weeks.
The four characters find their lives intersecting in a story that moves back and forth between Florida and Michigan. Each has his or her own objectives and inevitably this will produce complications. As always, it's fun to watch a master story teller at work as Leonard throws these characters together into the boiling pot and then stands back to see what might come bubbling up to the surface.
December 29, 2019
Most of the Elmore Leonard novels I read score 4 stars, I've noticed. He seems incapable of writing a 2 or a 5 star book, at least so far. I will never reread an Elmore Leonard book, because there will always be another Elmore Leonard book to read.
If I somehow managed to finish them all, I'm sure the Estate of Elmore Leonard would release a dozen more posthumous works recovered from one of his desk drawers.
Leonard is a very consistent writer. His books have consistency. This one, like the others I've read, reads flowingly, quickly, and snappily. His novels are like good HBO dramas, with the accompanying profanity. He is like Chandler, but rated R instead of PG-13.
The characters in this book are especially interesting. You can put yourself in their shoes. The way the author depicts their despicable actions plainly, and allows us to learn about them through dialogue, is as effective as I have come to expect.
The downside of Leonard is, the more of him you read, the more the novels begin to blend together. This means that the intricate plot twists begin to seem less fresh and the surprises are not in any way mind-blowing, but you just have to keep coming back for the characters.
You get the feel for his grimy streets, and in this novel, the posh streets and parking lots, the haunted Palm Beach backyards, and his singular talent is nowhere more evident than in his priceless dialogue. 90% of his book is typically dialogue. I can picture the characters most of the time by what they say alone. Dialogue is king in crime fiction, I guess, and Leonard has it down.
Usually, the set-up comes early, and the plot unfolds in a more believable fashion than most other noir-ish yarns. I can totally see a jaded millionaire acting like that, and the suspicious people surrounding him fit the bill nicely. It is best to sit back and enjoy this novel in real time. Read it quickly if you can, and if it is your first Leonard novel, it just might get you hooked.
If I somehow managed to finish them all, I'm sure the Estate of Elmore Leonard would release a dozen more posthumous works recovered from one of his desk drawers.
Leonard is a very consistent writer. His books have consistency. This one, like the others I've read, reads flowingly, quickly, and snappily. His novels are like good HBO dramas, with the accompanying profanity. He is like Chandler, but rated R instead of PG-13.
The characters in this book are especially interesting. You can put yourself in their shoes. The way the author depicts their despicable actions plainly, and allows us to learn about them through dialogue, is as effective as I have come to expect.
The downside of Leonard is, the more of him you read, the more the novels begin to blend together. This means that the intricate plot twists begin to seem less fresh and the surprises are not in any way mind-blowing, but you just have to keep coming back for the characters.
You get the feel for his grimy streets, and in this novel, the posh streets and parking lots, the haunted Palm Beach backyards, and his singular talent is nowhere more evident than in his priceless dialogue. 90% of his book is typically dialogue. I can picture the characters most of the time by what they say alone. Dialogue is king in crime fiction, I guess, and Leonard has it down.
Usually, the set-up comes early, and the plot unfolds in a more believable fashion than most other noir-ish yarns. I can totally see a jaded millionaire acting like that, and the suspicious people surrounding him fit the bill nicely. It is best to sit back and enjoy this novel in real time. Read it quickly if you can, and if it is your first Leonard novel, it just might get you hooked.
December 11, 2023
There’s just something here that really gets me. I like this era of Elmore’s work so much, the era of The Hunted and Swag and Gold Coast and Mr. Majestyk. I like his quiet men and the nuances of heat and loneliness in his relationships. It’s not storybook. It’s real. It’s lived-in. Here, there’s a guy who maybe wants to kill people (he definitely wants to kill people) and the part that sings is his hired ex-cop stalking the intercoastal waterway beleaguered with clunky cameras and bug bites. Everybody’s got a thorn in their side. Everybody’s got a cross to bear. Everybody’s got a bone to pick with their father. And because of the love between Angela and Bryan, there’s maybe the most terrible, beautiful line I’ve had from Elmore yet:
But he wasn’t going to outscream the ocean. Nobody was going to do that.
