Westlake, Donald E.

Westlake's fans will rejoice at the discovery of this lost thriller, which is closer in tone to the author's "Parker" series than the humorous caper Dortmunder novels. James Bond devotees will also savor this retro page-turner.

"This is a book for fans," Stahl writes. "And there are a lot of us." A must-have for those already familiar with Westlake's fiction or any reader interested in crafty, witty, and insightful autobiographical essays, and the inner workings of the publishing profession from the pen of a successful writer.

Although the 1970s setting seems dated, the writing is crisp, and the story moves quickly. Westlake's (1933–2008) numerous fans will be thrilled to have this final novel. A fine addition to 20th-century mystery collections. ["The characters are well drawn, the dialog flows, and the chapters speed by, making for a breezy, solid read," read the review of the Hard Case Crime hc, LJ 2/15/12.—Ed.]