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Mr. Paradise
“Sharp as an ice pick….You will love this excellent book.”— New York Times Book Review Elmore Leonard is the undisputed master, the “King Daddy of crime writers” ( Seattle Times ), in the august company of the all-time greats of mystery/noir/crime fiction John D. MacDonald, Dashiell Hammett, James M. Cain, et al. The creator of such unforgettable classics as Stick, Out of Sight, and Get Shorty —not to mention the character of U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens, lately of TV’s hit series Justified —Leonard is in fine form with Mr. Paradise . A riveting Detroit-based thriller enlivened by Leonard’s trademark razor-sharp dialogue, Mr. Paradise follows a smart Victoria’s Secret model’s attempt to score big after surviving a double murder in a millionaire’s mansion…with a lonely cop acting as spoiler.
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 364 reviews
August 9, 2021
Trying to think of a word that sums up Mr. Paradise and the word that keeps coming up is ‘cool”.
It reminded me so much of a popular T.V. show from the 1950s, DRAGNET, with D.S. Joe Friday, “just the facts ma-am, nothing but the facts”.
The major difference between then and now is the cops now have mobile phones and computers. The music is hip-hop and the language is gangsta.
Elmore Leonard is-Thee Man-when it comes to dialogue driven plots.
Everybody is ice cool. The cops are cool. The villains are cool. Even the victims are cool. There are dead bodies all over the place and it’s just another day in the office, for everyone.
Kelly is asked by her friend, Chloe, to go with her to Mr. Paradise’s house to do a little risqué dancing. Reluctantly Kelly goes with Chloe. Things start to go wrong right from the git go. Mr. Paradise tells Kristy to go up stairs with Montez Taylor, Mr. Paradise’s personal assistant. Whilst Kelly and Montez are up stairs two men enter the house and kill both Mr. Paradise and Chloe. The police are called, statements are taken and the police start their investigation. Things start to get real weird real quick. There’s gangsters’ looking for other gangsters. There’s cops’ looking for gangsters. There’s gangsters’ looking for cops. And then there is Kelly, beautiful, sexy Kelly, just trying to keep a low profile. But with her looks and sex appeal she has no chance.
The root of the problem is, as always, money. Everybody wants it. As for honour amongst thieves, forget it.
What elevates this from being too dark is the, at times, laugh out loud dialogue. All this murder and mayhem and here you are, laughing.
It’s a quirky, odd tale but well worth the read.
Highly recommended for those of you who enjoy police procedurals with a bit of a laugh thrown in.
It reminded me so much of a popular T.V. show from the 1950s, DRAGNET, with D.S. Joe Friday, “just the facts ma-am, nothing but the facts”.
The major difference between then and now is the cops now have mobile phones and computers. The music is hip-hop and the language is gangsta.
Elmore Leonard is-Thee Man-when it comes to dialogue driven plots.
Everybody is ice cool. The cops are cool. The villains are cool. Even the victims are cool. There are dead bodies all over the place and it’s just another day in the office, for everyone.
Kelly is asked by her friend, Chloe, to go with her to Mr. Paradise’s house to do a little risqué dancing. Reluctantly Kelly goes with Chloe. Things start to go wrong right from the git go. Mr. Paradise tells Kristy to go up stairs with Montez Taylor, Mr. Paradise’s personal assistant. Whilst Kelly and Montez are up stairs two men enter the house and kill both Mr. Paradise and Chloe. The police are called, statements are taken and the police start their investigation. Things start to get real weird real quick. There’s gangsters’ looking for other gangsters. There’s cops’ looking for gangsters. There’s gangsters’ looking for cops. And then there is Kelly, beautiful, sexy Kelly, just trying to keep a low profile. But with her looks and sex appeal she has no chance.
The root of the problem is, as always, money. Everybody wants it. As for honour amongst thieves, forget it.
What elevates this from being too dark is the, at times, laugh out loud dialogue. All this murder and mayhem and here you are, laughing.
It’s a quirky, odd tale but well worth the read.
Highly recommended for those of you who enjoy police procedurals with a bit of a laugh thrown in.
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November 14, 2012
Kelly and Chloe are roommates. Kelly is a model and Chloe was a hooker until she gave it all up to become the "girlfriend" of Anthony Paradiso Sr. an 85 year old retired lawyer and extremely wealthy man. Chloe talks Kelly into helping out with a cheerleader thing (don't ask). Unfortunately during the festivities, "Mr Paradise" and one of the girls are murdered and it falls to Detroit Homicide investigator Frank Delsa to unravel the mystery and find the killers.
If you have ever read any of my Elmore Leonard reviews then you already know this; Leonard is one of the best at dialogue I hae ever read. Right up there with George Higgins. Leonard's dialogue is so good that the plot is almost immaterial. In the case of Mr Paradise, the plot was more simple than I am used to from Leonard. His characters were not as amazing as they usually are, though they are still damned good. Overall this is a solid, workmanlike novel with Leonard's characteristic excellent dialogue.
I love Elmore Leonard and I will read anything he writes. This is still a good book but it does not reach the high levels of other Leonard offerings.
