Road Dogs: A Novel

by: Elmore Leonard

Published by: William Morrow

Reviewed by Jeff Foster

I think it can safely be said the Elmore Leonard is going to go down in history as one of America’s best novelists.

Leonard’s latest, Road Dogs, – what could be called a sequel to Out of Sight – confirms that. This new novel brings together characters from disparate stories from previous novels and weaves them into a quirky tale that anyone will enjoy.

Jack Foley, America’s most prolific bank robber from Out of Sight; Cundo Rey, the former Ladies Club dancer, cum millionaire, Cuban refugee from La Brava; and Dawn Navarro, the psychic and now common-law wife of Cundo from Riding the Rap – all join together in a tale of lust, money and revenge, all set up by the early release of Jack Foley that was set up by Rey from a Florida prison where the two of them have been sharing sentences and have become friends, i.e., “Road Dogs” in prison inmate jargon.

Add in quirky secondary characters, another skill that the author has perfected so well that I actually look forward to finding out what he has concocted, and the story is a complete tale of the experiences that take place in two multi-million dollar homes. These homes, owned by Cundo’s accountant and fellow former Cuban refugee, Little Jimmy, face each other across the canal in Venice Beach, California.

Elmore Leonard has a fascinating way of telling what otherwise might have been a mundane story from the back pages of any American newspaper, and making it into a novel that is simply too captivating to put down. The writing is amazing, the characters alive and the way he takes you into their heads–while writing in the third person– is so easy to read you hardly notice he’s making the switch in styles, sometimes two or three times a page.

This book will keep Elmore Leonard high on my “Don’t Miss It” list.

Armchair Interviews says: Road Dogs is a perfect “week at the beach” summer read.

Author’s Web site: http://www.ElmoreLeonard.com