Stock photo. Cover may not represent actual copy or condition available.

Mr. Paradise

by Elmore Leonard

Summary

Chloe is a former escort who's found herself a steady job as the personal dancer to a wealthy, retired lawyer named Tony Paradiso. The money's good and the work, dancing around in a topless cheerleader's outfit while he watches old football games, is not exactly challenging. One night Chloe and Tony have two guests at their party-she brings along her roommate, Kelly, and he invites his business partner, Montez Taylor. What should have been a night of naughty fun soon turns deadly and before anyone can even cheer "Go, team!" there are two dead bodies on the floor. Called into the crime scene, detective Frank Delsa soon learns that he has more than just a double homicide on his hands-indeed, he must solve a complicated case involving an assumed identity and a safe deposit box full of money.

Customer Reviews

Be the first to review this book!

Media Reviews

"Like the best crime thrillers-which means like most of Leonard's work-this novel is character-driven, and in its wonderfully rich, authentically human cast the story finds its surprises. The prose, as expected from Leonard, is perfect-in 304 pages, there's not a word that doesn't belong exactly where he's placed it. Brilliantly constructed, wise and tough, this book, like so many recent Leonards, offers a master class in how to write a novel."

   -- Publishers Weekly

Bibliographic Details

Publisher: Harpercollins
Published date: 2004
Edition: 1th edition
Size: 6.5 x 9.5 inches
Weight: 1.25 pounds
Pages: 356

Publisher's Notes

Roommates Kelly and Chloe are enjoying their lives and their downtown Detroit loft just fine. Kelly is a Victoria's Secret catalog model. Chloe is an escort, until she decides to ditch her varied clientele in favor of a steady gig as girlfriend to eighty-four-year-old retired lawyer Tony Paradiso, a.k.a. Mr. Paradise.

Evenings at Mr. Paradise's house, there's always an old Michigan football game on TV. And when Chloe's around, there's a cheerleader, too, complete with pleated skirt and blue-and-gold pompoms. One night Chloe convinces Kelly to join in the fun, along with Montez Taylor, Tony's smooth-talking right-hand man.

But things go awry and before the end of the evening there will be two corpses, two angry hit men, one switch of identity, a safe-deposit box full of loot up for grabs, and, fast on the scene, detective Frank Delsa, who now has a double homicide -- and a beautiful, willful witness -- to add to his already heavy caseload.

With a cool cast, snappy dialogue, and all the twists and turns fans crave, Mr. Paradise is Elmore Leonard at home in Detroit and sharper than ever.

Other Editions

• Hardcover - Harpercollins (2004) - from $1.00
• Paperback Reprint - Harpercollins (2005) - from $1.00

Similar books

Ready to buy this book?