If you have ever read any of my Elmore Leonard reviews then you already know this; Leonard is one of the best at dialogue I hae ever read. Right up there with George Higgins. Leonard's dialogue is so good that the plot is almost immaterial. In the case of Mr Paradise, the plot was more simple than I am used to from Leonard. His characters were not as amazing as they usually are, though they are still damned good. Overall this is a solid, workmanlike novel with Leonard's characteristic excellent dialogue.
I love Elmore Leonard and I will read anything he writes. This is still a good book but it does not reach the high levels of other Leonard offerings.
July 17, 2024
Not Elmore Leonard’s most compelling crime-thriller so following this much needed re-read of a novel I read over 15 years ago I have deducted 1 star from my initial rating. Don’t misunderstand- this novel is 100% better than any bestselling crime-thriller currently dominating genre fiction sales in bookstores across the nation.
The synopsis? Give me a break. Read it yourself and provide any necessary plot details you find important enough to include in a review. Elmore Leonard is more concerned here with character descriptions and in-character dialogue. Conversations between cops and between criminals crackle with lighthearted wise guy banter and hardboiled jive-ass matter-of-fact menace.
Like in all Elmore Leonard’s crime novels, this one is littered not so much with victims and suspects -we’re introduced to those folks within the 1st three very short chapters or so- as it is crowded with highly memorable characters throughout its 291 page length.
Entertaining, realistic street talk abounds and the book is as easy to read as a hot knife slicing through a stick of butter.
All these years gone and Elmore Leonard remains my very favorite latter-20th century author of crime novels.
The synopsis? Give me a break. Read it yourself and provide any necessary plot details you find important enough to include in a review. Elmore Leonard is more concerned here with character descriptions and in-character dialogue. Conversations between cops and between criminals crackle with lighthearted wise guy banter and hardboiled jive-ass matter-of-fact menace.
Like in all Elmore Leonard’s crime novels, this one is littered not so much with victims and suspects -we’re introduced to those folks within the 1st three very short chapters or so- as it is crowded with highly memorable characters throughout its 291 page length.
Entertaining, realistic street talk abounds and the book is as easy to read as a hot knife slicing through a stick of butter.
All these years gone and Elmore Leonard remains my very favorite latter-20th century author of crime novels.
April 24, 2019
I respect Elmore Leonard as a writer but much preferred "Get Shorty" to this one, Mr. Paradise. It reads like Hemingway in Detroit if Hemingway didn't use any subject nouns. Some of the dialogue was quite insider-y.
The plot is pretty non-PC, not a particular problem but it didn't feel fresh. This issue also might be explained by the book's 15-year-old publication date.
I ask other readers to respond with their favorite Elmore Leonard books. Mine, noted above, is "Get Shorty."
The plot is pretty non-PC, not a particular problem but it didn't feel fresh. This issue also might be explained by the book's 15-year-old publication date.
I ask other readers to respond with their favorite Elmore Leonard books. Mine, noted above, is "Get Shorty."
September 16, 2020
This story has all the usual ingredients of an Elmore Leonard caper: stupid crooks, a beautiful woman, a cool cop, and a lot of money up for grabs. The one thing you can’t be sure of is how the book will end—with a bang or a whimper. Leonard keeps you guessing.
I’m never sure what I’m going to get from a Leonard novel. Sometimes they are terrific. Sometimes they’re dogs. And sometimes they’re not bad. Like this one. If you’re unfamiliar with his body of work, this would be a good book to read and see if his style suits your taste. If it does, there will quite a few gems waiting for you to discover (especially the stuff he wrote between the 1970s through the 1990s).
I’m never sure what I’m going to get from a Leonard novel. Sometimes they are terrific. Sometimes they’re dogs. And sometimes they’re not bad. Like this one. If you’re unfamiliar with his body of work, this would be a good book to read and see if his style suits your taste. If it does, there will quite a few gems waiting for you to discover (especially the stuff he wrote between the 1970s through the 1990s).
May 23, 2014
Quirky. A quirky book by Elmore Leonard? Imagine that.
October 18, 2022
Now this is a world I understand, where you just have to wait and watch to find out what happens. Even when it means watching yourself to find out what you’re gonna do.
Frank and Kelly, thumbs up. Jerome had me on the edge of my seat, worried that kid wasn’t gonna make it. Only with Elmore could watching and waiting be more fun than a movie.
Frank and Kelly, thumbs up. Jerome had me on the edge of my seat, worried that kid wasn’t gonna make it. Only with Elmore could watching and waiting be more fun than a movie.
June 14, 2012
'Mr. Paradise' is a wealthy old man with a fixation for watching American football accompanied with a personal cheer act by two Victoria Secret models for hire in varying degrees of undress either side ofthe TV. Unfortunately for stand in cheerleader Kelly, her first gig entertaining the old man ends in murder with the former lawyer and one half of the cheer contingent gunned down.
Comprising a mix of police procedural and Leonard’s own unique brand of crime fiction, ‘Mr Paradise’ is a fast paced urban crime tale of hitmen and corrupt lawyers out for a large score only to be hindered by stock depreciation and their own greed. Humour is paramount to any Leonard tale and this one is full of it with the hired guns coming across as simple minded and highly entertaining. While model Kelly, for the most part, is a little flimsy yet smart and sassy. The other players all conform to the stereotype surrounding their part – nicely written with some more detailed than others.
