Get Real

Get Real
Donald Westlake
Grand Central Publishing, 2009. 278 pgs. Mystery/Humor

Westlake's latest is a ball of laughs and a veil of tears because it is one of John Dortmunder's funniest caper novels ever, but also his last (Donald Westlake died of a heart attack in
January). Who more deserving of taking one on the kisser than the producers of reality TV? In this book, Doug Fairkeep, said producer, discovers from Stan's mother, the cabbie, that Stan is a wheel man for a gang of thieves. Since The Stand, his current series involving roadside fruit sellers has run into problems, what better than a series showing real live crooks stealing stuff? At first Dortmunder and the gang are opposed because, really, what keeps the cops from watching a show like that? Things are "worked out" and the boys plan their next heist on camera, all the while eyeing a better target they can hit off camera. Get Real is laugh out loud funny throughout, a worthy ending to Westlake's brilliant career. How he will be missed.

LW