- - -
May 2014: Each time through I find something a little extra to love. This time, it’s the way Bryan’s small lies don’t even merit a comment. They don’t backfire, they don’t affect the plot, he doesn’t get found out, it doesn’t put him at a crossroads or cause a crisis of conscience. It’s just a part of who he is and he’s a good man through and through.
But he wasn’t going to outscream the ocean. Nobody was going to do that.
- - -
May 2014: Each time through I find something a little extra to love. This time, it’s the way Bryan’s small lies don’t even merit a comment. They don’t backfire, they don’t affect the plot, he doesn’t get found out, it doesn’t put him at a crossroads or cause a crisis of conscience. It’s just a part of who he is and he’s a good man through and through.
November 8, 2014
There are writers that use their characters to explore the nature of humanity. They dissect their character's thoughts and actions in order to get to the The Heart of the Matter. They work for small bits of truth in a sea of reality and they often succeed, if they are good.
But humans do not fall open to scrutiny so easily. Often in life, the person in front of you simply acts without any hint as to the reasons why. There is no narrator speaking from above and their complexity is protected by their skin, their eyes, and the depths of their mind. For what we see, they simply act and it is only after the fact that we can contemplate their actions. But their actions are human because that is what we all are.
This is Leonard's approach to Split Images. His characters are complete in their complexity. Their actions are beholden to no explanation other than some mysterious thought process that remains their own. Leonard takes a wedge out the world, puts it between the front and back covers, and lets his readers see life play out on every page. It takes a subtle hand to create such a reality in words, but Leonard seems to know that life is seldom more than the sum total of the actions of the people living it.
But humans do not fall open to scrutiny so easily. Often in life, the person in front of you simply acts without any hint as to the reasons why. There is no narrator speaking from above and their complexity is protected by their skin, their eyes, and the depths of their mind. For what we see, they simply act and it is only after the fact that we can contemplate their actions. But their actions are human because that is what we all are.
This is Leonard's approach to Split Images. His characters are complete in their complexity. Their actions are beholden to no explanation other than some mysterious thought process that remains their own. Leonard takes a wedge out the world, puts it between the front and back covers, and lets his readers see life play out on every page. It takes a subtle hand to create such a reality in words, but Leonard seems to know that life is seldom more than the sum total of the actions of the people living it.
October 12, 2019
Just a second.
Taking a moment to gather my collective.
Second read on this although it's been at least 10 years since I last read this.
I think.
But I just don't know.
This is not a great example of Elmore Leonard at his utmost but it's still something akin to what Thomas Perry has done with his stand-alones.
Likeable enough but essentially a page-turner.
Nice set of characters. Not a lot of the usual dry, dry but witty repartee which is why I didn't give it 5 stars. You can look up a synopsis of this yourself. Hope you don't run into any spoilers.
Recommended for any Elmore Leonard newcomers as well as old hands.
A good reminder to long-time fans that Dutch didn't always land on the solid notes; lost the rhythm or the count of beats on occasion.
But he always told a compelling story and knew how to hold a reader captive.
Taking a moment to gather my collective.
Second read on this although it's been at least 10 years since I last read this.
I think.
But I just don't know.
This is not a great example of Elmore Leonard at his utmost but it's still something akin to what Thomas Perry has done with his stand-alones.
Likeable enough but essentially a page-turner.
Nice set of characters. Not a lot of the usual dry, dry but witty repartee which is why I didn't give it 5 stars. You can look up a synopsis of this yourself. Hope you don't run into any spoilers.
Recommended for any Elmore Leonard newcomers as well as old hands.
A good reminder to long-time fans that Dutch didn't always land on the solid notes; lost the rhythm or the count of beats on occasion.
But he always told a compelling story and knew how to hold a reader captive.
July 6, 2019
Clearly, this is my idea of a detective novel. Honestly, I finished this in a local pub, and I apologise if people were uncomfortable with the old dude reading a book like it was scrolled in stone, but I couldn't let it go. I was amazed at detective Bryan Hurd's professional discipline, but that's what the law is about.
May 18, 2012
An "old" (1980s) Elmore Leonard book. I always enjoy his books. I think he writes great dialogue.
