author
Donald E. Westlake
1933–2008
Best known for blending razor-sharp plotting with a sly sense of humor, this prolific American writer created both the cool, ruthless Parker and the unlucky but lovable John Dortmunder. Over a long career, he became one of crime fiction's most admired and versatile voices.
5 Audiobooks
They Also Serve
by Donald E. Westlake
Call Him Nemesis
by Donald E. Westlake
The Risk Profession
by Donald E. Westlake
The Spy in the Elevator
by Donald E. Westlake
Meteor strike!
by Donald E. Westlake
About the author
Born in Brooklyn on July 12, 1933, Donald E. Westlake built an extraordinary career that produced more than a hundred books, mostly crime novels. He wrote in several modes, but readers especially loved the way he could move between hard-edged suspense and comic capers without losing his grip on character or plot.
He is closely associated with two memorable series: the Parker novels, published under the pen name Richard Stark, and the comic books featuring John Dortmunder. That range helped make him a standout in mystery writing, and his work earned major recognition, including multiple Edgar Awards and the Mystery Writers of America's Grand Master honor.
Westlake also wrote for film, receiving an Academy Award nomination for his screenplay adaptation of The Grifters. He died on December 31, 2008, while on vacation in Mexico, but his books remain a touchstone for readers who enjoy crime fiction that is smart, lively, and expertly constructed.