A professional thief, parker is the main protagonist of 24 of the 28 novels westlake wrote under the pseudonym richard stark. When an attempt to lift generic pharmaceuticals from a warehouse goes bellyup, career criminal ronald kasperedward johnsoncharles willisedward lynchthe indomitable parker, worldclass antihero, finds himself in stoneveldt prison, friendless and itchy to escape. Richard stark was one of the many pseudonyms of donald e. Richard stark books on the booktopia richard stark. The following is a description of the first couple of books written by westlake. Westlake has written numerous novels under his own name and several pseudonyms, including richard stark. I first net his character parker a number of years ago and i feel a letdown every time i get close to the end of his books. The antihero of the novel is author richard starks man of one name. Ever since donald westlake richard stark died, ive been spacing them out a little more, since i know there wont be any more of them.
In subsequent novels, parker is often at work, putting together a. I enjoy the story so much that i really hate to have it end. Stark writes about parker with an economy of language that echoes the intensity of the character. Richard stark donald westlake is a master writer of action and mystery stories.
Westlake, who died in 2008, was named a grand master by the mystery writers of america and won 3 edgars in different categories. A parker novel paperback softback by richard stark isbn. Entertaining mystery story or comic caper as the 100 mystery books by donald westlake are referred to in wikipedia writing under one of his many pen names. So i read breakout, nobody runs forever, ask the parrot,and dirty money in english. I am a big fan of your father, especially richard stark. The item shows wear from consistent use, but it remains in good condition and works perfectly. Breakout, richard stark shop online for books in australia. Breakout by richard stark 2002, hardcover for sale. Westlake 19332008 was an american novelist who was best known for comic capers, but he also contributed to genres including more general crime fiction, science fiction and lots more. All pages and cover are intact including the dust cover, if applicable.
So parkers first order of business is to build a network among these cons and break on through to the other side. He instead continues to keep the series new and fresh while keeping it true to its original premise. Breakout starts with when the alarm went off it is a botched warehouse robbery. With the publication of the last four parker novels westlake wrotebreakout, nobody runs forever, ask the parrot, and dirty moneythe. This fifth book about master criminal parker since his welcome return from a 20year hiatus is packed so tightly with the painstaking details of everything from the. See all books authored by richard stark, including the hunter, and the man with the getaway face, and more on. Meet parkerjust parker to you, buba oneman wrecking crew, cunning, fearless, and more than just a little coldblooded. In 1993, the mystery writers of america bestowed the societys highest honor on westlake, naming him a grand master.
So parkers first order of business is to build a network among these cons and break on through to the ot. Breakout has 4 available editions to buy at half price books marketplace. Westlake returns to the violent world of his legendary criminal creation with breakout. Westlake used the pen name richard stark for this novel. Westlake whose prodigious versatility in crime fiction makes the competition look like plow hands dusted off his literary pseudonym richard stark and defrosted his. He starts many, if not all, of the parker novels with when, and drops the reader into the midst of the action. The same is true for the parker novels of richard stark aka. Butchers moon is the essential parker in that mix,gathers all the parts that made the first 16 books so great. Breakout, at its core, is a quiet masterpiece from an author who seems incapable of writing anything but. Donald edwin westlake july 12, 1933 december 31, 2008 was an american writer, with over a hundred novels and nonfiction books to his credit. Parker is rational he doesnt kill unless necessary to protect. Read breakout a parker novel by richard stark available from rakuten kobo.
Breakout ebook by richard stark 9780226508344 rakuten kobo. A mystery writers of america grand master in a city at the center of an empty state, parker is caught moving drugs into a waiting truck. Writing again under hardboiled alterego richard stark, mystery writers of america grand master donald e. Whilst there are certainly better parker adventures where the reader gets to see parkers skills in action, in breakout the reader gets to see just how intelligent this criminal is. Even though parker is on the wrong side of the law. A parker novel kindle edition by richard stark, chris. Richard stark books list of books by author richard stark. Complete order of richard stark books in publication order and chronological order. Donald edwin westlake july 12, 1933 december 31, 2008 was an american writer, with. Read an excerpt from breakout by richard stark at mostly fiction.
Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers. Breakout,comeback,firebreak and flashfire are terrible no offence justin. Order of parker books parker is a fictional character created by american author donald e. About richard stark from the university of chicago press website. Breakout book by richard stark half price books marketplace. The hunter which is the best parker novel by richard. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders.
Parker is rational he doesnt kill unless necessary to protect himself, he agrees to robberies when he can plan the caper himself, and once he has decided on vengeance, he gets vengeance no matter how long it takes. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Donald westlake, writing as richard stark, pens the parker books, about a professional thief. The blackbird 1969 by richard stark parker appears. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the mourner. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read deadly edge. Slayground is closest to being the best in the parker series after if. Starks recent parker novels comeback and backflash were selected as new york times notable books of the year. Westlake donald e writing as richard stark abebooks.
Unfortunately, after firebreak, they havent been traslated into japanese. After parker and his hastily assembled crew of cons break out of jail, theyre immediately embroiled in a caper, and the way in to the former armorycurrent. Westlake, one of the greats of crime fiction, wrote twentyfour fastpaced, hardboiled novels featuring parker, a shrewd career criminal with a talent for heists and a code all his ow. I love to read paker series and have read almost all of them. After ed mackey, his pal on the outside, vets them as trustworthy, he settles on inmates tom marcantoni and brandon williams to. Westlake 19332008, a prolific author of crime fiction. Richard starks actually donald westlakes parker is a hardened professional thief who appeared in a string of almost twenty excellent, extremely hardboiled caper paperback originals in the sixties and seventies. This is another quick and simple parker adventure by donald e westlake writing under his pen name richard stark. The hunter is a genuine crime thriller revolving around the life of the fictional character named parker. Stuck in jail while awaiting trial, parker builds a network among his fellow cons to assist him in getting out. In the year 2008, the university of chicago began to republish the novels, which were published under the name of richard stark. Breakout by richard stark a copy that has been read, but remains in clean condition. Demand for westlake to bring back parker resulted in the very wellreceived and appropriately titled comeback in 1997.
Breakout by richard stark overdrive rakuten overdrive. Richard stark audio books, best sellers, author bio. After writing 24 books in the series, stark could have phoned in breakout and it is doubtful that anyone would have been the wiser. This fifth book about master criminal parker since his welcome return from a 20 year hiatus is packed so tightly with the painstaking details of everything from the. Parker is a professional thief who is relentless and has no redeemable qualities whatsoever. Westlake, one of the greats of crime fiction, wrote twentyfour fastpaced, hardboiled novels featuring parker, a shrewd career criminal with a talent for heists and a code all his own.
Westlake who published the series of books under the pseudonym richard stark. In subsequent novels, parker is often at work, putting together a team of. Breakout is a cops and robbers saga with plenty of action and with emphasis less on the cops, more on the robbers. From then on, stark became inactive until the year 1997, when donald westlake decided to once again, publish his books under this pen name.
Richard stark books are available from booktopia, the leading online. Breakout by richard stark 2003, paperback for sale. Many of his books have been screened, including the hunter, which became the brilliant film noir point blank, and the 1999 smash hit payback. Westlake, one of the greats of crime fiction, wrote twentyfour fastpaced, hardboiled novels featuring parker, a shrewd career c. Westlake after the incidents in slayground, really, but certainly after the decadeslong hiatus for the character. Parker is a fictional character created by american novelist donald e. Westlake writing as richard stark and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Richard stark stuck in jail while awaiting trial, parker builds a network among his fellow cons to assist him in getting out, but when he becomes involved in a heist set up by one of his fellow escapees, they. The blackbird 1969 by richard stark parker appears only.
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