September 12, 2022
Rather than a whodunit, Leonard has crafted a sort of character study / exposé in this entertaining novel. Robbie Daniels, a rich, unscrupulous and, essentially, antisocial personality disordered asshole who enjoys killing people and using others to facilitate his evil hobby is the focal point. Walter Kouza, a beleaguered cop of 21 years who falls prey to Robbie’s charms and offer of private employment, only to recognize his mistake too late, serves as a counterpoint to the other central character— a Detroit homicide lieutenant called Bryan Hurd. And rounding out the cast is Angela Nolan, a journalist, doing a piece about rich people who forms a love interest with Bryan.
The story really shines as it reveals each of these individual’s personalities and builds tension. The reader knows that Robbie and Walter are planning a murder, but not when or where or who, exactly. It’s fun to watch Bryan, Detroit’s most skilled detective, begin to form a theory and , eventually, act on it.
To say much more might spoil the story, so suffice it to say that Leonard knows how to manage dialogue and action. The reader might sense how things will turn out, but I think that’s not really the point. It’s more important to become connected with these four people as their drama unfolds. Good stuff!
The story really shines as it reveals each of these individual’s personalities and builds tension. The reader knows that Robbie and Walter are planning a murder, but not when or where or who, exactly. It’s fun to watch Bryan, Detroit’s most skilled detective, begin to form a theory and , eventually, act on it.
To say much more might spoil the story, so suffice it to say that Leonard knows how to manage dialogue and action. The reader might sense how things will turn out, but I think that’s not really the point. It’s more important to become connected with these four people as their drama unfolds. Good stuff!
December 9, 2022
Most Detroit-ass book I've ever read, right down to the corrupt Polish cop from Hamtramck who is scared that his old neighborhood is now full of punks.
Anyway, this is also the most Elmore Leonard of the Elmore Leonard books I have read, in that it's about Detroit trash who hang out a lot in Florida and commit crimes in both states but also have snappy conversations about philosophy and music. Like this is the stereotype in your head when you think about what Elmore Leonard writes about.
Anyway, this is also the most Elmore Leonard of the Elmore Leonard books I have read, in that it's about Detroit trash who hang out a lot in Florida and commit crimes in both states but also have snappy conversations about philosophy and music. Like this is the stereotype in your head when you think about what Elmore Leonard writes about.
July 4, 2022
Excerpt:
... Chichi smiled in his bored cultured way, then snapped his fingers. "A party-where was that? Everyone wanted to escape, to fantasise."
Robbie said, "And you got caught in the cabana, I think it was, going down on the hostess."
"A lovely lady," Chichi said. Bony features creased in a smile of recognition. "Ah, Robbie" - pronouncing it Robie- "now i remember you. The delicacy of a drill press. Are you still seducing young girls?"
"Only when your sister's in town," Robbie said. "Nice seeing you again, Cheech."
"Nice seeing you too," Chichi said. By the way, I met your wife yesterday at Wellington..."
Got him. Bryan caught Robbie's instant look of surprise.
"Ah, you don't know she's here, uh? With that Polish count, what's his name? From Colorado. The one who dyes his hair white and wears the fringed jackets."
Robbie said, "What difference does it make?"
"I don't know," Chichi said, "Patti is your wife, not mine. She and the count flew in for the polo. I wouldn't worry about it."
Robbie said, "Do I look worried?"
Chichi Fuentes took the question literally and studied him. "No, you look more confused, I think. I told them, you want the best polo, go down to Casa de Campo, you want only to fuck, well, Palm Beach is all right."
They ciao-ed each other with cold smiles and that was that.
Bryan would remember it as pussy time at Seminole: two grown men spitting at each other in the locker room. Was this the way rich guys had it out? He'd have to ask Angela,
In conclusion:
Elmore Leonard never fails to entertain with his snappy, witty, smart characterisations, tinged with just a soupcon of bitchiness.
Highly recommended and my favourite Leonard of the previous 5 or 6 of his I have read. An easy 4* from this reader.
... Chichi smiled in his bored cultured way, then snapped his fingers. "A party-where was that? Everyone wanted to escape, to fantasise."
