Donald E. Westlake

Born in Brooklyn on July 12, 1933, Donald E. Westlake became one of the most prolific and admired American crime writers of the twentieth century. He published more than one hundred novels and nonfiction books, and his range was striking: some stories were dryly hilarious capers, while others were lean, tough, and unsentimental.

He wrote under several names, most famously Richard Stark. Under his own name, he created the unlucky thief John Dortmunder, whose schemes rarely go as planned; as Stark, he wrote the Parker books, centered on a cool, relentless professional criminal. That ability to move between comedy and hardboiled suspense made his work stand out and helped him build a wide, loyal readership.

Westlake also wrote screenplays and earned major recognition in the mystery field, including three Edgar Awards and the Mystery Writers of America Grand Master honor. He died on December 31, 2008, in Mexico, leaving behind a body of work that still feels lively, clever, and hugely readable.