Nobody's Perfect

Busted through sheer bad luck - does he have any other kind? - Dortmunder's going back to jail for sure, and it's only his third book into the series. Suddenly, an expensive and clever lawyer appears and gets him off, through sheer entertainment value, if noting else. Naturally, his deliverance comes with a catch - a heist organised by the victim as part of an insurance scam. Still, a pulling off a burglary where the inside man is the person you're burgling should be easy enough. But nothing is ever easy, and one riotous encounter with a theatre full of boisterous Scotsmen later, Dortmunder is faced with a missing painting, looking deadline and a contract killer hired to make sure he delivers. Fake paintings, fake robberies and a trip show more to Scotland follow as things, naturally, get more complicated and difficult. I think this was the very first Dortmunder I ever read (sleeping by myself in the open next to the wrong lake - long story) and it's clear to see why it hooked me from the get-go with its twists and turns, it's brilliant characters and general comic genius. The last lines are still amongst the funniest I've ever read. show less

Nobody’s Perfect by Donald Westlake is an amusing crime caper story that was originally published in 1977. It features professional robber, John Dortmunder as he takes on an “inside job” of stealing an expensive painting for insurance purposes. The owner, the rich and irresponsible Mr. Chauncey, needs money but doesn’t want to give up his artwork, so he hires Dortmunder and his bumbling crew to take the painting and then he will buy it back after he collects the insurance. A simple plot, so what could go wrong?

It turns out that the answer is plenty and the story is one continuous bumpy ride as Dortmunder scrambles to set things right and collect his money. As well as hiring Dortmunder, Mr. Chauncey also hired a hit-man, Leo show more Kane, to ensure that his painting is returned. When the original painting is misplaced, Dortmunder must come up with a fail-proof plan to satisfy Mr. Chauncey and avoid any confrontations with Mr. Kane. The story takes us from New York to London and on to the Scottish Highlands as Dortmunder strives to overcome all obstacles and bring this caper to a successful conclusion.

This was both my first Dortmunder story and my first book by author Donald Westlake. It was a clever, light, humorous story that I really enjoyed. Having the story unroll from the perspective of the robber gave it an interesting twist and I loved the various schemes that Dortmunder and his helpful friend Kelp came up with. I will certainly be on the lookout for more by this author. show less

Another Dortmunder caper, another somewhat inept crime attempt, although Nobody's Perfect sees Dortmunder and his gang actually come out of this better then they go in. As you would expect from a Dortmunder story, lots of funny jokes and situations, although this is starting to look very out of date.

John Dortmunder and his team are back for their fourth “can’t fail” scheme. This time the “victim” has arranged the theft as part of an insurance scheme. Dortmunder and gang will steal the painting, sit on it until the insurance money is paid, then return it to the owner, collect their percentage of the insurance proceeds, and everyone walks away happy.

What could possibly go wrong?

Westlake has a way of putting obstacles in the path of his loveable gang of thieves that just tickles my funny bone. I enjoy watching them scheme, and how exasperated Dortnumder gets with Kelp’s attempts to “help.” I love May and wish she’d had a larger role in this adventure. I also was eager to see the gang in action on foreign soil. show more Taking them to the U.K.was a treat, but I was somewhat disappointed in the cliff-hanger ending. show less

Dortmunder and his “string” are hired by a man to steal a painting he owns and can collect the insurance money from. They do the job, but this being a Dortmunder novel, they quickly lose the painting. Like on-the-way-to-the-getaway-car quickly! A mistake that ends up with John and Andy, and their would be assassin, in London. And then Scotland! It’s quite a tale…

Cool idea with the magnet! And I liked all of the double crosses! Or are they triple crosses? It got a little bit confusing, but I enjoyed the read. Funny ending too with those suits of armor chasing each other!

Another enjoyable Dortmunder story! If these didn't have bad luck, they'd have no luck at all. In this one, the crew steals a painting from the owner FOR the owner in an insurance scam, but then the painting is lost in a melee with drunken Scotsmen. Don't you hate it when that happens? Hijinks ensue.

John Dortmunder and his hapless gang of drivers, smash and grab men and box men are so benign and seemingly normal that you want them to win. When Dortmunder is shanghaied into a caper by a rich man who wants to commit a spot of insurance fraud, he and his friends create foolproof plan after foolproof plan that somehow always goes awry. Westlake perfectly gets into the head of a career criminal who can always find a way to do what he wants. Fun read