Donald E. Westlake (1933–2008)

Author of The Hunter

256+ Works 25,022 Members 814 Reviews 89 Favorited

About the Author

Author Donald E. Westlake was born in Brooklyn, New York on July 12, 1933. He attended colleges in New York, but did not graduate. He wrote more than 100 novels and 5 screenplays throughout his lifetime. He also wrote under numerous pseudonyms including Richard Stark, Tucker Coe, and Samuel Holt. show more Almost 20 of his novels were adapted into films and he created the television series, The Father Dowling Mysteries. He is a three-time winner of the Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America and was nominated for an Academy Award for his screenplay for The Grifters. He was also named a Mystery Writers of America Grand Master in 1993. He died of a heart attack on December 31, 2008 at the age of 75. (Bowker Author Biography) Donald E. Westlake has won three Edgar Awards & was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for "The Grifters". He lives in upstate New York. (Publisher Provided) show less

Includes the names: Curt Clark, Tucker Coe, Westlake-d, Edwin West, Samuel Holt, Samuel Holt, Uestleik D., Westlake d E, Stark Richard, D.E. Westlake, Richard Stark, Richard Stark, Timothy Culver, donalduestleik, Donald Westlake, Westlake Donald, Alan Dr Marshall, Donald e.westlake, Donald E. Westlake, Donald E. Wesflake, Donald E. Westlake, E. Donald Westlake, ed. Donald Westlake, Donald Edwin Westlake, Judson Jack Carmichael, Donald E. Ed. Westlake, Ричард Старк, Editor Donald E. Westlake, Donald Richard ; Westlake Stark, Donald as Richard Stark Westlake, Tucker Coe alias Donald Westlake, Tucker Donald E. as Coe Westlake, Samuel Donald E. as Holt Westlake, Richard Stark (Donald E. Westlake), Richard Donald E. as Stark Westlake, Donald E. Westlake as Richard Stark, Donald E. Westlake come Richard Stark, Curt Clark (pseud. Donald E. Westlake), J. Morgan Donald E.) Cunningham (Westlake, Donald Writing As D. E. Westlake Westlake, writing as Richard Stark Donald E. Westlake, Donald E. Westlake writing as Richard Stark, Donald E. Westlake (writing as Samuel Holt), pseud. för Donald E. Westlake Richard Stark

Also includes: Alan Marshall (4)

