Donald Westlake
passed away
after a heart attack as he was heading out for a New Year’s Eve
dinner. That sucks.
If you’re not familiar with Westlake’s brand of comic crime novels,
hie ye down to the local library and read him. I recommend the
Dortmunder series, starting with The Hot Rock (a gem
heist goes wrong, and the emerald has to be stolen over and over) and
Bank Shot (in which the gang decide to steal a bank,
rather than just rob it). Also Dancing Aztecs, which
has the funny-because-it’s-true clipboard scene.
He will be missed.
And the guard’s name was Hiram.
I don’t remember that detail. Is there a joke or something that I’m missing?