Parker and the Loot Laundry
Review of the University of Chicago Press paperback edition (September 2017) of the original Mysterious Press hardcover (2008)

Richard Stark was one of the many pseudonyms of the prolific crime author [a:Donald E. Westlake|30953|Donald E. Westlake|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1336863543p2/30953.jpg] (1933-2008), who wrote over 100 books. The Stark pseudonym was used primarily for the Parker novels, an antihero criminal who is usually betrayed or ensnared in some manner and who spends each book getting revenge or escaping the circumstances.

Dirty Money is the conclusion to the 3-book saga of Nobody Runs Forever (2004) and Ask the Parrot (2006) and finds Parker trying to retrieve the cached loot from the armoured car heist in the 1st book. He is partnered with bar owner Nelson McWhitney and bounty hunter Sandra Loscalzo and somewhat surprisingly Parker's partner Claire plays a more significant role in the proceedings. The object is not only to retrieve the cash but also find a way to launder it as the bills are marked and not useable otherwise.

Although the plans seem to move along efficiently, the crew are constantly subject to identification from the police who are still on the hunt. Their escaped heister Nick Delasio also presents a threat as he has become a cop killer with nothing to lose. Various possible betrayals seem to be hinted at and McWhitney sets up his own possible money fence without telling the others. That brings an entirely new heist crew into the mix. As always, Parker has to salvage the best that he can out of the deal and the ending is abrupt but in typical ice-cold Parker mode. One is only left to wonder what an unwritten Parker #25 might have been, as Parker's face is now known to the authorities and is on wanted posters from several witness IDs. No continuation writer was chosen and no further series has ever been made, which is somewhat surprising these days in genre fiction.

These final Parker novels from #17 to #24 are stronger and more complex than the original run which was probably due to Westlake/Stark's development as a writer over the years and during the 23 year hiatus. Several of these are strong 4's to 5's (I've actually read or listened to all of them now and am just parceling out the reviews over time). #21 and #22 are my favourites of the Parker novels now that I've read them all. Ironically, they are the only ones not available as audiobooks for some reason.

Dirty Money (Parker #24) is the 3rd book of the final trio of Parker novels which are all tied together by the loot and the escape from one heist. This final Parker book was issued in 2008 and Donald Westlake (Richard Stark) passed at the end of that year.

I had never previously read the Stark/Parker novels but became curious when they came up in my recent reading of [b:The Writer's Library: The Authors You Love on the Books That Changed Their Lives|49203398|The Writer's Library The Authors You Love on the Books That Changed Their Lives|Nancy Pearl|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1588038545l/49203398._SX50_.jpg|73236167] (Sept. 2020) by Nancy Pearl & Jeff Schwager. Here is a (perhaps surprising) excerpt from their discussion with [a:Amor Towles|4536964|Amor Towles|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1472937967p2/4536964.jpg]:

Nancy: Do you read Lee Child?
Amor: I know Lee. I had never read his books until I met him, but now I read them whenever they come out. I think some of the decisions he makes are ingenious.
Jeff: Have you read the Parker books by Donald Westlake [writing as Richard Stark]?
Amor: I think the Parker books are an extraordinary series.
Jeff: They feel like a big influence on Reacher, right down to the name. Both Reacher and Parker have a singular focus on the task in front of them.
Amor: But Parker is amoral. Reacher is just dangerous.
Jeff: Right. Reacher doesn't have a conventional morality, but he has his own morality. Parker will do anything he has to do to achieve his goal.
Amor: But to your point, Westlake's staccato style with its great twists at the end of the paragraphs, and his mesmerizing central character - these attributes are clearly shared by the Reacher books.

The 24 Parker books are almost all available for free on Audible Plus, except for #21 & #22 which aren't available at all.

Other Reviews
There is an extremely detailed review and plot summary (in 3 parts) of Dirty Money (with spoilers obviously) at The Westlake Review, October 29, 2017.

Trivia and Links
The Dirty Money page at The Violent World of Parker website is not as complete as those for the earlier books, and only shows a few of the edition covers.

This paperback is part of the University of Chicago Press 2009-2017 series of reprints of the Parker novels and includes a new Foreword by author [a:Laura Lippman|60459|Laura Lippman|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1518016192p2/60459.jpg] .

Final Parker
Review of the Blackstone Audio Inc. audiobook edition (2008) of the original Mysterious Press hardcover (2008)

Richard Stark was one of the many pseudonyms of the prolific crime author [a:Donald E. Westlake|30953|Donald E. Westlake|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1336863543p2/30953.jpg] (1933-2008), who wrote over 100 books. The Stark pseudonym was used primarily for the Parker novels, an antihero criminal who is usually betrayed or ensnared in some manner and who spends each book either getting revenge or escaping the circumstances.