Image credit: www.vjbooks.com

Series

Richard Stark's Parker

Works by Donald E. Westlake

Popular Recent

The Hunter (1962) 1,088 copies

The Hot Rock (1970) 911 copies

The Man with the Getaway Face (1963) 611 copies

The Ax (1997) 551 copies

The Outfit (1963) 540 copies

Bank Shot (1972) 495 copies

The Score (1964) 494 copies

361 (1962) 472 copies

What's the Worst That Could Happen? (1996) 462 copies

Don't Ask (1993) 447 copies

What's So Funny? (2007) 432 copies

The Road to Ruin (2004) 423 copies

Drowned Hopes (1990) 422 copies

The Mourner (1963) 422 copies

Bad News (2001) 420 copies

God Save the Mark (1967) 404 copies

Somebody Owes Me Money (1969) 402 copies

Lemons Never Lie (1971) 386 copies

Watch Your Back! (2005) 371 copies

Comeback (1997) 363 copies

The Jugger: A Parker Novel (Parker Novels) (1965) 359 copies

Ask the Parrot (2006) 350 copies

Flashfire (2000) 350 copies

Get Real (2009) 349 copies

Breakout (2002) 343 copies

Good Behavior (1985) 341 copies

Firebreak (2001) 320 copies

Jimmy the Kid (1974) 315 copies

Why Me (1983) 315 copies

Money for Nothing (2003) 314 copies

The Seventh (1966) 314 copies

Slayground (1969) 313 copies

Put a Lid on It (2002) 309 copies

Backflash (1998) 306 copies

Nobody's Perfect (1977) 306 copies

The Hook (2000) 304 copies

The Handle (1966) 300 copies

Trust Me On This (1988) 296 copies

Smoke (1995) 294 copies

The Black Ice Score (1968) 292 copies

The Mercenaries (1960) 287 copies

Nobody Runs Forever (2004) 277 copies

The Rare Coin Score (1967) 266 copies

The Green Eagle Score (1967) 259 copies

The Sour Lemon Score (1969) 250 copies

Dirty Money (2008) 247 copies

Deadly Edge (1971) 246 copies

Thieves' Dozen (2005) 244 copies

Butcher's Moon (1974) 243 copies

Dancing Aztecs (1976) 237 copies

Kahawa (1981) 235 copies

Memory (2010) 218 copies

Help, I am Being Held Prisoner (1974) 217 copies

Humans (1992) 212 copies

Baby, Would I Lie? (1994) 201 copies

Plunder Squad (1972) 200 copies

Brothers Keepers (1975) 198 copies

The Spy in the Ointment (1966) 192 copies

The Busy Body (1966) 191 copies

The Fugitive Pigeon (1965) 185 copies

Cops and Robbers (1972) 185 copies

The Damsel (1967) 162 copies

The Comedy is Finished (2012) 160 copies

The Blackbird (1969) 143 copies

The Best American Mystery Stories 2000 (2000) — Editor & Introduction — 141 copies

Castle in the Air (1980) 140 copies

Two Much (1975) 133 copies

Forever and a Death (2017) 129 copies

The Dame (1969) 125 copies

Sacred Monster (1989) 114 copies

High Adventure (1985) 112 copies

Killing Time (1961) 102 copies

Enough (1977) 95 copies

Levine (1720) 86 copies

Anarchaos (1967) 83 copies

Kinds of Love, Kinds of Death (1966) 82 copies

A Likely Story (1984) 82 copies

Tomorrow's Crimes (1989) 80 copies

One of Us Is Wrong (1986) 77 copies

What I Tell You Three Times Is False (1987) 68 copies

Pity Him Afterwards (1965) 66 copies

The Getaway Car: A Donald Westlake Nonfiction Miscellany (2014) 63 copies

Who stole Sassi Manoon? (1968) 62 copies

Murder Among Children (1967) 60 copies

Killy (1963) 60 copies

I Know a Trick Worth Two of That (1986) 59 copies

Call Me a Cab (2022) 59 copies

Murderous Schemes (1996) — Editor, Introduction & Contributor — 58 copies

The Scared Stiff (2002) 57 copies

Adios, Scheherazade (1970) 53 copies

The Fourth Dimension is Death (1989) 49 copies

Don't Lie to Me (1972) 49 copies

The Fifth Science Fiction Megapack (2012) 48 copies

I gave at the office, (1971) 48 copies

A Jade in Aries (1970) 45 copies

Wax Apple (1970) 44 copies

THE CURIOUS FACTS PRECEDING MY EXECUTION: You Put on Some Weight; Sniff; Good Night Good Night; Devilishly; Murder in… (1968) 44 copies

Under an English Heaven (1972) 41 copies

Gangway! (1973) 39 copies

A Good Story and Other Stories (1999) 37 copies

High Jinx (1987) 34 copies

Up Your Banners: A Novel, (1969) 30 copies

The Risk Profession (1963) 26 copies

Transylvania Station (1987) 22 copies

Ordo (1986) 18 copies

The Seventh: A Parker Novel (Parker Novels) 18 copies

Hellcats and Honeygirls (2010) 18 copies

Comfort Station (1973) 17 copies

Comeback | Flashfire (2000) 17 copies

The Sour Lemon Score | Deadly Edge (1985) 16 copies

The Stepfather [1987 film] (2010) — Writer — 16 copies

They Also Serve (1961) 16 copies

A Travesty (1977) 12 copies

The Hot Rock (2010) 12 copies

361 | Killy (1995) 11 copies

Man Hungry (2012) 10 copies

The Parker Omnibus, Volume 2 (1999) 10 copies

Ex Officio (1970) 9 copies

Campus Doll (1964) 8 copies

Price of Desire: Three Novellas from Transgressions (2005) — Contributor — 8 copies

