The Hot Rock

Westlake, Donald E. The Hot Rock. New York: Simon and Schuster. 1970. Print

First Sentences:

Dortmunder blew his nose.

"Warden," he said, "you don't know how much I appreciate the personal attention you been paying me." There wasn't anything for him to do with the Kleenex, so he just held it balled up in his fist.

Warden Oates gave him a brisk smile, got up from behind his desk, walked around to Dortmunder's side, patted him on the arm and said, "It's the ones I can save that give me the most pleasure." He was a latter-day Civil Service type -- college-trained, athletic, energetic, reformistic, idealistic, and chummy. Dortmunder hated him.

Description:

Is there anything better than discovering a wonderfully funny book with clever action and quirky characters? Of course there is. It's when you discover that this new-to-you author has written many other books for you to explore, including a boatload of titles that feature the same people, clever plots, and unexpected twists as found in the original. 

Your reading dance card is now comfortably filled for the coming months, giving peace of mind and confidence like a basement stocked with food and emergency supplies for an upcoming winter. Your life is taken care of and you can rest easy. The world is at peace. 

Such an writer is Donald Westlake, author of The Hot Rock. He has written 61 books by my count under that name; an additional 28 as "Richard Stark" writing about the much more edgy, brutal Parker character (now a new motion picture); 37 other books under four other pseudonyms; and 12 screenplays including The Grifters.  

The Hot Rock introduces John Dortmunder, a small time criminal who is a master at planning minor, non-violent heists with his trusty gang: Kelp, the "procurer" of automobiles and other miscellany; Stan Murch, the driver who listens to automobile records like "Sounds of Indianapolis in Stereo and Hi-Fi"; Chefwick, the locksman, whose obsessions are electric trains and fudge; and Greenwood, the "utility outfielder" and ladies man. 

The wonderfully convoluted, humorous plot of The Hot Rock involves the UN ambassador from the country of Talabwo who hires Dortmunder to steal the large Balabomo emerald. Through complicated geographical and political reasons, the stone currently is in the possession of one country, Akinzi, while their bitter rival nation, Talabwo, feels it rightfully belongs to them. A guaranteed weekly expense allowance and a large payoff for a successful outcome pique Dortmunder's interest and soon plans for the job are laid in the back room of the seedy O.J. Bar and Grille.

The initial heist goes smoothly until Chefwick, who happens to be holding the emerald, is captured by the police. The gang then must break him out of jail, only to discover he no longer has the stone, necessitating another plan to break back into the jail to retrieve it. Circumstances soon require several additional plans to try to repeatedly retrieve the stone from various locations and people. 

Plan after plan are carried out by Dortmunder's gang, but somehow all prove unsuccessful until it seems both countries, the gang, and the emerald will be hopelessly entangled forever. Despite careening through all these activities, The Hot Rock never stoops to Keystone Cops idiocy, but remains a delightfully funny caper(s) book with creative storytelling, wonderful characters, and dialog at its finest.

And when the book wraps up, there is good news for readers. There are 13 more Dortmunder heist books to look forward to, along with a collection of short stories involving only Dortmunder. Over the series, the gang adds new members as Westlake warms to this humorous caper genre, so reading the Dortmunder books in order is advised, but not required. Each book stands alone, but often includes references to previous situations and characters, enabling readers of earlier books to feel rather smug in their insider knowledge of the gang and their proclivities.

Twenty-five of his books have been made (badly) into movies although I cannot comment on the recently-released Parker. Even The Hot Rock made it to the big screen with Robert Redford and George Segal. But please don't think watching this star vehicle film in any way replicates the delightful characterizations, subtle (and overt) humor, and unexpected plot twists found in the original book.

I cannot recommend these Westlake/Dortmunder books highly enough. They are absolutely first rate. And the next two Dortmunder capers, The Bank Shot and Jimmy the Kid, are even better. And don't forget about Westlake's non-Dortmunder books, like Smoke (previously reviewed here) and The Ax for different takes on crime fiction. Every one is a gem. 

What are you waiting for? Go get started on Donald Westlake today. His writing is absolutely addicting in the very best sense.

Happy reading. 


Fred

www.firstsentencereader.blogspot.com

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If this book interests you and you want to read more Dortmunder gang crime capers, be sure to check out:

Westlake, Donald E. Bank Shot  

(Second book in the series.) Dortmunder and his gang try to knock off a bank temporarily housed in a mobile home and end up towing it around the countryside looking for a place to park and unload it with police in pursuit.

Westlake, Donald E. Jimmy the Kid  

(Third book in the series.) The gang decide to kidnap a child using an old Donald Westlake crime book as a blue print. Unfortunately, things don't quite follow plans, including a very smart child "victim" who causes nothing but headaches to Dortmunder and company. Excellent.

Here is a bibliography of all Donald Westlake books, including those penned under his other pseudonyms 

Also, there is a very handy Donald Westlake annotated bibliography of his writings under his own name.   

Plots are given as well as critical evaluations, but no spoilers are used, so you can pick what looks interesting.