Put a Lid on It

March 18, 2002
Every Westlake book surprises in a different way, from the hilarious Dortmunder series (Bad News, etc.) to the dark, ominous novels of suspense (The Ax, etc.), and this latest comic caper is no exception. Francis Xavier Meehan, one of Westlake's luckless crooks, is in federal prison for hijacking a mail truck he thought contained computer chips. A presidential reelection official offers him a pardon with a Watergate-type scheme: Meehan must steal a video that, if made public, may prevent the president's reelection. Meehan's court-appointed lawyer cuts the best deal she can for him, and we're off on the caper as Meehan assembles his heist crew, figures the logistics and cases the estate of the elderly, right-wing gun collector who has the video. Egyptian and Israeli spies, plus a plethora of presidential aides ("A hundred thousand big mouths," says Meehan about Washington insiders), provide intermittent interference. By the time Meehan learns the video involves national security and he's superfluous, we've also learned that he's a lot smarter and more savvy than the better-educated president's men. The novel ends with a typical Westlake twist—funny and perfectly appropriate. Westlake hooks the reader from the first sentence, maintaining the suspense with unpredictable turnabouts and dead-on descriptions: a presidential aide has "a store of meaningless smiles like Halloween masks." Though not one of the author's very best, you'll read this one with a meaningful smile and many a chuckle. Mystery Guild Featured Alternate.(Apr. 24)FYI:MWA Grandmaster Westlake, who also writes under the name Richard Stark, has won three Edgar Awards.

April 1, 2002
When a lifetime criminal goes to work for politicians, it's up to the reader to decide who the real crooks are. Having burgled a truck that he didn't realize contained U.S. mail, Francis Meehan is serving his first stint of federal time. A week into his term, however, a visitor to the prison offers him a reprieve of sorts. To gain his freedom, Meehan has only to steal a videotape that may be of harm to the President, an item currently possessed by someone from the cryptically named "other side." Working with his lawyer and some trusted thieves, Meehan must not only find the tape but also beware of any potential double crosses by his employers. The irony of his situation he must commit a crime to get out of prison adds both to Meehan's character and the comic aspect of the novel. Westlake (Bad News) does another brilliant job, this time by contrasting the relatively smooth and efficient thieves with the bungling politicians. A tongue-in-cheek take on political scandal that belongs in all public libraries. Craig Shufelt, Lane P.L., Fairfield, OH

Copyright 2002 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 1, 2002
Adult/High School-A presidential reelection committee needs to retrieve an incriminating videotape from the Other Side, and, having learned something from history, they "outsource" the job to a professional thief. Francis Xavier Meehan, a career burglar, is just hunkering down to his first federal sentence when he is offered his freedom if he will pull off the heist. Soon this political innocent who has never heard of contributors' planes or October Surprises is playing power politics with the best of them. He brings in his own lawyer to protect his interests, enlists the aid of some fellow thieves, and calmly turns every unexpected development to his own advantage. This might sound fairly predictable, but in Westlake's masterful hands every page delights readers with satirical observations, unexpected twists, and an endless supply of laugh-out-loud zingers. All of this fast-paced fun is laced with sharp observations of contemporary life; light reading just isn't crafted any better than this. Readers who enjoy humorous fiction, satire, or crime-caper stories should be delighted with this book.-Christine C. Menefee, Fairfax County Public Library, VA

Copyright 2002 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from March 1, 2002
What a concept! Crime-caper Grand Master Westlake channeling Ross Thomas, the late virtuoso of novels featuring political chicanery in very high places. Professional thief Francis Meehan is sitting in the Manhattan Correctional Center and cursing the fact that the unmarked truck he boosted contained U.S. mail instead of computer equipment. One of the "ten thousand rules" that Meehan lives by is to avoid the feds. But a man named Jeffords shows up and escorts him from jail and into a corporate jet bound for the Outer Banks. The president's campaign committee needs a burglary performed, and they've learned from Watergate: if you need a burglary, hire a professional burglar. In return, they'll see that Meehan skates on the federal mail-theft charge. This is Westlake at the top of his game, by turns antic, unexpected, quirky, clever, and always, very funny. At first, Meehan demands to be sent back to MCC, because his rules include never working with amateurs. Then he requires that his public defender be flown down to represent him in negotiations with the pols. Once on the job, he finds that the rival committee to defeat the president has rent-a-thugs looking for him. And, of course, he's figured out a way to turn the political burglary into a personally lucrative felony. Even mediocre Westlake is a gift to crime fans, but this novel--top-shelf Westlake stirred with a twist of Thomas--is something to savor.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2002, American Library Association.)