The Getaway Man

The Getaway Man by Andrew Vachss is one terrific crime fiction story. Its a barebones, tight-phrased masterpiece of the genre. It is one of those books you know is going to be good from the first page when Eddie (that's the narrator) talks about pulling up in front of the bank at two in the afternoon pn a Thursday because Tim said its always slow in the bank at that time, especially on Thursdays. The next paragraph talks about how Virgil had a double-barreled sawed-off and how Tim had a pair of pistols and, geez, we are off to the races. Don't blink because every page in this book is handcrafted excellence.

The book is about a kid who grew up wanting to drive and I mean drive. He would get popped for joyriding and the cops wouldn't show more believe he was alone because he was too small to be driving. The story details how he spent his time in and out of juvie camp farms and adult prison and saw his true calling as a getaway driver, thus the title. He is, despite being a criminal, a true innocent who relies on his companions for the planning and knows no one is as good a getaway driver as he is.

The story is not complex plot-wise, but the writing certainly is. The sense of humor in the narrator's voice is incredible. He is a simple soul that perhaps doesn't even know he is being funny. Inside, some guys get tattoos, he says, so other guys will know where they've been, but he never wanted one and figured people can always tell, anyway.
Real good stuff , indeed. show less

This first person narrative follows the career of the "Getaway Man", a professional driver used by stick-up gangs to drive the getaway car. While Eddie is none too swift, he is eager to please and a talented mechanic and driver. The movies he likes, for instance, aren't about cars; they're about driving.
Fast-paced and as smooth as a well-executed inside job, the book is a fun, fast read. As such, it marks a significant departure from Andrew Vachss's other works, primarily the Burke series, which is often very dark.

Not one of his Burke books, but a wonderful read in Vachss' usual cut to the bone prose.

Not very well-written. The plot is choppy and not very compelling. It does, however, have a surprising twist at the end.

Gave to free library.

Chronicles a slow man obsessed with driving and his adventures in juvenile detention, prison, and elsewhere de-institutionalized.

A character that you learn to like, but mostly out of pity.

Recommended reading for any young person that has decided to make crime their profession. Reminded me of Garth Stein's "The Art of Racing in the Rain".

Rated "Good" in our old book database. 2525