Robbie said, "And you got caught in the cabana, I think it was, going down on the hostess."
"A lovely lady," Chichi said. Bony features creased in a smile of recognition. "Ah, Robbie" - pronouncing it Robie- "now i remember you. The delicacy of a drill press. Are you still seducing young girls?"
"Only when your sister's in town," Robbie said. "Nice seeing you again, Cheech."
"Nice seeing you too," Chichi said. By the way, I met your wife yesterday at Wellington..."
Got him. Bryan caught Robbie's instant look of surprise.
"Ah, you don't know she's here, uh? With that Polish count, what's his name? From Colorado. The one who dyes his hair white and wears the fringed jackets."
Robbie said, "What difference does it make?"
"I don't know," Chichi said, "Patti is your wife, not mine. She and the count flew in for the polo. I wouldn't worry about it."
Robbie said, "Do I look worried?"
Chichi Fuentes took the question literally and studied him. "No, you look more confused, I think. I told them, you want the best polo, go down to Casa de Campo, you want only to fuck, well, Palm Beach is all right."
They ciao-ed each other with cold smiles and that was that.
Bryan would remember it as pussy time at Seminole: two grown men spitting at each other in the locker room. Was this the way rich guys had it out? He'd have to ask Angela,
In conclusion:
Elmore Leonard never fails to entertain with his snappy, witty, smart characterisations, tinged with just a soupcon of bitchiness.
Highly recommended and my favourite Leonard of the previous 5 or 6 of his I have read. An easy 4* from this reader.
October 24, 2023
Years ago, I was obsessed with two authors: Stephen King and Elmore Leonard. While my King love has stayed strong, I've let my Leonard reading drop off in recent years. Truth be told, I've hit a few "duds" that kind of turned me off and unfortunately, this is another one of them.
Splitting the narrative between the protagonists and the antagonists is clever but doesn't really amount to much. I ended up feeling like I didn't understand anyone's motivations. And the ending was a big nothing sandwich.
I'm not giving up on Leonard but I won't be rushing back after this.
Splitting the narrative between the protagonists and the antagonists is clever but doesn't really amount to much. I ended up feeling like I didn't understand anyone's motivations. And the ending was a big nothing sandwich.
I'm not giving up on Leonard but I won't be rushing back after this.
June 8, 2023
"Gonna come right out and say you, Mr. Hurd, are the best homicide dick I know or know of."
This one starts with a bang, with a guy getting shot in the very first sentence. The action, which takes place in and around both Palm Beach and Detroit--familiar Leonard stomping grounds--stays pretty consistent despite the sort of unlikely love story embedded herein, but even with that it remains a quick and engaging read. The book's hero, homicide detective Lt. Bryan Hurd, is likeable and, of course, "justified." Despite some very Raylanesque scenes, though, Hurd is anti-Raylan Givens in terms of gunslinging, principally because Hurd never uses his gun (and even winds rubber bands around the pistol's grip to keep it secure in the holster). That said, he's good with a flashlight when he needs to be. So, verdict: The novel's love-at-first sight arc is improbable (and journalist Angela Nolan, the object of Hurd's affection, is definitely the most, if not only, inconsistent character in the cast), but there's still plenty of crime, intrigue and, especially, amusing dialogue to keep things interesting.
First line:
"In the winter of 1981 a multimillionaire by the name of Robinson Daniels shot a Haitian refugee who had broken into his home in Palm Beach."
January 13, 2025
I thought this was pretty great. I particularly loved that it had a touch of romance. Bryan is such a cool character and I enjoyed reading his thoughts. The first half was slow but the last 100 pages had me sucked in.
August 14, 2024
two stars for Guidall's fine performance and one star for a jumpy story that was just pedestrian work for Leonard to put some "bread on the table". Maybe the draft was a short story?
November 9, 2024
Elmore is so good at this
November 26, 2018
His name was Chi Chi. I figured he was a golf pro, gigilo , or band leader.
Split Images, what would Thomas Wolfe had called it?
Right up the with Djibouti and Road dogs.
Split Images, what would Thomas Wolfe had called it?
