As far as I am concerned, Donald E. Westlake was one of the best novelists of all times, especially in regards to novels that will make you laugh out loud. He published almost one book per year from the beginning of his career in the early 60’s until 2008. Mr. Westlake died January 2, 2009. Westlake made it a point to never write to Dortmunder novels in a row. The only exception he ever made to this was the two most recent Dortmunder novels, which he wrote back to back: Road to Ruin (2004) and Watch Your Back! (2005)
The Dortmunder novels are the only books that you could truly call a series by Westlake, which is incredible given his pronounced prolithicness. It is hard for me to pick a favorite Dortmunder novel, and his last two were among his best. Road to Ruin was one of my favorites. It
was particularly fun because Westlake managed to take his motley crew of thieves and modernize them with GPS and computers and high tech security. When we first met Dortmunder’s squad, it was the 60’s, and none of these things existed.
Westlake’s strength is plot over character, and Road certainly has its bends and twists. Westlake’s character’s are fun, but I can’t give him a hundred percent on characterization, because they are usually fairly static. His characters are interesting, deep, original, and quirky, but they don’t change much. In fact there is an absolutely despicable fat rich hermit in this book that you will just love to loathe. As far as dynamic characters, there aren’t any “hero’s journeys” in a Dortmunder novel, but then Westlake never meant there to be any.
If you like capers, humor, plans that always go wrong, complicated plots and funny characters, you will enjoy this book.
I'll give this book a 95. Westlake loses a few points where he usually does; while his characters are deep, they are also unfortunately static. And his plots get a little contorted sometimes; somewhere between suspense and "once again, I have to flip back 3 chapters to figure out what/who the hell he is talking about. Westlake is one of my favorite novelists. I think his work brilliant and he most have been an exceedingly intelligent man.
Yet these weaknesses are consistent throughout most of his books. But who am I to criticize? He made an excellent living and lived well in high-priced New York for several decades, all from his novels. I'm 48 years old and unpublished. Who am I to criticize?
The Dortmunder novels are the only books that you could truly call a series by Westlake, which is incredible given his pronounced prolithicness. It is hard for me to pick a favorite Dortmunder novel, and his last two were among his best. Road to Ruin was one of my favorites. It
was particularly fun because Westlake managed to take his motley crew of thieves and modernize them with GPS and computers and high tech security. When we first met Dortmunder’s squad, it was the 60’s, and none of these things existed.Westlake’s strength is plot over character, and Road certainly has its bends and twists. Westlake’s character’s are fun, but I can’t give him a hundred percent on characterization, because they are usually fairly static. His characters are interesting, deep, original, and quirky, but they don’t change much. In fact there is an absolutely despicable fat rich hermit in this book that you will just love to loathe. As far as dynamic characters, there aren’t any “hero’s journeys” in a Dortmunder novel, but then Westlake never meant there to be any.
If you like capers, humor, plans that always go wrong, complicated plots and funny characters, you will enjoy this book.
I'll give this book a 95. Westlake loses a few points where he usually does; while his characters are deep, they are also unfortunately static. And his plots get a little contorted sometimes; somewhere between suspense and "once again, I have to flip back 3 chapters to figure out what/who the hell he is talking about. Westlake is one of my favorite novelists. I think his work brilliant and he most have been an exceedingly intelligent man.
Yet these weaknesses are consistent throughout most of his books. But who am I to criticize? He made an excellent living and lived well in high-priced New York for several decades, all from his novels. I'm 48 years old and unpublished. Who am I to criticize?
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