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Killing Suki Flood
Trouble. The moment Frank Limosin sees gorgeous eighteen-year-old Suki Flood sitting on the rear deck of the red Trans Am in the hot empty desert, he feels trouble in the air. The Trans Am has a flat tire. They're over ten miles from the nearest highway. And Suki, dressed in short shorts and a tiny halter top, doesn't know how to change a tire. Against Suki's will, Frank gives her a lesson in tire changing, then he thinks that's it, he'll never see her again. How wrong can one man be? Because Suki turns out to be fifty times more trouble than Frank ever dreamed possible. He saved her once. Now he has to save her again and again and again . . .
311 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1991
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112 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
May 6, 2019
Finished it in one long guzzle.
Almost unbearably suspenseful in the final pages... another brilliant thriller.
When Frank Wiley comes across Suki Flood in his camper within the first few pages of this caper/thriller novel, she's lounging on the rear of a wrecked Trans Am in the New Mexico desert obviously stranded on some rarely used dirt road leading up in to the mountains.
Frank's destination is up that same side road to get into the mountains where he intends to lay low and rough it fortified by three cases of beer and five bottles of Jack Daniels and
But see, Frank Wiley is not his real name and he's on the lam. He most recently worked for a trucking company that manufactures ball bearings and ships them all across the country. Frank decided to find a buyer for his rather expensive load of ball bearings and successfully negotiated a deal which netted him all of seventy seven thousand dollars. His intentions are to eventually make it down to Brazil and spend the rest of his days living in Rio.
Frank is in his mid-fifties and stands about five feet, eight inches. He weighs about 240 pounds. Suki swears he looks closer to 260 pounds. Frank refers to himself as a "walking tank".
Suki by contrast is slender, perfectly built and almost six feet tall. She's eighteen or nineteen years old.
They make an odd looking pair.
Suki has troubles of her own making. She's provoked the ire of a dangerous (is there ever any other kind?) maniac who calls himself "Mink" and who runs an outfit bringing in millions of dollars a month ripping off elderly folks with a phony investments scam. After being slapped around one night by the grouchy maniac, Suki slipped him a fistful of Seconals and after he passed out, she tattooed the word "Crook" on his forehead. Suki only has a sixth grade education so she misspelled "Crook" and wrote "Crok" across his forehead instead.
She's also absconded with half a million in cold cash.
And she also escaped in his beloved Trans Am.
Mink has dispatched his horde of killers to find Suki and bring her back so that Mink can find the most painful way possible to murder her.
Against his will, Frank finds himself helping Suki escape Mink and avoid Mink's Murderous Horde which of course only results in frequent beatings and near-death experiences as Frank and Suki are continuously thwarted in their escape and avoidance plans.
This is a fun chase-thriller of a novel up until not-quite-the-half-way point when things turn ugly and extremely violent. Quite suspenseful and the reader can never guess what twists await on the next page.
I enjoyed this novel a great deal.
Highly Recommended!
Almost unbearably suspenseful in the final pages... another brilliant thriller.
When Frank Wiley comes across Suki Flood in his camper within the first few pages of this caper/thriller novel, she's lounging on the rear of a wrecked Trans Am in the New Mexico desert obviously stranded on some rarely used dirt road leading up in to the mountains.
Frank's destination is up that same side road to get into the mountains where he intends to lay low and rough it fortified by three cases of beer and five bottles of Jack Daniels and
"enough steak and chicken, corn, fruit, and canned goods to outlast the booze and five or six Stephen King novels, which he intended to read fast and loose and partly drunk. Only way to read King."
But see, Frank Wiley is not his real name and he's on the lam. He most recently worked for a trucking company that manufactures ball bearings and ships them all across the country. Frank decided to find a buyer for his rather expensive load of ball bearings and successfully negotiated a deal which netted him all of seventy seven thousand dollars. His intentions are to eventually make it down to Brazil and spend the rest of his days living in Rio.