Brother and Sister (1961) 8 copies

The Parker Omnibus, Volume 1 (1997) 6 copies

The Winner 6 copies

Never Shake a Family Tree (1995) 6 copies

Young and Innocent (2011) 6 copies

Give Till It Hurts: A Christmas Story 5 copies

The Jugger | Sour Lemon Score (1993) 5 copies

Philip (1967) 5 copies

The Spy in the Elevator (1997) 4 copies

Por que yo? ; PolicIas y ladrones (1987) 4 copies

Walking Around Money {story} 4 copies

Interstellar Pigeon 4 copies

The Girl of My Dreams (1978) 4 copies

Virgin's Summer (1960) 3 copies

Richard Stark's Parker: The Complete Collection 3 copies

The Cruel Touch (1963) 3 copies

A Girl Called Honey (Collection of Classic Erotica Book 21) 3 copies

Season in Sodom (1967) 3 copies

Un pichón recalcitrante (1967) 3 copies

Horse Laugh and Other Stories 3 copies

Un pichón recalcitrante Un diamante al rojo vivo (1989) 3 copies

Hitch Your Spaceship to a Star 3 copies

Here's Looking at You 3 copies

The Dortmunder Workout or Criminal Exercise 3 copies

The World's a Stage 3 copies

The Hunter | The Outfit | The Seventh (1968) 2 copies

Skeeks 2 copies

Murder in Outer Space | The Sincerest Form of Flattery (1966) 2 copies

Castle in the Air | Dancing Aztecs | Help I Am Being Held Prisoner | A Travesty 2 copies

The Hot Rock | Bank Shot | Jimmy the Kid (1988) 2 copies

Now What? 2 copies

Sin Hellcat (Collection of Classic Erotica Book 22) (2010) 2 copies

Argent sale (2013) 2 copies

O Golpe Parker N.º 3 (Portuguese Edition) (2017) 2 copies

A Organização Parker N.º 2 (Portuguese Edition) (2016) 2 copies

Jogo Mortal Parker N.º 4 (Portuguese Edition) (2017) 2 copies

Drole d'alibi. collection : serie noire n° 1303 2 copies

Wellust zonder grenzen 2 copies

All my lovers (1979) 2 copies

Art and Craft 2 copies

All the Girls Were Willing (1960) 2 copies

So Willing (2016) 2 copies

Nackles 2 copies

The Sado Swappers (1967) 2 copies

Don't You Know There's a War On? 2 copies

The Spy in the Elevator and three more stories (Classics To Go) (2020) 2 copies

A Jade in Aries | Never Shake a Family Tree (1979) 2 copies

Power Play 2 copies

The Operator (2023) 2 copies

Dios salve al primo (2013) 2 copies

Richard Stark's Parker: The Hunter: Chapter 1 2 copies

Call Him Nemesis (2020) 2 copies

Πῶς νὰ κλέψετε μιὰ… (2013) 2 copies

Un diamante al rojo vivo 2 copies

Rare Donald E Westlake, Tucker Coe / WAX APPLE Signed 1st Edition 1970 1 copy

Strange Affair 1 copy

Brothers' Keeper 1 copy

Dortmunder and Me in Short 1 copy

De wreker 1 copy

Las estatuas dolientes 1 copy

The Score (Parker 5) 1 copy

Nobody Runs Forever (Parker 22) 1 copy

The Sour Lemon Score (Parker 12) 1 copy

Flashfire (Parker 19) 1 copy

Backflash (Parker 18) 1 copy

Campus Lovers (1963) 1 copy

The Blackbird (Grofield 3) 1 copy

The Damsel (Grofield 1) 1 copy

Call Me A Cab 1 copy

The Comedy is Finished 1 copy

Slayground (Parker 14) 1 copy

The Dame (Grofield 2) 1 copy

Sin Prowl 1 copy

La danza dei maya (1987) 1 copy

Sex on Arrival (1968) 1 copy

Thieves' Dozen: The Dortmunder Stories (Dortmunder Novels (Paperback)) by Donald E. Westlake (1-Apr-2004)… 1 copy

Gutter Boy 1 copy

Sinland (1962) 1 copy

Sniff (1996) 1 copy

Swap Marathon (1967) 1 copy

A Taste For Depravity (1969) 1 copy

Sex Tripper 1 copy

Frohes Fest : 13 schlimme Bescherungen / 17 schöne Bescherungen 1 copy

The Question [short story] 1 copy

Swinging Secretary (1968) 1 copy

Lust Film (1962) 1 copy

Sally (1959) 1 copy

Just One of Those Days (1996) 1 copy

Take Death for a Lover (Pleasure Reader, PR152) (1968) 1 copy

Undercover affair (1965) 1 copy

Take It Away 1 copy

Double Feature: A Travesty / Ordo 1 copy

The Man With The Getaway Face (Parker 2) 1 copy

I mercenari 1 copy

Castle in the Air 1 copy

Un Gemelo Singular (1975) 1 copy

Da Parker con furore (1987) 1 copy

Starship Hopeful 1 copy

pierre qui brûle 1 copy

Fugue For Felons 1 copy

April North (1971) 1 copy

This is Death 1 copy

Love in the Lean Years 1 copy

Journey to Death (1959) 1 copy

El hombre que cambió de cara (2013) 1 copy

Meteor Strike: Science Fiction Triple Feature (2012) 1 copy

Too Many Crooks 1 copy

Transgresiones, Vol. 1 (2007) 1 copy

Encore raté !: Trois aventures de John Dortmunder (Rivages Noir) (French Edition) (2018) 1 copy

