Book Note: Donald E. Westlake, Don't Ask

This note contains spoilers for the book.

My first Dortmunder book (that's a character). I've read a few Westlakes before, including Under an English Heavan, The Axe, and A Likely Story. All were outstanding in their way, but none of them really clicked for me. The Axe came closest, but it's far too creepy to really latch onto my psyche (superb bit of work, though). So I knew I hadn't given Westlake a fair try yet, and the complaints I had about the books I'd read weren't insuperable. So I finally got around to reading this.

It's very good. I'm looking for more of them (there are several). There's a dry humor, and a wry insight, that I like very much.

This isn't just a somewhat humorous caper novel. At least, it's not just one caper; it's a whole series of connected capers, getting pretty wild. Sometimes played against the viewpoint characters, instead of by them, too. Really impressive, fun to read, and like that. Cool stuff. I'm glad I kept trying.