Elmore Leonard’s final novel to be published posthumously

Elmore Leonard’s final book will be finished by his son and published after the author’s death.

Leonard, whose work was adapted into popular screenplays -- including 3:10 to Yuma, Get Shorty and Quentin Tarantino’s Jackie Brown -- died on Aug. 20 at the age of 87. At the time of his death he had published 45 novels and was working on his 46th.

Leonard’s son, Peter Leonard, told BBC Radio 4 that he will likely finish his father’s 46th novel, which has the working title Blue Dreams.

"It’s been discussed among family members and I’ve talked to Greg Sutter, Elmore’s longtime researcher," Peter Leonard told the radio station.

Blue Dreams features the U.S. marshal character Raylan Givens, who has appeared in other Leonard novels.

Peter Leonard is also a published author, who writes crime novels.

Elmore Leonard’s funeral was held on Saturday in Birmingham, Michigan.