Because the words "Unpublished Stories" are in such small print on the cover of this book, I want to reiterate, as Goodreads does in its entry for this book, that this is a selection of stories from Elmore Leonard that he never published. There's a good reason for that: several of them are nearly unreadable.

So why five stars for this book, you may ask? Because it is a glimpse inside the workshop of a master. One seldom has a chance to see what a publisher--or even a writer--rejects. That said, there are also a few gems here: the two stories that give this book its title, featuring a character, Charlie Martz, whom it would have been interesting to see more of. The standout in this collection, and the piece which indicates that Elmore Leonard was on his way to becoming the towering stylist he was, is "The Bull Ring at Blisston." I won't spoil the story other than to say it by itself is worth the price of admission to this collection.

A collection of fifteen stories, eleven of which have never been previously published, from the early career of bestselling American master Elmore Leonard.

Over his long and illustrious career, Elmore Leonard was recognized as one of the greatest crime writers of all time, the author of dozens of bestselling books—many adapted for the big screen—as well as a master of short fiction. A superb stylist whose crisp, tight prose crackled with trademark wit and sharp dialogue, Leonard remains the standard for crime fiction and a literary model for writers of every genre.

Marked by his unmistakable grit and humor, the stories in Charlie Martz and Other Stories—produced early in his career, when he was making his name particularly with westerns—reveal a writer in transition, exploring new voices and locations, from the bars of small-town New Mexico and Michigan to a film set in Hollywood, a hotel in Southern Spain, even a military base in Kuala Lumpur. They also introduce us to classic Leonard characters, some who recur throughout the collection, such as aging lawman Charlie Martz and weary former matador Eladio Montoya.

Collection of Elmore Leonard stories from various times in his writing career. Uneven, which I knew going in. Most were fine, a couple were hard to get through. Recommended only for hardcore Elmore Leonard fans. ( )

I rarely read short story books, but a series of previously unpublished early stories from the brilliant Elmore Leonard are too good to miss. A good mix of engaging totally entertaining quirky tales full of superb characters.
Recommended. ( )

I love EL as much as anyone; just last week I counted and realized I had read 21 of his books over the last twenty years or so. This isn't one of his better ones; the stories often read like imitations of Hemingway. Some are ok, but just ok. Once in a while the reader gets a funny line, but these are scarce. I'm not convinced he'd want these published. The opening by his son is good; read it in the bookstore or library and then buy one of his dad's novels. ( )