Comeback (Parker 18)
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Product Description
Review
Richard Stark is one of the greatest writers of the twentieth century...his Parker books form a genre all their own - John Banville
Whatever Stark writes, I read - Elmore Leonard
Whatever Stark writes, I read - Elmore Leonard
Review
Richard Stark is one of the greatest writers of the twentieth century...his Parker books form a genre all their own - John Banville Whatever Stark writes, I read - Elmore Leonard
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First Sentence
When the angel opened the door, Parker stepped first past the threshold into the darkness of the cinder block corridor beneath the stage. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
When the angel opened the door, Parker stepped first past the threshold into the darkness of the cinder block corridor beneath the stage. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
If you liked Backflash, than you'll love Comeback. Stark writes with determination. His to the point technique is truely refreshing.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Although I adore the crime/detective genre I must confess that I'd never even heard of Richard Stark (and hadn't read Westlake either). But now I'm hooked. To my mind the writing - sharp, clear, direct prose that I would die for - in "Comeback" is superb and I coundn't put the book down. The characters were equally as fascinating as some of the best in Elmore Leonard, who is one of my all time favorites favorites. I'll wait until "Backflash" comes out in paperback, but in the meantime I'm ordering some of the older books. Can't wait till they arrive!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I have raved before about the quality of stories produced by master crime writer Donald Westlake. And now Westlake's alter ego, Richard Stark, is back, which is cause for much celebration. Westlake is great because he writes concisely and sharply, with plenty of surprises in his plots. But best of all, he's funny. Stark is a meaner guy. Characters in Stark's books have a tougher attitude and there is little, if any, humor. But the books work because, by taking away the necessity to keep it light, the reader can better enjoy the grim realities of the story. On the book jacket, crime novelist Ed McBain refers to Westlake and Stark as the "Jekyll and Hyde of crime fiction," adding, "and I can't for the life of me tell you which one I enjoy the most." Well, I can. I'll take Westlake over Stark any day - I could always use a good laugh - but Stark is still fun to read. In his new book, Stark brings back his character of Parker, a skilled criminal, for the first Parker novel in 23 years. As with most books by Westlake, the story seems simple at first: Parker is offered a chance to split the loot for a job with two other criminals. But then the inevitable double crosses occur. You see, these aren't exactly honest people Parker is dealing with. There is a television evangelist making millions by conning people into thinking he's genuine and caring. One of his assistants, Tom Carmody, meets an ex-convict through a social-work program in which the church works with paroled criminals. Carmody is frustrated - he's "got religion," as his boss, the evangelist, complains - and feels the evangelist isn't using his money to help people. Maybe, Carmody suggests, he can help someone steal some of the money and they would then split it, with the criminals getting some money and Carmody using his share to help the homeless or some other good cause. Easy, right? Well, except that nothing is ever simple and easy in these books. One of the guys tries to steal the $400,000 from his partners after they successfully do the job and, when foiled, isn't ready to give up. Soon Parker is left with no money himself, a problem he intends to resolve. And one of his partners is determined to kill him. I'd elaborate but I don't want to give away any more surprises. The book has great characters and very believable dialogue, at times putting novelist Elmore Leonard to shame. I join the rest of the mystery audience in saying, welcome back, Parker.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Hard as Nails
The master thief Parker returns in a crackling good read by noir master Richard Stark. The pacing is as swift and brutal as the main character. Read more
Published on 19 May 2008 by P. N. Hussey
Classic Parker - Stark/Westlake, But.....
I enjoyed the story, have been reading Westlake since I was a kid and read The Spy in the Ointment. The Parker books by Stark were (are) more edgy and well written, good solid... Read more
Published on 26 Jun 1999
pretty good
I enjoyed the movie Payback, based on "The Hunter", by Stark, so I went to get it but couldn't, so I picked this one instead. Read more
Published on 1 Mar 1999
A very loosely knitted plot with too many even characters
Not so good this time. The writer splitted the main character by describing too many words on the other supporting characters that sometimes made a reader like me lose the focus on... Read more
Published on 16 Dec 1997
Thank God He's Back!!!
I just finished COMEBACK by Donald Westlake writing as Richard Stark. It was a heist novel starring "Parker" , the thief from Stark's novels written in the 1970's. Read more
Published on 14 Nov 1997
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