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The Hunter (1962)

by Richard Stark

Other authors: See the other authors section.

Series: Richard Stark's Parker (1)

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingMentions
1,0825318,552 (3.88)52
Fiction. Mystery. HTML:

You probably haven't noticed them. But they've noticed you. They notice everything. That's their job. Sitting quietly in a nondescript car outside a bank making note of the tellers' work habits. Lagging a few car lengths behind the Brinks truck on its daily rounds. Surreptitiously jiggling the handle of an unmarked service door at the racetrack. They're heisters. They're pros, and Parker is far and away the best of them. In The Hunter, the first volume in the series, Parker roars into New York City, seeking revenge on the woman who betrayed him and on the man who took his money, stealing and scamming his way to redemption.

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» See also 52 mentions

English (50)  Spanish (2)  French (1)  All languages (53)
Showing 1-5 of 50 (next | show all)
Organization Man versus an atavistic independent too competent (or simply too mean) to let a little thing like being left for dead get in the way of the money that he “earned.” Surprisingly grim even for someone familiar with the Parker character from later books and multiple film adaptations; and yet also darkly funny, if simplistic, satire, with a clear interest in the logistics and process of the crime genre.
  structuregeek | Sep 18, 2023 |
Richard Stark, a pseudonym for acclaimed crime novelist Donald E. Westlake, created a character named Parker in this novel, and Parker is as stark a creation as the author's nom de plume. The basis of at least two films, including the classic Point Blank of John Boorman and Lee Marvin, the book is gritty, hardboiled in the extreme, and wonderfully paced. To create a character as unappealing as Parker who is, however, fascinating and, in fact, appealing, is a rare achievement. Stark took Parker through a number of books. This one makes me want to read the others. Parker is a hard case, seeking revenge on the man and woman who double-crossed him. That the woman is his wife makes things just that much more intriguing. This is one tough book, and a great read. ( )
  jumblejim | Aug 26, 2023 |
3.7
Basis of movie Payback ( )
  Mcdede | Jul 19, 2023 |
A masterpiece.
Quality absolute quality.
Completely engaging from first to last page, beautifully written with superb characterisation throughout.
Atmospheric clever descriptive intelligent storytelling.
Short and to the point no waste.
Often funny occasionally laugh out loud so, some violence.
Completely and utterly recommended. ( )
  Gudasnu | Jun 22, 2023 |
I liked this book, but not as much as many others, which was a disappointment. There was very little character interaction, since most of the characters other than Parker seemed to die pretty quickly. Parker himself is hard to like, as he goes around hurting people simply for his own convenience, and killing people who may or may not deserve it, all without remorse, it seems.

I can understand wanting to get revenge for the guy that ripped him off and had him killed (well, so everyone thought). I guess I can understand wanting to kill his wife, although she was simply weak, not really bad. But he goes after everyone in his way, killing some and hurting others, and some of these people are strangers, and some are just poor working people who are just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Perhaps the ones he kills are not so innocent or honest, but he doesn't really even know anything about them.

But aside from all that, it was an interesting read, and really quick to finish. The writing style fits the story, short and to the point, very much in style with the old-time noir crime stories. I was hoping for more humor, and I think it could use a little more to lighten the mood a bit. Still, I may try at least one more in the series just to see how it develops. ( )
  MartyFried | Oct 9, 2022 |
Showing 1-5 of 50 (next | show all)
Stark’s novels are not only entertaining for what they are—midcentury noirs—but they are also better than a lot of what was coming out back then.
 

» Add other authors (11 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Richard Starkprimary authorall editionscalculated
Just Lazzari, BrunoTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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Wikipedia in English (1)

Fiction. Mystery. HTML:

You probably haven't noticed them. But they've noticed you. They notice everything. That's their job. Sitting quietly in a nondescript car outside a bank making note of the tellers' work habits. Lagging a few car lengths behind the Brinks truck on its daily rounds. Surreptitiously jiggling the handle of an unmarked service door at the racetrack. They're heisters. They're pros, and Parker is far and away the best of them. In The Hunter, the first volume in the series, Parker roars into New York City, seeking revenge on the woman who betrayed him and on the man who took his money, stealing and scamming his way to redemption.

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Book description
You probably haven’t ever noticed them. But they’ve noticed you. They notice everything. That’s their job. Sitting quietly in a nondescript car outside a bank making note of the tellers’ work habits, the positions of the security guards. Lagging a few car lengths behind the Brinks truck on its daily rounds. Surreptitiously jiggling the handle of an unmarked service door at the racetrack.

They’re thieves. Heisters, to be precise. They’re pros, and Parker is far and away the best of them. If you’re planning a job, you want him in. Tough, smart, hardworking, and relentlessly focused on his trade, he is the heister’s heister, the robber’s robber, the heavy’s heavy. You don’t want to cross him, and you don’t want to get in his way, because he’ll stop at nothing to get what he’s after.
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