Drowned Hopes

If it weren't for bad luck.... Crime doesn't pay but it sure is dangerous. Dortmunder and associates attempt to recover the loot from an old armored car heist for the only surviving robber, Tom, a dangerous killer whose partners have a habit of dying. The problem is that a reservoir has been built on......more

For a series of criminal capers, Westlake’s Dortmunder novels unspool at their own comfortable pace. Readers just sit back and let the whole thing unravel in front of them. The same amusing characters – Andy Kelp, Stan Murch, et al – appear again and again, and it’s like being with friends (shady, c......more

I read this book many years ago at the recommendation of a friend. It was my first Dortmunder novel- and the funniest one yet. I just remember that the characters were all well-drawn, each with their own quirks. It was my introduction to 'Murch's mom', an ace driver, as well as the rest of the unluc......more

At over 400 pages this is significantly longer than the average mystery. In a way I think that detracted from the story somewhat as there were several parts of the story that were just different attempts to do the same thing. After awhile I wanted them to get on with it. If you have read any other o......more

Substantially longer than previous entries, and less enjoyable for it. The central conceit is good, and the new characters well drawn, but the entire experience is fatiguing in a way previous volumes weren't.......more