Some of the earliest work ever written by Elmore Leonard – a range of short stories from the 50s, some of which were even created while Leonard was working in the advertising business! The later Leonard style is definitely in effect here, but the stories are also shorter, more focused, and with a very sharp punch – more in line with postwar crime/detective pulp styles, with maybe a dose of Hemmingway – and without all the later twists, turns, and key complications that Leonard often brought to his famous books! The result is some great hard crime writing – with locales that stretch from Detroit jazz clubs to south of the border bullfight rings – all marked by a great sense of dialogue, which really moves the stories along sharply. 330 pages, softcover. Book