Books

Rum Punch

The Run Down.

Ordell "Whitebread" Robbie makes a fine living selling illegal high-powered weaponry to the wrong people. Jackie Burke couriers Ordell's profits from Freeport to Miami. But the feds are on to Jackie—and now the aging, but still hot, flight attendant will have to do prison time or play ball, which makes her a prime "loose end" that Ordell needs to tie up permanently. Jackie, however, has other options. And with the help of Max Cherry—an honest but disgruntled bail bondsman looking to get out—she could even end up with a serious nest egg in the process.

Published: 1992

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Genre: Crime

Adaptation: Film (Jackie Brown)

Location: Florida

Characters: Ordell Robbie , Louis Gara , Melanie , Ray Nicolette

The New York Times

Jackie Burke in "Rum Punch" is surrounded by a strong supporting cast involved in an intricately compelling plot.

— The New York Times

Ordell Robbie

“That a Jamaican name?” “Hey, do I sound like one of them? You hear them talking that island potwah to each other, it’s like a different language. No, man, I’m African-American. I used to be Neegro, I was cullud, I was black, but now I’m African-American. What’re you, Jewish, huh?”

Jackie Brown

Adapted for film from Rum Punch in 1997
Starring Pam Grier — Directed by Quentin Tarantino
Screenplay by Quentin Tarantino