Too many shortcuts damaged the believability of the police procedural component of the story (crucial evidence just showed-up by means of a random cop’s discovery). The ending also felt a little incomplete with the key players concluding proceedings by way of convenience rather than Leonard’s intrinsically linked plotting. That said, I liked the whodunit-style get-together at the end, if only the characters had arrived to that point a little more convincingly. To surmise, ‘Mr. Paradise’ is a middle of the road effort by Elmore Leonard, entertaining without being completely satisfying – 3 stars.
Comprising a mix of police procedural and Leonard’s own unique brand of crime fiction, ‘Mr Paradise’ is a fast paced urban crime tale of hitmen and corrupt lawyers out for a large score only to be hindered by stock depreciation and their own greed. Humour is paramount to any Leonard tale and this one is full of it with the hired guns coming across as simple minded and highly entertaining. While model Kelly, for the most part, is a little flimsy yet smart and sassy. The other players all conform to the stereotype surrounding their part – nicely written with some more detailed than others.
Too many shortcuts damaged the believability of the police procedural component of the story (crucial evidence just showed-up by means of a random cop’s discovery). The ending also felt a little incomplete with the key players concluding proceedings by way of convenience rather than Leonard’s intrinsically linked plotting. That said, I liked the whodunit-style get-together at the end, if only the characters had arrived to that point a little more convincingly. To surmise, ‘Mr. Paradise’ is a middle of the road effort by Elmore Leonard, entertaining without being completely satisfying – 3 stars.
September 20, 2012
Elmore Leonard might have the best dialogue in the game. It's real, it's gritty, it's amusing, it's wacky in the most honest sense of human nature. This book was delightful, but it was lacking the one character I wanted to know more about. In Leonard's best books, he has at least one character, and sometimes it's a few, that I want to read an entire biography about. Get Shorty had Chili Palmer and Out Of Sight had Jack Foley. He also needs to put them in situations for them to grow and get weird.
I can't ever tell if he comes up with the plot or the characters first. They all slither around and move and shake until they're in each other's stories and then it's one linear big show. There's always a beautiful babe, a good cop, some gangsters and one or two guys who think they're gangsters. it's madcap without the screwball quality. It's just people being people in the slums of Detroit. His style is street without being too much or too little. It's perfect. His range, to me, is mostly good and great. This was good, but not great.
I can't ever tell if he comes up with the plot or the characters first. They all slither around and move and shake until they're in each other's stories and then it's one linear big show. There's always a beautiful babe, a good cop, some gangsters and one or two guys who think they're gangsters. it's madcap without the screwball quality. It's just people being people in the slums of Detroit. His style is street without being too much or too little. It's perfect. His range, to me, is mostly good and great. This was good, but not great.
September 13, 2017
Entertaining. Just like watching a good movie. What sets Leonard apart is his use of dialogue to move the plot forward - and there is a lot of dialogue. And movement. Elmore is exceptionally hip to the nuances and subtleties of his character's speech. If you read it too fast you can miss some subtlety, some information, but the plot will still move forward for you. Better to slow up a little and savor the technique. And the nuance.
November 26, 2014
While it is hard for me to criticize Elmore Leonard, this novel could have been shaved by about 40-50 pages. Still, as is, this caper is far better than 99% of the stuff being published today. Pick this one up for a few hours of enjoyment, then leave it on your hotel bedside table for the cleaning lady.
June 13, 2014
Even a Leonard book that I didn't love is a four star book.
May 11, 2023
Vivid imagery and proof you don’t need a complicated plot for a good story.
September 5, 2021
The story was ok, but the narrative just got too crude after a while...similar characters, but "Get Shorty" was more funny.
September 7, 2018
Elmore Leonard Returns To Detroit
Elmore Leonard (1925 -- 2013) returned to Detroit with his 2004 novel, "Mr. Paradise", his first set in the Motor City in over 20 years. Dedicated to the Detroit Police Homicide Section, the novel is a tribute to the fortitude of the police in their daily performance of their dangerous, thankless task.
"Mr. Paradise" is a heavily plotted novel full of murder, drugs, betrayals, sex, and greed. The book also is full of a wealth of characters, most of them slimy but some of them, particularly the police, good guys indeed.
The book gives a feel of the work of a homicide section in a large violent city with several difficult murders occupying a small police unit at any given moment. The book revolves around the murder of the title character, an 84-year old retired lawyer Tony Paradiso who goes by the name of the title of the book. Mr Paradise and his paid lady friend, a $900 an hour hooker, are gunned down in his home one evening. For the reader the book is not who-done-it, as the crime is described in detail. Instead the reader follows the police and the characters as the violent story unravels.
There are two sexy women involved in the story, the hooker who meets her demise with Mr Paradise and her friend, Kelly, a fashion model, who escapes. Other important characters include Paradise's two African American servants, the killers, a crooked lawyer who works both sides of the law, and the homicide unit. The story of the good guys focuses on detective Frank Delsa, 38, who has lost his wife, also on the police force, to cancer. Delsa is the silent, methodical type of hero who keeps his head.
The killing of Paradise and his paramour is almost enough for one book. Leonard clutters his story by combining it with many other murders, some of them highly gruesome. The story can be hard to follow until the reader figures what Leonard is about. The work of the police and the patient activities of Delsa are the focus of the book in Mr. Paradise's killing and in the other crimes in the book which involve some thoroughly unattractive individuals.