Dirty Money was the final Parker book and was also the conclusion to the 3-book arc of Nobody Runs Forever (2004) and Ask the Parrot (2006). It finds Parker trying to retrieve the cached loot from the armoured car heist in the 1st book of the trilogy. He is partnered with bar owner Nelson McWhitney and bounty hunter Sandra Loscalzo and somewhat surprisingly Parker's partner Claire plays a more significant role in the proceedings. The object is not only to retrieve the cash but also find a way to launder it as the bills are marked and not useable otherwise.

Although the plans seem to move along efficiently, the crew are constantly subject to identification from the police who are still on the hunt. Their escaped heister Nick Delasio also presents a threat as he has become a cop killer with nothing to lose. Various possible betrayals seem to be hinted at and McWhitney sets up his own possible money fence without telling the others. That brings an entirely new heist crew into the mix. As always, Parker has to salvage the best that he can out of the deal and the ending is abrupt but in typical ice-cold Parker mode. One is only left to wonder what an unwritten Parker #25 might have been, as Parker's face is now known to the authorities and is on wanted posters from several witness IDs. No continuation writer was chosen and no further series has ever been made, which is somewhat surprising these days in genre fiction.

These final Parker novels from #17 to #24 are stronger and more complex than the original run which was probably due to Westlake/Stark's development as a writer over the years and during the 23 year hiatus. Several of these are strong 4's to 5's (I've read or listened to all of them now and am parceling out the reviews over time). #21 and #22 are my favourites of the Parker novels now that I've read them all. Ironically, they are the only ones not available as audiobooks for some reason.

The narration in this audiobook was by Stephen Thorne who delivers a very matter of fact performance. It didn't have quite the sly or gruff character that one might expect in a hard-boiled noir novel, but it was certainly adequate.

This final Parker book was issued in 2008 and Donald Westlake (Richard Stark) passed at the end of that year. The 24 Parker books are almost all available for free on Audible Plus.

Other Reviews
There is an extremely detailed review and plot summary (in 3 parts) of Dirty Money (with spoilers obviously) at The Westlake Review, October 29, 2017.

Trivia and Links
The Dirty Money page at The Violent World of Parker website is not as complete as those for the earlier books, and only shows a few of the edition covers.

This 2008 audiobook predated the most recent paperback edition which was part of the University of Chicago Press 2009-2017 series of reprints of the Parker novels. It therefore does not include the latest Foreword by author [a:Laura Lippman|60459|Laura Lippman|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1518016192p2/60459.jpg] written for the new releases.

Interesting book about a bank robber and his crew after robbing an armored car and what they do to recover the cash they have stashed.

Written from the robber’s perspective, it is a different twist from most crime novels.

I closed the book, smiled, and said quietly to myself, "You son of a bitch."

Adios, Parker, you magnificent bastard. I enjoyed the hell out of the ride.

3.5 ⭐️ Was this intended to be the final book or did circumstances cause it to be? I’m not sure if it’s a satisfying end to the series.

Dirty Money by Donald E. Westlake writing as Richard Stark is Parker novel #24 and the last published novel (published in 2008) of the Parker series.

Dirty Money is also the third book within the three novel saga beginning with Nobody Runs Forever (#22) and Ask the Parrot (#23).

At the end of Ask the Parrot, Parker drives off in a black Infiniti from a race track heist out in the boonies east of Albany, New York. Dirty Money begins with Parker watching the Infiniti sink to the bottom of a river then heading off to Long Island with Claire in a silver Toyota Avalon.

There's good reason Parker and Claire drive to Long Island prior to Claire's home along the lake in New Jersey, a reason having to do with an armored car job up in Massachusetts. The details of that caper are central to Nobody Runs Forever and the immediate aftermath is the stuff of Ask the Parrot.

So, dear reader of this review, in order to both understand and appreciate the dangers and challenges of what Parker must deal with in Dirty Money, please first read Nobody Runs Forever and Ask the Parrot. I can assure you, the pleasure you take in Stark's Dirty Money will be greatly enhanced.

So, assuming familiarity with Nobody Runs Forever and Ask the Parrot, check out this batch of Dirty Money hot shots:

It Takes Moxie
The lure of all that cash up in Massachusetts is simply too strong for Parker to keep away. Both Parker and Claire travel back to the town and area now all abuzz with the armored car robbery - and, to think, those terrible bank robbers actually escaped! Our audacious outlaw and his gal check in to a local bed and breakfast as a typical tourist couple come to soak in the beauty of New England autumn leaves.

