Glitz (novel)

Glitz is a 1985 novel by author Elmore Leonard, following the story of Detective Vincent Mora who is being stalked by Teddy Magyk, the serial rapist he put away. It was made into a 1988 television film starring Jimmy Smits and Markie Post.

Glitz

Author	Elmore Leonard
Language	English
Publisher	Arbor House
Publication date	1985
Publication place	United States
Media type	Hardcover
Pages	251
ISBN	0-688-16095-6

Storyline

Psycho mama's boy Teddy Magyk has become obsessed with the Miami cop who put him away for raping a senior citizen — but he wants to hit Vincent Mora where it really hurts before killing him. So when a beautiful Puerto Rican hooker takes a swan dive from an Atlantic City high-rise and Vincent naturally shows up to investigate the questionable death of his "special friend," Teddy figures he's got his prey just where he wants him. But the A.C. dazzle is blinding the Magic Man to a couple of very hard truths: Vincent Mora doesn't forgive and forget ... and he doesn't die easy.

Characters in Glitz

• Vincent Mora – Miami homicide investigator
• Teddy Magyk – psycho crazy serial rapist
• Iris Ruiz – young tragic hooker from Puerto Rico
• Linda Moon – lounge singer who becomes Vincent's girlfriend during the story
• Nancy Donovan, Atlantic City Spade's casino manager who becomes enamoured of Vincent
• Jackie Garbo – Atlantic City Spade's casino operator
• DeLeon "Moose" Johnson – Ex-NFL player, working as minder for Jackie
• Ricky "The Zit" Catalina – hitman and collector for mob, works for Frank
• Frank "The Wheel" Cingoro – wise guy capo who works for Sal
• LaDonna Padgett – Jackie's girlfriend and former Miss Oklahoma
• Tommy Donovan – Atlantic City Spade's casino owner, Nancy's husband
• Dixie Davies – Atlantic City major crime squad homicide captain
• Lorendo Paz – Puerto Rico criminal affairs investigator
• Jimmy Dunne – hotel security guard in Atlantic City
• Isidro Manosduros – Puerto Rican cab driver
• Sal "The Cat" Catalina – Atlantic City mob boss serving time in Talladega
• Benny Benavides – Colombian drug lord in bed with the Italians

Critical reception

Writing in The New York Times in 1985, horror fiction writer Stephen King compared the novel favorably with works by John D. MacDonald, Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett.^[1]

Film

In the 1988 film version for cable television, the Atlantic City detective Vincent Mora was played by Jimmy Smits, the villain Teddy Magyk by John Diehl and the lounge singer Linda Moon by Markie Post. It was directed by Sandor Stern.