With so much crassness in human nature on display, there is also a sense of vulnerability and the need for love as Delsa is attracted to the woman who survives the Paradise killing. He must deal with his duty as an office in handling the witness, and possible accomplice, and his growing feelings and loneliness following his wife's death.
The story is told with sharp observations of the streets and sounds of Detroit. The descriptions of bars, streets, characters are particularized and immediate. Leonard's way with dialogue has become famous and is on display in this novel. With all the mayhem and brutal behavior, the story has humor and a lightness of touch.
The opening chapters of the book jump around and are difficult to follow. The story becomes more focused and tied together as it proceeds. I found it helpful to return to the opening sections after completing the book.
This is a gritty novel about a gritty city. It has a focus on the law and on the tough heroism of the police. The book will appeal to Elmore Leonard's many admirers.
Robin Friedman
Elmore Leonard (1925 -- 2013) returned to Detroit with his 2004 novel, "Mr. Paradise", his first set in the Motor City in over 20 years. Dedicated to the Detroit Police Homicide Section, the novel is a tribute to the fortitude of the police in their daily performance of their dangerous, thankless task.
"Mr. Paradise" is a heavily plotted novel full of murder, drugs, betrayals, sex, and greed. The book also is full of a wealth of characters, most of them slimy but some of them, particularly the police, good guys indeed.
The book gives a feel of the work of a homicide section in a large violent city with several difficult murders occupying a small police unit at any given moment. The book revolves around the murder of the title character, an 84-year old retired lawyer Tony Paradiso who goes by the name of the title of the book. Mr Paradise and his paid lady friend, a $900 an hour hooker, are gunned down in his home one evening. For the reader the book is not who-done-it, as the crime is described in detail. Instead the reader follows the police and the characters as the violent story unravels.
There are two sexy women involved in the story, the hooker who meets her demise with Mr Paradise and her friend, Kelly, a fashion model, who escapes. Other important characters include Paradise's two African American servants, the killers, a crooked lawyer who works both sides of the law, and the homicide unit. The story of the good guys focuses on detective Frank Delsa, 38, who has lost his wife, also on the police force, to cancer. Delsa is the silent, methodical type of hero who keeps his head.
The killing of Paradise and his paramour is almost enough for one book. Leonard clutters his story by combining it with many other murders, some of them highly gruesome. The story can be hard to follow until the reader figures what Leonard is about. The work of the police and the patient activities of Delsa are the focus of the book in Mr. Paradise's killing and in the other crimes in the book which involve some thoroughly unattractive individuals.
With so much crassness in human nature on display, there is also a sense of vulnerability and the need for love as Delsa is attracted to the woman who survives the Paradise killing. He must deal with his duty as an office in handling the witness, and possible accomplice, and his growing feelings and loneliness following his wife's death.
The story is told with sharp observations of the streets and sounds of Detroit. The descriptions of bars, streets, characters are particularized and immediate. Leonard's way with dialogue has become famous and is on display in this novel. With all the mayhem and brutal behavior, the story has humor and a lightness of touch.
The opening chapters of the book jump around and are difficult to follow. The story becomes more focused and tied together as it proceeds. I found it helpful to return to the opening sections after completing the book.
This is a gritty novel about a gritty city. It has a focus on the law and on the tough heroism of the police. The book will appeal to Elmore Leonard's many admirers.
Robin Friedman
November 24, 2020
Don't you enjoy people who have a sense of humor about the downsides of their hometown? Detroit became Elmore Leonard's adopted hometown. In his 2004 novel Mr. Paradise, we hear this snippet of conversation:
"I can live anywhere I want, really."
"And you stay in Detroit."
Leonard had me laughing out loud a number of times. I lived in Motown for five years, so I get it. The worst for me was seeing the sun about once a week during the winters. But the city has plenty of upsides, too. Beautiful Metroparks. Belle Isle. Greektown. The revolving restaurant on top of the Ren Cen. Franchises in all four major sports.
While Leonard fans know that most of his crime stories are set in Florida, every once in a while he puts one in Detroit. In Mr. Paradise, the title character's actual name is Tony Paradiso, an 80 year old retired attorney. He's wealthy but bored. His favorite thing to do is pop in a VCR tape of old Michigan football games. He has tons of them. Only the wins. And what better adjunct than a cheerleader in his living room? None of the actual U. of M cheerleaders would bite. So he has a regular gig for Chloe, a high-priced call girl, who invents rhyming cheers to do topless for him while he watches the games. The pay is pretty special, so Chloe gets permission to bring her Victoria's Secret model roommate Kelly with her. The mind boggles. Wish it was a movie. But this is Elmore Leonard, and bad things happen in that living room. The case is on. Detective Frank Delsa, 38, of Detroit PD Homicide is sent in.
It's always a bonus to see references to actual places you've been to in novels, Here, I was reminded of my days in Detroit: Police Headquarters, Northland Shopping Center, Hudson's Department Store, Harper Hospital, the Ren Center, Pine Knob Amphitheater, the Fisher Building and the Detroit Institute of Arts. Mr. Leonard, thanks for the memories!
"I can live anywhere I want, really."
