Quiver
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Product Description
“Quiver is a spectacular debut….With a large cast of characters—each presented as meticulously as an Andrew Wyeth portrait—and numerous points of view, all funneling inevitably to a stunning conclusion, you will be holding your breath until the final page. Peter’s dad should be proud.”
--Otto Penzler
“A strong debut that combines a tight plot (about a deadly double-cross in the woods of Michigan) with memorable characters and dialogue—come to think of it, not unlike what Leonard’s father, Elmore Leonard, creates.”
--Seattle Times
“An outstanding debut….Leonard, the son of grandmaster mystery writer Elmore Leonard, deftly utilizes frequent flashback scenes in a tense tale that’s easily one of the best crime novels of the year.”
--East Lansing Journal
“The best parts of the novel concern the crooks, who, if not as gloriously quirky as those in Elmore Leonard’s novels, are sometimes funny and sometimes scary.”
--Washington Post "Peter Leonard's energetic style makes one forget the name Elmore and concentrate on the Leonard....Good writing may be in his genes, but the style's all his own."
--Oline Cogdill, The South Florida Sun-Sentinel One of the most riveting and powerful new voices in crime fiction, Peter Leonard delivers a razor-sharp debut thriller.
Kate McCall’s husband has been killed by her son, Luke, in a tragic bow-hunting accident. While Kate struggles with her son’s surly guilt, her first love, Jack, an ex-con, reappears, along with a crew of his former “colleagues.” While Jack must convince his partners in crime that he really did lose the heist money, his appearance sets into motion a series of events culminating in a life-and-death confrontation with a gang of killers.
Leonard displays remarkable maturity for a first-time novelist in both the plotting of the story and the language of his protagonists. The twists and turns of a love affair, an unrequited crush, and a kidnapping/extortion plot complement a tightly drawn, intimate cast of memorably quick and dim-witted characters.
Quiver marks the breakthrough of a new force in thriller writing---an explosive and unforgettable debut.
Praise for Quiver:
“With its clever plotting and blood-and-guts characters, Quiver will certainly put Peter Leonard on the map. This is the start of something special.”
---Michael Connelly, New York Times bestselling author of The Overlook
“Quiver's supercharged plot, rhythmic dialogue, and cool-under-pressure characters kept me reading into the night. An impressive, exciting debut from Peter Leonard.”
---George Pelecanos, New York Times bestselling author of The Night Gardener
"Quiver is a surprise and a delight, a twisty deadpan troll through some very devious neighborhoods. I welcome Peter Leonard and look forward to whatever he wants to offer next."
--- Donald Westlake
"Quiver is terrific. I have to make the corniest admission of all: Couldn't put it down."
---Mike Lupica, NY Daily News columnist
“Peter Leonard’s first novel, Quiver, amply shows that he’s the great Elmore’s son. This book is a wicked trip with the creeps and pukes that inhabit the criminal world who collide with a convincing heroine. The setting in the rural north of Michigan is unique and engaging. I salute Peter Leonard at the beginning of what will obviously be a fine career.”
---Jim Harrison, author of Returning to Earth and Legends of the Fall
"Quiver is a terrific debut. Peter Leonard has a good ear for voices, a good eye for detail, and a talent for bringing together elements that can't do anything but explode."
---Edgar Award Winner Thomas Perry, author of Silence
Spotlight Customer Reviews:
Summary:
Peter Leonard's narrative is as compelling as anything you will read this year.
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Comment:
Let us acknowledge, rather than ignore, the 800-pound grizzly bear in the middle of the room. QUIVER is the debut novel of Peter Leonard, the son of thriller genre icon Elmore Leonard. And yes, in many ways it reads like one of his father's books. All of the familiar elements are there: the story is set in Michigan; it features true-to-life characters who are extremely interesting and, in some cases, deeply flawed (but nonetheless oddly appealing); and those selfsame characters are involved in a caper that goes off the rails, almost from the get-go. Oh, and how could I forget? Peter Leonard's narrative is as compelling as anything you will read this year.
Leonard begins his inaugural literary journey with the equivalent of a somersault while walking on a high wire: he takes one of the most interesting characters out of the story before it even begins. The book opens with the aftermath of the funeral for Owen McCall, tragically killed by his 16-year-old son Luke as the result of a hunting accident. The author matter-of-factly drops little factoids about McCall --- not the least of which is that racing and wise investments made him a very rich man --- mostly through the memories and recollections of Katie, his widow, who at various points recalls their courtship and rock-solid marriage. Katie, however, had an interesting past before meeting Owen, and a part of that past shows up like a bad penny in the wake of Owen's death.
