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.
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.
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.
Actually, one more. He had one finised and ready for publication. “Get Real” comes out later this year:
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.”
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.
Thanks for the clarification. It will make my future library forays easier.
Love Dortmunder. Will miss Westlake.
“What’s the Worst that could happen”.
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
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.
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
That was a followup to Trust Me On This.
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
You know who would have been perfect? Peter Falk.