"And you stay in Detroit."
Leonard had me laughing out loud a number of times. I lived in Motown for five years, so I get it. The worst for me was seeing the sun about once a week during the winters. But the city has plenty of upsides, too. Beautiful Metroparks. Belle Isle. Greektown. The revolving restaurant on top of the Ren Cen. Franchises in all four major sports.
While Leonard fans know that most of his crime stories are set in Florida, every once in a while he puts one in Detroit. In Mr. Paradise, the title character's actual name is Tony Paradiso, an 80 year old retired attorney. He's wealthy but bored. His favorite thing to do is pop in a VCR tape of old Michigan football games. He has tons of them. Only the wins. And what better adjunct than a cheerleader in his living room? None of the actual U. of M cheerleaders would bite. So he has a regular gig for Chloe, a high-priced call girl, who invents rhyming cheers to do topless for him while he watches the games. The pay is pretty special, so Chloe gets permission to bring her Victoria's Secret model roommate Kelly with her. The mind boggles. Wish it was a movie. But this is Elmore Leonard, and bad things happen in that living room. The case is on. Detective Frank Delsa, 38, of Detroit PD Homicide is sent in.
It's always a bonus to see references to actual places you've been to in novels, Here, I was reminded of my days in Detroit: Police Headquarters, Northland Shopping Center, Hudson's Department Store, Harper Hospital, the Ren Center, Pine Knob Amphitheater, the Fisher Building and the Detroit Institute of Arts. Mr. Leonard, thanks for the memories!
October 11, 2018
Chloe e Kelly sono due ragazze che abitano assieme a Detroit. La prima è una prostituta d’alto bordo che lavora per un tizio molto ricco e soprattutto vecchio: Mr. Paradise appunto. Guadagna 5000 dollari la settimana per intrattenerlo. Kelly invece fa la modella. Mr. Paradise ha intestato a Chloe certe azioni, mentre al suo tuttofare, Montez, decide di lasciare la villa.
Ma poi cambia idea: la villa andrà alla figlia, e Montez non la prende benissimo.
Assolda quindi due sicari per uccidere il vecchio. Il progetto però non va secondo le previsioni. Nella sera in cui il vecchio doveva essere solo, ci sono sia Chloe che Kelly. Kelly finisce al piano superiore della villa con Montez, e quando i due sicari entrano nel grande salone pensando di trovare solo il vecchio, trovano pure la ragazza.
Uccideranno entrambi.
Montez cambia al volo il piano. Visto che le due ragazze si somigliano, chiede a Kelly di impersonare Chloe, in modo da falsificarne la firma e mettere le mani almeno sulle azioni, o quello che è. Prima che la polizia scopra lo scambio di persona: le due ragazze infatti non sono schedate, e in città non hanno parenti che possano identificare la morta.
Pure questo piano però, ha poca vita.
Non c’è alcun intento morale in questo genere di libri, o forse sì. Raffigurare un deserto, o meglio una città dove violenza e crack (la droga) dominano incontrastati e ogni discussione si risolve a colpi di pistola: non è forse una critica nemmeno troppo larvata a un sistema che ha prodotto tutto questo?
Ma poi cambia idea: la villa andrà alla figlia, e Montez non la prende benissimo.
Assolda quindi due sicari per uccidere il vecchio. Il progetto però non va secondo le previsioni. Nella sera in cui il vecchio doveva essere solo, ci sono sia Chloe che Kelly. Kelly finisce al piano superiore della villa con Montez, e quando i due sicari entrano nel grande salone pensando di trovare solo il vecchio, trovano pure la ragazza.
Uccideranno entrambi.
Montez cambia al volo il piano. Visto che le due ragazze si somigliano, chiede a Kelly di impersonare Chloe, in modo da falsificarne la firma e mettere le mani almeno sulle azioni, o quello che è. Prima che la polizia scopra lo scambio di persona: le due ragazze infatti non sono schedate, e in città non hanno parenti che possano identificare la morta.
Pure questo piano però, ha poca vita.
Non c’è alcun intento morale in questo genere di libri, o forse sì. Raffigurare un deserto, o meglio una città dove violenza e crack (la droga) dominano incontrastati e ogni discussione si risolve a colpi di pistola: non è forse una critica nemmeno troppo larvata a un sistema che ha prodotto tutto questo?
July 30, 2018
I have always enjoyed Elmore Leonard. There is no doubt that he heavily influenced many of today's crime fiction authors. The dialogue is always tight, his characters memorable, and there is always some humor infused into his stories. "Mr. Paradise" is set in Detroit during the disco era and involves two Victoria Secret/Playboy models who get wrapped up in a murder while performing a "cheerleading" routine for an eccentric old Michigan fan. The investigating cop assigned the case falls for one of the models- Kelly. There are some funny local characters working with Inspector Delso to keep things interesting. This is not Leonard's best novel, but it was a fine Summer read and would make an entertaining Netflix/TV movie. As an aside, the characters all drink Alexanders though the entire story, so I looked it up and have indulged in a few. An Alexander is one jigger gin, one jigger crème de cacao, and one jigger half and half- shaken and served straight up. I like it, but it is closer to a desert than a cocktail in my opinion. I can see how they would be popular with the Victoria Secret crowd.
