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The Hot Kid is a bit of a throwback for crime novelist Elmore Leonard who got his start writing westerns. Though this isn't exactly a western, it's early 20th century Oklahoma setting is a change from Leonard's usual haunts of modern day Detroit, Miami and L.A.

The plot centers on Carlos Webster, a young federal marshall, hunting down public enemies like real life gangsters Pretty Boy Floyd and racking up a reputation for being a quick draw who never misses. He crosses paths with such characters as Louly Brown, who longs to be Pretty Boy's gun moll, and Jack Beaumont a spoiled son of a rich oil man who wants to be public enemy #1.

Though a lot of fun, this isn't Leonard at his best. The characters aren't quite as colorful and the plot is not quite as complicated as his greatest works but his strongpoint is always the dialogue and especially in an audiobook with a good reader, it's a pleasure to listen to his tough guys and their rambling drawl.

Posted at March 5, 2006 05:09 PM