Right up the with Djibouti and Road dogs.
January 30, 2021
Standard Elmore fanfare, very much enjoyed Bryan Hurd’s character and his reporter counterpart, but the main plot and protagonists lagged a bit in spots.
July 29, 2016
Coming off of The Reckoning, I needed something like an Elmore Leonard novel: dialogue-driven and page-turning. I’ve read around twenty of them, but never this one from 1981. This isn’t his best.
The title epitomizes the book: didn’t he have an editor to tell him how clunky it sounds? It doesn’t roll off the tongue. And while the titles of Leonard’s books are like the titles of James Bond movies, this one falls flat. The other issue is that the plot revolves around a millionaire who wants to kill someone because … he wants to kill someone. I know, I know—any excuse for the dialogue—but I couldn’t shake the feeling of, “That’s it?” At least when the crimes revolve around revenge or money, the reader could understand the criminals’ motives. Here, the net result is a shrug of the shoulders. I finished it so I could say, “Right, good.”
But it’s not terrible. There are a few funny spots and Walter Kouza, the ex-cop that Harvey Keitel was born to play, is a terrific Leonard type. Better weak Elmore Leonard than what Nabokov called poshlost, the second-rate masquerading as first-rate. This one is from that period in Leonard’s career when he was still gritty (the superior Swag was in 1976 and Stick was in 1982) but before he turned the corner and became more celebrated by the literati who assumed they were granting all of us permission to enjoy a book that was sold in drugstore racks. Not that there are “drugstore racks” any more, but anyone who likes Leonard will get the point.
The title epitomizes the book: didn’t he have an editor to tell him how clunky it sounds? It doesn’t roll off the tongue. And while the titles of Leonard’s books are like the titles of James Bond movies, this one falls flat. The other issue is that the plot revolves around a millionaire who wants to kill someone because … he wants to kill someone. I know, I know—any excuse for the dialogue—but I couldn’t shake the feeling of, “That’s it?” At least when the crimes revolve around revenge or money, the reader could understand the criminals’ motives. Here, the net result is a shrug of the shoulders. I finished it so I could say, “Right, good.”
But it’s not terrible. There are a few funny spots and Walter Kouza, the ex-cop that Harvey Keitel was born to play, is a terrific Leonard type. Better weak Elmore Leonard than what Nabokov called poshlost, the second-rate masquerading as first-rate. This one is from that period in Leonard’s career when he was still gritty (the superior Swag was in 1976 and Stick was in 1982) but before he turned the corner and became more celebrated by the literati who assumed they were granting all of us permission to enjoy a book that was sold in drugstore racks. Not that there are “drugstore racks” any more, but anyone who likes Leonard will get the point.
February 18, 2018
Split Images is my favourite book by one of my favourite authors because it's kind of a different book from his other works and goes into some unexpected directions.
The book that features probably on of Elmore's more despicable characters who's a monster just because he enjoys it and can get away with it because of his money and status and the cop who starts to suspect that something is off with him. The story goes into lots of unexpected places including featuring a lot of heart which isn't something Elmore does very often and because the book has heart that fates of some of the characters really hit you in the hurts because you generally want to see everything work out for them.
The book is also fun because it features some crossover characters from some of his other works and if your a eagle eye Leonard freak like I am you will spot them right away. If your still reading this review, WHY? Go read this book! Look it up at the library, order it online, READ THIS BOOK!!
The book that features probably on of Elmore's more despicable characters who's a monster just because he enjoys it and can get away with it because of his money and status and the cop who starts to suspect that something is off with him. The story goes into lots of unexpected places including featuring a lot of heart which isn't something Elmore does very often and because the book has heart that fates of some of the characters really hit you in the hurts because you generally want to see everything work out for them.
The book is also fun because it features some crossover characters from some of his other works and if your a eagle eye Leonard freak like I am you will spot them right away. If your still reading this review, WHY? Go read this book! Look it up at the library, order it online, READ THIS BOOK!!
