--- product_id: 5045378 title: "Raylan: A Novel" brand: "elmore leonard" price: "S$32" currency: SGD in_stock: false reviews_count: 7 url: https://www.desertcart.sg/products/5045378-raylan-a-novel store_origin: SG region: Singapore --- # Raylan: A Novel **Brand:** elmore leonard **Price:** S$32 **Availability:** ❌ Out of Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Raylan: A Novel by elmore leonard - **How much does it cost?** S$32 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Currently out of stock - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.sg](https://www.desertcart.sg/products/5045378-raylan-a-novel) ## Best For - elmore leonard enthusiasts ## Why This Product - Trusted elmore leonard brand quality - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description Raylan: A Novel ## Images ![Raylan: A Novel - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51Q2RJV9X9L.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5.0 out of 5 stars In What it Attempts to Do: Perfect *by R***Z on Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2012* So . . . the jacket is covered with blurbs: "the best suspense writer in America"; "the dean of crime writers"; "a master of narrative"; "the best in the business" and the one that's closest to the truth: "his writing is pure pleasure."I had just finished the newest Robert Crais novel, Taken, and I turned to Elmore Leonard's Raylan. The Crais novel is full-tilt, piledriver suspense; the Leonard novel is pure pleasure. You gulp down the Crais novel a paragraph or page at a time; with Leonard you pause over every delicious word.Leonard usually writes two kinds of novels--the dark, brooding, soul-searing book like Killshot or the lighter, Runyonesque story of lame criminals who generate more laughter than violence (Freaky Deaky, Get Shorty). Raylan (whose title character is now a fixture in the FX series Justified) is among the latter books, but with a strong regional twist. Leonard can nail Detroit, of course, and both Hollyweird and Miami. Here he nails the Kentucky coal country.Fundamentally, Leonard is the master of dialogue, dialogue that reveals character, culture, inclination, motivation and essential nature in a single word. Black, white, male, female, wily fox or 78 IQ, hillbilly, faux hillbilly or more-hat-than-cattle Texan . . . he nails them all and always in the language of their time and place. Leonard lives in upscale Detroit; I grew up on the Kentucky border and have been through Shelbyville, Indiana on a Greyhound bus more times than I like to remember and Leonard knows it and feels it better than anybody, including the indigenous population.Raymond Chandler thought that one of the hallmarks of crime writing was a realist approach to language; characters should speak as the real people of the time speak. Leonard has internalized that notion for almost 60 years. He's pushing 90 and he still has the best ear in the game. Plus, he doesn't shrink from the writing of dialect, which may be the most difficult thing to do in crime writing. It can't be mannered; it can't be distracting; it has to be authentic and it has to be readable, even with the distortions of spelling and grammar that it entails. Leonard is its absolute master.And the story: it's actually three interconnected stories, with interlacing between what could have been three freestanding novellas instead of an episodic but integrated slice of Raylan Givens' life. The first deals with kidney thefts, the second with coal mining, the third bank thefts and high stakes poker. The third story introduces a character of whom we might see more: Jackie Nevada, Butler University senior and Texas hold `em player extraordinaire. All three of the stories are wonderful; all involve memorable characters who are represented with drop-dead perfect dialogue.I was a little hard on EL in my review of Djibouti, which had its moments but never quite came together for me. Now I'm on the floor, worshipping. This is as close to perfection in regional crime writing as we're ever likely to get. Do not miss it. