La Brava

Joe LaBrava first fell in love in a darkened movie theater when he was twelve -- with a gorgeous femme fatale up on the screen. Now the one-time Secret Service agent-turned-photographer is finally meeting his dream woman in the flesh, albeit in a rundown Miami crisis center. When she's cleaned up and sober, though, former movie queen Jean Shaw still makes LaBrava's heart race. And now she's being terrorized by a redneck thug and his slimy marielito partner, which gives Joe a golden opportunity to play the hero. But the lady's predicament is starting to resemble one of her earlier cinematic noirs. And if he's not careful, LaBrava could end up the patsy -- or dead -- in the final reel. Joe LaBrava first fell in love with femme fatale movie queen Jean Shaw in a darkened theater when he was twelve. Now he's finally meeting his dream woman in the flesh, albeit in a rundown Miami crisis center. Cleaned up and sober, though, she still makes LaBrava's heart race. And now that Jean's being terrorized by redneck thug, Richard Nobles, and his slimy Marielito partner, Cundo Rey, Joe has a golden opportunity to play the hero. Or he could wind up the patsy -- or dead -- in the final reel Joe Labrava, Ex-secret Service Agent Turned Photographer, Meets A Former Movie Star Who He Admired In A Miami Crisis Center. She Is Being Terrorized By Thugs, Giving Him A Chance To Play The Hero. Elmore Leonard. Originally Published: William Morrow, 1983. Includes Excerpt From Tishomingo Blues. 1984 Edgar Awards Winner For Best Novel. Photographer Joe LaBrava specialises in capturing the soul of Miami's street life & since he used to do dirty jobs for the government, he understands his subject very well. So when his friend Maury enlists his help to sort out a problem with an ex-film star, Joe is more than happy to help. Former Secret Service agent Joe LaBrava gets mixed up in a South Miami Beach scam involving a redneck former cop, a Cuban hitman who moonlights as a go-go dancer, and a crazy one-time movie queen whose world is part make-believe, part deadly danger "HE'S BEEN TAKING PICTURES three years, look at the work," Maurice said.