This review originally appeared on my blog: Shared Universe Reviews The Mourner is the second novel from the Parker series by Richard Stark that I’ve read and I enjoyed it more than Slayground. Chronologically, it’s the fourth book in the Parker series, following The Outfit and preceding The Score. It’s important to mention this because plot elements found in The Mourner are taken from Parker’s first few stories, primarily The Outfit.Remember Bett Harrow from the opening pages of Darwyn Cooke’s adaptation of The Outfit? It turns out she took a gun with Parker’s prints on it during their time together and with Bett’s help, her father convinces Parker to steal a small statue for him in exchange for the gun and fifty thousand dollars. There is a problem, however. The statue is in possession of Karpo a diplomat who has been stealing money from his home country of Klastrava. The government of Klastrava sends their top agent, Auguste Menlo, to dispose of him and steal back the stolen $100,000. Realising they are in each other’s way, Parker and Handy McKay choose to work with Menlo to each other’s benefit. They do so knowing full well that Menlo will attempt a double-cross.The job is planned and executed as in many other Parker stories but Menlo’s actions keep things interesting. In fact, Menlo keeps much of the book interesting. He’s a strange and fascinating character. He’s very capable and resourceful but he’s out of his comfort zone working in a criminal environment. There are things about American culture he simple doesn’t understand. Richard Stark does a good job of writing Menlo. He doesn’t make Menlo look dumb or foolish. It’s made quite clear that Menlo has decided to turn a new leaf and that this change in his character is quite difficult for him.Out of all the characters in The Mourner Menlo is by far the most interesting and Stark was clearly aware of this. This book like all others in the Parker series is divided into four parts and Menlo gets one part entirely focused on him. It also happens to be the longest part of the book. Not to worry, Parker still plays a big role in the book. I don’t wish to make it sound as if Parker is predictable but it’s clearly been established at this point that Parker will come out on top sooner or later. It’s the difficulties that Stark puts in his path that make it interesting for the reader.The Mourner was more interesting than Slayground because the story takes place on familiar ground. Parker is doing his job and dealing with the complications. Stark also adds new story elements that embellish the story nicely by adding motivation and conflict for Parker and it all ties up nicely in the end. The thing Slayground does that The Mourner doesn’t is make things look like they’re challenging for Parker. Then again, he does get shot and left for dead in this one and we’re not entirely sure Handy McKay will survive either. Oh well, I’d much prefer a fully fledge character like Menlo than twenty faceless mobsters going up against Parker.
This is the fourth Parker book I’ve read in sequence and all have been very good. As one reviewer has said, Donald Westlake (writing as Richard Stark) is all about process and these books are nothing if not mechanistic in the way they unfold – and that is a virtue in books like these.The Mourner differs from the others, however. In this one, I get the sense that Westlake decided to have a bit of fun. He riffs on The Maltese Falcon. I couldn’t say whether its Dashiell Hammett’s novel or John Huston’s movie that provides the spark (I’ve seen the movie; I haven’t read the book), but as with The Maltese Falcon, the MacGuffin in The Mourner is a statue that a number of people want. (Granted, it’s a bigger deal in Falcon than in The Mourner.)I suspect it’s Huston’s movie that Westlake plays cutesy with. As I was reading, particularly in the first half of the book, I kept thinking, “Why does this Auguste Menlo character seem so familiar?” Then it struck me: he’s Sydney Greenstreet from The Maltese Falcon! Both the speech and physical appearance of the Menlo character are very similar to Kaspar Gutman, the character Greenstreet plays in the movie.The mechanistic aspect of how Parker stories unfold is as strong here as in any of the books but we also get a sense that, serious about his work though the author may be, he’s also playing.Having said that, Westlake is too skilled and creative a writer to simply do a Parker take on the movie. Channeling the movie in the book’s first half seems to have delighted him but the novel certainly goes its own way, especially in the second half.Once Part 3 kicks in with the usual Stark/Westlake switch to a new perspective (here, from Parker to Menlo), he starts adding detail, fleshing out the character of Auguste Menlo with background and motivation. Menlo becomes much more than the Greenstreet character from the movie, and more interesting – even sympathetic. In the end, we have one of the Westlake’s most interesting and engaging characters. A scoundrel with a cherub smile. This, along with the strands this Parker novel picks up from the three previous books, makes The Mourner my favourite of the novels I’ve read so far. I don’t like the word best but if forced to use it I would nominate this book while also hedging my bets by adding, “Or maybe The Hunter. It’s hard to choose.”(And I’ve said nothing about the femme fatale, Bett Harrow ...)
