Parker Novels - Mystery and Thrillers in one

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Series of novels started in 1962


Richard Stark, a pseudonym for Donald E. Westlake, began a series of novels in 1962 about a professional thief called only Parker. He is a unmerciful criminal who becomes a sort of antihero in the books.

The books were first published in paperback and later in hardcover which is reversed from the general publishing of most books.

Many of the Parker novels have been made into movies with popular stars like Lee Marvin, Richard Widmark, and Mel Gibson.

The Hunter by Richard Stark

First book in the Parker series

The Hunter has Parker chasing his ex-partners and his ex-wife who have betrayed him in a heist and left him for dead. He methodically finds them and disposes of them. One, is protected by the Mob, so Parker takes on the Mob too.

This book was made into a movie twice. First in 1967 with the film title being Point Blank. The movie starred Lee Marvin as Parker.

In 1999 another movie was made from the book with the film title being Payback. Mel Gibson starred as Parker in this film based on the book by Richard Stark

Paperback Edition of The Hunter

A Parker Novel

The Hunter: A Parker Novel (Parker Novels)

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The Man With The Getaway Face

Second Parker Novel

First published in 1963 the second book in the series where Parker is still not a well liked man. There is a contract on his head in New York and in Nebraska there is a plastic surgeon being guarded by a fighter. In New Jersey there is a red armored truck filled with money and Parker and some interesting characters plan a heist for that money.

The cover shot at the right is from the 1998 Time Warner publication in hardcover.

The Man with the Getaway Face: A Parker Novel (Parker Novels)

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The Outfit

Parker Novel Number 3

The king is in his castle in Buffalo and armed with a new face and an iron will Parker is out to get the king and the Outfit who has put a contract out on his life. His associates pull off 12 capers in 5 days.

The Outfit was also made into a movie also called The Outfit in 1973 starring Robert Duvall as the criminal everyone loves to hate.

The cover shown here is from the 1998 Time Warner publication of the book.

The Outfit: A Parker Novel (Parker Novels)

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Parker Novel Number Four

The Mourner

It takes a thief to catch a thief and Parker is one of the best. Parker is blackmailed by an ex-girlfriend to steal a priceless statue from a Russian diplomat, but he's not the only one after the statue.

First published in 1963 in paperback. Allison and Busby (cover shown here) published the first hardcover British edition in 1987..

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The Parker Polling Booth

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The Score

Number 5 In the Parker Novel Series

Twelve racketeers are going to take over an entire town. Introduction of Alan Grofield, who eventually gets his own series.

This story was also published under the name of Killtown and was made into a French movie Mise A Sac.

First published in paperback in 1964. Allison and Busby published the first hardcover British edition in 1985 with the cover shown here.

The Score: A Parker Novel (Parker Novels)

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A Trivial Note

Donald Westlake wrote 28 novels under the name of Richard Stark. Parker is in 24 of those books.

Sixth Parker Novel

The Jugger

Parker travels to Nebraska when an old friend asks for help. Kind of out of character for our thief except that he needs to make sure this guy isn't going to blow his cover.

First published in 1965 in paperback. Cover shown here is from the 1986 Allison & Busby publication in hardcover.

A movie Made in U.S.A was made from this book in 1967 with Richard Widmark.

The Jugger: A Parker Novel (Parker Novels)

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Publishers of the Parker Series of Books

Pocket Books in the 1960's
Allison & Busby hardcover editions in the mid 1980's
Time Warner hardcover editions began in 1999

The Seventh (Later Titled The Split)

"The robbery was a piece of cake. The getaway was clean. And seven men were safely holed up in different places while Parker held all the cash - until the heat was off and each could collect his seventh to spend on booze or broads or dreams. Except this sweet heist turned sour. Somebody stole Parker's stash. Killed Parker's girl. And made Parker murderously mad. Now Parker's looking for the lowlife who did him dirty. The cops are looking for seven clever thieves. The killer is looking for a way to shoot Parker. And when hunters and hunted meet - some win, some lose, and some die." - excerpt from the book.

Originally published in 1966 as The Seventh the book was re-titled as The Split. Made into a movie in 1968, called The Split and starred Jim Brown as the Parker character, although the movie called him McClain.

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The Handle - Alternate Title Run Lethal

Eighth book in the Parker Series

Parker is contacted by Karns to "knock off" an island casino that is creating too much competition for his organization. In this book, Parker works with Alan Grofield again for the second time. (Grofield becomes the main character in a series of his own after The Handle.)

