Synopsis
Having unsuspectingly lifted the hottest rock in town, John Dortmunder is the prey of the FBI, the New York City police, terrorist groups from three nations, and all of New York's petty and not-so-petty crooks
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author
DONALD E. WESTLAKE has written numerous novels over the past thirty-five years under his own name and pseudonyms, including Richard Stark. Many of his books have been made into movies, including The Hunter, which became the brilliant film noir Point Blank, and the 1999 smash hit Payback. He penned the Hollywood scripts for The Stepfather and The Grifters, which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Screenplay. The winner of three Edgar awards and a Mystery Writers of America Grand Master, Donald E. Westlake was presented with The Eye, the Private Eye Writers of America's Lifetime Achievement Award, at the Shamus Awards. He lives with his wife, Abby Adams, in rural New York State.
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Search results for Why Me
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Why Me / A Novel
Published by
The Viking Press, New York, 1983
ISBN 10: 0670765694
ISBN 13: 9780670765690
Used
Hardcover
First Edition
Seller: Cat's Curiosities, Pahrump, NV, U.S.A.
Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Near Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine. Jacket art by Bob Shein (illustrator). 1st Edition. Dortmunder steals a ruby ring which is "too big to be real" almost as an afterthought, not realizing it was due to be turned over by the U.S. government to the Turks when it was stolen by an armed Greek militia earlier that evening, before being stashed in the small neighborhood jewelry store. The local cops figure that's exactly what happened, while the FBI guys insist on going after the Cretans, the Armenians, somebody BIG. There's a date-due slip to the FFE, which is also stamped "Forest Park May 2 '84," and "No longer the property of the King County Library System," but there are NO external library markings. Another "humorous heist" entry from Mr. Westlake (1933-2008) -- who also wrote the tougher Parker series as "Richard Stark" -- at 191 pp. Reduced from $37. Seller Inventory # 012308
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Why Me
Published by
Viking, New York, 1983
ISBN 10: 0670765694
ISBN 13: 9780670765690
Used
Hardcover
First Edition
Seller: Alberta's Books, Kingston, NY, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Fine. 1st Edition. First printing. 191 pp. Bound in black boards with a white cloth spine stamped with gold lettering. In fine condition in a fine, price-intact dust jacket. Seller Inventory # 003090
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Why Me
Seller: Gilbert Trading Company, Shreveport, LA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Fine. 1st ed.; fine condition, DJ fine condition. Seller Inventory # GTC4410
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Why Me: A Novel by Donald E. Westlake
Published by
The Viking Press, New York, 1983
ISBN 10: 0670765694
ISBN 13: 9780670765690
Used
Hardcover
Seller: gearbooks, The Bronx, NY, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Good. 2nd Printing Jan. 1983. 191 pp. Solidly bound copy with moderate external wear, crisp pages and clean text. Dj shows wear in some places. Other than light shelfwear the book is in fine, unblemished, unread condition [hint of age-toning to cloth top edge]. Dust jacket shows minor cuts and tears (retaped) on edges, otherweise fully intact. No remainder markings. Quite scarce in this condition. Prolific American writer, master of caper-comedies and hard-boiled crime stories. Westlake has also written under the pseudonyms Curt Clark, Tucker Coe, Timothy J. Culver, Samuel Holt, and Richard Stark. Westlake's career has spanned over 40 years. Chance plays a big role in Westlake's world, already in his early fiction, but more especially in his comedy crime novels. Life is unpredictable but Westlake's characters believe they can control it. They take calculated risks and are in trouble when something completely unpredictable happens. Parker, a cold-blooded, ruthless thief, is one of the author's [writing as Richard Stark] most famous characters. Parker is true only to his own code of right and wrong in the world of crime. If he is betrayed he is ready to do anything to have his money back - revenge being perhaps the only reason for his existence. In Mitch Tobin, an ex-New York City cop, Westlake [writing as Tucker Coe] created a disillusioned, guilt-ridden