Riding the Rap: A Novel [Paperback]

Elmore Leonard (Author)

Book Description

Release date: January 3, 2012

“Wicked and irresistible….Elmore Leonard is a literary genius.”
—New York Times Book Review

Before U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens began electrifying TV viewers across America (in the hit series Justified), he “starred” in Elmore Leonard’s Riding the Rap—an explosive, twisty tale of a brazen Florida kidnap caper gone outrageously wrong. Chock full of wildly eccentric and deliciously criminal characters—including a psycho enforcer with a green thumb, a Bahamian bad man, and the beautiful, unabashedly greedy psychic Reverend Dawn—Riding the Rap dazzles with Leonard’s trademark ingenious plot turns and razor-keen dialogue. Gripping, surprising, and unforgettable, it is a crime fiction gem that any thriller writer—from past masters John D. MacDonald, Dashiell Hammett, and James M. Cain to the bestselling mystery auteurs of today—would be thrilled to call his own.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

In this sequel to Pronto, Harry Arno has retired from bookmaking but is still closing out some of his outstanding debts. But then his collection agent, an ex-con by the name of Bobby Deo, goes to pick up $1,800 from Chip Ganz and ends up getting hired for a hostage-taking operation (like kidnapping "in a way," Chip tells him, "only different. A lot different.") When Harry's taken by his own man, it's up to United States Marshal Raylan Givens to track him down, in the same methodically relentless fashion he tracked Harry that time he ran off to Italy. Throw in a henchman named Louis Lewis with plans of his own and an attractive young psychic named Reverend Dawn, and you've got yet another crime story that'll keep you on the edge of your seat--occasionally chuckling to yourself--straight through to the finish. (And bonus points to loyal Leonard fans who can spot the crossover elements from Rum Punch and Maximum Bob.) --Ron Hogan --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

Simple scams usually turn complex in Leonard land, where the author can doubtless choreograph his scammers' moves in his sleep by now; indeed, much of Rap appears to be riding on automatic pilot. Nevertheless, even middling Leonard is as good as anyone else gets on a good day. This darkly witty page-turner returns to the vexed, triangular relationship of Florida marshal Raylan Givens, his girlfriend, Joyce, and her ex-lover, the aging bookie Harry Arno (all seen previously in Pronto). When Harry disappears while chasing down a tardy debtor named Chip Ganz, Joyce admonishes Raylan to investigate. It turns out Chip is a middle-aged pothead living in his mother's seedy beach mansion, whose stoned analysis of televised hostage situations has fueled a baroque kidnapping scheme, into which Harry has stumbled. Like many a Leonard bad guy, Ganz only talks a good game. It falls upon an ex-con and his preening psychotic cohort to execute the caper, with help from an alluring psychic. Raylan's probe takes him into a shadowy New Age subculture of Tarot readings and Hugger conventions, which Leonard limns with characteristic grit and black humor. Ultimately, however, the story lacks the high voltage of Leonard's best work.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 338 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks; Reprint edition (January 3, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9780062122476
• ISBN-13: 978-0062122476
• ASIN: 0062122479
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (71 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #20,692 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Elmore Leonard has written more than forty novels, including bestsellers Up in Honey's Room, The Hot Kid, Mr. Paradise, Tishomingo Blues, Pagan Babies, and Glitz. Many of his books have been made into movies, including Get Shorty and Out of Sight. He lives with his wife, Christine, in Bloomfield Village, Michigan.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars God bless Elmore Leonard November 3, 2003

By Peggy Vincent

Format:Mass Market Paperback

There's hardly ever a truly good guy in Leonard's books. Even the best of his protagonists who ride in on white horses to slay evil dragons have a dark side, a dark secret, or a dark sin. And the worst of the baddies all have some marvelous redeeming or hilarious quality that makes you root for them now and then.
There should be, instead of Murphy's Law, a Leonard's Law, in which some seemingly simple scheme will inevitably turn complex and twisted when this master of his genre gets hold of it.
In Riding the Rap, we get to revisit Florida Marshall Raylan Givins as he investigates the disappearance of his girlfriend's ex-lover. Don't ask. It's too complicated to go into details in a short book review. Just trust me: it's filled with the usual Leonard people-stew of weirdos, strange scams, superb dialogue full of lingo and slang, and and and and...
Not his very best, but very good stuff.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Read The Books, See The Series February 26, 2012

By John D. Pride

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

"Riding The Rap", "Fire In The Hole" and "Pronto" have all been adapted, in some way, to the small screen for the terrific series, "Justified". Although, for some reason, some of the characters' names have been changed, you are essentially getting authentic Elmore Leonard stories and dialogue in the series. "Riding The Rap" tells the further adventures of Harry Arno, Raylan's bookie buddy (?) after the events of "Pronto". Many of the elements of Pronto were adapted for the series without the Italy locale. In this story, A stoner, a muscle man and their ruthless leader kidnap Arno because a psychic woman has confirmed that Harry has money somewhere stashed away. These three ne'erdo-wells want it, and Raylan Givens needs to find Harry before something really bad happens. In the series, Harry Arno's character is a younger man named Arnold Pinter (get it? Harry, as in Harold, Arnold, as in Arno, Pinter, as in Harold Pinter), but the story is, although edited down for TV, essentially the same. It's a page turner, so enjoy!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Riding the Rap - Leonard October 25, 2002

By Chris MB VINE™ VOICE

Format:Mass Market Paperback

I'm not quite sure what I missed when I read Riding the Rap but I obviously missed something. I'm afraid that I can't honestly continue the string of rave reviews. Every character in the novel was flat and few were likable. While the intent of the writing style might have been realism, it was just plain irritating. Leonard has probably written some great books but it'll be a while before I go back to the bookstore to try another.