Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

Raylan: A Novel
Raylan: A Novel
Raylan: A Novel
Audiobook6 hours

Raylan: A Novel

Written by Elmore Leonard

Narrated by Brian D'Arcy James

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

3.5/5

()

About this audiobook

“Elmore Leonard can write circles around almost anybody active in the crime novel today.”
New York Times Book Review

With more than forty novels to his credit and still going strong, the legendary Elmore Leonard has well earned the title, “America’s greatest crime writer” (Newsweek). And U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens (Pronto, Riding the Rap, Fire in the Hole) is one of Leonard’s most popular creations, thanks in part to the phenomenal success of the hit TV series “Justified.” Leonard’s Raylan shines a spotlight once again on the dedicated, if somewhat trigger-happy lawman, this time in his familiar but not particularly cozy milieu of Harlan County, Kentucky, where the drug dealing Crowe brothers are branching out into the human body parts business. Suspenseful, darkly wry and riveting, and crackling with Leonard’s trademark electric dialogue, Raylan is prime Grand Master Leonard as you have always loved him and always will.

LanguageEnglish
PublisherHarperAudio
Release dateJan 17, 2012
ISBN9780062125668
Raylan: A Novel
Author

Elmore Leonard

Elmore Leonard wrote more than forty books during his long career, including the bestsellers Raylan, Tishomingo Blues, Be Cool, Get Shorty, and Rum Punch, as well as the acclaimed collection When the Women Come Out to Dance, which was a New York Times Notable Book. Many of his books have been made into movies, including Get Shorty and Out of Sight. The short story "Fire in the Hole," and three books, including Raylan, were the basis for the FX hit show Justified. Leonard received the Lifetime Achievement Award from PEN USA and the Grand Master Award from the Mystery Writers of America. He died in 2013.

More audiobooks from Elmore Leonard

Related to Raylan

Related audiobooks

Mystery For You

View More

Related articles

Reviews for Raylan

Rating: 3.463235306985294 out of 5 stars
3.5/5

272 ratings40 reviews

What did you think?

Tap to rate

Review must be at least 10 words

  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Liked the dialog a lot. Not much of a story though.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    3.5 stars. Enjoyable, easy read. Leonard is masterful with dialogue. This was more like a series of loosely interconnected stories about U.S. Marshall Raylan Givens than a novel. Nothing new, but fun nevertheless.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    I only know Elmore Leonard through the TV series Justified, which is extremely well written (or at least the dialogue is). I was disappointed by this - kind of two short stories put together into a novel. It wasn't particuarly bright or witty, though maybe that's because I heard the audiobook version. But Elmore Leonard's reputation for wit didn't seem to be fulfilled in this one, at least for me.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Sold Elmore Leonard. Very familiar from the TV show "Justified" which follows these novels to a remarkable degree. Fine read for a summer's evening.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I read "Raylan" by Elmore Leonard, and I really enjoyed the character of Raylan Givens, a U.S. Marshal who seems to always get his man, or in the case of this book, woman. It started out with a disgruntled transplant nurse taking kidneys from unsuspecting victims and ended with a poker playing college girl named Jackie Nevada. It was fun and a quick read.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Library Book Audio Loan - Very interesting story. I loved the Series Justified and wanted to hear and read more. I really like the characters and their relationships with each other. I think the series did a good job of clearly showing story.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    Raylan Givens is a US Federal Marshal This book sees him dealing with 3 different criminals all women.First is the Nurse who steals kidneys Second the Evil woman who works for the Coal mine companyThirdly the young woman who is on the run from the law and is also a very good Poker player.I struggled with this book found the language confusing, not for me.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    There was a day, in the crazy lead-up to Christmas, where we had to divide and conquer. The kids were sick of shopping and each other, so I volunteered to let Andrew drop Jefferson off with me at the bookstore (I was totally buying presents! For people who were not me!), while he took Solomon to the grocery store. Well, once we made our purchases we needed to hang out by the front door to see Andrew come by. And I thought, the Mystery section, not being one of my usual genres, should be safe.

    Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.

    Well, before we were picked up, I'd found five books I totally needed to live right this second. Somehow, I kept from buying any of them that day, but I soon went back for this one.

    I love the series Justified. I love the character Raylan. I love the snappy dialogue characteristic of the film adaptations of Leondard's work. I expected this to be a ridiculously easy sell. But I can only say that I liked this book.

    Part of the problem was timing. Leonard wrote this book prior to season 2 and invited the show's writers to "strip it for parts," which they did. Aspects of this book were pulled for season 2 (which I'd seen), and season 3 (which I hadn't). Many characters appearing in the book were vastly expanded in the TV show as the writers fell in love with the actor's depictions. So that was disorienting. But really, the problem is, I love the Raylan and Boyd of the television show. The Raylan & Boyd of the book are similar, but of course not the same, and I had a hard time letting go. It wasn't all disappointment, though. Now that I'm halfway through season 3, I can say I prefer the kidney storyline in the book to the tv show, and I'm still waiting to see if our poker wunderkind shows up on Justified, and seriously, what the hell did they do to Winona in season 3 on the show?

