La Brava (Penguin Modern Classics – Crime & Espionage) by Elmore Leonard

Extortion and corruption in seedy South Florida, by the master of American crime

Joe LaBrava has an eye for the perfect shot

A former Secret Service agent, he’s now a photographer documenting Miami’s street life. What’s more, he’s good: really good, according to his pal Maurice. He just needs to catch a break. When Maurice asks for his help sorting a problem for a friend, and that friend turns out to be Jean Shaw, the retired movie star Joe’s been crazy in love with ever since he was a boy, it seems too good to be true – even when the problem in question is blackmail.