Jack Curran is freshly processed from prison and out on parole after doing stand-up time for his part in an armed robbery. He is a somewhat charming loser who sees no reason to change his ways. Returning to Detroit, he decides to renew old acquaintances with widowed Katie, who is tied to multiple emotional horses, including loneliness, passion, loyalty to Owen, and her all-but-certain knowledge that deep down Jack has not really changed.
Meanwhile, Jack finds himself caught up with his two partners from the armed robbery, both of whom are looking for the proceeds of the heist that he no longer has. Teddy Hicks has his own very brief past with Owen, and is a dangerous and fatal combination of a mean streak and terminal stupidity, fueled by Celeste, his sociopath girlfriend. DeJuan is possessed of an animal cunning that in turn is camouflaged beneath a personable, almost likable exterior.
Jack offers up the wealthy Katie to the unhappy pair, who, with the help of Celeste, hatch a scheme to separate Katie from a part of the family fortune through Luke, who himself is acting out his anger and frustration at his pivotal role in the turn of events that brought his father's life to an end. A local deputy sheriff, meanwhile, has designs on Katie as well, ones that will lead to a violent climax played out against the backdrop of rural Michigan as one woman's past and present abruptly collide with fatal consequences.
Writing after the style of Elmore Leonard is no sin --- even if you are related to him --- and anyone attempting such a feat better have the goods well in hand. Peter Leonard does. His ability to create an atmosphere where anything can and will happen arguably surpasses that of his father, so you'll be sitting in the air off the edge of your chair more than once during your reading of QUIVER, but most particularly at its conclusion. With Elmore Leonard in the still-stellar twilight of a brilliant career, the addition of son Peter to the literary ranks is more of a good thing --- and that is a great thing.
--- Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
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Summary:
Off and Running
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Comment:
What a great read for Peter Leonard's first book. The plot was thoroughly entertaining with an intriguing presentation. The character development was real and believable. I found it very difficult to put this book down and I can only imagine even better is yet to come. I think it is safe to say that Peter Leonard, son of the great Elmore, is "off and running" on his own.
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Summary:
Why Does He Have To Imitate His Dad?
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Comment:
I like Elmore Leonard probably more than any writer alive today. That being said, I don't really care if his kid wants to be a writer. This is America. He can do what he wants. But why does his style have to be exactly like his father's. This book credit should go to his father, who, thankfully, can actually write a book with great characters, great dialouge, and doesn't have to rip anyone's style off in the process. I don't understand why Peter Leonard can't be original. Peter, if you're reading this, quit ripping off your dad. The only people that think your style is cute are your friends in Oakland County, and the ever unoriginal citizens of Michigan who still think baggy pants and crocked hats are in vogue. Everywhere else your style is considered hackish at best.
I don't understand why they publish this crap just because his dad is Elmore Leonard. Do the publishing houses really think people will buy this book because of his father? That's pretty pathetic if they do and says quite a lot about the industry. This book is drab, lacks any kind of originality (especially if you like his father), and has poor pace and unbelievable plot lines. This book is more science fiction than crime.
To the reviewer who wanted to know if people in Michigan actually talk and act like this, the answer is yes. Michigan is a horrible place to live.
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Summary:
Unbelieveable Characters and Plot
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Comment:
This debut reads like a bad fairytale. I wish I had read the "bad" reviews before I purchased this book instead of the "good" reviews by authors I enjoy reading. The characters in this story are unconvincing and unbelieveable. Are people really like this? If they are in Michigan, then I'm glad I don't live there. I did not understand their dialog most of the time. The plot is also not very convincing. How does the heroine assault a deputy and get away? It makes the local police look very incompetent. And does the heroine really cook a meal for the crooks who have just robbed her and beat up her son? I did not enjoy this book. Perhaps the locals in Detroit suburbs can relate to the characters and plot better than I can. I would not recommend this book.
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Summary:
An Entertaining Read
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Comment:
This is a fun read, with interesting characters and a fresh setting in the Detroit suburbs and the northern Michigan vacation zone. The resolution makes sense from a character point of view and is not a cheat, of which so many crime/mystery writers are guilty. A lot of small but well defined bit players.
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