    Enjoyable, though. Seems likely to be problematic for many Justified fans, though they've really marketed it straight to them.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Elmore sleazed up this noir a bit more than neccessary.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I really, really love the TV show Justified. I think it has made me appreciate Elmore Leonard's characters even more and Raylan Givens in particular. I am going to spoiler most of this review but I will say that in general terms, I really liked this book. It had some issues, but overall I liked it.

    That being said, This book would have been ten times better if I hadn't just watched season two of Justified. Many of the storylines found in the show were in this book (with some minor changes), Even the kidney stealing plot is in the third season (or so I'm told).

    Although I liked it, and am glad I read it, it feels pretty disjointed. Many different stories one after the other with not many connecting ties between them. I'd say pick it up if you love Leonard and his characters, but be warned it is pretty all over the map.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    Linked short stories. Turned me on to the tv series Justified. Leonard as producer. A fun voice from Leonard for the series.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Fans of "Justified" (as I am) will enjoy this book. But they shouldn't expect that because the book is called "Raylan" it will delve any more deeply into what makes Raylan tick than the TV does--in fact, the TV show probably hits more at the depth of Raylan's character than the book does.

    "Raylan" contains a number of characters also seen in the series, particularly from the second season. A few of the scenes as seen on TV are even repeated. However, almost all of them meet different fates than they met on TV, so a reader shouldn't expect that he knows the direction in which the book may be going.

    Much like TV, the book is pretty episodic. There are basically three story arcs in its 263 pages which, while there is some interweaving of plot lines, could each easily stand on its own.

    But Elmore Leonard remains a master of dialogue, and definitely hasn't lost his gift at creating page-turners.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Raylan by Elmore Leonard – The Raylan Givens books by Elmore Leonard were the inspiration for the very popular and excellent TV series, Justified, which recently ended its last season. Of course U.S. Marshall Raylan Givens is the principal character and he is an enjoyable one, showing his confidence and skill with his firearm and his dialogue. In addition, Raylan’s boss, Art, his longtime frenemy, Boyd Crowder, Dickie Crowe, Dewey Crowe and others provide very interesting and unique characters to interact with Raylan. There are a few different and related crimes and villains for Raylan to deal with in this book, including a ruthless coal mine executive, but he takes them all in stride. Unfortunately, I found the storylines in this book to be a little weak. It’s entertaining but not really very exciting.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I have to admit from the outset that I have not yet seen the TV show "Justified" although it is on my to watch list. So when this book popped up on a buy list, I was excited to try before I buy. I am now a converted buyer.I love the characters in Raylan - all of the characters. they are vividly written with distinct voices and placed squarely in Harlan County Kentucky. This is one of those books where the author authentically captures the cadences of a place and is able to convert those to the page.The book is like an interlinking set of short stories with referrals and links to each other throughout the book. You won't be disappointed if you read one story or read them all but I suggest reading them all. This is also a book you can pick up and put down but I admit I found it very hard to put down and read it pretty much straight through. I have read several Elmore Leonard books so I am already a fan but Raylan did not disappoint. Read this and then get everything else this author has written. I guarantee you will be entertained.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I have enjoyed Elmore Leonard since I read Kill Shot way back when. I love that the action is mostly driven by conversation. You can hear the people talking and that is so nice. This book, one of the last crime novels written by Mr Leonard, continues that style. This time we are in West Virginia coal country, looking for other ways to get money, legally and not. Raylan is a U. S. Marshal riding herd on everybody. It's all good fun until somebody loses a kidney.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Fun read, unlikely but consistent, Leonard's usual engaging style and characters. Enjoyable.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Fun read, full of amazing characters... Leonard is just plain down right adult amusement.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    It was a fun read. "Justified" is a favorite series of ours & this book has 3 episodes from the show, although they were apparently much changed for TV. Enough of the basics were there, but often characters & outcomes were completely different. It made for great reading since Raylan is still Raylan & that's what makes this.

