Now that his mom's gravy train has derailed, gambling, debt-ridden Palm Beach playboy Warren "Chip" Ganz has decided to take somebody rich hostage -- with the help of a Bahamian ex-con, a psycho gardener/enforcer, and the beautiful, if underfed, psychic Reverend Dawn. The trouble is they choose bookmaker Harry Arno as their victim, and Harry can scam with the best. The BIG trouble is ace manhunter U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens is sleeping with Harry's ex-exotic dancer ex-girlfriend, and Joyce wants Harry found. And since nearly everyone has guns, locating and springing the captive bookie most probably can't happen without some measure of lethal difficulty.
Riding the Rap (Raylan Givens)
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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.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
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Ocala Police picked up Dale Crowe Junior for weaving, two o'clock in the morning, crossing the center line and having a busted taillight. Read the first page
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Ocala Police picked up Dale Crowe Junior for weaving, two o'clock in the morning, crossing the center line and having a busted taillight. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
By "quadshot"
Format:Mass Market Paperback
This is Elmore Leonard at his best. A Stetson-wearing hero, a soothsaying love interest, three greedy but likable villains, and--like in all Leonard novels--a story told through dialogue and not showy exposition . . . how could you go wrong? And if you really want to be entertained, buy the audio version read by the brilliant Frank Muller.
By Peggy Vincent
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
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.
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.
By avdr
Format:Mass Market Paperback
elmore leonard is considered one of the best crime writers today.he paints everyday criminals with a certain realisjm and distinction.in riding the rap, an ex mobster gets kidnapped by a guy who owes him money and two other guys.they plan on emptying his bank account and running off to the bahamas.that's when federal marshal raylan givens goes out to bring the ex mobster back safe and sound as a favor to his girlfriend.a gardner, an ex stripper and a fortune teller are only a few of the players in this crime caper.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
An introduction to E.L.
I have not read many crime novels in my days, but i did really enjoy Riding the Rap. It was a fairly easy read which made it good to fly through it in a couple sittings. Read more
Published on May 27 2003 by J Brown
3.0 out of 5 stars
Awwwwww.... not his best
I guess even Leonard is entitled to an off day. Somehow this book gets stuck in the mud along the way which is so unlike the usual fare from this terrific writer. Read more
Published on Nov 4 2002 by D. Wolf
2.0 out of 5 stars
Riding the Rap - Leonard
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. Read more
Published on Oct 25 2002 by Chris MB
3.0 out of 5 stars
Past Prime
Compared to the truly wonderful Elmore Leonard classics, like City Primeval or Fifty-two Pickup, Riding the Rap doesn't come anywhere near the mark. Read more
Published on Feb 1 2002 by Charlotte Vale-Allen
4.0 out of 5 stars
Another good one from Leonard...
I've said it once and I'll say it again... no one writes dialog like Leonard. If you want to know where Tarentino got his inspiration for the off-beat dialog in Pulp Fiction,... Read more
Published on Aug 21 2000 by Erik J. Larsen
4.0 out of 5 stars
A fine, funny read.
This was my first Elmore Leonard. I came to him through Martin Amis's recommendation, thinking that any prose good enough for Martin would be good enough for me. Read more
Published on July 10 2000 by E. Hawkins
4.0 out of 5 stars
It's an action film.
And just like one it's fast, furious, and can be fun. But at the end you are asking yourself "So what?" Just don't ask that question and you'll be set. Read more
Published on Jun 12 2000 by Jonathan Ashley
2.0 out of 5 stars
Slow
The sentences are well written. Leonard describes things well. But it was a slow read. Everything was leading up to the last few pages, where the only action occurred. Read more
Published on Mar 24 2000
2.0 out of 5 stars
This is not Leonard's Finest Hour
Having read other books by Leonard, I found "Riding the Gap" to be weak in comparison. The book is a tale of three unlikable hoods who kidnap a bookie with the intention... Read more
Published on Nov 26 1999 by Jason Debly
3.0 out of 5 stars
Diverting but not lasting
I'd not read an Elmore Leonard book prior to this, and by the end I could tell why his books sell so well. Read more
Published on July 24 1999 by A. Ross
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