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.0 out of 5 stars Shoot First; tell no lies *by G***O on Reviewed in the United States on March 2, 2012* Received a note last week from Gerry about this one and was reminded that one of my all time favorite authors is this gem of a man from Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Elmore Leonard has written so many books it's hard to keep track and while there are many which can be considered mystery or crime fiction there is really a little something for everyone. Quite a few of his offerings have been made into movies including Get Shorty, Hombre, Kill Shot, Big Bounce, Mr. Majestyk,etc, etc (50 novels?). He was the guest speaker at a ceremony where my brother in law Chris rec'd the teacher of the Year award for Michigan. Leonard's mind works the way his writing appears on the page so he is very engaging and probably explains his success in writing and as a screen writer. He will be 87 this year and you have to wonder how long we can expect him to churn out his stories.Raylan Givens is a recurring character (Pronto, Riding the Rap, Fire in the Hole). He is with the U.S. Marshall Service (USMS) and while he is honest to a fault, he retains a fairness streak which calls some of his conduct into question on the right/wrong scale. He wears a cowboy hat which rounds out his character as an intimidating force and has a coolness which allows him to operate under pressure as if he was doing his nails. He is not without a conscience but it won't spend time bothering him if the perp had it coming. At times he is judge, jury and executioner.He keeps a soft spot in his heart for the Kentucky, Southern Ohio, West Virginia type which while traveling in the world of the underground exhibits a strong set of rules by which the usual suspect will try to operate. The Mafia had such rules generally housed in the code of conduct we civilians like to call Omerta. You might say Raylan escaped from the drear life of coal mining and petty crime the features of which are early death, poverty, educational ignorance and fringe unlawfulness. Because of this he will cut a break where it is called for and he knows how to go back. He was born in Harlan County Kentucky and is known throughout the tri-state area where he is myth, legend and real deal. He carries a standard issue Glock chambered for S&W .40 caliber but is generally proficent in any weapon.In the TV series (Justified) based on his character he is portrayed by Timothy Olyphant which is not exactly how I would have cast him. I pictured him more on the line of a young (mid 30's) James Caan. He is a womanizer but with a respectful attitude. The main feature of his complicated personality is his ability to see through the fog and key in on the nugget which is the heart of the case. It is intended to appear uncanny but in his mind it is the familiar coupled with intuitive logic fueled by intense objectivity.In this book which is a show case for his talent for cutting to the chase he shows incredible patience in solving crimes especially suited to the USMS. These include, bank robbery, large scale drug trafficking, threats aimed at Coal Company executives, and the theft of kidneys from living breathing human beings. Leonard has seamlessly woven these arguably separate stories into one tale which is by turns disparate yet cohesive. The characters pop in and out of each scenario with ease which may be only a slight flaw in what is otherwise a fun, fast paced, action packed story. The folks run the gamut from top to bottom on the social and economic scales. One individual which Raylan is intensely fascinated with is a college junior who makes her living and expenses by playing Texas Hold'em. This is not a crime but there is speculation that she might be associated with other criminal elements and winds up on a fugitive list.In one part of the story Raylan finds himself serving as a body guard to a Coal Company lawyer who is doing damage control by trying to spin the company conduct into community service with only the miner, his family, and nature's best interest in mind. This is a tight rope for Raylan since this community is the one he escaped from and he is known by all. To add to the problem the attorney has designs on Raylan as a prospective sack mate. His extrication from this conundrum is fascinating, and rest of the story is the sugar which sweetens Leonard novels. His mastery of the black mountain vernacular lends that dash of realism necessary to elevate this adventure from tall tale to believing you actually witnessed the events. As with all of his myriad books this one will be hard to put down. 2.75* GIBO ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Raylan’s at it again *by R***Y on Reviewed in Canada on October 31, 2023* I picked up “Raylan” by Elmore Leonard after suffering withdrawals once the series “Justified” wrapped up. I wasn’t disappointed. It was great to see Raylon along with some of the other familiar characters at it again. High stakes poker, a kidney stealing ring, and bank robbing, all with the familiar Kentucky backdrop. I recommend it to all you US Marshall, Raylan Given fans or of Elmore Leonard. 👍 --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.sg/products/5045378-raylan-a-novel](https://www.desertcart.sg/products/5045378-raylan-a-novel) --- *Product available on Desertcart Singapore* *Store origin: SG* *Last updated: 2026-05-19*