    Since I live in Kentucky, the show is local. That makes it even better. They really do capture many of the people in the area well.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Fans of the TV Series “Justified” (I am) will recognize all of the plots in this set of short stories tied together only by Raylan’s presence: the nurse selling kidneys, the coal mining VP trying to get contracts signed, etc. (He barely figures in the story about the poker-playing girl.) I regret Leonard won’t be able to write any more, but regretfully this is not one of his better works. Ironically, the TV series holds together better as a novel, especially in its portrayal of the coal-mining areas of Kentucky. This book might have been marketed as a series of short stories. I don’t know, but have a suspicion that this book was written after, or perhaps simultaneously, with the scripts for the TV series 2nd season as a way to capitalize on the fame of the TV series. No matter, it’s a wonderful modern-day western replete with bad guys and quick-draws. In real life, Raylan would have drowned in paperwork writing up his extravagant use of bullets.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Very good and easy read. A couple of time he went off track with the cross dressing and the movie of Delroy but I enjoyed the similarity to some Hustified episodes. It works with the shows characters.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    It would probably help if you'd read the previous books or watched the TV series Justified since there's no attempt to introduce any new readers to the characters. No real characterization or much narration. Just nonstop talking. There are three loosely connected stories, none of which really end very satisfactorily.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Raylan Given's is (either drop ‘s or is?) a level headed US Marshall, with a dead pan humour and a cool, calm style but is never shy about going for his gun. something that has got him into trouble and now he is back to his old hunting ground, shifted out of Florida for not playing nice and back amongst the coal dust of Kentucky.It’s a bit of a chaotic, episodic book that seems to feature multi crimes, which are only vaguely linked. We kick off with a kidney harvesting racket, move over into evil corporate shenanigans with the powerful Coal company and sidestep into Tracking a young runaway & poker fiend. The book is great at evoking the Southern USA setting, some great characters carrying on that cool, wry dialogue Leonard is good at. Raylan is a lot of fun but it's too uneven to be really satisfying.Of course knowing it's a tie-in to the TV might explain things and be warned it's also a part of a series where Raylan plays a minor role (I think I haven’t read them).Recommended for fans only, its not a bad book but there are better places to start.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    Just "OK." The show is better. I didn't care for the way some of the characters are in the book; I prefer the show version. On it's own, it's entertaining enough, although too episodic for my taste. It all "sort of" comes together, but in a forced way. If you're a fan of the show and need to spend more time with Raylan and Co. during the hiatus, give this a try, just don't expect too much.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I am a huge fan of the Justified tv series but I found this book lacking. It was hard to get into. The plot was all over the place. I'll continue watching the series but doubt I will read any more of the books.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Written exactly like an episode of Justified but not like Justified. Have a feeling Elmore is trying to cash in and why shouldn't he? The story was fun and the narrator did a great job with different characters and his Raylan was spot on. Quick, fun listen if you're a fan of Elmore or the show.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Reads like three interlinked episodes of the Justified TV series - in fact a number of elements were used in the series. Leonard gives us an entertaining cross-linked trio of stories with sparky dialogue and a shoot 'em up modern western backdrop, but little in terms of depth. The stories focus on various female villains each with a criminal project with little prospect of long-term success. They move along quickly, but by the end you feel there could have been more in the way of focus.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I am a huge fan of the TV show Justified, and I've never before read any of Elmore Leonard's stories involving Raylan Givens. So I knew it would be a little difficult to avoid picturing the actors from the show as I listened to this. As it turns out, some of the plot points are the same as things that happen in the show, although there are very different outcomes in the book.Elmore Leonard is justly famous for his handling of dialogue and his colorful characters. The characters came through pretty well here, although for me, the dialogue suffered in the audio version. Typical of Leonard, there were criss-crossing plots and people all shades of moral grey. Not nearly as much fun as Out of Sight or probably any of a number of other Leonard books. I think I'll probably go back to Raylan's beginnings and see if those are better, before the cross-pollination of the TV show happened. (This was actually written after the show started, so it puts this one in a sort of strange Inception-esque limbo of book-inspired-by-tv-show-inspired-by-book.)
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Raylan Givens is a U.S. Marshall with a gun and an attitude, and he isn’t afraid to use either. Born in coal-country Kentucky, he spent some time in Florida with the Marshals until he shot a man to his boss’s displeasure. Shuttled back to his roots, Raylan gripes about serving the region he’s assigned, yet still gets the job done. Raylan reacts to several different crimes over the length of this novel, interacting with a kidney-stealing transplant nurse, a dope-running hick master mind, a coal company woman, some female bank robbers, and a girl master poker player.While the premise of the novel seemed very engaging, it actually fell a little short. This is primarily because the novel reads more like a collection of short stories strung together with truncated transitions. Instead of one main story arc, there are at least three and they don’t really weave together in the end. It’s also incredibly dialogue-heavy and reminiscent of a novelized screen play instead of a rich and fully fleshed out world. This led to a lack of connection with the main character, Raylan.The novel also has a cast of far out characters (seriously – a transplant nurse who steals kidneys and leaves her victims in bathtubs full of ice). Givens has many witty interactions with them which helps speed up the pace of the book, but it did take extra time to navigate the heavily Kentucky-accented dialogue throughout the book. Added to that, the relationships that Givens has with the other characters just weren’t believable.The novel is, however, entertaining in a very light read-it-and-leave-it fashion and well-written overall. I’m sure someone who has seen the TV series Justified, which the novel’s main character is in, would be more interested in Raylan.Disclosure of Material Connection: I received Raylan free through the TLC Book Tours review program. I was not required to write a positive review and did not receive any other compensation. The opinions I have expressed are my own and no one else’s. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Damn, I love Elmore Leonard. The older he gets, the better he writes. Or maybe it's the older I get.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This one's great for dialogue but lacks descriptive foundations and also a bit too corny here and there and yet... and yet I still like his style!