Frank is in his mid-fifties and stands about five feet, eight inches. He weighs about 240 pounds. Suki swears he looks closer to 260 pounds. Frank refers to himself as a "walking tank".
Suki by contrast is slender, perfectly built and almost six feet tall. She's eighteen or nineteen years old.
They make an odd looking pair.
Suki has troubles of her own making. She's provoked the ire of a dangerous (is there ever any other kind?) maniac who calls himself "Mink" and who runs an outfit bringing in millions of dollars a month ripping off elderly folks with a phony investments scam. After being slapped around one night by the grouchy maniac, Suki slipped him a fistful of Seconals and after he passed out, she tattooed the word "Crook" on his forehead. Suki only has a sixth grade education so she misspelled "Crook" and wrote "Crok" across his forehead instead.
She's also absconded with half a million in cold cash.
And she also escaped in his beloved Trans Am.
Mink has dispatched his horde of killers to find Suki and bring her back so that Mink can find the most painful way possible to murder her.
Against his will, Frank finds himself helping Suki escape Mink and avoid Mink's Murderous Horde which of course only results in frequent beatings and near-death experiences as Frank and Suki are continuously thwarted in their escape and avoidance plans.
This is a fun chase-thriller of a novel up until not-quite-the-half-way point when things turn ugly and extremely violent. Quite suspenseful and the reader can never guess what twists await on the next page.
I enjoyed this novel a great deal.
Highly Recommended!
July 19, 2015
Loved it, loved it, loved it!! Admittedly, it does not grab you from the start but stick with it because after the first couple of chapter's you'll be hooked and race toward's the end to find out what on earth is going to happen. Personally, i'd have stood the bastard up and let the ant's have him but that's just me. Superb character's, great story and subtle humour all go together to make a fast paced & enjoyable read. Not a series!! Are you mad Robert Leininger!! No more Frank!! What!! .... Sheeeit.
May 27, 2019
4.5*
March 19, 2019
A wonderful "road trip" thriller. 54-year-old Frank Limosin, on the run from the police, meets Suki Flood, 18, on the run from a psychotic killer. Sparks fly! This novel has been under option for a movie ever since 1992. It's been a long time, but the story is essentially timeless, so a movie might still be made.
August 19, 2019
A twist at every turn of the page. Two misfits come together in a hair raising race for their lives against a psychotic killer and his equally ruthless mother.
A few typos here and there, but nothing major. I did feel that the end dragged slightly before the final scene in the desert.
A few typos here and there, but nothing major. I did feel that the end dragged slightly before the final scene in the desert.
August 7, 2017
Quick read, pure entertainment, quirky characters.
January 27, 2021
Outstanding. Extremely suspenseful, noir classic. All the characters in this novel have flaws and the villains are a special kind of evil. Point of view changes from character to character from chapter to chapter and often within chapters. The suspense at times makes it hard to keep one's eyes on the next sentence rather than flicking ahead to the next page. Overall, difficult to fault.
May 8, 2024
Too well done to have preceded the Gumshoe series by many years.
I’m no fan of the really dark torture scenes that populate Rob’s novels, but the plot, dialogue, character development and plausible accuracy of even the most arcane details is truly phenomenal. When imagination is so well paired with artistic style you get a Rob Leininger.
I’m no fan of the really dark torture scenes that populate Rob’s novels, but the plot, dialogue, character development and plausible accuracy of even the most arcane details is truly phenomenal. When imagination is so well paired with artistic style you get a Rob Leininger.
December 1, 2017
Another great Leininger saga
Language, character interaction, amazing humor and always finds a way to get to a great ending. Please keep them coming!
Language, character interaction, amazing humor and always finds a way to get to a great ending. Please keep them coming!
April 1, 2018
Doesn't really fit any of my categories. Just a story about a couple of people who get caught up with a couple of crazies who like to witness pain. Hmmm...yet was readable and satisfying.
January 19, 2016
This book was sold to me as one of the best noir novels you will ever read.
