The Road to Ruin

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 089296801X ISBN 13: 9780892968015

Publisher: Mysterious Press, 2004

Having set up a con on Monroe Hall, a fabulously wealthy and corrupt CEO, John Dortmunder and his hapless gang of crooks suddenly find themselves caught in the deadly crossfire between their would-be mark Hall and his own victims, a group of angry union members and blue-blooded suckers who have lost their family fortunes. 25,000 first printing.

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.

From AudioFile:

John Dortmunder's target, in this latest in Westlake's popular series, is the collection of antique automobiles owned by one Monroe Hall, a disgraced but unjailed ex-CEO holed up on his heavily guarded estate in rural Pennsylvania. In addition to Dortmunder and friends, intent on burglary, two venture capitalists want to kidnap Hall, and three union workers want restitution of the retirement fund that Hall looted. Nothing works out as planned, but much amusement results from the conflicting capers. William Dufris has a high old time with the large and disparate cast of characters, including Dortmunder's merry band and an alcoholic traveling salesman. He even gives voice to one of the venture capitalists before and after a broken jaw. R.E.K. © AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine