Stick

Ernest "Stick" Stickley Jr., fresh out of prison, arrives in Miami looking for legitimate work but finds himself entangled in South Florida's criminal underworld. When a drug deal goes wrong, he takes a job as a chauffeur for a wealthy financier while trying to maintain his freedom. The story moves between Miami's glittering mansions and its dangerous streets as Stick navigates relationships with both the city's elite and its criminals. His past experience as a car thief and his prison-honed instincts prove both helpful and problematic as he attempts to build a new life. Leonard crafts a tale of redemption and survival that explores the thin line between legitimate society and the criminal world. This crime novel examines how past choices continue to influence present circumstances, even when attempting to forge a new path.

Readers note that Stick follows Leonard's trademark style with sharp dialogue and vivid characters, though many find it less memorable than his other works. Readers appreciated: - Fast pacing and smooth narrative flow - The Miami/South Florida setting details - Integration of 1980s drug trade elements - The protagonist Ernest Stickley's resourcefulness Common criticisms: - Takes time to build momentum in first third - Some side characters feel underdeveloped - Plot becomes predictable in later chapters Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (2,100+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (190+ ratings) Several reviewers mentioned the book works better as a straightforward crime story than as a character study. As one Goodreads reviewer noted: "Good bones but lacks the depth of Leonard's best work." Amazon reviewers frequently cited the authentic Florida atmosphere as a strength while questioning some of the plot resolutions.

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🔸 "Stick" was published in 1983 and later adapted into a film in 1985, starring and directed by Burt Reynolds, though Leonard was famously unhappy with the movie adaptation. 🔸 The novel's protagonist, Ernest "Stick" Stickley Jr., first appeared in Leonard's earlier novel "Swag" (1976), making this one of Leonard's rare direct sequels. 🔸 The book draws heavily on Leonard's intimate knowledge of Miami's criminal underworld and South Florida culture, which he researched extensively while living in the area during the early 1980s. 🔸 Much of the dialogue in "Stick" exemplifies Leonard's famous "10 Rules of Writing," particularly his emphasis on leaving out the parts that readers tend to skip and avoiding detailed physical descriptions of characters. 🔸 The novel's exploration of ex-cons trying to go straight was partially inspired by Leonard's conversations with former inmates while researching his earlier works, lending authenticity to the character's struggles.