The characters in Killshot are credible largely because there is a minimum of authorial intrusion, and Leonard regularly shifts the narrative point of view to accommodate each of his major figures. A result of this method is that Killshot lacks some of the suspense that typifies the genre, but nevertheless there is a succession of gripping episodes, and the lengthy introspective passages provide insight into characters' thoughts and plans and heighten the tension. Being informed of their intentions does not guarantee foreknowledge of how they will act.

Armand Degas (Blackbird) is the most compelling figure in the novel, and Leonard avoids making him a stereotypical villain by focusing upon his Ojibway background and his spiritual link to his grandmother, an Indian mystic. A gunfor-hire and a determined loner, he establishes temporary ties with others only to serve his immediate purposes. But he is complex. Near the end of...