Bank Shot [Hardcover]

Donald E. Westlake (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1972

With the help of an unusual set of cronies, bank robber John Dortmunder puts a set of wheels under a trailer that just happens to be the temporary site of the Capitalists' & Immigrants' Trust and hauls it away. But when the safe won't open and the cops get close, Dortmunder realizes he's got to find a place to ditch the "bank".

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

DONALD E. WESTLAKE has written numerous novels over the past thirty-five years under his own name and pseudonyms, including Richard Stark. Many of his books have been made into movies, including The Hunter, which became the brilliant film noir Point Blank, and the 1999 smash hit Payback. He penned the Hollywood scripts for The Stepfather and The Grifters, which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Screenplay. The winner of three Edgar awards and a Mystery Writers of America Grand Master, Donald E. Westlake was presented with The Eye, the Private Eye Writers of America's Lifetime Achievement Award, at the Shamus Awards. He lives with his wife, Abby Adams, in rural New York State. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster; Jacket Torn edition (April 1972)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671211803
• ISBN-13: 978-0671211806
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #740,417 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Diversion, November 15, 2001

By 

Untouchable (Sydney, NSW Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bank Shot (Mass Market Paperback)

No matter how painstakingly John Dortmunder plans his burglaries, there always seems to be some fly in the ointment. It is the nature of the foul-ups and the brilliant changes of plan that make the Dortmunder series so enjoyable.

This time Dortmunder and his mixed-bag crew are planning to steal a bank. That's right, not rob a bank, but actually, physically, steal a bank.

As you can imagine, to achieve such an ambitious task takes a fair bit of planning not to mention luck. Dortmunder is a master planner, so they've got that bit covered, unfortunately the luck side of the equation is a tad skinny, and this is where the laughs are provided.

Donald Westlake is a master of farce, and Bank Shot certainly doesn't disappoint. This is a great diversion with an interesting caper brought to us by likable, amusing characters.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book could be hazardous . . ., January 5, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Bank Shot (Paperback)

If you share a bedroom with someone, don't read this book in bed! Keeping a room-mate awake by laughing aloud long and frequently could be hazardous to your relationship! One of Westlake's most preposterous and believable plots. (How does he do that?)

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not just a Crime, a Laugh Fest., December 10, 2010

By 

W. Easley "Opa" (Colorado Rocky Mountains) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: BANK SHOT (Mass Market Paperback)

Dortmunder, the premier robbery planner in crime fiction, begins the story by selling encyclopedia. I remember selling encyclopedia door to door and assure you that it can be a lousy job. But Dortmunder is between heists and needs the money. Despite a great sales pitch, the housewife calls the police and he is on the lam again (loses his expensive sales kit while getting away). Kelp, his friend and partner in crime, meets Dortmunder, gives him a ride, loses control of the car, and slams on his brakes causing an accident. A strange beginning for a strange book.

"Bank Shot" is one of the most entertaining books I have read in years. This is a special crime mystery. Donald Westlake decided to write humorous crime stories about a master planner called Dortmunder. Westlake's idea is a marvelous success. Bank Shot is the second in a series of Dortmunder tales.

Kelp, as usual, has an idea for a heist. He tells Dortmunder who is less than supportive, decides to try it because he is running low on cash. What worries Dortmunder is that: the bank is a mobile home, so to steal the money they must steal the bank; Kelp's nephew, who is a former FBI agent, wants to join the gang; and both Dortmunder's girlfriend and Murch's mom are suddenly part of the crew.

Before reading the book, if I were to list all that could go wrong with a "pre-planned" bank robbery, my imagination would never yield the startling and hilarious events in "Bank Shot". I highly recommend the novel to readers everywhere.