Because it is a Parker novel and the character is just so much fun to read this is a pretty good book. I'd have to say that it isn't one of the better ones in the series as there are more instances of characters surviving injuries than really seems likely in stories like these. Stark (Westlake) keeps the plot moving nicely with a lot of action through out.

“There is a Yahoo Group about the Parker Series that has been active since Oct. 2001.”

The Rare Coin Score

Ninth Book in the Parker Novel Series

>From the title you can count on this Parker novel being about the theft of rare coins but if you are a fan of Parker you can also guess it won't be about some run of the mill coin heist. Nope, this one deals with the heist of an entire Coin Collectors Convention!

Many feel that this Parker Novel is a real star in the series, as Richard Stark begins to make Parker more human to the readers. The character begins a love interest in this book with Claire and we readers are given some insight on his past.

I'm actually surprised this book wasn't made into a movie...it would have been a good one.

Last Parker Book

Dirty Money was the last book in the Parker series by Richard Stark aka Donald E. Westlake and was published in 2008.

Additional Titles in the Parker Novel Series

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Donald Westlake Passes On

Donald Westlake July 12 1933 - December 31, 2008. The fiction world mourns his loss.

Donald Westlake Was Richard Stark

Parker wasn't his only character.

As Richard Stark, Donald Westlake wrote the Parker Novels. Under his own name he wrote other fantastic books. Below you will find a link to a review of a book that a friend of mine, Alex wrote.
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Don't Be Shy...

Stop on in and tell us about your favorite Parker novel or just say a quick hello!

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  • Reply
    drifter0658 Oct 12, 2011 @ 11:21 am | delete
    I have returned!

    Back in August, I began with The Hunter...and now I am at Comeback. pure candy, I tell ya, c-a-n-d-y.

    So much so, I have started to publish a series of short stories featuring my own crime noir protagonist. And this lens will be featured on his.

    Oh...his name?

    Alexander Black, but if you utter it more than three times, just hope you are one of the few lucky ones in his fold. ;)
  • Reply
    BevsPaper Oct 12, 2011 @ 1:17 pm | delete
    Ahh! We have missed ya, my friend! Alexander Black, ya say....mmmm...me thinks I will need to read his crime stories. If you wrote them, I know I will love them. So, should I be looking for a lens or are they published at EWNN?
  • Reply
    drifter0658 Oct 12, 2011 @ 1:41 pm | delete
    well...where should we start? here is his lens... http://www.squidoo.com/fiction-crime-alexander-black

    From there you can find his 'home', his FanPage, and his Twitter account. For someone of his stature, he sure has embraced the social media ;)
  • Reply
    BevsPaper Oct 12, 2011 @ 6:24 pm | delete
    I'm off to see the wizard...wait a minute that is the wrong story! So, I'm slinking down dark alleys, cautiously looking around for...ah shucks...you'll know I was there. Should I bring a weapon?
  • Reply
    drifter0658 Oct 12, 2011 @ 6:42 pm | delete
    LOL--- nah...but don't pose as a bad guy type ;)

    BTW--- you got my 1500th Squidoo comment!!
  • Reply
    drifter0658 Aug 11, 2010 @ 11:15 am | delete
    Well...as you know, I am a huge Westlake fan, which includes his pen names as well. Parker is a fun character to travel with. This was a fun lens to travel and kick dust from memories.

    Look for this to be featured somewhere...maybe even by the end of thew day! The mystery is in your hands!
  • Reply
    BevsPaper Aug 11, 2010 @ 5:27 pm | delete
    Oh Cool! I'll put my Sherlock Holmes hat on and go looking for clues!
  • Reply
    OhMe Jun 8, 2010 @ 3:11 pm | delete
    I really like the way this lens looks - very nicely done! I haven't read any of the Parker Novels and they really don't appeal to me for some reason but I do enjoy a good mystery. You may have convinced me to try at least one, though.
  • Reply
    mbgphoto Dec 8, 2009 @ 7:24 pm | delete
    I've never read these, but I like mysteries and thrillers so I now have another entry for my 2010 to read list! Thanks.
  • Reply
    superbookdepot Oct 26, 2009 @ 5:47 am | delete
    Nice and very beautifully laid out lens. I would really appreciate it if you visit my Best Mystery & Thrillers Books lens and put your views there. Hope you will take out some time to rate it too.
    http://www.squidoo.com/mystery-and-thrillers-best-sellings-books
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BevsPaper

I sell used books at The Paper Trail. Parker Novels can be found there.

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The Last Parker Novel 

Dirty Money

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