What do You think about The Mourner (2001)?
It wasn’t as good as the first three books, but it was still good. My mind wandered at times.KGB guy Menlo comes to the US to kill Kapor, a Russian diplomat who stole from the KGB. A woman blackmails Parker into stealing a statue from Kapor. Parker and Menlo end up working together.I was surprised at what Parker did after he was shot. Those kind of surprises are why I like this author.The narrator Stephen R. Thorne was good, but I wish he had a rougher, darker or more menacing voice for Parker. His Parker voice was too clean cut and normal sounding.THE SERIES:This is book 4 in the 24 book series. These stories are about bad guys. They rob. They kill. They’re smart. Most don’t go to jail. Parker is the main bad guy, a brilliant strategist. He partners with different guys for different jobs in each book.If you are new to the series, I suggest reading the first three and then choose among the rest. A few should be read in order since characters continue in a sequel fashion. Those are listed below (with my star ratings). The rest can be read as stand alones.The first three books in order:tttttttt4 stars. The Hunter (Point Blank movie with Lee Marvin 1967) (Payback movie with Mel Gibson)3 ½ stars. The Man with the Getaway Face (The Steel Hit)4 stars. The Outfit.Read these two in order:5 stars. Slayground (Bk #14)5 stars. Butcher’s Moon (Bk #16)Read these four in order:4 ½ stars. The Sour Lemon Score (Bk #12)2 ½ stars. Firebreak (Bk #20)(not read) Nobody Runs Forever (Bk #22)2 ½ stars. Dirty Money (Bk #24)Others that I gave 4 or more stars to:The Jugger (Bk #6), The Seventh (Bk#7), The Handle (Bk #8), Deadly Edge (Bk#13), Flashfire (Bk#19)DATA:Narrative mode: 3rd person. Unabridged audiobook length: 4 hrs and 11 mins. Swearing language: Christ used once. Sexual content: three scenes referred to, no details. Setting: 1963 various east coast U.S. locations. Book copyright: 1963. Genre: noir crime fiction.
—Jane Stewart
As you'll see as you work your way further through the series, Westlake does a lot of playing around with genre conventions--style, format, "rules," and themes. My sense is that this book was his nod to THE MALTESE FALCON. I would say that it's probably the second-weakest of the series (as far as I've read, my latest was SLAYGROUND), and you have a ways to go until you get to the weakest (I won't spoil it by telling you which), but then again "weak" Westlake is still pretty good. You're coming to THE JUGGER soon, a book many other fans would call one of the weaker entries, but it's actually one of my faves as I love what he does there with another common generic "type" of story.
—Bartbeaty
When Parker was in the middle of a night of passion with Bett Harrow, he got attacked by a would-be assassin from the Outfit. Parker dealt with the guy, but Bett ended up sneaking away with a gun that had Parker’s prints on it. Since his prints are on file from an old arrest and Bett knows his best assumed identity, this could lead to big problems.Turns out that Bett, who has a thing for the bad boys, has a rich daddy who wants to have a small statue worth a fortune stolen from a diplomat who doesn’t realize what he has. For a hefty fee and the return of the gun with his prints, Parker agrees to the job. However, the diplomat’s communist government thinks he’s been embezzling and sends their most trusted spy to settle the matter just as Parker and his comrade Handy McKay are setting up their theft. Will Parker be able to do the job and recover the incriminating gun?This is another stand-out Parker story with the usual complications and double-crosses screwing with what should be a simple job. Stark (a/k/a Westlake) uses this one to give us a better idea of Parker’s code of ethics, such as it is. While Parker is always a no-nonsense pragmatist who is willing to do things like torture people for needed info, he considers it a wasteful and unpleasant way to do things. He also shows that if he makes a deal, and if the other party holds up their end, that Parker will keep his word. (Usually.) But if anyone double-crosses him, then he’ll stop at nothing to get what he’s owed.Another surprising thing in this one is the loyalty he shows to Handy McKay. When circumstances make it appear that ditching Handy would be a safer and more profitable option for several reasons, Parker still sticks with Handy and does quite a bit for him. Maybe it’s because he’s the closest thing to a friend that Parker has, but it was a little surprising seeing the unsentimental thief stick his neck out for somebody else.
—Kemper
