The Hot Kid

"Bang Bang Crime Novel Set Amidst Oklahoma's Oil Boom" according to Richard Seeley. This is one of many novels that will cause the late Elmore Leonard's readers to miss him all the more. Set in the Pretty Boy Floyd era of the Oklahoma oil boom, the story pits Carl Webster, a newly minted hot shot young deputy U.S. marshal, against the bad guys who plied their nasty trade between Tulsa and Kansas City. Although this crime story is set in Depression-era O. "the one they should have made a tv series" according to John F. Montag. nothing against Raylon Givens, but Marshall Carlos Webster is a man with a story! one of EL's longer novels, it's a bit episodic, with a string of intertwining conflicts. this, of course, gives EL plenty of opportunity to develop some interesting characters--rotten hearts, gorgeous molls, and idiot gangsters--who people the land around Tulsa in the most memorable way. I'. "It's written by Elmore Leonard. What more do you need to know?" according to John Kotula. Elmore Leonard tells a great story here. He tells it clearly and engagingly, effortlessly presenting wonderful characters, period details, and plenty of action. At the same time, he is commenting on the all the richness of story telling; how to tell a story, what to put in what to leave out, what kind of language to use. I was sad to come to the end. Fortunately, some of

Great story, typical Elmore Leonard. I expect a film sometime!