January 30, 2012
ehhh...that's the way I feel about this book. I usually love Elmore Leonard novels and will say that I still really enjoyed the dialogue in this book. That is Leonard's most obvious strength. The other thing that I like about Leonard's stories is his ability to show us how stupid people can be. So many of his characters make very bad decisions (fed by greed or revenge or both)and then end up paying for those bad decisions.
This book has those things, but it still left me wanting more. Kind of like seeing a big chocolate chip cookie, biting into it and finding out that it is made with tofu, artificial sweetener and carob chips. It looked great, but what you really wanted was a big chocolate chip cookie. The main characters were two dimensional and the plot holes seemed to get filled by walk-on characters with no real bearing on the story. I had high hopes for this when I read book jacket, but ultimately was left thinking that Elmore missed his target on this.
This book has those things, but it still left me wanting more. Kind of like seeing a big chocolate chip cookie, biting into it and finding out that it is made with tofu, artificial sweetener and carob chips. It looked great, but what you really wanted was a big chocolate chip cookie. The main characters were two dimensional and the plot holes seemed to get filled by walk-on characters with no real bearing on the story. I had high hopes for this when I read book jacket, but ultimately was left thinking that Elmore missed his target on this.
November 16, 2010
Elmore Leonard has written 40 novels. Mr Paradise will not disappoint his fans.
The author of Get Shorty is in fine form with this offering. We’re in Detroit where the ageing mega-wealthy Mr Tony Paradise mixes with Victoria's Secret models and hit men. He’s a fan of University of Michigan football and he hires these models to play the role of "cheerleaders", bare-chested while he watches videos of Michigan games.
Two hit men show up, killing the old man and one of the women. The surviving ‘cheerleader’ ends up falling in love with Delsa, the detective who investigates the murders. Only Elmore Leonard and Carl Hiaasen can come up with a story like this and make it work.
Leonard is the master of the crime caper. Part farce and part police-procedural, Mr Paradise will keep you reading for a night or two. If Quinton Tarantino wrote books, he’d write like this. Highly recommended.
The author of Get Shorty is in fine form with this offering. We’re in Detroit where the ageing mega-wealthy Mr Tony Paradise mixes with Victoria's Secret models and hit men. He’s a fan of University of Michigan football and he hires these models to play the role of "cheerleaders", bare-chested while he watches videos of Michigan games.
Two hit men show up, killing the old man and one of the women. The surviving ‘cheerleader’ ends up falling in love with Delsa, the detective who investigates the murders. Only Elmore Leonard and Carl Hiaasen can come up with a story like this and make it work.
Leonard is the master of the crime caper. Part farce and part police-procedural, Mr Paradise will keep you reading for a night or two. If Quinton Tarantino wrote books, he’d write like this. Highly recommended.
November 16, 2018
An acquired taste.
I haven't read Elmore Leonard in over twenty years, so I thought it was time to try one of his books again. Ultimately, though, it just reminded me why I don't read his books.
The reason is that they are pretty much screenplays: great dialogue and quirky stories. Leonard likes to put ordinary people in the middle of crazy events, and then to watch what happens.
He owes a debt to "The Killers" by Hemingway, in which the killers speak casually about killing a man. It's a common thread in Leonard's work, that no matter how insane the plot, people are still trying to live their lives.
In the same way, Tarantino owes a debt to Leonard, because his famous dialogue, for example, "a Royale with cheese" where hitmen talk about mundane stuff rather than killing, is very Leonard.
This story is a quick read, but it really is a puff piece.
I haven't read Elmore Leonard in over twenty years, so I thought it was time to try one of his books again. Ultimately, though, it just reminded me why I don't read his books.
The reason is that they are pretty much screenplays: great dialogue and quirky stories. Leonard likes to put ordinary people in the middle of crazy events, and then to watch what happens.
He owes a debt to "The Killers" by Hemingway, in which the killers speak casually about killing a man. It's a common thread in Leonard's work, that no matter how insane the plot, people are still trying to live their lives.
In the same way, Tarantino owes a debt to Leonard, because his famous dialogue, for example, "a Royale with cheese" where hitmen talk about mundane stuff rather than killing, is very Leonard.
This story is a quick read, but it really is a puff piece.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 21, 2020
This book was a joy to read. Old Dutch at his absolute finest. Broad cast of characters, all well-defined without being over-defined. The usual clipped, concise prose that allows the eyes to move across the page like a knife slicing through soft butter. Further proof that Dutch is the undisputed king of contemporary crime fiction (even if he's not still with us, his heir apparent has yet to be found...).
September 10, 2007
My first foray into Elmore Leonard, I was somewhat confused as to how he's a bestselling author. Sure, the story was a quick, fun read, but nothing much actually happened -- there were no major plot twists or surprises, and the ending was expected. I guess his other stuff must be more gripping.
October 2, 2019
Some action and some murder is the story in the crime tale by master story teller Elmore Leonard. This was my first exposure to the writing of Mr. Leonard and hopefully there would be much more books which I would be able to read.
October 4, 2017
Another great story from the master of crime fiction. The characters and the dialog sparkle as usual.
DP Lyle, award-winning author, lecturer, and story consultant
DP Lyle, award-winning author, lecturer, and story consultant
February 23, 2018
The dialogue was there and snappy like EL always is, but this book kinda went no where.
