Rating: 
Summary: Vachss Returns with a Good One!
Review: His best since Shella. The Burke books were getting to be repetitive and Vachss a paraody of himself. This is good old time crime novel
fun, although Vachhs does not in some child abuse and vigalante
vengeance to keep up appearnces, covers some "same ol'" ground
here and there, and the ending you could see coming half-way
through the book (it's almost like an extended version of some
of his patent "twist" short stories). Still, Vachss is back. I was
afraid he'd lost his touch there for a while...
Rating: 
Summary: Vachss gets away with it
Review: I bought this book thinking that it was a vintage crime book, not a new Vintage crime book. The updated, irritating photo of Andrew Vachss with the eyepatch on the backcover should have helped me figure out that this is a new book. The Getaway Man is Vachss' take on the classic story of a young hood with a lot of character climbing the criminal ranks. I love the cover. It's brilliant, harkening back to the '40s and '50s, when these novels were at their peak.Vachss tries to imitate the feel of the genre, but has written a book without soul. Those books are charming because they were written that way instinctively; Vachss plays copycat. I admire that Vachss has placed his timeless character in the modern age instead of setting this as a period piece, but in doing so he falls short. His naive getaway man, though having spent many years of his life in jail, is unconvincing. His character has never used a VCR or rented a tape. All he knows are cars and driving. Come on. Still, I enjoyed this short read, which you can finish in a week of commuting. But it ain't Raymond Chandler. Then again, nothing is.
Rating: 
Summary: It doesnt disappoint
Review: I loved this book. Most books I figure out the ending to, and I don't like that. If you don't want something predictable, you want to read this book. It's very well written in that it brought me into the story. It made me feel for Eddie, the getaway man. Like the rest of Mr. Vachss's books, this one did not disappoint.
Rating:
Summary: Read This Book!
Review: Mr. Vachss has said that "The Getaway Man" is a story about innocence. When you read, you'll understand that he doesn't equate innocence with stupidity, or even naivete. Eddie, the main character, is someone who functions without ulterior motives or a hidden agenda. His desires tend to be as straightforward as his sentences. Even his need to drive isn't motivated by financial gain or bravado, but by his need to stop "waiting for someone else to decide what was going to come next in my life." He is also highly observant and seems especially aware of his own effect on the people around him - likely, it's what has helped him survive thus far. But he can't defend himself against slings and arrows that he never sees coming, and this will be the biggest adjustment for anyone already familiar with the hypervigilant Burke from Mr. Vachss' well-known book series (Eddie wants control, Burke TAKES it). Even more compelling than the examination of innocence are the varied reactions to it: with few exceptions, they are overwhelmingly negative. Eddie is belittled, used, manipulated, threatened physically, all with no provocation on his part. His presence alone is enough to bring bullies and predators out of the woodwork (most notably the toxic Vonda, who perhaps shared Eddie's innocence at one point). It's this and Eddie's recurring dream - or premonition?? - that forecast the unhappy outcome. This book has been described as a departure for Mr. Vachss, but that doesn't seem accurate. It seems more like a much-earlier chapter of his continuing story: the exploration of an uncorrupted soul and what happens when the world gets ahold of it.
Rating:
Summary: James Cain Lives!
Review: Perfect control of language, seamlessly written, Vachss makes no mistakes here. It's like reading James Cain again, only better. Classic noir lives! Get "Getaway Man" and read it in one sitting, you will not regret it.
Rating:
Summary: An Outstanding "Non-Burke" Retro Journey ....
Review: Probably best known for his "Burke" series (FLOOD, STREGA, PAIN MANAGEMENT, ONLY CHILD, et al.) Andrew Vachss' newest book, THE GETAWAY MAN is vividly reminiscent of the fast-paced, tensely-plotted thrillers offered up by such publishers as Gold Medal, Lion, and Popular Library during the 1940s and 1950s ... authors such as David Goodis, Charles Williams, Harry Whittington, William Campbell Gault, Paul Cain, Jim Thompson, Robert Edmond Alter, and Bruno Fisher come to mind. THE GETAWAY MAN tells a deceptively simple tale of Eddie, a young man on the cusp of adulthood whose one goal in life is to become a first-class driver of "getaway" cars. The simplicity of Eddie's goal belies the depth of the person he is. Though limited in education and experience it would be a mistake to think of Eddie as merely simple-minded or dim ... he is very capable, quite perceptive, and remarkably focused ... his innocence, his courage, and his honor are paramount. Eddie's voice, in a streamlined, first-person narrative, takes the reader on a journey through time spent in a juvenile institution for Grand Theft Auto, to his "apprenticeship" with several criminal crews, and ultimately arrives at a violent and startling climax. Mr. Vachss' "first" profession as an attorney representing youth, his training as a federal investigator, as well as a stint running a maximum security facility for violent juvenile offenders stand him in good stead as he "fleshes out" Eddie's story with a number of vignettes which might appear, at first glance, to perhaps be peripheral to the main action. These vignettes (one of which involves the abuse of a female child) are far from being tangential or irrelevant ... they are, in fact, subtle and carefully constructed devices, which prove to be an integral part of the fabric that make up who and what Eddie is and provide the reader with important clues as to the man he may or may not become. Beautifully packaged in the style of the colorful paperback originals from the 1940s and 1950s, THE GETAWAY MAN provides every bit as much, if not more, entertainment value than its predecessors. An imaginative and inventive departure by Andrew Vachss from his exceptional "Burke" series ... outstanding.
