Rating: 
Summary: A delightful return to old Westlake territory
Review: After the superb (and darkly satirical) social commentary of "The Ax" and the intense psychological morality of "The Hook" Donald Westlake has returned to old, familiar and very funny territory for him -- the humorous crime caper novel. Once again we have a likable, non-violent career criminal who finds himself getting in over his head. Francis (not "Frank") Meehan finds himself for the first time in his life in a Federal lockup awaiting trial for an accidental Federal crime (well, how could he have known there was registered mail, for goodness sakes, in that trailer truck supposed to full of computer gear?). And then fate intervenes. Or, more exactly, the political committee for the reelection of the President of the United States intervenes. Wishing to carry out a Watergate-type endeavor without all that unfortunate publicity, the presidential advisors have decided to employ a professional burglar instead of using amateur enthusiasts and spies. Enter (or, rather, exit from jail) Francis Meehan. And he and the reader are off and running. No, "Put a Lid on It" doesn't possess the emotional whallop of "The Ax" or "The Hook" but sometimes it is enough just to have a darned good time. It's fast, it's funny, and it even involves a joint Israeli-Egyptian Intelligence team. How can you go wrong?
Rating: 
Summary: This book hardly told a "story" at all.
Review: At the very beginning of the book, our hero is taken out of prison to do a job. At the very end, he's finally doing that job. The book chugs along from A to Z without a single interesting complication or change of direction or anything that would have made if feel like a "story."
This is the most padded book I can remember reading for a long time. Our hero sits down to meet with a character at a restaurant and the character wastes multiple paragraphs looking at wine lists, etc. while we just wait and wait for something to actually happen.
I should mention that I listened to the unabridged audiobook, read by William Dufris. For all I know, Dufris may be a nice guy, but here he created such broad and often annoying character voices that they distracted from what little was going on.
I've only read (well, listened to) one other Donald E. Westlake book -- Bad News -- and I really enjoyed it! Things actually happened, the plot actually made some interesting turns and I stayed entertained enough that I felt like the book was wasting my time.
In fact, I enjoyed Bad News so much that I'm going to give Westlake another chance, despite my disappointment with Put a Lid On It.
Rating: 
Summary: Fast-paced, clever and fun
Review: Awaiting trial for a simple truck theft gone federally wrong, Francis Xavier Meehan is ready to do just about anything that will get him out of life in a federal pen. The suits with the proposition seem like hopeless amateurs, but theft is Meehan's livelihood and theft is what they want.Westlake's trademark caper humor takes on dirty-tricks politics as Meehan agrees to retrieve a video tape that could destroy the president's re-election hopes. With the help of his court-appointed lawyer - a sharp woman with none of Meehan's aversion to firearms - and a couple of colleagues, Meehan dodges the opposition and goes after the goods. There are plenty of twists and turns along the way and plenty of laughs at the expense of Washington types. Meehan, a recidivist and autodidact (as his lawyer dubs him), is no Dortmunder, but he's a highly engaging fellow with his 10,000 rules and his odd patches of knowledge. A clever, funny and fast-paced entertainment.
Rating: 
Summary: Westlake Lite
Review: Despite the introduction of the likeable Francis Meehan, this book is not up to Westlake's standards. The plot, obstensibly meant to offer a degree of political satire, is not all that exciting (indeed, the secret behind the story is sort of unimpressive) and the read is far too quick, even compared to the Dortmunder books. Westlake fans won't be angry with this, but they might wonder where the meat is. Thankfully, we do get a good addition to the Westlake "family" of intelligent, interesting crooks and scoundrels in the form of Meehan. He carries the book through some under-written bits, and helps cover for the two-dimensionality of the politicos Meehan encounters. However, after the dark strength of The Hook and The Ax, this one is a disappointment. Guess everyone, even Westlake, has a n off-day.
Rating:
Summary: Westlake Lite
Review: Despite the introduction of the likeable Francis Meehan, this book is not up to Westlake's standards. The plot, obstensibly meant to offer a degree of political satire, is not all that exciting (indeed, the secret behind the story is sort of unimpressive) and the read is far too quick, even compared to the Dortmunder books. Westlake fans won't be angry with this, but they might wonder where the meat is. Thankfully, we do get a good addition to the Westlake "family" of intelligent, interesting crooks and scoundrels in the form of Meehan. He carries the book through some under-written bits, and helps cover for the two-dimensionality of the politicos Meehan encounters. However, after the dark strength of The Hook and The Ax, this one is a disappointment. Guess everyone, even Westlake, has a n off-day.
Rating:
Summary: Another flawless Westlake!
Review: Donald Westlake can do no wrong. Another flawless novel by the emperor of comic timing. Do yourself a huge favor...pick up any Westlake book today and get hooked!
Rating:
Summary: Another flawless Westlake!
Review: Donald Westlake can do no wrong. Another flawless novel by the emperor of comic timing. Do yourself a huge favor...pick up any Westlake book today and get hooked!
Rating:
Summary: An engrossing thriller of cover-ups and intrigue
Review: Francis Meehan makes his living by stealing - until an offer made in prison brings him an unusual job involving protecting a Presidential secret. Meehan may earn his freedom by the deal - or may lose his life in Put A Lid On It, an engrossing thriller of cover-ups and intrigue at high levels.
Rating:
Summary: Put a Lid on It
Review: Great fast-paced humorous read. I love those zany characters. Inept politicos, thieves, hip female lawyer, even some foreign opportunists are in the mix. Career thief, incarcerated at the Manhanttan Corrections Center gets sprung by members of the current President of the United States campaign committee. Seems they need a package of damaging evidence stolen back from the 'other side' and thought their best bet was to make a deal with a professional burgler. Then, the powers that be think they are going to do a doublecross. Well, they have a surprise coming. Don't miss this one. Another Westlake winner.
Rating:
Summary: The lid was loose
Review: I'm familar with most of Westlake's work and a large fan of his fine Dortmunder series. In Put a Lid on It Westlake targets his bitting sarcasm on current American Politics and people he observes every day in Manhatten.
The anti-hero "Hey", noted as what the cops call him in the fly-leaf, was jammed up on a charge of robbing the U.S. Mail and a representative of POTUS asks for his help. The novel follows the hero's days as he races to complete his mission and show up the elitiest of American political circles.
'Hey' Meehan is not part of a criminal network, as note to exist in the Dortmunder novels, but does manage to recuit help he needs to finish the job, find love and expose a Middle Eastern joint task force, whose cooperation would make the FBI and NYPD jealous. An enjoyable read and proberly a new charater for Westlake.
Earlier books to read by Westlake include Up the Banner and Help I Am Being Held Prisoner. I would also recommend the 'Sullivan' books of Lawrence Sanders.
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