Rating: 
Summary: It's as if he never left.
Review: Having read a few Parker novels back in junior high (nearly 25 years ago), I can recall loving the character for his cold-eyed pragmatism and his ability to deliver a quick dose of shocking violence as needed to protect his interests. Upon hearing of Stark/Westlake's intention of resurrecting the character, I feared that the author would be tempted to "update" him, ie, start having him deliver wisecracks, worry about his relationship with his girlfriend, etc. Fortunately for us, Parker can clearly thrive in today's high-tech world and even pulls off driving a Lexus, now that those old American "hardtops" are gone. Comeback was great and Backflash is even better. The thoughts of every character in the book focus exclusively on their own pleasure and gain. Alas, just when you think Parker may have made a few mistakes this time out, he does not disappoint when it comes time to settle things in his usual ruthlessly efficient style.
Rating:
Summary: True Pulp
Review: I've been a HUGE Parker fan for years and welcomed Stark's return a couple of years back. If you liked the earlier "Score" novels, you will find the newest additions to the Parker saga to be just as well written.
Rating:
Summary: True Pulp
Review: I've been a HUGE Parker fan for years and welcomed Stark's return a couple of years back. If you liked the earlier "Score" novels, you will find the newest additions to the Parker saga to be just as well written.
Rating:
Summary: True Pulp
Review: I've been a HUGE Parker fan for years and welcomed Stark's return a couple of years back. If you liked the earlier "Score" novels, you will find the newest additions to the Parker saga to be just as well written.
Rating:
Summary: Tought & Tense
Review: In Richard Stark's dark new caper, the state of New York is experimenting with riverboat gambling. A floating casino's being tested for four months on the Hudson River to see how much money it brings in, and it's all going to be cash during the trial run.Enter master criminal Parker, who's approached by an anti-gambling former state employee with a proposal to rob the boat. Something about this guy troubles Parker, but he goes ahead anyway, assembling a crack team of specialists to plan a beautifully ingenious raid. Parker's motto in heists is "to try to control events" but he knows all too well that "they'll still get away from you anyway." Of course that's exactly what happens here, when the scent of all that money attracts other crooks with plans of their own and Parker has to clean up the mess. Stark is the pseudonym of acclaimed mystery master Donald Westlake, author of last year's stunning The Ax, and his expert touch is evident in every part of this tense, tough and enthralling book.
Rating:
Summary: Tought & Tense
Review: In Richard Stark's dark new caper, the state of New York is experimenting with riverboat gambling. A floating casino's being tested for four months on the Hudson River to see how much money it brings in, and it's all going to be cash during the trial run. Enter master criminal Parker, who's approached by an anti-gambling former state employee with a proposal to rob the boat. Something about this guy troubles Parker, but he goes ahead anyway, assembling a crack team of specialists to plan a beautifully ingenious raid. Parker's motto in heists is "to try to control events" but he knows all too well that "they'll still get away from you anyway." Of course that's exactly what happens here, when the scent of all that money attracts other crooks with plans of their own and Parker has to clean up the mess. Stark is the pseudonym of acclaimed mystery master Donald Westlake, author of last year's stunning The Ax, and his expert touch is evident in every part of this tense, tough and enthralling book.
Rating:
Summary: darn right.
Review: It's about time someone got to writing a tough guy book where the main character was actually tough. And about time the characters were honest in their lack of redemption.
Rating: 
Summary: This is NOT a 5-star book
Review: There's nothing wrong with BACKFLASH, but it's by no means a 5-star book. There's one really good bit toward the end, where Parker has to decide whether to spare or kill a character who has betrayed him, but nothing else in the book rises to the same level of suspense or quality. It's a perfunctory heist plot with long stretches of very average writing. I had to fight to keep reading a few times, and put the book down for 3 months between starting it and finishing it. It's easy to find better Westlake novels. This one is run-of-the-mill at best.
Rating:
Summary: A heist on a riverboat casino with twists!
Review: This book starts with a bang, moves through a mystery to a heist, and then deals with problems, clean up, and near disaster. Along the way, we see the incredibly detailed story of exactly how a gambling ship might be ripped off. We watch Parker, the hero of this series of books, as he plans, executes, and then cleans up little messes. These stories are very fun to read, combining well researched detail with a fast pace. In this book, there is one character that stands out -- the retired state employee, disgruntled, unhappy, who leads Parker to the gambling ship. I work in state government. I have met this guy. He rings entirely true. His inclusion in the story makes the logic of the caper work, adds intrigue, and allows the author to create the sort of character seldom seen in fiction -- an interesting functionary. These books are good fun.
Rating:
Summary: A heist on a riverboat casino with twists!
Review: This book starts with a bang, moves through a mystery to a heist, and then deals with problems, clean up, and near disaster. Along the way, we see the incredibly detailed story of exactly how a gambling ship might be ripped off. We watch Parker, the hero of this series of books, as he plans, executes, and then cleans up little messes. These stories are very fun to read, combining well researched detail with a fast pace. In this book, there is one character that stands out -- the retired state employee, disgruntled, unhappy, who leads Parker to the gambling ship. I work in state government. I have met this guy. He rings entirely true. His inclusion in the story makes the logic of the caper work, adds intrigue, and allows the author to create the sort of character seldom seen in fiction -- an interesting functionary. These books are good fun.
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