Horse Laugh (Story) - Donald E Westlake 1 copy

The Sweetest Man in the World 1 copy

3 Heaven - Donald E Westlake 1 copy

So Willing (Collection of Classic Erotica Book 23) 1 copy

Murder Among Children--Signed Copy 1 copy

Jumble Sale 1 copy

Lemons Never Lie (Grofield 4) 1 copy

Great masters. Haydn, his life & music 1 copy

Help I Am Being Held Prisoner 1 copy

Pièces détachées (Collection Le Miroir obscur) (1981) 1 copy

Ordo (Rivages/Noir t. 221) 1 copy

Personne n'est parfait (Rivage/Noir t. 666) 1 copy

Tiempo De Matar (1984) 1 copy

DAS GANGSTERSYNDIKAT - 3 Kriminalromane : Das Gangstersyndikat / Der Wahrsager / Ich nicht, Inspektor! (1962) 1 copy

Les Meilleures Nouvelles policières 2001 (2001) 1 copy

While I was gone 1 copy

Ask a Silly Question 1 copy

The Split (The Seventh) 1 copy

Dearest John: The Story of John Lemmone, Flute Virtuoso and Nellie Melba (1997) 1 copy

Apprentice Virgin 1 copy

Good Night! Good Night! 1 copy

Festival de crêpe. Traduit de l' américain par Jean Rosenthal. 1 copy

A Midsummer Daydream 1 copy

From Me to You: The Life and Times of Clive Amadio (1999) 1 copy

O CASO DOS DIAMANTES NEGROS 1 copy

Party Animal 1 copy

Alfred Hitchcock's Anthology, Volume 5, Fall-Winter 1979 1 copy

Work Explorer

Associated Works

The Father Hunt (1968) — Introduction, some editions — 727 copies

Richard Stark's Parker: The Hunter (2009) — Original author — 560 copies

The Best American Mystery Stories of the Century (2000) — Contributor — 456 copies

100 Great Science Fiction Short Short Stories (1978) — Contributor — 410 copies

Great Detectives: A Century of the Best Mysteries from England and America (1984) — Contributor — 359 copies

The Plot Thickens (1997) — Contributor — 327 copies

Knights of Madness: Further Comic Tales of Fantasy (1998) — Contributor — 298 copies

The Big Book of Christmas Mysteries (2013) — Contributor — 294 copies

Transgressions {ten novellas} (2005) — Contributor — 268 copies

Christmas at The Mysterious Bookshop (2010) — Contributor — 243 copies

The Mammoth Book of Pulp Fiction (1996) — Contributor — 235 copies

Masterpieces of Mystery and Suspense (1988) — Contributor — 192 copies

Writers on Writing, 2: More Collected Essays from the New York Times (2003) — Contributor — 187 copies

The Best American Mystery Stories 1998 (1998) — Contributor — 179 copies

Thurber on Crime (1991) — Foreword — 174 copies

A Century of Great Suspense Stories (2001) — Contributor — 154 copies

Alfred Hitchcock Presents: A Hangman's Dozen (1962) — Contributor; Contributor — 145 copies

Nova 1 (1970) — Contributor — 139 copies

The Playboy Book of Science Fiction (1998) — Contributor — 134 copies

Alfred Hitchcock's Tales to Send Chills Down Your Spine (1979) — Contributor — 126 copies

The Perfect Murder: Five Great Mystery Writers Create the Perfect Crime (1991) — Contributor — 103 copies

A New Omnibus of Crime (1771) — Contributor — 97 copies

Sci-Fi Private Eye (1997) — Contributor — 92 copies

Police Procedurals (1985) — Contributor — 91 copies

A Century of Noir: Thirty-two Classic Crime Stories (2002) — Contributor — 81 copies

Fifty Best Mysteries (1991) — Contributor — 73 copies

Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine Presents Fifty Years of Crime and Suspense (2006) — Contributor — 73 copies

The Mysterious Press Anniversary Anthology: Celebrating 25 Years (2001) — Contributor — 70 copies

