First came get real 2009, involving the dortmunder gang with one last. He first appeared in the novel the hot rock, published in 1970. John archibald dortmunder is a fictional character created by donald e. John dortmunder is a master criminal in new york city. Westlake turns the world of crime and criminals upside down. But getting caught redhanded is inevitable in his next caper, when a tv producer convinces this thief and his merry gang to star in a reality show that captures their next score. American writer donald e westlake has written more than 70 novels, as well as screenplays, teleplays and nonfiction works, but much of his literary output has consisted of crime novels. The dortmunder gang are hired to steal a huge emerald with religious significance for a small african nation. This one, the first in westlakes series, is brilliant as dortmunder and his gang go after the balaboma emerald, a huge gem that is a symbol in the battle between two nations. Under his own name and various pseudonyms, westlake wrote nearly a hundred novels, story collections and screenplays over a career of almost 50 years.
Dortmunders first caper goes awry the hot rock of the title is the balabomo emerald, which two obscure african nations each claim as their national treasure. In an odd twist for the dortmunder novels, the gang is asked to be part of a reality television series. Befitting a performer of longstanding and unmatched versatility, westlake has so far had no fewer than three final bows. I kept having to remind myself that what was happening could be possible since they wouldnt have many of the technologies we have now. Hapless criminal john dortmunder returns in another rollicking tale of disorganized crime from grand master of mystery donald e. It was released in the uk with the alternate title how to steal a.
Jimmy the kid was my entree to the world of john dortmunder and his cohort of thieves in new york. The dortmunder comic crime novels of donald e westlake. Just like the dortmunder, inspector porfiry is yet another entertaining series by stuart m. Westlake fans will welcome the return, after a fiveyear hiatus, of luckless burglar john dortmunder and his gang of lowlifes from the back room of the o. Dortmunders gang comes up with a scheme to kidnap a rich child, with the whole plan being based on a. The hot rock the dortmunder novels book 1 kindle edition. Like parker, dortmunder is a career criminal, although he is a nonviolent criminal who prefers to plan out elaborate schemes, which of course never work out exactly the way he plans. What follows is a mixture of laughs and thrills featuring a car crash in the n. As the book opens, dortmunder and his gang of irregulars are without a scheme. The dortmunder series began in 1970 with the aforementioned novel the hot rock. The producer even guarantees to keep the show from being used as evidence against them. Dortmunder export or dortmunder is a pale lager originally brewed by dortmunder union in dortmund, germany, in 1873. Oct, 2005 american writer donald e westlake has written more than 70 novels, as well as screenplays, teleplays and nonfiction works, but much of his literary output has consisted of crime novels. With that said, bank shot is a satisfying read that has a fantastic end.
John archibald dortmunder is the thief whose when john dortmunder sets out to rob a bank, he heres the fivemember dortmunder gang trying to the priceless painting is titled folly leads to the byzantine fire. Jun 01, 2014 dortmunder agrees to do a dangerous favor for a gang of nuns. The series consists of 14 novels, with the final one get real published in 2009. What could have been a really bad book i thought the worst concerning some of the plot points, the characters stick to their negligent ways and the tv series turns into an opportunity for the theives to steal something more worthwhlie than. A gang of greeks armed with sten guns burst into the security room at jfk airport and escape with the priceless stone, which they deposit in the safe at a small jewelers shop in queens. A dortmunder novel book one the dortmunder novels 1 ebook. Other members of the gang do not appear in the books much later in the series. In get real, dortmunders gang is approached by a realitytelevision producerthe company is called. Westlake originally intended the hot rock to feature his character parker and to publish it under his. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the hot rock.
In jimmy the kid we see the two characters come together, albeit in a roundabout way. Kelps schemes, no matter how well intentioned, tend to spiral quickly out of control. John dortmunder leaves jail with ten dollars, a train ticket, and nothing to make money on but his good name. He first appeared in the novel the hot rock, published in 1970 westlake originally intended the hot rock to feature his character parker and to publish it under his richard stark pseudonym. The bad get better, the good slide a bit, and lord help anyone caught between a thief named john dortmunder and the current object of his intentions. Crime thrillers as funny as this dont come along that often, so its incredible to discover thanks to amazon that donald westlake wrote an entire series on dortmunder and his perpetually cheery but in their opinion unfairly treated by life associates. Get real brings back john dortmunder, the mastermind of a gang of runyonesque crooks who have now blundered their way through 14 novels, beginning in 1970 with the hot rock. A few hours later, unlucky thief john dortmunder, expecting a routine robbery, steals it again. Of course, in child heist everything goes right for the gang but sadly not so in jimmy the kid. As the gang plans their next move with the cameras rolling, dortmunder and kelp sneak onto the roof of their new studio to organize a private enterprise. Westlakes novel of the same name, which introduced his longrunning john dortmunder character. The first novel in the series, the hot rock was originally intended to be a parker novel. Coliseum, a helicopter attack on a police station, and a wild breakout from an insane asylum.
