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Master thief Parker was last seen robbing two armored cars in NOBODY RUNS FOREVER. In this book, Parker returns to New England with his girlfriend Claire and Nelson McWhitney, his partner in crime, to retrieve the loot the men left hidden in an abandoned church when the robbery went wrong. Nick Dalesia, the third member of their team, is in hiding after killing a cop while escaping from police custody. Parker doesn't know if Dalesia identified him before escaping, and he’s taking no chances when he and Claire register at a bed-and-breakfast near the robbery site. Parker lets Claire handle the nosy landlady while he stays in the background mapping out a plan to recover the money. McWhitney's role in the scheme is simple: he must find a truck large enough to carry the money bags, but so unobtrusive that it will pass through the police roadblocks without being stopped. Parker's plans are complicated by the appearance of Sandra Loscalzo, a bounty hunter who knows enough about Parker to put him away for life. Sandra's not out to get him, though. Instead, she wants a share of the loot in exchange for her silence. Meeting Sandra’s demands may not be easy since the area is still crawling with cops. Parker must figure out not only how to avoid the police, but also how to handle Nick Dalesia when he shows up on the scene. Never one to give in to desperation, Parker plots a perfect getaway that leaves even the police astonished. Richard Stark (AKA Donald Westlake) is a master of tight plotting and twist endings. DIRTY MONEY contains both, plus more. Fans of the series will gain a better insight into Parker's relationship with Claire and appreciate even more her cleverness in handling difficult situations. Also, after a sidekick appearance in the previous book, Sandra comes into her own in this title, leading one to believe she may show up again in future books. While all the characters stand out on their own, Parker remains the driving force behind the success of this series. His cool approach to crime is chilling yet compelling. While not admirable in any sense of the word, he’s a remarkable character who continues to intrigue readers with his ability to pull off near perfect crimes. One can only wonder what Stark has in store for him next time.
Reviewed by Mary V. Welk, June 2008
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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