Andrew
Another great comedic caper starring Dortmunder, Kelp, and Murch from "The Hot Rock," and introducing a few new criminal accomplices.
There is a section just before a pivotal piece of the heist is pulled off, that Westlake breaks away from the action and introduces seven new characters, lays out their interpersonal relationships and daily routines, then goes into an extremely detailed play-by-play of their poker game. And I say this with admiration and respect: he is clearly showing off. Westlake works his prose like an expert sleight-of-hand magician. "Look at how easily I can draw you in," he says. "Look at how effortlessly I can hold your attention. Pay no attention to all the action that's going on just outside of your perception." He sets the scene so well that you not only willingly accept the preposterous nature of the heist but come to think of it as inevitable.
Another great comedic caper starring Dortmunder, Kelp, and Murch from "The Hot Rock," and introducing a few new criminal accomplices.
There is a section just before a pivotal piece of the heist is pulled off, that Westlake breaks away from the action and introduces seven new characters, lays out their interpersonal relationships and daily routines, then goes into an extremely detailed play-by-play of their poker game. And I say this with admiration and respect: he is clearly showing off. Westlake works his prose like an expert sleight-of-hand magician. "Look at how easily I can draw you in," he says. "Look at how effortlessly I can hold your attention. Pay no attention to all the action that's going on just outside of your perception." He sets the scene so well that you not only willingly accept the preposterous nature of the heist but come to think of it as inevitable.