Slayground by Richard Stark (Donald E. Westlake)
Slayground (1971) by Richard Stark (Donald E. Westlake) Slayground is my first experience with the famed Parker series of crime novels by Donald E. Westlake, writing as Richard Stark, and what a ride it is! What took me so long? Technically this is the 14th book in the series, though knowledge of any previous book is unnecessary as this adventure starts cold with a bang-up action scene and literally never slows down. We are immediately introduced to Parker and his gang as they successfully take out an armored car, netting them $70,000 in cash. A recurring theme in the Parker novels is how the protagonist’s carefully laid plans fall apart due to the intervention of fate or the carelessness or betrayal of a member of the crew. In this case it is the getaway driver, a man for whom Parker expresses reservations. Almost immediately after the robbery, the driver loses control of the car, crashing wit...