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Firebreak  By  cover art

Firebreak

By: Richard Stark
Narrated by: Michael Kramer
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Publisher's summary

For Parker, the amoral super-thief extraordinaire, it will be an excellent haul. The fact that the lead came from his old partners in crime, Elkins and Wiss, is no impediment to his joining their team and going for the score. The goods are a bunch of paintings by Old Masters kept out of sight in a dot-com billionaire's Montana lodge for his personal delight. The billionaire, Paxton Marino, has plenty of built-in high-tech security, so they've got their own systems geek, Lloyd, to defeat the electronic safeguards.

Naturally, in a Parker novel, no heist goes off without a hitch, and a federal agent investigating Marino's original art thefts gets involved, but that's the least of Parker's problems. As usual, betrayal and revenge are the order of the day.

©2000 Richard Stark (P)2000 Books on Tape, Inc.

Critic reviews

"The author delivers this novel with the economy of a 1950s paperback original, but slips in enough plot twists and surprises to satisfy the most modern audience." (Publishers Weekly)

What listeners say about Firebreak

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Can't miss...

These new Stark novels provide some fine entertainment. Modern touches like computers, internet, and cell phones bring this character into the present day. Parker is one cool cucumber. Robert Forster would be an ideal narrator for these books. He's the guy that did Block's <i>Hitman</i> so well. Nothing against Michael Kramer, he does a fine job. I just think Forster would elevate these audiobooks to award winning status.

I'm glad Audible is getting these new Stark titles. Gravy for the brain!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Parker's A Mean Dude.

Stark under whatever name he writes is to mystery as a millionaire's cabinet maker is to wood. He just makes everything fit, every joint flush, every veneer glimmer... if under this name... darkly. Like a potato chip, Stark's novels dare you to read just one. Betcha' can't. Oh, and Michael Kramer's voices fit every character like a pinup's bathing suit. Heh heh... Stark gets you thinking like that. Fun!

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Old School Crime Time

This is old school noir with lots of modern touches (Russian hitmen, internet etc). For fans who like tough pulp fiction type books with an emphasis on information on the criminal world, crime planning and serious action. Plenty of twists and surprises along the way make it a fun read. By the way the reader was perfect for this kind of book -smooth.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Fast and lively

Donald e Westlake writing as Richard Stark. Never a dull moment. Lots of subplot and lots of action.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A satisfying staple in the Parker series.

This was not the best of the series, but it was fun to listen to. As is often the case, Parker needs to outwit not only the cops but also other crooks. It is not deep; just another portrayal of my favorite thief surrounded by interesting comrades and antagonists. The plot was somewhat less believable than most of Stark's tales.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

thank you donald westlake!

I was so happy when I found out that Westlake wrote under another name! Great story and descriptive characters. I ordered all his others.

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