Novel
Cat Chaser is a thriller novel written by American author Elmore Leonard. The book was first published in 1989 by Delacorte Press. The narrative follows George Hummer, a former Army Ranger and mercenary who becomes a security contractor in the fictional Caribbean island of Jacala. After a failed rescue mission in which a woman named Denise (or "Mona") is killed, Hummer is hired by the island’s dictator to protect an American woman, Alicia, from assassins. The plot interweaves themes of post‑Vietnam war trauma, political corruption, and the moral ambiguities of mercenary work.
The novel received mixed to positive reviews. Critics highlighted Leonard’s characteristic dialogue and pacing, while noting that the setting and violence marked a departure from his typical crime‑fiction focus on organized crime in the United States. The book has been cited in several literary analyses of Leonard’s later career, emphasizing his shift toward international intrigue.
Film adaptation
A film adaptation titled Cat Chaser was released in 1995. The movie was directed by Abel Ferrara and produced by MGM. James Caan starred as George Hummer, with Kelly McGillis portraying Alicia, and Charles S. Davis playing the dictator, General ‘Renegade’ Ramos. The screenplay was co‑written by Leonard himself and William Blair.
The film’s runtime is approximately 115 minutes. Production took place primarily in the Dominican Republic, substituting for the novel’s Caribbean setting. Upon release, the film garnered generally unfavorable reviews, with critics citing uneven tone and deviation from the source material’s narrative depth. It holds a low aggregate rating on major review platforms and has not achieved significant commercial success.
Other usages
The term “cat chaser” does not appear as an established concept in academic, scientific, or cultural references beyond the novel and its film adaptation. No widely recognized idiom, organization, or technical term is associated with this phrase in reputable encyclopedic sources.