October 24, 2015
This year, while reluctantly commuting the vast distances necessary to continue earning a salary, I've taken to listening to audiobooks, and burn through an average-length novel in under a week. I started out with some rather cerebral works (Pynchon, Faulkner, Doctorow, ...), but as the drive has become more onerous, I've gravitated toward stories that are more action-oriented. Such fiction requires less on the reader's part. It's just diversion. On the other hand I've found that sometimes this kind of writing can be as tedious as the drive it's meant to distract me from.
I read some Elmore Leonard titles a couple years ago, prompted by a coworker, who was a recent graduate from an English department somewhere. The coworker said Leonard was highly regarded by his faculty. The titles I read then had appeal (here's my review of one), but I wasn't convinced they were the stuff English majors needed to be reading (as compared to, say, the authors listed above).
Anyway, Mr. Paradise turned up in the public library, so I began listening to it while commuting.
It's a crime novel, primarily involving a collection of guys who are a whole lot tougher than they are smart. The title character is a retired lawyer who made his money defending drug dealers and similar lowlifes and bringing civil suits against the cops who'd arrested them. Not a particularly charming guy, but his money has enabled him to surround himself with servants and beautiful babes (such as Chloe, a Victoria's Secret model and former Playboy bunny). There'd been an understanding that, on shuffling off his mortal coil (an event likely to happen fairly soon, given that he's 84), he would leave his house to Montez, his butler. But now Mr. Paradise has changed his mind. This annoys Montez, who responds by hiring a pair of thugs to whack the old coot. And Chloe too, as it turns out. Also in the house on the fateful evening is Chloe's friend Kelly.
Next on the scene is homicide detective Frank Delsa, recently widowed and scarcely aware at first that Kelly finds him attractive. Kelly's ability to change gears in that way, immediately after seeing her roommate sprawled across the sofa with two bullet holes in her, is the least plausible part of the story. I guess it's the only part that strains credulity.
Everyone who comments on Leonard novels praises the zippy dialog, and yes it does keep things moving. Another thing I like about this is Leonard's ability to narrate events while dipping into the characters' thought processes enough to flesh them out as convincing characters. I've grumbled a lot, particularly with these action novels, about mere summary narration and two-dimensional characters, but with the possible exception of Kelly I don't see that here.
On the other hand (and Leonard aficionados in or outside the faculty lounge will surely scoff), an idea at the back of my mind throughout the time I was listening to this was a passage from Philippians 4:8: "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things." I think that's good advice, especially when my own circumstances feel as fragile and off-kilter as they have this year. So I wasn't real comfortable listening to this narrator's somewhat weary rendering of conversations and events revolving around the notion that life is a worthless commodity.
I've already started another audiobook, which is definitely closer to my taste.
I read some Elmore Leonard titles a couple years ago, prompted by a coworker, who was a recent graduate from an English department somewhere. The coworker said Leonard was highly regarded by his faculty. The titles I read then had appeal (here's my review of one), but I wasn't convinced they were the stuff English majors needed to be reading (as compared to, say, the authors listed above).
Anyway, Mr. Paradise turned up in the public library, so I began listening to it while commuting.
It's a crime novel, primarily involving a collection of guys who are a whole lot tougher than they are smart. The title character is a retired lawyer who made his money defending drug dealers and similar lowlifes and bringing civil suits against the cops who'd arrested them. Not a particularly charming guy, but his money has enabled him to surround himself with servants and beautiful babes (such as Chloe, a Victoria's Secret model and former Playboy bunny). There'd been an understanding that, on shuffling off his mortal coil (an event likely to happen fairly soon, given that he's 84), he would leave his house to Montez, his butler. But now Mr. Paradise has changed his mind. This annoys Montez, who responds by hiring a pair of thugs to whack the old coot. And Chloe too, as it turns out. Also in the house on the fateful evening is Chloe's friend Kelly.
Next on the scene is homicide detective Frank Delsa, recently widowed and scarcely aware at first that Kelly finds him attractive. Kelly's ability to change gears in that way, immediately after seeing her roommate sprawled across the sofa with two bullet holes in her, is the least plausible part of the story. I guess it's the only part that strains credulity.
Everyone who comments on Leonard novels praises the zippy dialog, and yes it does keep things moving. Another thing I like about this is Leonard's ability to narrate events while dipping into the characters' thought processes enough to flesh them out as convincing characters. I've grumbled a lot, particularly with these action novels, about mere summary narration and two-dimensional characters, but with the possible exception of Kelly I don't see that here.
On the other hand (and Leonard aficionados in or outside the faculty lounge will surely scoff), an idea at the back of my mind throughout the time I was listening to this was a passage from Philippians 4:8: "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things." I think that's good advice, especially when my own circumstances feel as fragile and off-kilter as they have this year. So I wasn't real comfortable listening to this narrator's somewhat weary rendering of conversations and events revolving around the notion that life is a worthless commodity.
I've already started another audiobook, which is definitely closer to my taste.
September 19, 2008
It's easy to see why so many Elmore Leonard novels have been made into movies, and it wouldn't be surprising to see "Mr. Paradise" end up on the big screen as well. Leonard occasionally touches on his characters' internal lives, but his real strength lies in his dialogue. He has a fantastic ear for how people talk, how they joke with each other, how they react (or fail to react) to what someone else says in conversation. He's particularly good in capturing how cops and criminals talk with each other.