Brooklyn Noir 2: The Classics (2005) — Contributor — 70 copies

Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Scream Along with Me (1970) — Contributor — 66 copies

The Big Book of Rogues and Villains (2017) — Contributor — 66 copies

A Treasury of Modern Mysteries, Volume 1 (1973) — Contributor — 64 copies

New Worlds of Fantasy (1967) — Contributor — 64 copies

The New Mystery: The International Association of Crime Writers' Essential Crime Writing of the Late 20th Century (1993) — Contributor — 62 copies

Master's Choice, Volume 1 (1999) — Contributor — 61 copies

Transgressions, Volume 3 (U.S. Edition) (2006) — Contributor — 61 copies

The World's Finest Mystery and Crime Stories: First Annual Collection (2000) — Contributor — 59 copies

Christmas Magic (1994) — Contributor — 55 copies

The Mists from Beyond (1993) — Contributor — 50 copies

Manhattan Noir 2: The Classics (2008) — Contributor — 48 copies

The World's Finest Mystery and Crime Stories: Second Annual Collection (2001) — Contributor — 48 copies

The Mammoth Book of Comic Crime (2002) — Contributor — 47 copies

A Taste of Murder: Diabolically Delicious Recipes from Contemporary Mystery Writers (1999) — Contributor — 45 copies

Simply the Best Mysteries: Edgar Award Winners and Front-Runners (1998) — Contributor — 42 copies

A Yuletide Universe: Sixteen Fantastical Tales (2003) — Contributor — 41 copies

3rd Culprit: An Annual of Crime Stories (1994) — Contributor — 41 copies

Science Fiction (1973) — Author — 40 copies

Great American Ghost Stories (1991) — Contributor — 36 copies

Murder Short & Sweet (2008) — Contributor — 29 copies

Tomorrow, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow ... (1974) — Contributor — 29 copies

New England Ghosts (1990) — Contributor — 28 copies

Manhattan Mysteries (1987) — Contributor — 28 copies

101 Mystery Stories (1986) — Contributor — 26 copies

Great American Ghost Stories Volume 1 (Anthology 16-in-1) (1992) — Contributor — 25 copies

Beastly Tales (1989) — Contributor — 25 copies

Mystery for Halloween (1991) — Contributor — 24 copies

Merchants of Menace: An Anthology of Mystery Stories (1969) — Contributor — 20 copies

Flesh & Blood: Erotic Tales of Crime and Passion (2001) — Contributor — 19 copies

A New Leaf and Other Stories (1971) — Introduction — 18 copies

Senior Sleuths: A Large Print Anthology of Mysteries and Puzzlers (1989) — Contributor — 17 copies

Earth in Transit (1976) — Contributor — 16 copies

Academy Mystery Novellas: Women Sleuths, Police Procedurals, Locked Room Puzzles, Great British Detectives ( BOX Set) (1985) — Contributor — 14 copies

Crime After Crime (1998) — Contributor — 13 copies

Home Sweet Homicide (1991) — Contributor — 12 copies

Prime Suspects (1987) — Contributor — 10 copies

The New Edgar Winners: The Mystery Writers of America (1990) — Introduction — 10 copies

The Year's 25 Finest Crime and Mystery Stories: Seventh Annual Edition (1998) — Contributor — 9 copies

Homicidal Acts (1988) — Contributor — 9 copies

Dark Sins, Dark Dreams: Crime in Science Fiction (1978) — Contributor — 9 copies

Tricks and Treats: An Anthology of Mystery Stories by the Mystery Writers of America (1976) — Contributor — 9 copies

Two Much [1995 film] (1996) — Original book — 9 copies

My Favorite Suspense Stories (1968) — Contributor — 8 copies

Elope to Death | Nobody's Perfect | The Genuine Article (1977) 7 copies

The Year's Best Mystery and Suspense Stories, 1990 (1990) — Contributor — 7 copies

A Travesty | Yesterday's Enemy | Murder with Malice (1977) 6 copies

Good Behavior | A Cut in Diamonds | An Excellent Mystery (1985) 5 copies

The Year's 25 Finest Crime and Mystery Stories: Sixth Annual Edition (1997) — Contributor — 5 copies

Horror Gems, Volume Two, Joseph Payne Brennan and others (2011) — Contributor — 4 copies

Julian Symons at 80: A Tribute (1992) — Contributor — 4 copies

Der var engang et mord 4 copies

Crimes and Misfortunes: The Anthony Boucher Memorial Anthology of Mysteries — Contributor — 4 copies

