When the Women Come Out to Dance: Stories
What a treat! The nine stories in this collection--some never  before published, others available only in anthologies or magazines-- demonstrate why Elmore Leonard has achieved both bestsellerdom and  critical acclaim. Ranging in length from a four-page trifle to two  novellas of 50-plus pages, these are gems of sly humor, suspense, and,  above all, character. Most are in the contemporary crime-fiction vein  that made Leonard famous, but a few are more contemplative set pieces,  and there's one fine Old West story (Leonard was a Western writer  before he became a crime king).Longtime fans will recognize some familiar faces, including the U.S.  marshals Raylan Givens, from 1993'sProntoand 1995'sRiding the Rap,  and Karen Sisco, from 1996'sOut of Sight(played  by J. Lo in the movie). But whether familiar or new, the people in  these stories lunge off the page and seize you by the lapels. Nobody  writes character and dialogue like Leonard. In fact, several tales  feature some rural white-trash bad guys who are so utterly plausible  that you'll look over your shoulder next time you drive a country  road.The short story format suits Leonard's stripped-down style beautifully.  While one or two of the slimmer pieces feel a bit disposable, all nine  are engaging, and the best are breathtakingly good--the crispest, best- plotted stuff Leonard has published in years.--Nicholas H.  Allison