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Due to a foiled burglary in a high-tech lab doing research for cigarette manufacturers, Freddie Noon, the thief, is now invisible. This condition has clear-cut advantages for a man in Freddie's profession, but now everybody wants a glimpse of Freddie. But Freddie doesn't dare show his face, his shadow, anything. Because Freddie Noon has gotten a taste of invisibility--and he can't quit now.

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Member Reviews

7 reviews
A comic crime novel from a modern master, this book riffs on the invisible man motif in ways that are surprising and amusing. The portraits of the researchers who turn a burgulary into the invisible man are almost as comic as the attempts of a fence to move in on the invisible man's girlfriend. There's just enough suspense to leaven the comedy.

This book won't change your life, but it will provide a welcome respite from your normal reading.
Westlake, not at his finest. Sure, a story about an invisible man? Why not! It's fun, like Hiaasen, but not a great mystery.
½
I thought the characters were great, the story was awesome, and the writing was impeccable. The ending just didn't do much for me
Burglar turned invisible and complications
Moins de souffle que dans les autres ouvrages. Un peu laborieux.
½

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Author Information

Picture of author.
270+ Works 27,815 Members
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. Almost 20 of his novels were adapted into films and show more 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

Awards and Honors

Common Knowledge

Canonical title
Smoke
Original title
Smoke
Original publication date
1995
People/Characters
Freddie Urban Noon; Peg Briscoe; Dr. David Loomis; Dr. Peter Heimhocker
Important places
New York, New York, USA
Dedication
This is for Knox Burger and Kitty Sprague, with affection, admiration, and gratitude
First words
Freddie was a liar. Freddie was a thief.
Last words
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)One of those shadows is Freddie.
Blurbers
Diehl, Digby; King, Larry; Stout, Rex

Classifications

Genres
Fiction and Literature, Mystery
DDC/MDS
813.54Literature & rhetoricAmerican literature in EnglishAmerican fiction in English1900-19991945-1999
LCC
PS3573Language and LiteratureAmerican literatureAmerican literatureIndividual authors1961-
BISAC

Statistics

Members
305
Popularity
104,211
Reviews
6
Rating
½ (3.69)
Languages
English, French
Media
Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
ISBNs
9
ASINs
3