August 22, 2016
Never thought I'd come across an Elmore Leonard novel I didn't like, but here it is. The usual bright, sparky Leonard characters are dull and insipid. The love story feels forced. The plot is drawn out and lifeless. Even Leonard's usually incisive prose is blunt and underwhelming. Normally I'd be singing the praises of Leonard's awesome dialogue, but characters are so charisma-lite that the dialogue feels perfunctory and, dare I say it, boring. A huge disappointment.
December 4, 2011
I didn't like this at all and gave up as it seemed that it was going to be full of the F-word and I didn't feel like hunting for the plot amongst bad language. I still want to try some more books by this author though.
March 8, 2016
A descent crime-thriller. I liked the way the dialogues were; the way they were, seemed extremely natural and realistic.
The story was ok/good. A very fast-read.
Maybe, I will read some of Mr. Leonard's other books some day, but just as light-reads for a break! :D
The story was ok/good. A very fast-read.
Maybe, I will read some of Mr. Leonard's other books some day, but just as light-reads for a break! :D
March 16, 2016
I eventually fell in with Mr. Leonard's somewhat jumpy flow and enjoyed the action and the dialog. However, some tragic events occurred during the story and I'm not sure the ending resolved them to my satisfaction.
February 3, 2020
This was a satisfactory crime novel, but not a good one and a lesser Elmore Leonard. The plot was rather thin, the ending something of an anti-climax and the romantic element felt rather like padding.
May 25, 2016
Lots of better Leonard books. Plot so disjointed and iffy.
April 27, 2016
Awful. Predictable plot, ridiculous dialogue.
November 1, 2016
Mildly engaging. Perhaps what was needed, a break from my usual dark, dark tales.
May 6, 2019
Když jsem nedávno ohlašoval dočteného finálního Starka, padl dotaz, jestli čtu Elmore Leonarda. A je fakt, že jsem naposledy četl jeho věci krátce po revoluci, kdy u nás vyšel Maximum Bob a Chyťte ho. A tak jsem vytáhl starou slovenskou třikrátku s příběhy The Switch, Split Images a Unknown Man No 89, a pochopil, proč nepatří mezi mé oblíbené tvůrce drsné školy, proč mě neláká sáhnout okamžitě po jeho další knize. A přitom to rozhodně není špatný autor. Není problém ani ve stáří knih – sbírám spoustu mnohem starších autorů. Pro mě je prostě Elmore Leonard fajn… ale čistě fajn. Přečtu ho, ale nic ve mně po přečtení nezůstane. Žádná emoce, žádný nápad, žádná scéna.
Může to být i tím, že je to tvůrce, od kterého se odpíchla spousta dalších tvůrců, kteří pak jeho styl dotáhla dál, k zábavnějším dialogům, k bizarnějším situacím (viz Quentin Tarantino). A vedle nich pak působí sám Elmore Leonard spíš jako mustr, takový cvičný vzorek. Je to jeden z těch autorů, kteří dopadají ve filmu a televizi častokrát lépe, protože tam herci dodávají postavám větší osobnost a emocím větší intenzitu. Viz Justified. V knihách jsem poznával detaily Leonardova stylu, které se do seriálu promítly, ale tam působily mnohem zábavněji.
Hlavní důvod, proč mě nepřitahuje, je asi vážně ta kombinace emočního odstupu s poměrně jednoduchými příběhy. To je příklad už prvního románu, The Switch. Na začátku je únos manželky podnikatele. Manželka je celkem v pohodě, únosci jsou celkem v pohodě, manžel je taky v pohodě, protože manželku zpátky nechce. A finále je takové, že člověk spíš pokrčí rameny. Je to knížka, která řeší víc psychologické věci, byť z dnešního pohledu už dost ohrané. Split Images se rozjíždí zajímavěji. Máte tu bohatého chlápka, který rád zabíjí lidi. A rozjíždí s policajty svou vlastní hru. Působí jako člověk, který má nějaký hrozně komplikovaný plán, který má všechno pevně v rukách… aby se ve finále všechno uzavřelo hrozně jednoduše během pár stran. Možná to byl autorů úmysl, možná chtěl, aby byl padouch čistě nebezpečný pitomec – jenže to by musel být aspoň nebezpečný.