Over tea and butter cookies in the communal dining room, the woman who runs the B&B, a Mrs. Bartlett, is delighted to share all the tantalizing details with such an attractive young lady (Claire). Parker simply sits in silent and listens. Parker learns the law caught both Elaine Langen and Jake Beckham and the additional steps the police are taking to catch the actual robbers - most useful information for Parker to plan his next move.

Busy Bounty Hunter
Slick, sassy and smooth, Sandra Loscalzo is back - and adds vinegar and zip to the tale, particularly when Sandra gets to team up with Parker in the final roundup for all that cash.

Big burley Nelson McWhitney watches Sandra in action, dealing with a band of crooks who want to steal the greenbacks from Parker and crew. At one point, Sandra gets stuck and asks the crooks to help move her Honda. McWhitney tells Parker, “She got them to help. You believe the balls on that woman?” Call it what you like, but when you’re working with Parker on a caper, you have to have brass.

Detective Gwen Reversa
The tall, blonde looker remains on the case. Detective Gwen stopped Parker on the highway (Gwen smelled outlaw) some days prior to the armored car robbery but is stuck now without a clue in locating either Parker or the money.

Gwen finds out Parker pulled that race course job in rural New York. She asks a New York state trooper who has come over to her area of Massachusetts to consolidate resources: “Captain, I don’t understand what happened last weekend over in your territory. What was he doing there? Did he have confederates?” Captain Modale took a long breath, a man severely tested but carrying on. “It really looks,” he said, “as though the fella did the whole thing by the seat of his pants.”

Oh, Captain; oh, Detective Gwen Reversa, if you ever could begin to think like Parker you just might have a better chance of nabbing him. Sorry to say for the law, Parker keeps at least five steps ahead of nearly anybody accustomed to working as part of a large organization.

Book Writer of True Crime
One of my very favorite bits in the entire Parker series: Terry Mulcany is a twenty-something freelance journalist who would LOVE to write the book, for sure a best seller, of the armored car robbery. Terry hangs around the police headquarters to grab the latest scoop. Terry is permitted in to police central since he helped the police in tracing Parker (early on, Terry had a quick face-to-face at the B&B with Parker and Claire).

Terry overhears the Captain and Detective Gwen discussing the race track heist where Parker worked with a local guy, Tom Lindahl. “Oh, Terry Mclcany thought, if only that could be my story. Tom Lindahl and the perfect crime. But where is he? Where are the interviews? Where are the pictures of him in his new life? Where is the ultimate triumph of the law at the very end of the day?

No, Tom Lindahl was safe from Terry Mulcany as well. He would stay with the true crime he had, the armored car robbery, with bazookas and unusable cash and three professional desperados, one of them now an escaped cop killer. Not so bad, really.

THE LAND PIRATES: working title."

So, The Land Pirates will be the working title of Terry's blockbuster. And guess who Terry would LOVE to have on the cover of his true crime book? Why, of course, the beautiful blonde detective on the case – Gwen Reversa.

Here I am, at the end point of writing the reviews for all 24 Parker novels. It was a joy from beginning to end. My hearty recommendation: read the Parker novels in order, beginning with The Hunter, where you'll find Parker walking across the George Washington Bridge. They'll go fast. You'll get so hooked; you'll look forward to the next book; you'll wish there were more than just 24. Parker, the ultimate antihero. American to the core.


American author Donald E. Westlake, 1933-2008

I started reading the Parker novels in order starting in Feb. of 2009, and finished the series (including the Grofield novels) in April of 2012.

(Technically, I started the series with the final Grofield novel, LEMONS NEVER LIE, in the Hard Case Crime edition in July of 2006, shortly after the birth of my son, Ezra. I clearly remember reading it while holding a sleeping newborn, basically picking it up because it was the only book within reach.)

Parker goes out on a high note here, with his last appearance acting as a nice capstone to his career. It lacks finality, which is to be expected, I guess, since Westlake died unexpectedly of a heart attack shortly after publication. With that said, though, it does wrap up almost every loose end from the previous two books, NOBODY RUNS FOREVER, and ASK THE PARROT. As usual, it's well-written, tightly-plotted, and engaging.

A remarkable series, and one I'm sure I'll return to in the future.

I'm not sure why I had high hopes, but I did. This is a pager turner, and it is interesting at times, but overall it is uneven, which is the best way to explain this series to someone.

The plot is good, and tried to wrap up the storyline that had been in the previous two books, do that was nice. Beyond that, I'm not sure what this is. It clearly wasn't designed as a last novel, though it created an end. I'm glad I'm done, and I don't regret plowing through.