The Handle [Import] [Hardcover]

Richard Stark (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Allison and Busby (1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0850316545
• ISBN-13: 978-0850316544
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,717,366 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Great Parker Novel, March 29, 2006

By 

Chris Ward (Costa Rica) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Handle (Paperback)

I gotta disagree with the reviewer below-- this is one of the best Parkers. "The Handle" (otherwise known as "Run Lethal") is from the era of the real "classics" in the series, and it's terse and nasty and unpredictable. Yes, it features Grofield, an actor who moonlights as a heistman with Parker-- he's kind of the un-Parker, and some don't like him. He starred in four novels written by Stark/Westlake, and I agree that they're not quite up to the brutal standards of the early Parkers in the amorality stakes (but I still like them a lot).

Here, Grofield doesn't dominate the book, just takes a role as a part of the string Parker's assembling. He's a pro, and Parker can count on him. The book works well as a prelude to "Butcher's Moon," where Parker and Grofield find themselves in a similar situation.

Never read a Parker novel? Try this or any of the books from the Sixties: they're stripped-down, no-frills action novels, and Stark/Westlake does it better than almost anybody else.

8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Only A Fair Effort, June 27, 2001

By 

Larry Eischen - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Handle (Hardcover)

Don't get me wrong-I love Richard Stark's (Donald E. Westlake's) Parker novels. It's just that I find his stories about actor/thief Alan Grofield to be lesser efforts-although still better than 99% of anybody else's suspense output. And this "Parker" novel seems to concentrate as much, if not more, on Grofield's adventures. Parker is hired by the Outfit to bust up an independent island casino. He's approached by federal agents who want the casino's owner brought in for arrest. All of which makes for a dynamite Parker novel with a little too much Grofield.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Parker Helps the Mob, March 29, 2011

By 

W. Easley "Opa" (Colorado Rocky Mountains) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Handle: A Parker Novel (Parker Novels) (Paperback)

I enjoy Richard Stark's (a.k.a. Donald Westlake) Parker novels for several reasons. The Parker character is a strong "anti-hero" who the reader wants to succeed. Parker's plans for his capers are normally brilliant if executed well. Some unexpected interference always causes Parker to improvise during the operation. Parker tends to survive despite the serious complications, but never gets rich enough to retire.

In "The Handle", Parker gets an unusual new challenge. The mob wants to hire him to rob a competitor. This guy, who calls himself Baron, bought an island in the Gulf of Mexico more that forty miles off the coast of Texas. The Baron built a fancy casino and pleasure resort and, since he is out of all legal jurisdictions, he sets his own rules. The Baron rakes in the money and the mob is left out. If Parker can steal all the Baron's money and destroy the casino, it may put the Baron out of business.

The island is like a fortress with very little access. Boats can approach in two small areas, both easy to protect. There is no suitable place to land an aircraft. The Baron and several highly trained, experienced security personnel live on the island and keep it under constant surveillance. Security has the latest equipment and weapons.

How can Parker manage this tough job? Considering Parker's habit of having brilliant plans go awry, what will happen this time? "The Handle" is a suspenseful novel with multiple actions scenes, interpersonal conflicts, and intrigue. I recommend this novel to those who love action thrillers.