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A review by saareman
Dirty Money by Richard Stark
4.0
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.
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.