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A review by neilsarver
The Blackbird by Richard Stark
4.0
I finished the classic era of Parker novels, ending with [b:Butcher's Moon|457227|Butcher's Moon (Parker, #16)|Richard Stark|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1287789184l/457227._SY75_.jpg|3824] a while back and thought I'd read the Grofield books before I picked up with [b:Comeback|619717|Comeback (Parker, #17)|Richard Stark|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1392091190l/619717._SY75_.jpg|3846]. I've not read [a:Donald E. Westlake|30953|Donald E. Westlake|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1336863543p2/30953.jpg]'s humorous crime writing's previous to this. I'm not sure if these, being [a:Richard Stark|13634|Richard Stark|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1287877064p2/13634.jpg] books, are put on that shelf generally, but that's definitely the skill set he's working from with these, and it makes sense for the character.
I'm more fascinated that he made them all, so far, tales of international intrigue. I suspect that was something his publisher requested. In the three I've read, starting with [b:The Damsel|447208|The Damsel (Alan Grofield, #1)|Richard Stark|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1253741891l/447208._SX50_.jpg|3829] and [b:The Dame|595821|The Dame (Alan Grofield, #2)|Richard Stark|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1295237698l/595821._SX50_.jpg|6209056], this element is the weakest, although I've enjoyed them all quite a bit. Westlake/Stark seems most aware of that here. As one point, I found myself wondering why he let the opening run on so long in a relatively slim volume before getting to the main plot, and when I was finished, I realized it was because it was much stronger overall. It's fine, mind you, all of it is pretty enjoyable.
I'm more fascinated that he made them all, so far, tales of international intrigue. I suspect that was something his publisher requested. In the three I've read, starting with [b:The Damsel|447208|The Damsel (Alan Grofield, #1)|Richard Stark|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1253741891l/447208._SX50_.jpg|3829] and [b:The Dame|595821|The Dame (Alan Grofield, #2)|Richard Stark|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1295237698l/595821._SX50_.jpg|6209056], this element is the weakest, although I've enjoyed them all quite a bit. Westlake/Stark seems most aware of that here. As one point, I found myself wondering why he let the opening run on so long in a relatively slim volume before getting to the main plot, and when I was finished, I realized it was because it was much stronger overall. It's fine, mind you, all of it is pretty enjoyable.