A do třetice je tu Unknown Man No 89, což je v podstatě to samé. Zajímavý rozjezd, zajímavý protivník, jenže ten z příběhu vypadne a všechno se zvrhne do příběhu, ve kterém chce hlavní hrdina okrást svého zaměstnavatele, protože zaměstnavatel není čestný člověk a on k tomu má ty správné morální pohnutky. (Možná je to tím, jak to vyšlo ještě před revolucí, ale v těchhle třech povídkách jsou jediní opravdoví padouši rasisti, podnikatelé a boháči.) A pak to nějak dopadne.
Je fakt, že když Leonarda srovnávám s mými oblíbenými a podobně laděnými autory, tak ty nabízejí buď větší tlak na emoce, zajímavější detaily, atmosféru, zábavnější styl, nebo prostě vymakanější příběh… nebo na to všechno daleko přímočařeji kašlou.
Nebo je prostě chyba ve mně. Možná jsem už tak zvyklý na nátlakovou literaturu, že když není hlasitost na 110 %, už nejsem schopný nic vnímat.
Rozhodně ale není Elmore Leonard asi nic pro mě.
Může to být i tím, že je to tvůrce, od kterého se odpíchla spousta dalších tvůrců, kteří pak jeho styl dotáhla dál, k zábavnějším dialogům, k bizarnějším situacím (viz Quentin Tarantino). A vedle nich pak působí sám Elmore Leonard spíš jako mustr, takový cvičný vzorek. Je to jeden z těch autorů, kteří dopadají ve filmu a televizi častokrát lépe, protože tam herci dodávají postavám větší osobnost a emocím větší intenzitu. Viz Justified. V knihách jsem poznával detaily Leonardova stylu, které se do seriálu promítly, ale tam působily mnohem zábavněji.
Hlavní důvod, proč mě nepřitahuje, je asi vážně ta kombinace emočního odstupu s poměrně jednoduchými příběhy. To je příklad už prvního románu, The Switch. Na začátku je únos manželky podnikatele. Manželka je celkem v pohodě, únosci jsou celkem v pohodě, manžel je taky v pohodě, protože manželku zpátky nechce. A finále je takové, že člověk spíš pokrčí rameny. Je to knížka, která řeší víc psychologické věci, byť z dnešního pohledu už dost ohrané. Split Images se rozjíždí zajímavěji. Máte tu bohatého chlápka, který rád zabíjí lidi. A rozjíždí s policajty svou vlastní hru. Působí jako člověk, který má nějaký hrozně komplikovaný plán, který má všechno pevně v rukách… aby se ve finále všechno uzavřelo hrozně jednoduše během pár stran. Možná to byl autorů úmysl, možná chtěl, aby byl padouch čistě nebezpečný pitomec – jenže to by musel být aspoň nebezpečný.
A do třetice je tu Unknown Man No 89, což je v podstatě to samé. Zajímavý rozjezd, zajímavý protivník, jenže ten z příběhu vypadne a všechno se zvrhne do příběhu, ve kterém chce hlavní hrdina okrást svého zaměstnavatele, protože zaměstnavatel není čestný člověk a on k tomu má ty správné morální pohnutky. (Možná je to tím, jak to vyšlo ještě před revolucí, ale v těchhle třech povídkách jsou jediní opravdoví padouši rasisti, podnikatelé a boháči.) A pak to nějak dopadne.
Je fakt, že když Leonarda srovnávám s mými oblíbenými a podobně laděnými autory, tak ty nabízejí buď větší tlak na emoce, zajímavější detaily, atmosféru, zábavnější styl, nebo prostě vymakanější příběh… nebo na to všechno daleko přímočařeji kašlou.
Nebo je prostě chyba ve mně. Možná jsem už tak zvyklý na nátlakovou literaturu, že když není hlasitost na 110 %, už nejsem schopný nic vnímat.
Rozhodně ale není Elmore Leonard asi nic pro mě.
