I hadn't come across the Dortmunder stories by Donald Westlake, but I am on my second novel,Drowned Hopes and I love the sort of casual way that Dortmunder tackles his nefarious activities. A very lugubrious thief but the storyline is amusing and the characters around him though not sharply drawn, have their own parts to play, from Stan the chauffeur/carthief, to Andy, the sharp one, and Tiny the huge one. I think that if you like a slightly black comedy/thriller, this book will go down easily and satisfyingly.