HARD CASE CRIME found the lost Donald Lam/Bertha Cool mystery (my review of The Knife Slipped is here) and published it. Now they found a missing Donald E. Westlake novel, Forever and a Death which is based on scripts Westlake wrote for a James Bond movie that was never made. Richard Curtis is a zillionaire who has a secret plan to punish the Chinese for taking over Hong Kong and ruining his business prospects. But, Curtis’s convoluted plan takes over 400 pages to accomplish. That’s one problem. The other problem with Forever and a Death is that there really isn’t a protagonist. George Manville, an engineer, starts out in that role but then disappears for large chunks of the book. Henry James called novels like this “loose, baggy monsters” and just about fits. For a more positive review, you can check out Bill Crider’s take here. What’s your favorite Donald E. Westlake novel? GRADE: B-
Not top shelf Westlake, but good enough for me. Thanks for the link!
Bill, your review of FOREVER AND A DEATH gives a perspective many readers will agree with. Westlake wrote many better novels, but I’m glad HARD CASE CRIME rescued this one.
DANCING AZTECS – one of his most “New York” books.
BUTCHER’S MOON by Richard Stark
ADIOS, SCHEHEREZADE
There are a lot of favorites, so this isn’t a definitive list.
I have this one on hold. Lately, there have been several books about casinos in Hong Kong or Macao, with titles by Brett Battles and Janet Evanovich & Lee Goldberg coming to mind.
Jeff, I need to reread DANCING AZTECS. SLAYGROUND is my favorite “Richard Stark” novel. Westlake wrote a lot of great books!
It’s hard to choose, but I really like THE AX, about a man who loses his job and then his moral bearings. Of course, a young person today–raised without a concept of job security–would probably see the plot as about nothing but an unemployed psychopath who murders his way to another position (they’d probably also be bemused by such things as mailing a resume and looking for jobs in the newspaper want ads), but for those of us with longer memories, it’s a great, almost poignant, book.
Deb, I was moved by THE AX, too. Right now, most of Ohio is on alert for a guy who posted a random murder on FACEBOOK. The shooter claims he’s killed 15 people. Yikes!
Facebook has a lot to answer for.
Rick, social media has a Dark Side.
I am with Deb for THE AX. It was such a brilliant concept and he pulled it off.
Patti, I admire Westlake’s versatility. He could write funny novels and very serious novels with equal ease.
Yes, THE AX was excellent.
Jeff, THE AX is an underrated novel. I’m glad Deb and Patti are giving it the attention it deserves.
I”ve enjoyed most if not all of the westlakes I’ve read. I’m trying to remember which on Don Sandstrom raved about. I really enjoyed that one. I’d say that the top book would have been in the Dortmunder series. Afghanistan Banana Stand
Maggie, I love THE HOT ROCK. Both the book and the movie.
I saw that story this morning, about the guy in Cleveland killing a man at random and posting it on Facebook. Yikes is right!
Jeff, the police are warning everyone in Northeast Ohio that the killer is on the run. I’m hunkering down with a good book until they catch the guy.
The AX. I was teaching a course in Business Ethics (!) when it came out and I thought about using it as one of the readings. Probably should have…But even so-so Westlake is good so I’ll be reading this new one. joe
Joe, I can see where THE AX would fit into a BUSINESS ETHICS course! Long adventure novels are not Westlake’s strong point.
Anyone who could write both the Dortmunder and the Parker books is the real deal. Lawrence Block is similar with his Burglar and Scudder books. Those guys can write anything. ja
Joe, you are so right. Lawrence Block, Donald Westlake, Harry Whittington, Marvin H. Albert, and Robert Silverberg were all amazingly versatile writers.
Maybe I should try THE AX (AXE?).
Rick, it’s THE AX published in 1997.