52 PICKUP (Elmore Leonard) - July 29/11

This fast-paced and often exciting crime thriller is, at times, just a little too sleazy for its own good, as Leonard spends too much time on the exploits on the three criminals. But it moves like a rocket and contains a stellar protagonist. I also liked the way the whole thing with the aggressive union boss tied into the ending, as it seemed as though he was going to take the fall for the explosion (since he had already blown up the main character's car). The abrupt ending is a little disappointing - it would have been nice to see how the couple handled the aftermath and if they even stayed together - but that's a minor complaint for what is otherwise an entertaining, breezy book. *** out of ****