5. Tishomingo Blues
What It's About: Set in Tunica, Mississippi at the Tishomingo Lodge & Casino, Leonard tells a story of a daredevil diver and Detroit con artist who take on the Dixie Mafia. The daredevil, Dennis Lenahan, witnesses a mob hit while perched atop his diving platform and a mark is set for him. The con artist, Robert Taylor, is already in town with his own plan regarding the mob and teams up with Dennis to save their own asses. What results is possibly Leonard's funniest novel he's ever written. A novel filled with his prototypical crazy characters, culminating in the world's worst (or best) Civil War reenactment.
Why It Should Be Adapted: This is already a frustrating story because it's been oh so close to being adapted a few times. Don Cheadle purchased the film rights and began building a movie for him to direct and star in. Everything subsequently fell apart. There's no good reason for this not to be a movie yet and Cheadle is spot on to play Robert Taylor. It's similar, albeit more refined, to his character Snoop from Out Of Sight. Add to that the fact that Matthew McConaughey - who specialises in Southern drama - is perfect for Dennis Lenahan (he was previously attached and his increasing age has only made the role more fitting) and you've got yourself a good start. Fans of Justified know how intriguing the Dixie Mafia is on screen and maybe lock in a director who understands the South, someone like David Gordon Green or Jeff Nichols, and now you've got yourself a movie.