Call number
MYST LEO
Collection
Genres
Publication
William Morrow (2004), Edition: 1st, 304 pages
Description
"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 genre: 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.… (more)
Subjects
User reviews
LibraryThing member PointedPundit
An Entertaining Novel
What do these reviewers expect? This is the story.
A high-end former Detroit call girl, asks her lingerie model roommate to help her entertain a wealthy octogenarian trial lawyer. By entertain, read she dons a cheerleader's skimpy skirt, but goes topless, while performing
The plot, to say the least, is imaginative. The characters are unique and unforgettable. The dialogue is snappy and realistic. The story moves and is entertaining.
What did these reviewers expect – a Detroit-based Hamlet? Elmore Leonard is a gifted novelist and Mr. Paradise will add to his reputation as a skilled character crafter.
What do these reviewers expect? This is the story.
A high-end former Detroit call girl, asks her lingerie model roommate to help her entertain a wealthy octogenarian trial lawyer. By entertain, read she dons a cheerleader's skimpy skirt, but goes topless, while performing
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pom-pom routines beside a TV set while the lawyer watches videotaped University of Michigan football games. The plot, to say the least, is imaginative. The characters are unique and unforgettable. The dialogue is snappy and realistic. The story moves and is entertaining.
What did these reviewers expect – a Detroit-based Hamlet? Elmore Leonard is a gifted novelist and Mr. Paradise will add to his reputation as a skilled character crafter.
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LibraryThing member mmtz
Kelly Barr agrees to help her roommate play Michigan cheerleader for her 84 year-old boyfriend, Tony Paradiso, but a couple of killers spoil the party. Detective Frank Delsa isn’t sure what Kelly is up tp, but he likes her style. Another smooth tale from the master, Elmore Leonard. You can’t go
Published in mass-market paperback by HarperCollins.
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wrong with any of his books.Published in mass-market paperback by HarperCollins.
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LibraryThing member Greatrakes
A classic piece of Leonard crime writing. Spare dialogue, shot through with wit and with a cast of America's Dumbest Criminals.
Mr Paradise is the murdered man with the cash, one 'cheerleader' is dead, and one alive but pretending to be the dead one, and everyone has an angle. Frank Delsa is the cop
Mr Paradise is the murdered man with the cash, one 'cheerleader' is dead, and one alive but pretending to be the dead one, and everyone has an angle. Frank Delsa is the cop
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who goes around being cool whilst everyone else falls apart. Leonard sets all the people in motion, with an imperceptible nudge, and they run around an intricate course like clockwork actors, the man is a genius. Show Less
LibraryThing member grheault
Set in Detroit. Police investigate murder of old man and mistaken murder of his girlfriendIts a police whodunit with witnesses telling vastly different stories, but without much action at least to midpoint. I was not interested enough in the characters to care whodunit and DNF. Elmore Leonard wikis
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up as an incredibly interesting guy, hails from Detroit, and is known for Westerns, very natural dialog, and books that convert well into movies Show Less
LibraryThing member Gary10
Fast moving with great dialogue and memorable characters--vintage Elmore L.
LibraryThing member kayceel
I picked this one out 'cause my gradfather loved Elmore Leonard. I can *sort* of see why, though this was rather violent and full of strong language - I wouldn't think my grandfather would stand for it!
Lieutenant Frank Delsa is smart and tough, and I really enjoyed his character. The writing is a
Feels a bit old-school-tough-guy - Recommended!
Lieutenant Frank Delsa is smart and tough, and I really enjoyed his character. The writing is a
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fast patter, much like the way many of the characters speak, and this plays like a comedy of errors involving dumb and violent criminals.Feels a bit old-school-tough-guy - Recommended!
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LibraryThing member nikon
It's a fairly quick read, with loads of dialogue that in themselves help describe the characters and oh yeah there's a fine array of characters all of whom are introduced are a good rate and each and everyone of them somehow or other manage to fit in and out of this odd and reasonably well woven
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story. Show Less
LibraryThing member uryjm
On the long haul flight back, I chose Elmore for company and he didn't let me down. This was his classic crime style, full of cliches and set-ups he's made his own. Even although they can irritate me, and I did feel he was trying a bit too hard to be "hip" on music in this novel, he's allowed to do
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it. Great dialogue, even better plotting and some laugh-out-loud observations on people and life, I finished this in one (business class) sitting. Show Less
LibraryThing member TTAISI-Editor
Funny, but not one of Leonard's best.
LibraryThing member amberwitch
A fastpaced story with more emphasis on character than suspense.
Chloe, the professional mistress of Mr. Paradise, convinces her roommate Kelly to come along to do cheerleading routines for Mr. Paradises entertainment. While Kelly is elsewhere Mr. Paradise and Chloe is shot, and Kelly is pressured
Chloe, the professional mistress of Mr. Paradise, convinces her roommate Kelly to come along to do cheerleading routines for Mr. Paradises entertainment. While Kelly is elsewhere Mr. Paradise and Chloe is shot, and Kelly is pressured
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into impersonating Chloe in order to procure something valuable Mr. Paradise left to her. Show Less
LibraryThing member mlake
I haven't read much Elmore Leonard, but this was so good I want to read more.
LibraryThing member Daftboy1
Mr. Paradise along with a high class escort lady are murdered.
Frank Delsa from Detroit Police investigates the case.
Two hitman carried out the shooting.
There was another girl at the scene called Kelly she and Frank get together. Frank also solves the case.
Mr Paradise assistant arranged the murder.
Frank Delsa from Detroit Police investigates the case.
Two hitman carried out the shooting.
There was another girl at the scene called Kelly she and Frank get together. Frank also solves the case.
Mr Paradise assistant arranged the murder.
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Ok book Show Less
LibraryThing member DPLyle
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
LibraryThing member capewood
I've got a lot of Elmore Leonard to catch up on. Mr. Paradise (Anthony Paradisio) is a aging gangster in Detroit. He loves having young girls perform for him in University of Michigan cheerleader outfits. Things go bad one night when he and one of the girls with him get shot and killed. A lot of
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people would have liked to see Mr. Paradise killed. Show Less
LibraryThing member bjkelley
Started slow for me, but about 30 pages in everything ramped up and it was a fast read to the end. Great characters and dialogue as usual.
LibraryThing member regularguy5mb
This was my first time reading an Elmore Leonard, although I've experienced some of his stories through other means (movie adaptations). I like his style, so I've picked up a few of his books over the years.
Mr. Paradise is similar to some of the other Leonard stories I know of, a lot of colorful
It's really fun watching the criminals try their best to outsmart the cops and each other, although you know it's all going to go horribly wrong somehow. The question in an Elmore Leonard yarn is, who will come out on top?
Mr. Paradise is similar to some of the other Leonard stories I know of, a lot of colorful
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characters and an awful lot of happenstance. But the way he writes it, he makes it work.It's really fun watching the criminals try their best to outsmart the cops and each other, although you know it's all going to go horribly wrong somehow. The question in an Elmore Leonard yarn is, who will come out on top?
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LibraryThing member therestlessmouse
Interesting story but not exactly a page-turner
Awards
Michigan Notable Books (2005)
Pages
304
ISBN
0060083956 / 9780060083953