When the Women Came Out To Dance
Elmore Leonard
(Reviewer - D. H. BROWN)
2003 William Morrow
ISBN: 0060083972

A collection of nine short exquisite stories. In the title story Mrs. Mahmood gets more than she bargains for when she conspires with her maid to end her unhappy marriage.

For those who have been thrilled by Federal Marshal Karen Sisco's tv series (she was the star of the best selling Out of Sight), she is featured in one of the stories in this book of superb characterizations, dead-on dialogue, vivid atmospheres, & driving plotting that has made Elmore Leonard a household name.

Senior Staff Reviewer D. H. BROWN writes:

I'm one of those people to whom the name Elmore Leonard, when heard, rings a faint bell of familiarity, & I find myself able to nod wisely & say “Oh yeah!” But for some unimaginable reason, on that occasion I would probably not be able to name a single one of his works. Whereupon you, the wily prosecutor in this case, would take his latest book, open it in front of me, thrust it in my face & say “How many of these 40 books do you recognize?” & I would find myself cringing when my eyes fell upon:
Pagan Babies
The Big Bounce
Cuba Libre
Rum Punch
Maximum Bob
Get Shorty
Bandits
Cat Chaser
Gold Coast
The Switch
Mr. Majestyk
Valdez Is Coming
Hombre
Last Stand at Saber River
The Bounty Hunters
& last but not least, you would say: “& I suppose you're gonna say you've never heard of Karen Sisco!”

You would see a blush creep to my cheeks as I admitted, to my eternal shame, that I had read them all at one time or another & really had found them to be quite unforgettable, it was just the name Elmore Leonard that I couldn't seem to remember.

Somehow in the course of books coming in & out of our neck of the woods, When the Women Came Out To Dance ended up on my stack & I'm very sorry to say I allowed it to languish there for much too long before picking it up & finding myself catapulted into nine engrossing short stories that always leave you with a “Ha!” at the end.

I'm also stunned that my library contains not a single copy of one of Elmore Leonard's works & I intend to rectify that by placing this one on the shelf to be reread from time to time.

A thoroughly enjoyable read! Exquisitely written & just filling enough to leave a pleasant taste in the mind.

More from Elmore Leonard:
City Primeval
Tishomingo Blues
Pronto
Split Images etc., etc., etc.!
(02/22/04)

D. H. Brown
A RebeccasReads.Com Sr. Staff Reviewer

Reviewer's Bio:
D. H. BROWN is the author of the critically acclaimed HONOR DUE and the Citizens Warrior Series. The son of missionary parents and with the help his Uncle Sam, he has touched base in more than 40 countries.  In 1986 he produced the independent children's film Lessie's Rainbow.  During the late 80s and early 90s, he wrote the book Common Sense and delivered the seminars of the same name for the Community Action Network of Seattle (CAN).  While doing his early Vietnam recovery work, he counseled Veterans and spoke widely to men's groups in Washington state, and was a founder of The Lodge of the Wolf.

D. H. BROWN has worked as a  Logistics and Weapons Specialist in Viet Nam;  day laborer; Director of Security;  Armored Car Driver; Police Officer;  Professional Hunting Guide;  Trapper;  Dog Sledder; Homesteader;  Truck Driver;  General Contractor;  Minister;  Editor; Writer;  Speaker;  Restaurateur;  Movie Producer;  Antique Restoration Specialist;  Personal Care Worker;  PC Repair Specialist; Computer Instructor;  Webmaster and Web Designer. "I write about what I know."

He lives deep in the Pacific Northwest rainforest with his wife, author and editor Rebecca and Buddy Dog, working on his next book.Editor; Writer; Speaker; Restaurateur; Antique Restoration Specialist; Personal Care Worker; PC Repair Specialist; Computer Instructor, Webmaster and Web Designer among others.
“Always Learning” He says.