Scene one, take one..Thugs are Us meeting taking place. This mystery is about a gang of semi-ethical thugs and the foray into reality TV.This is the first John Dortmunder book I have read. It did not generate guffaws but it certainly made me smile. The sympathetic depiction of small time career criminals contrasted with the completely unrealistic world of reality TV provided a set fraught with humor. Westlake must have a wide range of acquaintances to so accurately portray his characters. I have had the opportunity to know some less savory folks and Westlake depicted them well. Unknown to the average person is that these folks have a code of ethics that may be unrecognizable to most but is loosely adhered to by them. It was refreshing to read a mystery whose story line was not dependent on body count. This is the first of Westlake’s books I have read but it will not be the last. I was saddened to see that he has passed away but his literary legacy will live on.
I recommend the book.
Body of work of Donald E. Westlake
Review: http://www.bookbrowse.com/bb_briefs/detail/index.cfm?ezine_preview_number=3980
Web site: http://www.donaldwestlake.com/wks_bkex5.html
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