Customer Reviews

Gold Coast

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

gold coast may not be one of leonards best but it satisfies the crime novel fan.the plot is pretty good considering its been seen before.the ending i must say is surprising.it also has a few funny moments to keep you in good humor.good book but not leonards best.

This is a good book,alot of people will like this one a sort of quirky, crimefilled romance... but when compared to Leonard's other books it seems bad. Something just didn't click (for me) with the characters in this novel.

Like many Leonard novels, this one had a great beginning, great introduction of characters, etc. but it just fumbles apart by the end. There's so much pointless and confusing plotting in the last 50 pages that I got tired of trying to figure out what was going on. By the end, none of it mattered anyway. Still some good parts and funny exchanges but I have a hard time recommending it. It's disappointing to spend time on something like this and get cheated with a slack ending.

I've read 20 of Elmore's 40 books, and thus far, Gold Coast remains my favorite. I find the bad guy in this particular book endlessly facsinating and hilarious!

Elmore Leonard's "Gold Coast" is a classic book about a femme fatale. "You're not too bright. I like that in a man," said one actress in a late night film noir classic film, and Leonard's major female (Karen DiCilia) in "Gold Coast" is one smart cookie, using men for her own monetary advantage. Not that she doesn't like men's company. She just likes controlling men much more.

Leonard's novel is fast-moving, witty and downright scary in places, especially when Roland is part of the scene. A huge, pseudo-cowboy-hit-man, Roland is the stuff of nightmares, a killer with little thought for his victims. He almost makes me want to own a gun.

Larry Rochelle, author of DEATH & DEVOTION, TRACETRACKS and DANCE WITH THE PONY

I read this book in 2 afternoons. Although it's short, the characters are fully realized and well-rounded. I really liked the Roland Crow character; such a jolly fellow going around shooting people and throwing them off balconies! I'm getting to like Elmore Leonard very much. If you like this stuff, I also recommend Joe R. Lansdale's series about Hap Collins and Leonard Pine, as well as anything by Christopher Moore.

i will have to admit that this was a really short book. if it was at least 100 pages longer it would be a lot better. but im still amazed on how good it was for such a short book.

I agree with the others. It's an ok book, but the end was like, "wait, what?" I listened to it as an audiobook, and when they started telling the legal details at the end, I actually looked down at my player, thinking, "that's it? That's the end?" Definitely could have made a much better ending! Kind of makes you think though...

Elmore Leonard (EL) has situated many of his crime novels in Detroit in summer and in Florida in winter. This book is about Karen, born in Detroit, but widowed for a second time while living in Florida, as the wife of Frank DiCilia, a taciturn, semi-retired member of the mafia. She is only 44, still looks great and would like to get on with her life. However, the few men with whom she had innocent dates or dinners since her husband's demise, never called her back. She learns what she is worth financially from her husband's lawyer, and the conditions attached: she is rich but Frank is ruling from the grave, saying that if Karen chooses a new partner the inheritance arrangements are null and void. She will be on her own. No four million dollar trust fund released in monthly instalments, no house and other property, no nothing...
Enters Cal Maguire, a former con man from Detroit. Will he be able to arrange the ways and means (the scam) that will give Karen more freedom and full access to her inheritance? Of course, if he fails, both of them will get killed for sure. Woman readers especially should read this book and decide who they identify most with, and what they would do in Karen's shoes. Obey and live in comfort, alone, or take a gamble?
Many of EL's books have been turned into Hollywood movies. He is a brilliant plotter and a superior writer of dialogue. "Gold Coast" has been filmed with David Caruso (CSI) as the con man from Detroit. Finally, only some of ELs books are situated in Detroit or Florida. "Mr. Majestyk" takes place in Arizona, and many of his later books do so in other states or outside the US, in full or in part, in Rwanda, Puerto Rico, Djibouti... The Djibouti novel is due for release in August 2010. This book is vintage EL enjoyment.

Elmore Leonard's Gold Coast starts out solid, but weakens about half way through. This plot had so much potential that it made the ending an even bigger let down than if the book had been mediocre all the way through.

The first half is likely to hold your interest and the characters are quirky, strong, and solid. But mid-way through there is a lot of repetition and the sense that it should be coming to a conclusion long before this. You just want it to move on. But there is a sense that with such a good set up it is worth hanging on for what you expect to be a fantastic finish.

But, alas, all that glitters is not gold and the ending is extremely disappointing. I was expecting a great twist and something unexpected and creative. Instead, it was as if Leonard was tired of the whole thing himself and just stuck an ending on because he didn't want to make the effort to come with anything good.

I would recommend reading it; it is entertaining if somewhat redundant and slow toward the middle. But plan to be disappointed as you finish it up.