Glitz

Vincent Mora is bringing in groceries when a slimeball demands his wallet. Instead of handing it over or playing the tough guy, Vincent wearily explains the obvious. You think I'd drive a car like that? It's a cop car, asshole. Now go lean on it. Not smart; he ends up shot, with red wine and pasta sauce all over him. That's just for starters. Add a beautiful Puerto Rican hooker, some goombas at an Atlantic City casino, a bad-tempered parrot, an ex-con nutcase who wants to look Vincent in the eye when he shoots him, a touch of garlic and simmer gently. It's got what Leonard does best: a weird but quite believable bad guy, vivid settings, a cast of criminals who are treated with generosity even though they're, well, pretty bad, a great female love interest, a sexy, cool, intelligent, funny, totally likable hero who doesn't indulge in angst, but from time to time thinks about the slimeball who tried to mug him. Vincent ponders ways he could have handled it that wouldn't end up with shooting and killing the would-be mugger. A tough guy who's really bothered when he takes a life. I like that. Lots of humor, dialogue that's absolutely right, a great sense of timing, a plot that keeps twisting ... you can't do better than this.