Nobody's Perfect

I won't repeat the other reviews, but this is a fine book IMHO, and a good example of the Dortmunder genre. Here's a quote to get some flavor: '"There it is," Kelp said, and there it was: Dunkin' Donuts, with its steamy window full of do(ugh)nuts.' And after parking, they meet Kelp's nephew Victor: '"Mr. Dortmunder!" he said, hoppinng to his feet and sticking out the hand with the dunked do(ugh)nut in it. "Nice to see you again." Then he realized he was still holding the do(ugh)nut, chuckled sheepishly, stuck the whole thing out of sight in his mouth, wiped his hand on his trousers, stuck it out again, and said "Murf nur murf." "That goes for me, too", Dortmunder told him, and shook his sticky hand.' I mourn the passing of Donald E. Westlake.

This book is superb Donald Westlake. If you read any of his other Dortmunder books, you will like this one. All the usual inept crew are here at their best. If you have not had the pleasure of reading these Donald Westlake capers, you are in for a fun ride. In my opinion they are absolutely delightful. And when their plans don't go as planned, (as they always do) you will find yourself amused with however in the world they get themselves out of trouble. These are fun books to read and enjoy. I recommend this one highly.

If you've never read any of Donald Westlake's "Dortmunder" stories, look for one immediately. Both the characters and the plots are imaginative and hysterically funny. You'll soon feel like this crazy bunch of bungling burglars are good friends of yours! I've now read all of the series, and just hope Westlake keeps writing more of them.

Another laffer from the Sultan of Slapstick Crime. This time Dortmunder and the gang steal a priceless painting so the owner can collect the insurance only to have everything go wrong. No guards in the area-guess what. Nobody at the house will be using the elevator-guess what. And to top it off Dortmunder loses the painting and must make good before a hitman finds him. I expected to find that the owner had the painting all the time and was using the loss as an excuse not to pay Dormunder, but as usual, you can't outhink the master. The painting is lost and Dortmunder's attempt to cover it up is hilarious and brilliant. The final heist of the painting has Dortmunder and Kelp working with the owner and the hitman to recover it from Merrie Olde England. Great fun.

Get this book from second hand bookshop, look for it in your uncle's basement! It isn't the best in Dortmunder series but it's worth the search. It features plenty of characters form previous books and a chilly scroupolous killer as Dortmunder's "faithful" shadow. You will read of old D on holidays (! ) and on a work trip in London as it used to be: still swinging and full of Mini Morris.