Mr. Paradise

Listening to Leonard's latest thriller is paradise found. That's because after a 15-year absence from the city for which his early mysteries were famous, Leonard returns to Detroit. It's one of his better capers. Chloe, a striking blonde who makes $5,000 a week entertaining an 84-year-old retired lawyer, talks her look-alike roommate into joining the party, so to speak. While one of the blondes is upstairs, Paradiso and the other are murdered by two thugs. The murders are investigated by Delsa, the acting police chief, who takes a shine to Kelly--or is she Chloe? Robert Forster's sonorous, sometimes raspy, voice is wonderful for the male characters--especially the too-stupid-to-be-believed killers. He's perfect for this Leonard ditty because he realizes that for this one the narrator has to sound just a tad sharper, funnier, and quirkier than ever. A.L.H. (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine

Starred review from November 24, 2003
Fifteen years after his last Detroit novel, Killshot
, Leonard (whose most recent effort was Tishomingo Blues
) returns to Motor City for another exemplary crime thriller. Chloe Robinette, an escort, is on a $5,000 monthly retainer from wealthy, retired octogenarian lawyer Anthony Paradiso; her duties include dancing topless in a cheerleader's outfit for him as he watches videos of old University of Michigan football games. On a night she persuades her roommate, Kelly Barr, a Victoria's Secret model, to join her in the dancing, Chloe and Paradiso, aka Mr. Paradise, are shot dead in Paradiso's mansion by two middle-aged white thugs. The hit has been set up by Paradiso's right-hand man, Montez Taylor, who's angry at Paradiso for cutting him out of his will; Montez then asks the shocked Kelly to impersonate Chloe in order to scam valuables from Paradiso's safe deposit box, to which Chloe had a key. Enter Frank Delsa, a Detroit homicide cop, who smells a rat and falls for Kelly while sorting matters out. She falls for him, too, but will the hit men and/or Montez take her out, since she can identify them as conspirators? Like the best crime thrillers—which means like most of Leonard's work—this novel is character-driven, and in its wonderfully rich, authentically human cast the story finds its surprises. The prose, as expected from Leonard, is perfect—in 304 pages, there's not a word that doesn't belong exactly where he's placed it. Brilliantly constructed, wise and tough, this book, like so many recent Leonards, offers a master class in how to write a novel. (Jan.)

Forecast:
With major ad/promo including a six-city author tour and simultaneous large print edition and cassette/CD audiobooks, this title will settle comfortably on national bestseller lists.

April 5, 2004
Leonard (Tishomingo Blues
, etc.) has long been the master of sparse, precise language. Consequently, his prose and dialogue have evolved over the years to the point of having a rhythm and style unique unto themselves. Fortunately, Forster falls neatly into sync with the author. His clear, matter-of-fact recitation is perfectly suited to drawing the listener into a world where violence, deception and death are simply a practical side of doing business and delivered with as much passion as a Detroit police report. The story follows the investigation sparked by the death of an 84-year-old millionaire—the Mr. Paradise of the title. Leonard brings together an eclectic mixture of pragmatic cops, working-class hit men, crooked lawyers, con men and gangbangers, all brought to life through Forster's smooth, understated delivery. If there is any flaw in the performance, it is that by keeping his reading so low-key and laconic, there are a few sections of dialogue where the listener may be confused as to which character is speaking. But it is this same delivery that enhances the humor in the book, often with laugh-out-loud results. So, even though it would have been nice if Forster gave the characters' voices a bit more inflection, this is a small criticism of an overall fine production. Simultaneous release with the HarperCollins hardcover (Forecasts, Nov. 24, 2003).

September 15, 2003
Pompommed Chloe and friend Kelly are cheering along with a football tape for Chloe's elderly boyfriend when two hit men arrive. Leonard's latest has a one-day laydown on January 6.

Copyright 2003 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.