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Summary: Dortmunder Dreams Up a Driving Heist!
Review: You will enjoy this book much more if you DO NOT READ the jacket copy. For some reason, the publisher has put spoilers in there.Dortmunder and Andy Kelp are between jobs . . . and a little short of the green when Andy's friend Chester Fallon looks him up. Fallon has been out of jail for four years, and has been trying to go straight. But he's just lost a cushy job driving a rich man's collector automobiles . . . and sees a chance to steal his way back into comfort. Why not drive off with the cars? But Chester is just a wheel man. He needs a planner. Naturally, Andy suggests Dortmunder. With that simple beginning, you are on your merry way to as funny a Dortmunder story as I have read. The rich man with the collection is Monroe Hall. You'll recognize his type. He was the CEO of SomniTech until he was removed for stealing from the company and cheating the IRS. Although he has made partial restitution, he's hidden most of his money offshore. He gave the cars to a foundation . . . but keeps the cars around. Trouble is, a foundation cannot hire an ex-felon which is why Chester lost his job. Monroe Hall is a nasty piece of work. His skill in life is bamboozling other people. He only avoids practicing that talent in a gloating way with his wife. He's a person that many would be tempted to steal from . . . if they could succeed. Monroe is tough though. He's got first-rate security, an electrified fence, and doesn't write down the numbers to his offshore accounts. No one can stand Monroe. He's also taken advantage of so many people that many want revenge . . . while others want their money back. So he's a target with no friends. That vulnerability creates many interesting complications in the story. Dortmunder duly cases the estate, and sees no way around, over, under or through that fence. He decides stealing the cars will have to be an inside job. How can he and his team of ex-cons accomplish that? That's where the fun begins. Along the way, the book has many signature elements of Dortmunder novels including the inane conversations by the barflies at the O.J. Bar & Grill. You'll love the ones about global warming and holidays. I can hardly wait for the next Dortmunder novel!
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