LaBrava is Leonard's breakthrough novel: His Mystery Writers of America peers gave it the prestigious Edgar as the best book of 1984, and the media discovered him. A discussion of LaBrava could begin by considering why it would lead so many people finally to sit up and notice a writer who previously had produced sixteen crime novels without causing much of a stir.

1. Leonard develops his settings realistically. How important is the Miami Beach milieu to the story he tells in LaBrava?

2. Does Maurice Zola's Delia Robbia Hotel function other than as backdrop?

And what is the role of its residents, such as cosmetics salesperson Franny Kaufman?

3. The fact that LaBrava is a photographer is important in terms of the plot.

Does it function, too, in terms of character development and theme?

4. Maurice Zola describes LaBrava as "one of those quiet guys, you never know what he's...