Flashfire: A Parker Novel

I read the original printing of the Parker novels when they came out. I have forgotten the plots & they are just as good the second time as the first. I highly recommend the series.

This Parker novel, in which Richard Stark's professional thief seeks revenge on three crime partners who do him out of his share of the score in a garden variety heist, is a good stand-alone thriller on its own, but surprisingly enough, the movie version with Jason Statham (called simply "Parker") is better. In "Flashfire," Parker's accomplices in a stick up that takes place in the first chapter want him to join them and kick in the lion's share of his end as "seed money" for a truly once-in-a-lifetime score, a multi-million-dollar jewel robbery in Palm Beach, Florida. Parker, partly due to native stubbornness but also because he thinks the job can't be done, resists. His now ex-partners take his share anyway and tell him they will be in touch. Instead, Parker gets in touch with them -- in a violent way. As anybody knows who has followed this series by Donald Westlake (writing as Richard Stark), Parker is not someone you want to cheat. He immediately sets out to even the score, pulling several stylish robberies in a row to raise the cash he needs to go to Florida, get his revenge and screw up his former colleagues' plans. Once he arrives there, he joins forces with Leslie, a real estate broker on the make who pushes her way in to his revenge scheme in the hope of making enough money to put a bad marriage and divorce behind her. The rest of the novel focuses on how our protagonist gets back at his former colleagues in truly Parker-esque fashion. This is a solid four-star novel, a perfect quick read with plenty of action and a minimum of extraneous business. The characterization is sharp and believable, the dialog works and the plot makes sense, given Parker's twisted code of ethics. But, as I said in the first paragraph of this review, the folks who made the Jason Statham film "Parker" from it have actually managed to improve on the original. (A DVD of the film, incidentally, will be available on May 21. It is available for pre-order from Amazon now at http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=parker.) For one thing, they eliminate a couple of characters who really don't move the story forward very effectively, including Leslie's semi-retarded sister (who figures in a subplot that sets up the book's ending in a way that isn't nearly as satisfying as the one in the film). Second, they dump a couple of subplots overboard that are simply weak and seem to waste the reader's time. The action unfolds in pretty much the same way, the key scenes are all there and the conclusion is virtually identical to that in the book. All that has been changed is a little bit of streamlining in the narrative which actually gives the story greater impact. In short, I give the novel four stars, but the film made from it a full compliment of five. Sometimes even a good writer can use some edits, and the ones that were made in the film version greatly improve the story.

Parker is a character you never get tired of and Richard Stark knows how to get the best from him! A great read!!

Parker novels never ceases to amaze and entertain. One of the best out of the many read. Lots of fun.

. Like a few earlier Parker novels, Flashfire begins with a successful robbery. This time Parker is teemed with all new people (recommended by his friend Hurley). But instead of splitting the loot the others all insisted that the proceeds be "invested" in a much more ambitious scheme, the robbery of jewels in Palm Beach. Parker opts out, but his partners insist that his cut remain in the "investment" and that he will be paid later. Parker does not work that way. Parker plots his revenge. Parker's main objection was that Palm Springs is an island with only limited entry and a huge police force specifically trained to protect the wealthy inhabitants of this Florida community. How can Parker get his revenge in the midst of all that security? Will he purposely cause them to fail in the robbery or instead tip off the police to their plan? Should Parker quietly kill his former partners, or assuming the robbery is a success, could he rob them after they score? Considering that Parker is a professional who would never interfere with another pro, how can he expect to succeed in getting revenge when he is one man against three? This novel carefully narrates Parker conducting several profitable robberies to build his resources for his intended scheme. Since his adversaries know him, he builds and new identify complete with legitimate ID cards, legitimate addresses and legitimate financial records, and a startling disguise. Finally Parker moves into Palm Beach and prepares his revenge. Flashfire is non stop action novel full of suspense and intrigue. If you like crime novels, you will love this Richard Stark story. I highly recommend this book.

Parker's adventures this time lead him to Palm Beach, where only people who did not have to work for their money are part of the elite. Just being rich is not distinction enough. You must also be known to have inherited or, just barely acceptable, married your wealth. Nothing as vulgar as work or business counts. And yet, this old money elite is dead sure that they earned the right to live well. Stark masterfully depicts levels of caste distinction. Parker has not come to rob, his usual craft, but mainly to take revenge. That is a matter of principle with him. His professional ethics don't allow him to let people live who have once double-crossed him. Could be though, that at the end of the revenge, he will also be able to carry away some loot. In pace, action, and narrative efficiency, this is among the usual high standard for Parker. In the plot, however, I see holes, for the first time in the series. Maybe I am wrong and there are no real holes. The gang wants to hide on the island after the heist, since escape will be near impossible, but they have chosen a house that will surely be searched. Not convincing. Parker had disagreed with the project and stayed out of it. So would I have. Ahem. Did Stark want to show us that these gangsters are idiots? The flaw is so obvious. Similarly, their heist itself, while flashy and implemented with pizzaz, has an element of illogic with regard to the tools used... But explaining this would be a spoiler. Or: the meddling woman, who desperately wants in on the heist as a way to a new life, behaves so recklessly that it can hardly be plausible, other than as a disguised suicide attempt. Crazy people do exist, but this person had been painted as a calculating risk taker, not as an outright nut who would walk into annihilation without blinking. I tend to give Stark the benefit of doubt, ie he must have been aware that the heist here is flawed, and that the woman is desperately crazy.

Not enough that Donald Westlake is one of the most liked writers of mystery... his much-loved Dortmunder a unique star in his own sub-genre... but then he has to also be Stark, cranking out a dozen of these tough, square-jawed crime novels in which the good guy is a very bad guy. If you are a Westlake fan, but not aware of Parker (and check out the movie by that name, starring Jason Statham) open up the door to a new binge. If you are not a Westlake fan, get with the program.

I am a tremendous fan of Donald Westlake/Richard Stark and I am knee deep in the Chicago Press reissues of the Parker novels. Actually I am not knee deep at all, I read the Parker novels with such childhood enthusiasm I am often sad that I have to wait months for the next set of books to come out. Firstly, "The Hunter" is the one Parker book that anyone who enjoys flawless character development and a true hard boiled crime story, should read. However, there are no bad ones in the series, Westlake was just too prolific and therefore some of the books are better than others. Flashfire is one of those "better" Parker books. Great story, paced perfectly, and the writing is as hard and gritty as you could possibly want from Westlake. I recommend this book highly. That saying about , "page turners" or "can't put it down"...yeah! That's what this one is. Go Buy it!

A villains perspective

I watched the film Parker and saw it was based on a novel. I often find novels better than the films and as I enjoyed the film thought I would give this a go. Well worth it and I will be working my way through the rest of the collection.

I have enjoyed Richard Stark's (Donald E. Westlake) books for many years, 'The Outfit, Prime Cut, I went to see 'Parker' yesterday &was pleasantly surprised how close the film version was to the original 'Flashfire'. Story. I still have the other 'Parker' books to read on my Kindle recommend all my friends to read them.

Any one who has not discovered this author is missing out. Flashfire had everything you want -a taut plot, good characterisation and even humour especially near the end.

This is a good book with a good story, I am now getting addicted to the author. Be aware that this book is also published as Parker, after the film that was made of it.