292 pages
English language
Published Aug. 16, 1990 by Delacorte Press.
E-book extras: "Martin Amis Interviews 'The Dickens of Detroit'"; Elmore Leonard's "If It Sounds Like Writing, Rewrite It"; "All By Elmore: The Crime Novels & The Westerns"; Selected FilmographyMob-connected loanshark Chili Palmer is sick of the Miami grind -- plus his "friends" have a bad habit of dying there. So when he chases a deadbeat client out to Hollywood, Chili figures he might like to stay. This town with its dreammakers, glitter, hucksters, and liars -- plus gorgeous, partially clad would -be starlets everywhere you look -- seems ideal for an enterprising criminal with a taste for the cinematic. Besides, Chili's got an idea for a killer movie -- thought it could very possibly kill him to get it made.
This was a fun read. Leonard makes his gangsters (even the bad guys) engaging and human and he clearly loves movies but is happy to send up the movie industry.
I guess my problem is Elmore Leonard helped right the screenplay for the movie.
Both I admire greatly, but with a book we hope to get some more depth from the characters.
