Freaky deaky

Leonard's sharp, clipped dialogue is iconic—did it enhance the suspense or make the characters feel more detached? I wonder how much that style shaped the book's gritty tone.

The characters all have flaws and questionable motives, which made me question whether I was supposed to sympathize or just observe their chaos. Was that intentional?

The city’s gritty atmosphere really set the tone, but I’m curious whether Leonard based it on personal experience or research, and how much the era influenced the story's mood.