# Donald E. Westlake dies. An appreciation. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 2, 2009, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-e-westlake-dies-an-appreciation/479533 "2009-01-02T00:32:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mrs.Cake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2acd7d/32.png) [@Mrs.Cake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrs.Cake)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-e-westlake-dies-an-appreciation/479533/21 "2009-01-03T03:34:31Z")
Well, damn. One of the few authors whose books I always looked forward to. No more Dortmunder is just a shame. Condolences to the family. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-e-westlake-dies-an-appreciation/479533/22 "2009-01-03T05:18:42Z")
> [@Emily\_Litella](#): > > My friends were passing around “The Hot Rock” back in the day. We thought it would make a great [movie](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068718/). > I haven’t read many more of his books, but there’s some interesting looking ones in this thread. I cannot believe anyone ever read the Westlake caper and subsequently cast Robert Redford as hang-dog, pale-faced, defeated-looking John Dortmunder. A man raised in an orphanage, _The Bleeding Heart Sisters of Eternal Misery._ ---
**Author:** ![movingfinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@movingfinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/movingfinger)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-e-westlake-dies-an-appreciation/479533/23 "2009-01-03T06:30:58Z")
Damn. Three of my favorite writers gone in the last year: George MacDonald Fraser, Tony Hillerman and now Donald Westlake. Someone mentioned Kahava as a non-Dortmunder book, but I would like to recommend High Adventure and Dancing Aztecs, both caper stories. In the last one he pulled off something I have never seen before. A character has a brief encounter with the whole Dortmunder crew in a scene that has nothing to do with the plot. I’m sure Westlake just tossed it in for fun. ---
**Author:** ![Trion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Trion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trion)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-e-westlake-dies-an-appreciation/479533/24 "2009-01-03T12:03:44Z")
> [@Mrs.Cake](#): > > Well, damn. One of the few authors whose books I always looked forward to. No more Dortmunder is just a shame. Actually, one more. He had one finised and ready for publication. “Get Real” comes out later this year: > **[Get Real (Dortmunder, Book 15): Westlake, Donald E.: 9780446178600: Amazon.com:...](https://www.amazon.com/Get-Real-Dortmunder-Book-15/dp/0446178608)** > > Get Real (Dortmunder, Book 15) \[Westlake, Donald E.\] on Amazon.com. \*FREE\* shipping on qualifying offers. Get Real (Dortmunder, Book 15) ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-e-westlake-dies-an-appreciation/479533/25 "2009-01-03T18:07:01Z")
His book “the Axe” was brilliant and relates very well to the current economic climate. I loved Dortmunder. I forget the name of the book where he wanted his ring back. That was TOO funny. “It was MY ring.” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![NicePete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ee7513/32.png) [@NicePete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NicePete)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-e-westlake-dies-an-appreciation/479533/26 "2009-01-03T20:24:19Z")
Big fan of the Dortmunder books. _Kahawa_ is also a great one which I’ve recommended to several friends. _Humans_ is also very good, if a little different that his other work. A sad loss. ---
**Author:** ![Proudest\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/proudest_monkey/32/13257_2.png) [@Proudest\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Proudest_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-e-westlake-dies-an-appreciation/479533/27 "2009-01-03T22:44:32Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > Richard Stark is the pen name for the Parker character. Thanks for the clarification. It will make my future library forays easier. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-e-westlake-dies-an-appreciation/479533/28 "2009-01-04T05:13:00Z")
Love Dortmunder. Will miss Westlake. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-e-westlake-dies-an-appreciation/479533/29 "2009-01-04T10:11:01Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > I loved Dortmunder. I forget the name of the book where he wanted his ring back. That was TOO funny. “It was MY ring.” “What’s the Worst that could happen”. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-e-westlake-dies-an-appreciation/479533/30 "2009-01-04T18:48:50Z")
OK if you read one book by Westlake make it “What’s the Worst that could happen.” That was SO funny. I also liked “Baby Would I Lie,” it was light humour with a change of pace from Dortmunder. I wish he could’ve done a follow up book to it. Mainly 'cause the main character was female ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-e-westlake-dies-an-appreciation/479533/31 "2009-01-04T23:56:18Z")
Can anyone help a identify a Dortmunder book? The only part I remember is Dortmunder and Kelp having to visit a computer nerd’s apartment. Apparently the guy rigged his doorbell to make terrifying sounds. I laughed out loud reading it but I can’t recall why, exactly. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2009, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-e-westlake-dies-an-appreciation/479533/32 "2009-01-05T00:16:29Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > Can anyone help a identify a Dortmunder book? > > The only part I remember is Dortmunder and Kelp having to visit a computer nerd’s apartment. Apparently the guy rigged his doorbell to make terrifying sounds. I laughed out loud reading it but I can’t recall why, exactly. Possibly the same one: _What’s the Worst That Could Happen?_, There is a scene where they deal with a friendly computer nerd to track the movements of the corporate executive that stole Dortmunder’s ring. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2009, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-e-westlake-dies-an-appreciation/479533/33 "2009-01-05T00:23:28Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > Can anyone help a identify a Dortmunder book? > > The only part I remember is Dortmunder and Kelp having to visit a computer nerd’s apartment. Apparently the guy rigged his doorbell to make terrifying sounds. I laughed out loud reading it but I can’t recall why, exactly. I think that would be _Drowned Hopes_. I had assembled kind of a mind’s eye list of actors playing the members of Dortmunder’s gang. Dortmunder - Paul Giamatti Abby - Mercedes Rheul Andy Kelp - Bruce Campbell Stan Murch - Eric Stolz Murch’s Mom - Esthelle Getty Tiny Bulcher - King Kong Bundy ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2009, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-e-westlake-dies-an-appreciation/479533/34 "2009-01-05T01:12:20Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > I also liked “Baby Would I Lie,” it was light humour with a change of pace from Dortmunder. I wish he could’ve done a follow up book to it. Mainly 'cause the main character was female That was a followup to _Trust Me On This_. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2009, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-e-westlake-dies-an-appreciation/479533/35 "2009-01-05T01:19:12Z")
Thanks I’ll check that out. The computer nerd is in more than one book. But he plays a smaller role. The Hot Rock is the first Dortmunder novel. I never liked the movie versions because no one ever comes close to my idea of Dormtunder. Certainly Robert Redford isn’t what I had envisioned for Dortmunder. Here’s a link to Westlake’s website [donaldwestlake.com/](http://www.donaldwestlake.com/) ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2009, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-e-westlake-dies-an-appreciation/479533/36 "2009-01-05T15:07:44Z")
You know who would have been perfect? Peter Falk. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-e-westlake-dies-an-appreciation/479533.md?page=1)