Customer Reviews

God Save the Mark

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Written about 40 years ago this novel could easily be set in the current era. Fred Fitch is the ultimate mark, mark being target for con artists. He is constantly taken advantage of by strangers who can somehow see the word gullible written on his forehead. After years of being taken advantage of Fred is starting to think first before acting, well most of the time. So when he receives a phone call stating he has inherited half a million dollars (over three hundred thousand after tax) from his uncle Matt who he has never even heard of he knows he is being taken for a ride, so calls his friend who is a cop to meet him at the office of the caller. To his surprise the inheritance is genuine but that does not mean the con artists will stop now he has the inheritance. If anything more of them will come out of the woodwork as well as thugs and killers who want the inheritance money, you see his uncle was also a con artist and he stole from some heavyweights in the South America crime scene.

This is another great classic Westlake novel, as is another from that era Killy. Westlake's best novel of the modern era is the Ax, purchase it as well.

If you are a fan of Westlake, chances are you will buy this book no matter what the reviews - and good for you. Those who may have stumbled onto this for some reason may want to give this book a chance. If you enjoy a quick mystery/crime novel with a funny slant, especially one with a taste for the times during which it was written (this is a reprint of a very early novel by the author), then you may very well enjoy this book. It is also a great introcuction to a writer who continues his successful run of novels (both humourous and grave) to this date. Well worth checking out.

Copy editor Fred Fitch is so famous as the king of marks, con artists come from everywhere to take him for a buck or three. Grifters visiting New York include Fred as one of their prime tourist stops for no vacation is complete without taking Fred for a ride. Fred is not insane, but he believes in the basic goodness of humanity so that he trusts people until that person rips him off.

Fred is still small potatoes though an important merit badge award for con artists until he inherits over $300,000 from Uncle Matt. Though he never heard of an Uncle Matt, Fred is now a desirable mark beyond honorarium status. Everyone wants a piece of Fred or at least his loot. However, someone wants more than just Fred's inheritance, that individual may have killed Uncle Matt and wants Fred dead too.

Though some of the humor seems a bit dated and even naive, readers can see why this reprint won an Edgar for Best Novel in 1967. The story line combines humor with suspense as Fred is a unique character whose conned from the beginning of the story line in a downtown barbershop to the end of the fun tale. Though the ultimate target, Fred makes GOD SAVE THE MARK works because he is likable and readers will appreciate his trusting nature even though his naiveté is mindful of Einstein's definition of insanity. A new audience will enjoy Donald E. Westlake's 1960s New York joy ride.

Harriet Klausner

I've owned two previous copies of this hilarious novel by the best comic mystery writer I've ever encountered, Donald Westlake. I bought it when it first came out in the late 1960s, later had it in paperback, and now it's been reprinted again. Fred Fitch has to be one of the funniest protagonists in a mystery novel ever. OK, he's drawn a bit unrealistically -- I mean, has anyone ever been as dumb and yet articulate as he? I doubt it. But the notion of his being the easiest mark ever (hence the title) is a hilarious set-up for a book, and Westlake makes you chortle (well, I chortle, but perhaps you guffaw or snort) on practically every page.

A definite recommendation, particularly for those Westlake fans who may have missed this one the first time around.

Scott Morrison

Most of Westlake's crime capers are from the point of view of the criminal, while this is from the perspective of the perpetual crime victim. The only reason that con men don't sing folk songs about Fred is that they don't sing folk songs. He falls for everything and realizes it just a second too late.

The only time he actually thinks that maybe he's being conned is when he hears from a lawyer that he's inherited a fortune (in those days, $100K was a small fortune) from an unknown uncle. With the help (or not) of a cynical cop friend, the cynical cop's sweet girlfriend, and his late uncle's companion, a former stripper, all of whom may or may not themselves be double-crossing him, Fred confusedly makes his way through the sudden world of danger that this inheritance landed him into.

The usual Westlake twists and turns, humor, and beautiful setups and descriptions of moments are all here. I wouldn't call this one of his very, very best, but even one of his better ones is enough to earn a solid five stars.

If you aren't familiar with Westlake, this is a great place to start, especially for free. If the price changes, I'd recommend starting either with one of the Dortmunder books or Spy in the Ointment, but while it's free, grab it.

It's not a con.

This time.

This book is excellent - funny, clever, and really well written!

I found out about Westlake from Darwyn Cooke's graphic novel adaptation of "The Hunter." Cooke is a master storyteller, but I understood Cooke tried staying as faithful as possible to Westlake's words. So, I decided to give a Westlake book a try and picked this one because it sounded like fun. It is fun, too!

From the first chapter, I could tell Westlake was a master craftsmen. His sentences are all perfect - they're snappy, clear, and deliver a lot of information all at once. What I didn't expect was how funny the book was! It's a hoot!

I don't have much else to say other than this is a great, fun book. If you're thinking of reading this book, then read it!

Took me a little bit to get into it, but once I did I was hooked! About a guy who gets taken by every con that was ever invented, and what happens to him after he finds out he has inherited a large sum of money from an obscure uncle who was himself a con artist! Is the money for real? Are the cops really cops? If so, are they after him or proctecting him? And what about the lawyer? And the girlfriend? Can anybody be that clueless? A little twist at the end brings it all together satisfactorily. You'll root for this hero at the same time as you're shaking the book hoping to shake some sense into him! A fun and quick read. Classic Westlake.

Have you ever bought something and later wondered why? Have salesmen talked you into purchasing something you did not really want? In God Save the Mark, Fred Fitch wonders if he is the greatest sucker in history as he looks at his massive pile of receipts for useless products and services. Fred is what con men call a "mark".

This novel is the most enjoyable book I have read in many months. Although a mystery, it is also a comic look at people with little sales resistence. Fred Fitch, who knows he is an easy "mark" inherits several hundred thousand dollars from an uncle he never knew existed. Fred is suspicions. Is it possible that this inheritance is one more con job designed to take advantage of his weakness?

His friend, Reilly, a police officer in the local bunco squad, assures Fred that the inheritance is real, and decides Fred needs protection from himself. Fred, who doesn't really want the money, embarks upon a hilarious quest that introduces him to many people, most of whom simply want part of Fred's fortune.

In "God Save The Mark" the author introduces us to many characters. The main characters, Fred, Karen, Gertie, and Reilly, seem like real people. Getting to know these characters as people is a part of the book that is especially fun.

This is a mystery that has action without ferocity, suspense without violence, heart stopping excitement while maintaining a sense of humor. I highly recommend "God Save the Mark".

I enjoyed this book a lot. It was a humorous look at a regular guy who gets taken at every turn. I think we all feel taken at times and it was good to laugh along at how stupid one feels at the time.

I was lucky to have stumbled upon this book when it was offered free on the Kindle. This is a laugh-out-loud crime caper, centered on a gullible protagonist (Fred Fitch) who unexpectedly comes into a large sum of money when an uncle he never knew leaves him his fortune after being murdered. In spite of himself, Fitch comes out on top at the end, but there are amusing and suspensful twists and turns along the way. Lucky for me Westlake was a prolific writer. It should take me quite a while to mow through his 100+ novels in this genre--and it will be an enjoyable ride.