The goods: The further adventures of Elmore Leonard’s tough and tender daddy’s girl. Stars Carla Gugino, Robert Forster and Bill Duke.

Ideal mate is: Missing shows that understand the subtlety of sex appeal.

First impression: Federal Marshal Karen Sisco (Gugino) is as gorgeous as she is capable at tracking down criminals who cross her path. Sisco’s boss, Amos Andrews (Duke), believes in her abilities, while her other male colleagues sell her short. Meanwhile, father Marshall (Forster), a semi-retired law enforcement legend, steers her around the most dangerous curves as she sorts through Miami’s bizarro rogues’ gallery.

Promising? Honey, this show’s got legs, and it knows how to use them. The premiere is impeccable down to the small details, such as the soundtrack and cognac-smooth editing. Gugino is both ferocious and feminine, playing Karen as a woman of quiet determination who downplays her killer strengths and can barely mask her loneliness. Forster is a perfect complement as her crusty, doting dad. It’ll be tough to maintain the pilot’s level of crispness for a whole season, and the fact that it’s scheduled against NBC’s “Law & Order” makes for an even bigger challenge. Should the producers be able to keep “Karen Sisco” cool, though, it’ll be outstanding long-term relationship material.