Book info

• Title The Hot Rock
• Author Donald E. Westlake
• Year 1970
• Genre Mystery

John Dortmunder leaves jail with ten dollars, a train ticket, and nothing to make money on but his good name. Thankfully, his reputation goes far. No one plans a caper better than Dortmunder. His friend Kelp picks him up in a stolen Cadillac and drives him away from Sing-Sing, telling a story of a $500,000 emerald that they just have to steal. Dortmunder doesn't hesitate to agree. The emerald is the crown jewel of a former British colony, lately granted independence and split into two nations: one for the Talabwo people, one for the Akinzi. The Akinzi have the stone, the Talabwo want it back, and their UN representative offers a fine payday to the men who can get it. It's not a simple heist, but after a few years in stir, Dortmunder could use the challenge.

Thoughts

This was surprisingly good, a little romp through several heists as a team of career criminals search for an emerald that keeps on eluding them. Far from being bungling, they are good at what they do (and quite funny along the way) but circumstances make their lives just a bit more difficult.

When I could get into it, this was easy to read and fun, but unfortunately there were so many spelling mistakes, it kept bringing me out of the story. I can overlook the odd error, particularly when they are real words that a spellcheck wouldn’t pick up but there was more than that going on here. Anyway, it was worth sticking with, and disappointing in terms of proof-reading, but overall an enjoyable read.

Rating: 3 / 5