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book_concierge's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars - Some of the characters from "The Cutie" reappear here. More double crosses and a wonderful anti-hero. Again, we're left with questions and wanting to know what comes next. Tight crime writing.
duparker's review against another edition
4.0
Really really interesting and intriguing. The use of language is great and the plot and pace work so well. Wow enjoyable.
bundy23's review against another edition
3.0
A decent read but it really peters out in the final third before the very predictable final twist. I liked the narrator and was invested in his revenge so I'll forgive Westlake for any flaws here.
colophonphile's review against another edition
This is the first Donald E. Westlake book I've read. A friend recommended it because (1) I dig noir and pulp, and (2) when I visit Manhattan I often stay in the area where the book opens.
These two graphs at the end of the book really caught me. The hero is in a hotel room, waiting for something to happen, filling his time with a small pile of cheap paperbacks ("action mysteries").
*** It was simpler for the lead characters in the books. They suffered, they involved themselves with tense and driven people, they handled sudden death like a commodity in a secondary market. But when it was all finished, they were unchanged. What they had walked through had left no mark at all on them.
It would be nice to believe that. But the writers were blandly lying. They weren't using up their lead character, because they needed him in the next book in the series. ***
Pretty darn meta, and left me wondering if our hero would get out of the book alive.
These two graphs at the end of the book really caught me. The hero is in a hotel room, waiting for something to happen, filling his time with a small pile of cheap paperbacks ("action mysteries").
*** It was simpler for the lead characters in the books. They suffered, they involved themselves with tense and driven people, they handled sudden death like a commodity in a secondary market. But when it was all finished, they were unchanged. What they had walked through had left no mark at all on them.
It would be nice to believe that. But the writers were blandly lying. They weren't using up their lead character, because they needed him in the next book in the series. ***
Pretty darn meta, and left me wondering if our hero would get out of the book alive.
colonel2sheds's review against another edition
4.0
As usual, as soon as I figured I knew where everything was going Westlake pulls some unexpected swerves and surprises me with a few excellent twists. Totally solid crime/revenge tale.
thomasroche's review against another edition
3.0
Westlake is a great writer, but this one is sort of a grim, plodding read. 361 is exceptionally well written but is just sort of harsh and depressing, without the amorality that makes the Parker books so much fun to read.
I enjoyed Westlake's [b:Somebody Owes Me Money|2648032|Somebody Owes Me Money (Hard Case Crime #44)|Donald E. Westlake|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1212432903s/2648032.jpg|2672772] -- also from Hard Case Crime -- much more; it's lighter and has more personality to it. This one is still a very good novel, but not as much fun and I don't think I'd ever re-read it.
I enjoyed Westlake's [b:Somebody Owes Me Money|2648032|Somebody Owes Me Money (Hard Case Crime #44)|Donald E. Westlake|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1212432903s/2648032.jpg|2672772] -- also from Hard Case Crime -- much more; it's lighter and has more personality to it. This one is still a very good novel, but not as much fun and I don't think I'd ever re-read it.
msand3's review against another edition
2.0
Not my favorite Westlake. The gritty scenes just fell flat, and it lacked the snappy dialog and humor of Somebody Owes Me Money or the Dortmunder novels.
vraper's review
4.0
I enjoyed this book more than The Cutie (The Mercenaries) - another of Donald Westlake's early books. I liked the combination of sibling infighting and gun battles, and the attempts by the protagonist to struggle with his demons.
Although it appears to be a product of another time, the discussions of family and loyalty are as relevant to the modern non-hipster reader as any contemporary book. Why the Irish characters were ginger escaped me, I assume it was to show something about the main character Ray, which becomes important midway through the book.
Although it appears to be a product of another time, the discussions of family and loyalty are as relevant to the modern non-hipster reader as any contemporary book. Why the Irish characters were ginger escaped me, I assume it was to show something about the main character Ray, which becomes important midway through the book.
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