Those are "Mr. Paradise"'s strengths. Its weaknesses, however, and they're pretty signicant, lie in two of its main characters, fashion model Kelly Barr and homicide detective Frank Delsa, the novel's good guys. In the course of the book's almost 400 pages, neither character ever develops into anything other than a cardboard cutout. Kelly is stunningly gorgeous but much smarter than one would expect of someone with her looks. Frank is troubled by his attraction to Kelly, both because of his wife's recent death and his professional responsibilities. That's it. I found it hard to care about the fate of two characters who can each be summed up in a single sentence -- and who never change.
That being said, Leonard does know how to put together a good story. It's not exactly a mystery, as the details of he book's central crime and each character's role in the murder are clear from the beginning. Rather, Leonard focuses more on Frank connecting the dots, and his relationship with Kelly. (The story is a bit thin to be book length, but Leonard also doesn't load the novel down with unnrealistic twists and turns to justify the length like many crime writers do.) Leonard continues to be good at coming up with new variations on his favorite theme: stupid people who come up with one semi-clever idea, screw it up, and pay the price.
Those are "Mr. Paradise"'s strengths. Its weaknesses, however, and they're pretty signicant, lie in two of its main characters, fashion model Kelly Barr and homicide detective Frank Delsa, the novel's good guys. In the course of the book's almost 400 pages, neither character ever develops into anything other than a cardboard cutout. Kelly is stunningly gorgeous but much smarter than one would expect of someone with her looks. Frank is troubled by his attraction to Kelly, both because of his wife's recent death and his professional responsibilities. That's it. I found it hard to care about the fate of two characters who can each be summed up in a single sentence -- and who never change.
That being said, Leonard does know how to put together a good story. It's not exactly a mystery, as the details of he book's central crime and each character's role in the murder are clear from the beginning. Rather, Leonard focuses more on Frank connecting the dots, and his relationship with Kelly. (The story is a bit thin to be book length, but Leonard also doesn't load the novel down with unnrealistic twists and turns to justify the length like many crime writers do.) Leonard continues to be good at coming up with new variations on his favorite theme: stupid people who come up with one semi-clever idea, screw it up, and pay the price.
October 28, 2018
It's a tragedy that so many fabulous Elmore Leonard books make mediocre films. But it's no mystery why. Hollywood is fixated on narrative, whereas Leonard revels in character. Not that Mr Paradise lacks a plot; on the contrary, this is a perfectly serviceable story of criminals whose reach exceeds their grasp. Greed leading bad actors to make bad decisions. A tale as old as time.
What elevates the book, and much of Mr Leonard's writing is the rich detail he effortlessly drops into coptalk:
"Don't you thank God like I do they're stupid?"
Two criminals deciding if a witness can ID them from her vantage point at the crime scene:
"Look straight ahead, there's the living room Look up, there's the second floor. But looking down from up there? I wouldn't even recognize my own wife - and not because she's always changing her hairdo."
or inner monologue:
Lloyd noticed Delsa not doing anything to help her. Didn't say anything, either. Lloyd turned his head to look at Jerome by the counter, Jerome looked like he was loving it, fascinated by these ofays, how they went about it.
Leonard is a master, and this is one of his best.
What elevates the book, and much of Mr Leonard's writing is the rich detail he effortlessly drops into coptalk:
"Don't you thank God like I do they're stupid?"
Two criminals deciding if a witness can ID them from her vantage point at the crime scene:
"Look straight ahead, there's the living room Look up, there's the second floor. But looking down from up there? I wouldn't even recognize my own wife - and not because she's always changing her hairdo."
or inner monologue:
Lloyd noticed Delsa not doing anything to help her. Didn't say anything, either. Lloyd turned his head to look at Jerome by the counter, Jerome looked like he was loving it, fascinated by these ofays, how they went about it.
Leonard is a master, and this is one of his best.
May 3, 2017
Anthony Paradiso, also known as "Mr. Paradise," is a retired lawyer with a young girlfriend. His girlfriend, Chloe, arranges an evenings entertainment with her roommate Kelly, a fashion model. They play cheerleaders while he watches University of Michigan football on TV. The evening ends in murder. Mr. Paradise and Chloe are murdered by hit men hired by Montez, Mr. Paradise's assistant. Kelly sees it all.
The police know what happened, but how to prove it. This story has all the elements of a great crime story. You have crooked lawyers, contract killers, gang bangers, beautiful women, and no nonsense cops. The one thing the cops have going for them is the sheer stupidity of the criminals involved. As these less than brilliant criminals come up with ever more complex schemes, it all begins to fall apart.
Written with the sparse, straight-forward prose that Leonard is known for it is a lot of fun.
The police know what happened, but how to prove it. This story has all the elements of a great crime story. You have crooked lawyers, contract killers, gang bangers, beautiful women, and no nonsense cops. The one thing the cops have going for them is the sheer stupidity of the criminals involved. As these less than brilliant criminals come up with ever more complex schemes, it all begins to fall apart.
Written with the sparse, straight-forward prose that Leonard is known for it is a lot of fun.
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