A crew of thieves hopes to hijack a mobile home full of money in this crime caper from “the funniest man in the world” (The Washington Post). John Dortmunder has been working an encyclopedia-selling scam while waiting for his next big heist. Unfortunately, his latest mark seems to be wise to the con, and he has to cut his sales pitch short and make a quick escape. But opportunity awaits: Main …
But opportunity awaits: Main Street bank has temporarily relocated to a mobile home. All Dortmunder has to do is get past seven security guards, put the bank-on-wheels in gear, and drive away. It’s a simple plan, until it all goes wrong . . .
Perfect for fans of Carl Hiaasen or Lawrence Block’s Bernie Rhodenbarr series, the Dortmunder novels by New York Times-bestselling and multiple Edgar Award-winning author Donald E. Westlake are a rollicking treat that combine fast-moving suspense with laugh-out-loud wit. Bank Shot is a “hilarious” standout in the series (The New York Times).
more
The second book in the adventures of John Dortmunder. I can’t say enough about this series of thirteen books. I have just finished reading (for the second time) the entire series. But I’m here to talk about “Bank Shot.”
John and his cronies set out to do a bank job. But this one is a little different. They endeavor to steal the entire bank. What follows is an hilarious adventure of mishap after mishap.
Donald E. Westlake was a master storyteller. No doubt about that.
Anything by Westlake is wonderful and the Dortmunder series are truly delightful. This is one of the best, a hilarious romp, laugh out loud caper.
Gave up after 40% read. The plot dragged on.
Sometimes I love Donald Westlake and sometimes I can’t even finish the book…this time was hilarious and I loved his writing. It tells the tale of an impossible theft and everything that could go wrong…cause of course the way the theft was done left no way for it to really work smoothly! The characters and situations had me laughing every night during my hour of reading! I cheated the last night and stayed up way past bedtime! Highly recommend this to anyone who likes offbeat humor!
This book about a bank heist that didn’t go according to plan is a page-turner. Give it a try. The ending is a hoot as well.
Very entertaining. Almost seemed like I was “one of the gang”. Ended up laughing out loud at the comical ending—especially of the cop trying to find the missing bank.
Well written. Loved it. Reading more by this author.
Dortmunder we is one of the great characters in crime fiction. His combination of criminal genius, hard work and horrible luck.makes for great reading. This is a fine example.
As always, Donald Westlake delivers an engaging tale of a hapless set of characters. The situations he sets up for his characters are funny and entertaining. Be careful about reading in bed when your partner is trying to sleep. You won’t be able to resist telling them “Just listen to this bit…” or shaking the bed laughing.
He can’t go wrong with Dortmunder!
A particularly hilarious Whacky Slapstick sort of Dortmunder outing. Have fun on this crazy ride into absurdity.
“A man had to stay alive somehow while waiting for a big score to develop, and there was nothing better for that than an encyclopedia con. In the spring and fall, that is; winter was too cold for house-to-house work and summer was too hot. But given the right time of year, the old encyclopedia scam was unbeatable.”
Or so the hapless Dortmunder thinks until, after his prospect leaves the room, he hears 9-1-1 being dialed followed by sirens, and makes a fast exit from her home.
One of his criminous colleagues, Kelp, has a score in view: “I swear and I have the goods. This time I have a guaranteed winner.” Although Dortmunder is skeptical, Kelp persuades him to listen to the proposed caper, a bank robbery his nephew Victor has concocted. Victor was formerly with the FBI, which fact instantly puts Dortmunder on his guard.
The target is the temporary headquarters—a converted mobile home/trailer—across the street from the original building of Capitalists & Immigrants Trusts. The old building is being torn down and rebuilt. The plan is to steal the bank. No, not just the money within—a standard robbery effort would be far too risky—but instead to steal the trailer, transport it to a remote location that would give the robbers time to loot the safe, and then depart unseen.
Besides the aforementioned Kelp and Victor, Dortmunder’s crew consists of his chain-smoking girlfriend May, a lockman (safecracker) who goes by the name Herman X, driver Stan Murch, and Murch’s mother, who has been resentfully wearing, when necessary, a neck brace to scam an insurance policy.
BANK SHOT recounts a Dortmunder caper, folks, so you know things won’t go smoothly. Its author being Donald Westlake, you’ll likely anticipate a lot of laughs, as I did. Unfortunately, they weren’t forthcoming. The book is entertaining, to be sure, but unlike some of the other Dortmunder titles I’ve read, I found this one sorely lacking in chuckle- or guffaw-out-loud moments. In fact, it wasn’t until about three-quarters of the way through or so that I came upon moments that had me smiling even a little. Consequently, although I can recommend it as a fast, pleasant read, it’s a disappointment in terms of the wonderful wackiness found in other Dortmunder and standalone comic novels by mystery Grand Master Westlake.
© 2019 Barry Ergang