Title: The Hot Rock
Author: Donald E. Westlake
Original Copyright Date: 1970
My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars ( fun )
Backcover Description
John Dortmunder left prison with the warm words of the warden ringing in his ears and not once chance of going straight. Soon Dortmunder was riding in a stolen Cadillac with venetian blinds, reuniting with old friends and scheming to heist a large emerald belonging to a small African nation. As always, his planning is meticulous. As always, the execution is not. Undaunted, Dortmunder is now chasing the gem by plane, train, and automobile. Because this hot rock has a way of getting stolen -- not just once but again and again and again and again....
My Thoughts
The hot rock was an enjoyable book about a large emerald that just won't stay stolen. This is the first book in a series of comedic crime capers based around John Dortmunder, the aforementioned criminal mastermind who attempts to steal valuable items from difficult places as a hobby more than a source of income. The keyword is *try* in that previous sentence as things just don't always go as planned.
The book starts off similar to "The Blues Brothers" or "Ocean's 12" where the main character walks out of jail, into a car, and plans the next job. In this case, a certain small African country wants to pay Dortmunder and his crew good money to steal an emerald from another small African country during an exhibit at a New York City museum. The first attempt goes awry which leads to successively more ridiculous attempts at snagging the stone. Dortmunder could have called it quits several times, but he just won't let this one get away.
I would definitely recommend this for anyone looking for a fun and light read which will keep them entertained from beginning to end.
The book starts off similar to "The Blues Brothers" or "Ocean's 12" where the main character walks out of jail, into a car, and plans the next job. In this case, a certain small African country wants to pay Dortmunder and his crew good money to steal an emerald from another small African country during an exhibit at a New York City museum. The first attempt goes awry which leads to successively more ridiculous attempts at snagging the stone. Dortmunder could have called it quits several times, but he just won't let this one get away.
I would definitely recommend this for anyone looking for a fun and light read which will keep them entertained from beginning to end.
Dortmunder and his friends have given me many hours of fun during his many adventures over the years... including frequent giggles and laughter while thus engaged.
ReplyDeleteThis does sound a bit like Ocean's 12, doesn't it? Good review!
ReplyDelete