Not one of Elmore Leonard 's best novels, but still entertaining.. Narrator was good, but production was only fair, causing some confusion at times

Thanks to HarperAudio & NetGalley for providing an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Elmore Leonard - what's not to love? If you're still missing Raylan Givens, this might just tide you over. In this outing, we're in Puerto Rico, Miami, and Atlantic City. There's a lot going on, and you might notice a lack of cell phones (it was first published in the '80s; at one point, our MC, Vincent Mora, is unable to make calls because his rented room has no phone)., which is kind of refreshing, and leaves a lot more time for people to do crime.

Vincent is convalescing in PR after having been shot during the commission of a robbery while off duty (he's a Miami cop). That opening scene sets our story, not unlike the aforementioned Raylan shooting drug runner Tommy Bucks, as Vincent shoots his robber and kills him. Now, in the midst of a low-key existential crisis (should he even be a cop anymore?), he's swanning around PR with a beautiful young hired companion, Iris, while being followed by a creepy young blond guy, who turns out to be Teddy Mazyk, run in by Vincent eight years previous after getting rousted at a hotel room after raping and beating an old lady. Meanwhile, Iris is planning her future after having been invited by local casino bigwig, Tommy Donovan to "hostess" in his casino in Atlantic City ... but his wife doesn't need to know all that.

These threads string together after Iris promptly dies after "hostessing" in AC for a week or two, falling (pushed?) off the 18th floor of a hotel. She has Vincent.s name and address on a slip of paper in her panties, so Vincent travels there to answer questions, and ask a few of his own.

This story has some slow spots and some stuff that probably wouldn't make it to the final galleys today (hero cop hanging out with a sex worker?), but Leonard is a master of the slow burn. With any other author I would likely be annoyed with there being too many characters and too much to keep track of, but I don't mind with EL. The dialogue is clean, with few if any exclamations, retorts, replies, etc. This is great but it can get confusing in the audio to know who is speaking when. Luckily, Anthony Rey Perez does a good job of distinguishing voices (and even brings a decent and not obnoxious blaccent to the table), he's got some Benjamin Bratt energy, but a little more authentic.

Overall a solid outing. 3.5 stars rounded up

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC in audiobook format.

Glitz by Elmore Leonard, narrated by Anthony Rey Perez

Elmore Leonard’s Glitz is a masterclass in noir swagger—sleek, sardonic, and soaked in menace. First published in 1985 and now revitalized in audio form, this crime thriller still crackles with the kind of dialogue and character work that made Leonard a legend. But it’s Anthony Rey Perez’s narration that gives this reissue its fresh, kinetic edge.

The story follows Vincent Mora, a Miami homicide detective recovering from a gunshot wound in Atlantic City. What begins as a recuperative escape quickly spirals into a deadly game of cat and mouse when Teddy Magyk—a sadistic ex-con with a vendetta—reappears. The plot is deceptively simple, but Leonard’s genius lies in the texture: the way characters talk, the way they size each other up, the way violence simmers just beneath the surface.

Perez leans into that texture with a performance that’s all rhythm and restraint. He doesn’t overplay the grit—he lets it smolder. His Vincent is cool but not cold, weary but not broken. And when he voices Teddy, there’s a subtle shift—just enough to make your skin crawl. Perez’s pacing is deliberate, letting Leonard’s razor-sharp prose breathe while keeping the tension taut.

What makes Glitz sing in audio is its musicality. Leonard’s dialogue is famously jazz-like—snappy, syncopated, full of sly pauses—and Perez plays it like a seasoned soloist. You don’t just hear the story; you ride its groove.

For fans of crime fiction who want their thrills laced with style and their villains with a touch of theatrical menace, Glitz is a slick, satisfying listen. It’s Leonard at his most cinematic—and Perez makes sure you don’t miss a frame.

Classic Elmore Leonard, Glitz is the story of Miami detective Vincent Mora, who is shot by a mugger. He is recovering in Puerto Rico when he falls in love with a young woman. The more he gets entangled with Iris and learns about a job offer she's received, the more he's pulled back into a life where crime is around every corner. Propulsive and engaging, Glitz is a great read for fans of crime fiction. The audio narration is excellent.