September 19, 2024
Elmore Leonard is my go-to author when I want to read someone reliable as a wordsmith and excellent at their writing craft. His skill at character creation, plot development and world-building in the genre of crime fiction and police procedurals put him on a par with such greats as Ed McBain, John Harvey, Donald Westlake and Don Winslow. "Split images" is another of his masterworks,
So we start with a quick introduction to a millionaire psychopath,Bobby Daniels, just starting out on his killing spree. Then we meet a jaded, easily corruptible cop, Walter Kouza, who gets drawn into his machinations. After him, there's the good-looking, single, very capable, seen-it-all journalist, Angela Nolan, whose writing a piece about said playboy millionaire who finds herself in real danger as she discovers Daniels's true character. Finally there's Bryan Hurd , a Detroit homicide lieutenant, the consummate professional policeman, who investigates Daniels and develops a mature, believable love relationship with Nolan as the plot develops.
Around these main four characters there is a host of secondary ones , both good and bad, that Leonard describes in such concise detail, that help the reader imagine the world they all live in. The scene flits between the economically-starved and desperate city of Detroit and the sunny, wealthy enclave of Palm Beach - a more tellingly simple depiction of the rich and the poor of the USA would be hard to find elsewhere.
It is difficult to describe what happens without giving away spoilers but Leonard sets a cracking pace to make the book a proper page-turner. To keep it real, Leonard shies away from a predictable "happy ending" but, he does manage to make it satisfying and realistic. What makes Leonard worthy of his reputation as a major American author of the twentieth century is his ear for dialogue and the way he transmits it to the page. Not many have done it better.
So we start with a quick introduction to a millionaire psychopath,Bobby Daniels, just starting out on his killing spree. Then we meet a jaded, easily corruptible cop, Walter Kouza, who gets drawn into his machinations. After him, there's the good-looking, single, very capable, seen-it-all journalist, Angela Nolan, whose writing a piece about said playboy millionaire who finds herself in real danger as she discovers Daniels's true character. Finally there's Bryan Hurd , a Detroit homicide lieutenant, the consummate professional policeman, who investigates Daniels and develops a mature, believable love relationship with Nolan as the plot develops.
Around these main four characters there is a host of secondary ones , both good and bad, that Leonard describes in such concise detail, that help the reader imagine the world they all live in. The scene flits between the economically-starved and desperate city of Detroit and the sunny, wealthy enclave of Palm Beach - a more tellingly simple depiction of the rich and the poor of the USA would be hard to find elsewhere.
It is difficult to describe what happens without giving away spoilers but Leonard sets a cracking pace to make the book a proper page-turner. To keep it real, Leonard shies away from a predictable "happy ending" but, he does manage to make it satisfying and realistic. What makes Leonard worthy of his reputation as a major American author of the twentieth century is his ear for dialogue and the way he transmits it to the page. Not many have done it better.
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November 5, 2024One of the books of all time, destined to go down in history as “fine, I guess.” I get why folks say Leonard’s a master of dialogue. The patter here is good—and natural. Lots of cross-talk, lots of quips, lots of pauses for certain mannerisms, lots of half clauses. The book’s best when that dialogue’s just going, with only a hint of description to keep you in the scene. You can see why so many of Leonard’s books have gotten made into screenplay’s, ’cuz they’re basically screenplays already.
The story here’s pretty spare, too, though. Not really a mystery. Only mildly a thriller. The villain feels pulled from a Columbo episode: a wealthy prick with an impressive gun collection who kills for fun and expects to get away with it. And the homicide detective and the freelance journalist who work to bring him down (and who fall for each other in the process) are thrown together at the beginning with almost no setup as to how they might’ve become interested in each other.
There’s a clear grievance against the rich that’s interesting to read into, given that the book came out only about a year into Reagan’s first term as president. But otherwise there’s just not much here.
The story here’s pretty spare, too, though. Not really a mystery. Only mildly a thriller. The villain feels pulled from a Columbo episode: a wealthy prick with an impressive gun collection who kills for fun and expects to get away with it. And the homicide detective and the freelance journalist who work to bring him down (and who fall for each other in the process) are thrown together at the beginning with almost no setup as to how they might’ve become interested in each other.
There’s a clear grievance against the rich that’s interesting to read into, given that the book came out only about a year into Reagan’s first term as president. But otherwise there’s just not much here.
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