So with that said I went into the book with certain (perhaps unfair) expectations which were sadly not met.
The book has its moments when it oozes the blasé class and throwaway lines that make great noir. This was mainly the start and the end, most of the in between was just a little dull and I felt it dragged.
Frank was great, Suki was tolerable, Mink let the team down as a rather boring and uninspiring villain.
Perhaps if I hadn't have went in expecting the world I would have been more receptive. As it was I found it a fair effort with some great moments but not one I would rush back to or go out of my way to recommend.
So with that said I went into the book with certain (perhaps unfair) expectations which were sadly not met.
The book has its moments when it oozes the blasé class and throwaway lines that make great noir. This was mainly the start and the end, most of the in between was just a little dull and I felt it dragged.
Frank was great, Suki was tolerable, Mink let the team down as a rather boring and uninspiring villain.
Perhaps if I hadn't have went in expecting the world I would have been more receptive. As it was I found it a fair effort with some great moments but not one I would rush back to or go out of my way to recommend.
April 7, 2021
A rollercoaster ride from start to finish.
The landscape descriptions of the South West add a film-like ambience that transform the story into an epic western of crime, lust, revenge and redemption. The writing is witty and with the right amount of humour to keep the reader engaged throughout.
Each character, even if set in an unbelievable setting, seems real enough thanks to Leininger’s writing style, as some chapters are told from their personal point of view.
The ability to create tension is masterfully executed, keeping the reader on the edge, especially in the climatic and rewarding ending.
The phone conversations between Jersey and Mink’s mom are hilarious!
The landscape descriptions of the South West add a film-like ambience that transform the story into an epic western of crime, lust, revenge and redemption. The writing is witty and with the right amount of humour to keep the reader engaged throughout.
Each character, even if set in an unbelievable setting, seems real enough thanks to Leininger’s writing style, as some chapters are told from their personal point of view.
The ability to create tension is masterfully executed, keeping the reader on the edge, especially in the climatic and rewarding ending.
The phone conversations between Jersey and Mink’s mom are hilarious!
May 17, 2016
Very good.
A modern-ish crime noir. A bit of fantasy-fulfillment for us over-50 males, a really likable hero and heroine (more please - would a Frank Wiley series be too much to ask?) and a good, enthralling storyline.
Basically, a combined survival and revenge tale. With kung fu and Chinese water torture. And a great business plan for anyone willing to move around a lot.
A modern-ish crime noir. A bit of fantasy-fulfillment for us over-50 males, a really likable hero and heroine (more please - would a Frank Wiley series be too much to ask?) and a good, enthralling storyline.
Basically, a combined survival and revenge tale. With kung fu and Chinese water torture. And a great business plan for anyone willing to move around a lot.
August 23, 2022
I read this immediately after Gumshoe, by the same author. I thought Gumshoe was a much more enjoyable read, possibly because the author's style has developed. Basic scenario was not very believable - romance between 51 year old man and 19 year old girl - although it may well appeal particularly to 51 year old men! The plot is fast moving, but strains credibility at several points.
February 16, 2017
The prose was well written in places, however I found it difficult to digest the dated, misogynistic characterisation. Far too many sections of the book read as the sexual fantasies of a fifty-something male who hasn't moved on from the exaggerated machismo of the 1980s.
The opening chapters held promise, but ultimately the story consisted of uninteresting people doing uninteresting things.
The opening chapters held promise, but ultimately the story consisted of uninteresting people doing uninteresting things.
September 21, 2015
Wonderful book. The characters, dialogue, plot, settings and pace were perfect. Evidently this book has been optioned for the movies several times and I would love to see it on the big screen as well. Just a terrific book!
May 14, 2016
Het verhaal is simpel, de situatie ongelooflijk. Toch weet dit boek mij vanaf de eerste pagina te boeien. Vooral het hoofdstuk waarin er sprake is van martelingen is er een van zinderende spanning.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews