Hot Kid

De: Elmore Leonard

Narrado por: Arliss Howard

Carl Webster, the hot kid of the marshals service, is polite, respects his elders, and can shoot a man driving away in an Essex at four hundred yards. Carl works out of the Tulsa, Oklahoma, federal courthouse in the 1930s, the period of America's most notorious bank robbers. Dillinger, Baby Face Nelson, those guys.

Carl wants to be America's most famous lawman. He shot his first felon when he was fifteen years old. With a Winchester.

Jack Belmont wants to rob banks, become public enemy number one, and show his dad, an oil millionaire, he can make it on his own.With tommy guns, hot cars, speakeasies, cops and robbers, and a former lawman who believes in vigilante justice, all played out against the flapper period of gun molls and Prohibition, The Hot Kid is Elmore Leonard -- the true master -- at his best.

Performed by Arliss Howard

Good story, Great narration

Elmore Leonard always writes interesting stories but it is the narration by Arliss Howard that makes this book. It is perfect!

it's hard to beat Leonard for colorful characters

I thought the story and performance dead on. Mr. Howard captures the Oklahoma accent and feel of the period. Well done.

Painfully dull narrator

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

no

How did the narrator detract from the book?

The narrator read the book in a flat monotone that left me looking for any excuse to stop listening and do something else. And, once I stopped I looked for any excuse not to get back to it. That's not typical of the way I listen to a good book. His style reminded me of Kevin Costner's emotionless and boring style of delivery. I think the story likely is a good one but it's hurt by the way it was read. I think I'd like the book more if I read the actual printed book.

excellent! 1930s story from a master

terrific characters in flawless pacing make this one of the best 30s gangster stories I've ever read. The only thing I would say is the interlude music is totally wrong, brassy 1950s style Big band. clearly the editor of this didn't know anything about music or history

The Hot Kid (Unabridged)

I loved the reader. I thought he gave an authentic interruption of the main character's personality and the times...slow and easy. I was fascinated by the easy acceptance of women engaged in prostitution as if it was just a temporary career choice until something better came along.