Pity Him Afterwards

Rating:
Summary: Nimble Westlake
Review: Donald E. Westlake (aliases include: Tucker Coe, Richard Stark) is one of the most nimble, prolific, consistently enjoyable writers I've encountered. A quick tribute: I've knocked off an equal amount of Westlake and Wodehouse and, when reading the comic works of the former, consistently experience the same amused lightheadedness that comes over me when dipping into the latter. However, unlike P.G., Mr. Westlake regularly works out of the less sunny realms of his imagination, as this book demonstrates, and will, from time to time, forgo camouflaging the fact with a pseudonym (for instance, his brilliant "The Ax"). What I'm saying is: Donald E. Westlake is not simply a comic crime novelist, so if you're looking for a good laugh you may be disappointed (I was not) and end up writing a laughable online review (see below) of a very excellent entertainment, such as "Pity Him Afterwards".

Rating:
Summary: Not Westlake's Best
Review: Donald Westlake is a wonderfully warm and funny author. His books Trust Me on This, Hot Rock, and Cops and Robbers are the epitome of his style and very much worth reading. This book isn't.
I hate to say that it wasn't only that this book wasn't what I expected, it just wasn't very good. If you're looking for a good starter Westlake, try just about any in the Dortmunder series, but don't try Pity.

Rating:
Summary: Something Different from Donald...But still good
Review: Westlake is a great comic dectective author. In Pity Him Afterward he takes a different turn and gives us a picture of a psychopathic maniac turned loose. The book was fast paced and interesting. The plot had some interesting twists and the ending was surprising.