hero, who gradually finds his way back to normal life from his building project, a concrete wall around his backyard. The non-violent John Archibald Dortmunder and his fairy-tale world of slapstick crooks became a kind of opposite to the cold and serious Parker. Dortmunder works with a bumbling band of good-natured thieves: Andy Kelp, a car thief and an eternal optimist, Stan Murch, a getaway driver, and Tiny Bulcher. Most of these stories deal with the planning and executing of a complex feat. Although his plans are ingenious, they go wrong because of unforeseen coincidences. Dortmunder has not heard of the 'Chaos Theory' - a tiny change can have a huge effect in a chaotic system Westlake has won numerous awards, including three Edgars, and he has been made a Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America. In 1997 he received a lifetime achievement award from the Boucheron committee. His screenplay for The Grifters from Jim Thompson's novel received an Oscar nomination. Although Westlake's books have been popular in Hollywood and he has worked as a screenwriter, he has been faithful to his native city. New York City is his favorite base, and in his stories Westlake has depicted its people, life, streets, bars, and famous buildings and institutions with affection, expertise, and irony. Fifth Dortmunder novel. Basis for the 1990 film with screenplay written by Westlake, directed by Gene Quintano, starring Christopher Lambert, Kim Greist, Christopher Lloyd, J.T. Walsh. "This book will delight anyone who finds the "value-added" features of telephones (such as call waiting, call forwarding, caller ID, and answering machines) to be annoying. John Dortmunder does, too, especially after his friend, Andy Kelp, becomes addicted to all of these features. John Dortmunder is your basic everyday, unlucky, but hard-working burglar. In ' Why Me', he spots a sign on Skoukakis Credit Jewelers in South Ozone Park in Queens that the owner is away on vacation. Noting that the door's alarm box is an easy one to by-pass, he plans a late night return trip. While alarms ring in the distance, he's started when a car pulls up in front, and someone climbs out. He dives behind a display counter just before someone opens the door. The entrant is followed by more men, and they all talk in a foreign language. The safe door is opened and closed. Eventually, they leave. With good fortune, he finds that the safe is also an easy one to handle. Soon, he has it open, and starts removing the contents. He took some diamond bracelets, a few sets of earrings, an assortment of jewe. Seller Inventory # 1iiDe0023
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Why Me; Why Me
Published by
Viking Press, New York, 1983
ISBN 10: 0670765694
ISBN 13: 9780670765690
Used
Hardcover
First Edition
Signed
Seller: Ann Becker, Houston, TX, U.S.A.
Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars
Hardback. Condition: Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. First Edition. Originally priced at $13.50/signed by author/black HB with gold lettering on white spine with illustrated jacket in mylar; 8 vo; 191 pages. Seller Inventory # 303532
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Why Me [Inscribed and Signed]
Published by
Viking Press, New York, 1983
ISBN 10: 0670765694
ISBN 13: 9780670765690
Used
Hardcover
First Edition
Signed
Seller: Capitol Hill Books, ABAA, Washington, DC, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Fine. New York: Viking Press, 1983. First Edition. Octavo (23cm); publisher's cloth-backed boards in unclipped pictorial dust jacket illustrated by Bob Shein; [10],191pp. Just About Fine condition. Inscribed and signed by the author on title page "For Phil Goodman [?] -- musically but not governmentally -- Donald E. Westlake.". Seller Inventory # 45637
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Why Me (inscribed to Jay Cronley)
Published by
Viking Press; (1983), NY, 1983
ISBN 10: 0670765694
ISBN 13: 9780670765690
Used
Hardcover
First Edition
Signed
Seller: Tulsa Books, Tulsa, OK, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Near Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine. First Edition. First printing, near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Beige cloth spine has just a touch of spotting. The jacket has two small closed tears at top of front panel, and a touch of edgewear. A Dortmunder novel, inscribed by the author to fellow caper novelist Jay Cronley and his wife Connie on the title page and dated in 1987. Inscribed by Author(s). Seller Inventory # 022310