Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
Parker gets enlisted into an armored car heist, but mostly the book is about what a pain in the ass it is to be a career criminal.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Liked this a bit more than the hunter. The first half is incredibly detailed logistical maneuvering related to planning a job which may be dull to some but is exactly the kind of shit I love in capers. The ending of this also goes hard as hell. Cannot wait to read The Outfit.
Solid follow up to the first Parker book. Homeboy has just got his face changed to hide from the people he pissed off in 'The Hunter.' He needs cash so he becomes part of a real sloppy shit job. It works out but then he has to deal with some drama over the face doctor and his retarded henchman. It was fun if not a bit perfunctory. Left me stoked to read a few more of these.
Parker leaves Nebraska with a new face and a distinct lack of funds. He gets involved in a scheme to rob an armored car but there are complications. The plastic surgeon who operated on Parker winds up dead and people think Parker pulled the trigger. The armored car scheme is dodgy at best and one of the partners is planning a double cross. Can Parker figure out who the trigger man was and clear his name,pull off the armored car robbery, and avoid the double cross?
Westlake does it again. Parker is less a human being than an unstoppable force of nature. Stark's writing is as powerful as in the first book and the heist is well-planned and logical. Parker is as merciless as ever. Even though he's a killer, I was glad he came out of the double cross the way he did. The ending dovetails nicely into the next book, where I'm assuming Parker will settle things with the mob.
So why not five stars? The whole subplot with Stubbs going to New York to find Wells dragged a little. Other than that, it was a great example of what crime fiction should be. I'm eagerly watching my mailbox in anticipation of the next volume, The Outfit.
Westlake does it again. Parker is less a human being than an unstoppable force of nature. Stark's writing is as powerful as in the first book and the heist is well-planned and logical. Parker is as merciless as ever. Even though he's a killer, I was glad he came out of the double cross the way he did. The ending dovetails nicely into the next book, where I'm assuming Parker will settle things with the mob.
So why not five stars? The whole subplot with Stubbs going to New York to find Wells dragged a little. Other than that, it was a great example of what crime fiction should be. I'm eagerly watching my mailbox in anticipation of the next volume, The Outfit.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Not as great as the first, really, but still a solid read. Westlake/Stark is such a solid writer that it's a bit sad to see these sort of "nichified" as pulp, when his command of the language is so damn strong. He never wastes any words, and the ones he does choose are just totally right on.
This time around Parker goes on a heist and gets revenge, but it's not quite as good as the last one. Sets things up nicely for the next book though.