Spy Story | Jimmy The Kid (1974) 4 copies

A Fine and Private Place | Letter of Intent | I Gave at the Office 3 copies

Maigret and the Nahour Case | The Black Tide | Why Me (1983) 3 copies

Drowned Hopes | On the Inside | Saratoga Hexameter 2 copies

Jimmy the Kid | The Brownstone House | The Olmed Head (1989) 2 copies

Transgressions 3: Four Brand New Novellas (UK Edition) (1887) — Contributor — 2 copies

Trust Me On This | Design for Dying | What, Me, Mr. Mosley? 2 copies

Murder Anonymous | Too Old to Die | The Dame (1969) 2 copies

Lemons Never Lie | Three's a Crowd | Tenant for the Tomb (1971) 2 copies

Shotgun | Death of a Hittite | The Blackbird (1969) 2 copies

Travl dag på skafottet (1975) — Author, some editions — 1 copy

The Hot Rock | Beyond This Point Are Monsters | Boomerang 1 copy

The Looking Glass Murder | Night of Clear Choice | The Damsel 1 copy

Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, June 1980 (1980) — Contributor — 1 copy

Castle in the Air | The Green Ripper | Casa Madrone (1980) 1 copy

Årstid for kranier (1974) — Author, some editions — 1 copy

Rod Serling's the Twilight Zone Magazine 1987 01 January-February — Contributor — 1 copy

Tagged

20th century (105) adventure (94) American (143) American fiction (88) American literature (98) anthology (711) calibre (107) caper (183) crime (1,771) crime and mystery (239) crime fiction (709) detective (124) Dortmunder (437) ebook (270) fantasy (124) fiction (2,971) Hard Case Crime (276) hardboiled (303) heist (83) humor (886) Kindle (166) library (144) mystery (3,115) Nero Wolfe (119) New York (153) noir (408) novel (448) paperback (124) Parker (639) pulp (95) read (274) science fiction (291) series (197) sf (86) short stories (786) suspense (179) thriller (541) to-read (1,133) unread (99) USA (132)

Common Knowledge

Canonical name: Westlake, Donald E.
Legal name: Westlake, Donald Edwin
Other names: Stark, Richard
Allan, John B.
Carmichael, Judson Jack
Clark, Curt
Coe, Tucker
Culver, Timothy J. (show all 12)
Cunningham, J. Morgan
Holt, Samuel
Lord, Sheldon
Marshall, Alan
West, Edwin
Westlake, Donald
Birthdate: 1933-07-12
Date of death: 2008-12-31
Gender: male
Nationality: USA
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, USA
Place of death: San Tancho, Mexico
Places of residence: Manhattan, New York, USA
Brooklyn, New York, USA
Albany, New York, USA
Education: Harpur College, Binghamton, New York, USA
Champlain College, Plattsburgh, New York, USA
Occupations: author
screenwriter
Organizations: United States Air Force
Awards and honors: MWA Grand Master(1993)
Gumshoe Award(Lifetime Achievement ∙ 2008)
Shamus Award(The Eye for Lifetime Achievement ∙ 2004)
Bouchercon Lifetime Achievement Award (1997)

Members

Reviews

Somebody Owes ME Money by Donald E Westlake

This one cab driver is given a tip in a horse race, and wins $930. He goes to pick up the winnings from his bookies place only to find him a recent corpse! Who killed the guy? And how is our hero gonna get his money?

Absolutely enthralling. Full of slam bang action, hilarious dialogue, and fast moving chase sequences. I’ve found a new bibliography to dive into.

Flagged

Amateria66 | 18 other reviews | May 24, 2024 |

Memory (Hard Case Crime) by Donald E. Westlake

This guy, who was an actor from NYC, wakes up in a Midwestern hospital after receiving a concussion. His memory leaks from his brain like water from a sieve. Maybe he becomes a different person, but he'll never really know. He tries to get back to his home which he doesn't understand probably will never be his home again, all the while losing and gaining memories.

This book devastated me. I've seen so many people with traumatic brain injuries since I started working at the library and the behaviors and mental processes discussed in this book line up 100% with what happens to folks.

Westlake's economy of language and characterization really was a cut above. I never want to read this book again because of how much of a massive bummer it was but there's no denying the degree of craft and depth of feeling it contained.… (more)

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Amateria66 | 12 other reviews | May 24, 2024 |