A good way to finish, but not as good as the earlier ones. Actually, as someone who lived the 1970s, the book is something of a fun throwback to old slang, rotary dial phones no cell phones for sure, manual windows on cars and rabbit ears on top of the tv. After world war ii, export was the most popular type of beer in germany until 1970, when it was supplanted. Westlake 2009, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. A dortmunder novel book one the dortmunder novels 1. The hot rock is a 1972 american comedydrama caper film directed by peter yates from a screenplay by william goldman, based on donald e.
Dortmunder is a master planner of elaborate schemes and is stuck with a gang that is made up of incompetent accomplices. He has wonderful plans that always end up in the trash heap. Dortmunder is almost in the building when the alarm sounds, forcing him up the fire escape and onto the roof. This one ranks in the top three for mei laughed so much. When his friend andy kelp has a plan, career criminal john dortmunder knows that means trouble.
The hot rock is the first in a series about john archibald dortmunder written back in 1970, this is something that i had to keep reminding myself while reading, as it is also set in the time frame it is written in. Primo, that this is a dortmunder novel, one of a series of comic capers about a gang of new york crooks who have been charming discriminating readers for nearly 40 years, and secundo, that youre in for a very, very good timewhile the developing plot of get real has holes big enough to drive a stolen chevy through, they dont really matter. A hapless thief is drafted by a gang of nuns in need, in a novel by an edgar award winner who has no peer in the realm of comic mystery novelists san francisco chronicle. He chuckles at her boldness, or rather, borderline foolishness. Of these, many are comic crime novels that feature crooks of dubious competency and even worse luck involved in activities of questionable legality.
A dortmunder novel book one the dortmunder novels 1 kindle edition by westlake, donald e download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Dortmunders gang comes up with a scheme to kidnap a rich child, with the whole plan being based on a parker novel by richard stark. The feral look in yoongis eyes sent chills racing down her back, but she refused to show any sign of fear. Oct 01, 2018 the very first john dortmunder novel, published in 1970, the textand some of the humoris a little dated but still very readable. But arnie albright, new yorks most obnoxious but best paying fence, soon offers one.
Eluding the law has always been high on dortmunders list. It will take an ingenious plan to outwit viewers glued to their television sets, but dortmunder is nothing if not persistent, and hes determined to end this shoot with money in his pockets. In the past, the dortmunder gang has stolen about everything under the sun. The hot rock the dortmunder novels book 1 enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. John dortmunder created by donald westlake 19332008. Angie 412011 the last book in the dortmunder series. No, hes not a pi, but one must cleanse ones palette every now and. And there is no guide book to help him with all of the madness that he is now signed on for. But when one of to competing african countriesthe nation of talabwofinances the scheme, dortmunder can be persuaded. Westlakes understated writing style and the devilish complexity of the capers he devised for dortmunder and company are always good for hours of smiles, occasional outloud laughter, and one or two hysterical laughing fits in every book. Westlake, and who is the protagonist of 14 novels and 11 short stories published between 1970 and 2009.
The books theme is about what happens to people when they take on new roles in new places. No, hes not a pi, but one must cleanse ones palette every now and then. I saw the film jimmy the kid starring garry coleman many years ago and i. Dortmunder has been funnier than here but full points for westlakes pisstake of his own pseudonymously published novel child heist. I saw the film jimmy the kid starring garry coleman many years ago and i cant remember it following the books plot too closely. It is a softtextured beer influenced by the pilsner lager brewed in pilsen.
Only a miracle would be able to keep dortmunder out of the slammer. The producer even guarantees to keep the show from being used. This time the gang is approached by a reality tv producer that would like to film them as they plan, then carry out one of their seems easy capers. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. John dortmunder is a character featured in a series of novels by american novelist donald e. A kidnapping plan cribbed from a crime novel goes hilariously wrong for gang boss john dortmunderfrom the edgar awardwinning author of bank shot. The very first john dortmunder novel, published in 1970, the textand some of the humoris a little dated but still very readable. Ok back to the book, which, based on the first page alone, i expect to be a wonderful, if sad, farewell to john dortmunder and the gang at the oj bar and grill. As dortmunders gang strikes by car, helicopter, and train, one heist after another goes wrong.
The first book in the dortmunder series check the authors introduction to how and when dortmunder came about. Below is a list of donald westlakes dortmunder books in order of when they were originally released also their chronology. Get real is the fifteenth and last dortmunder book. Dortmunders last caper, funny to the end mal warwick. Dortmunder agrees to do a dangerous favor for a gang of nuns. Oct 25, 2011 a gang of greeks armed with sten guns burst into the security room at jfk airport and escape with the priceless stone, which they deposit in the safe at a small jewelers shop in queens. Donald westlake is the king of the comic caper novel any argument. It was simple in the book, but turns pretty complicated in real life.
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