An excellent Dortmunder Gang book!
No. 5 in the series of Dortmunder caper novels, and quite funny. On a solo burglary of a suburban jewelry, Dortmunder gets extremely lucky and finds a huge, famous ruby ring, intended as a state gift to Turkey. What follows is a huge manhunt by Turkish and Greek Cypriot gangs, the NYPD, the FBI, and every crook in New York City. Dortmunder's greatest coup, but he can't fence the ring and must find a way to get out from under. Great characters and high humor.
Westlake's John Dortmunder is out on a late night heist, a credit Jewelry store in the Queens district. It's almost like it's owner invited him with the sign in the window that said,"Closed for Vacation To Serve You Better". Oh, yes. And Dortmunder did what he's best at, taking what he can and selling to a fence.It's his career and he's good at it.
Among his jewelry is the Byzantine Fire stone, a priceless ruby and for Dortmunder, it's the biggest heist of his career, and will make him the target of the FBI, the NYPD, the Turkish government, Greek guerrillas, religious zealots, and the entire New York underworld.
What can Dortmunder get for the ruby? Maybe twenty years in prison...or maybe dead. But Dortmunder hasn't survived this long by being a pushover...
There's never a dull moment in 'Why Me' and this novel illustrates why Westlake is the master of comedic/crime writing. It's a Gem of a read ! Gery
Among his jewelry is the Byzantine Fire stone, a priceless ruby and for Dortmunder, it's the biggest heist of his career, and will make him the target of the FBI, the NYPD, the Turkish government, Greek guerrillas, religious zealots, and the entire New York underworld.
What can Dortmunder get for the ruby? Maybe twenty years in prison...or maybe dead. But Dortmunder hasn't survived this long by being a pushover...
There's never a dull moment in 'Why Me' and this novel illustrates why Westlake is the master of comedic/crime writing. It's a Gem of a read ! Gery