Rating:
Summary: A change of pace for a great crime writer
Review: Readers used to novels featuring Vachss's continuing character Burke will find this book a true change of pace. Vachss alters his literary voice completely in his creation of Eddie, a professional getaway driver. Eddie is as far from Burke as can be imagined, an innocent in a world of corruption, a man who is a criminal mainly because his talents are best suited for that particular job. He is a driver who lives to drive, and spends his evenings watching old movies that he likes to think parallel his own life (like Thunder Road and Moonshine Highway). Loyal and honorable, realistic but trusting, Eddie seems a sweet child in an evil man's world until, as in the classic plots of James M. Cain, a woman makes him reexamine his priorities and loyalties. To say more would give away too much of the plot, but Vachss never takes a wrong turn on Eddie's drive away from innocence. The tight prose and simple style suit the subject perfectly. Eddie isn't nearly as eloquent with language as Burke, and there are frequent grammatical errors in this first-person narrative which only add to the richly drawn portrait. Nor is Eddie as outwardly intense as Burke. There's no crusader in these pages, only a guy trying to make a living doing what he loves to do, and trying to deal with the temptations and moral dilemmas that go with the job. The sense of the 1950s predominates, although there are frequent references to contemporary technology. The book is short, less than 200 pages, and they fly effortlessly by, with Vachss's trademark style of using simple breaks rather than the artificiality of chapter heads. The trade paperback package is totally simpatico with the novel's spirit, displaying stylish 50's cover artwork and logo, and even creases printed on the covers, to give that stuck-in-the-back-pocket paperback feel (you'll have to break the spine yourself). It's a terrific book that ends with a perfectly measured body blow to the gut, and those who appreciate crime fiction at its best would be fools to miss it.
Rating:
Summary: Andrew Vachss Has Crafted Yet Another Impressive Story
Review: The latest effort in the impressive body of work from Andrew Vachss, THE GETAWAY MAN, tells the story of Eddie, a character whose outwardly simple nature masks a complex psychology that reveals itself in the subtext of this carefully crafted story. Eddie is determined to fulfill his dream of becoming a getaway driver. That is the extent of his ambition. Eddie is not in the game for easy money or for the thrills --- he just wants to drive. He is a simple and likeable character, whose dedication to his craft and loyalty to those who hire him for his abilities is admirable, if misguided. But that's a good deal of what makes Eddie so fascinating. He takes to the outlaw's life in a manner so unassuming and natural that it's as if "Life of Crime" was a booth he visited on Career Day in high school. For Eddie, a straight life was never a consideration --- it wasn't even on the radar. Despite his chosen profession, there isn't the slightest hint of menace in Eddie. This sets him apart from Burke, the main character in several of Vachss's previous books. Burke is a bad guy, an anti-hero whose moral matrix occasionally syncs-up with the law. Burke oozes a streetwise menace that is as impressive as it is frightening. Eddie, on the other hand, is as threatening as a cocker spaniel, yet he and Burke follow a similar moral code. But where Burke survives on projecting this menace and on the judicious delivery of the violence it presages, Eddie gets by on a keen ability to read people and tell them what they want to hear. Yet, there's nothing insincere about Eddie. He's not manipulative; he's desperate for approval. There's a childlike quality about this need that hints at some hidden tragedy. This is something that Eddie and Burke share: a dark and troubled psyche that is implied rather than revealed. Vachss trusts his readers to look not just at the characters in the spotlight, but also at the shadows they cast. It's there where Eddie takes shape, where his form is filled in and it's there that Eddie gets into your head. Eddie's story is told in first person, in a narrative that describes his evolution from misguided teen to career criminal. The story is a remarkable distillation of detail and action into a form so crisp and concise that reading it is a bit like pouring water onto a dried sponge --- it expands before your eyes. In the end, you're astonished that a story so rich was contained in so small a package. --- Reviewed by Bob Rhubart
Rating:
Summary: Let's hope this starts a trend
Review: The reason this book appears to be so retro is that most of the current crime writers are trying to follow the editorial rules and transcend the genre. The notion is that you have to reach a broader audience: noir with suspense, noir with horror, noir with psychological thrills, noir with . . . whatever. How about noir straight up and in a dirty glass? Here it is. The REAL THING doesn't have to feel like a guilty pleasure. It's the REAL THING. So join Eddie and Vonda and J.C. and company on that dark road. You know right where it's going but you still can't stop reading. Let's hope this starts a trend. What we need is a stable of solid writers of paperback originals. The world hasn't felt right since Donald Hamilton stopped writing. Thanks, Andrew, for reminding us how sweet it can be.
Rating:
Summary: Let's hope this starts a trend
Review: The reason this book appears to be so retro is that most of the current crime writers are trying to follow the editorial rules and transcend the genre. The notion is that you have to reach a broader audience: noir with suspense, noir with horror, noir with psychological thrills, noir with . . . whatever. How about noir straight up and in a dirty glass? Here it is. The REAL THING doesn't have to feel like a guilty pleasure. It's the REAL THING. So join Eddie and Vonda and J.C. and company on that dark road. You know right where it's going but you still can't stop reading. Let's hope this starts a trend. What we need is a stable of solid writers of paperback originals. The world hasn't felt right since Donald Hamilton stopped writing. Thanks, Andrew, for reminding us how sweet it can be.
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