The Man with the Getaway Face

Parker needs a fresh start after his last job went wrong. He undergoes facial surgery from an underground doctor to change his appearance and escape those hunting him. With his new face, Parker joins a crew planning to rob an armored car in New Jersey. The job seems straightforward, but complications arise when someone from Parker's past threatens to expose him. Parker must navigate betrayals and double-crosses while protecting his new identity and ensuring the heist goes according to plan. The crew's tensions mount as the day of the robbery approaches. The novel explores themes of identity, reinvention, and the question of whether anyone can truly escape their past. Through Parker's transformation, the story examines how appearance shapes destiny in the criminal underworld.

Readers describe this as a fast-paced crime novel that maintains tension throughout. Many note it serves as a solid follow-up to "The Hunter" while functioning well as a standalone story. Readers highlighted: - The lean, straightforward writing style - Parker's ruthless efficiency and practicality - The heist planning details - The short length that avoids filler Common criticisms: - Less memorable than other Parker novels - Some found the ending rushed - A few readers wanted more character development Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (200+ ratings) Sample reader comments: "Simple but effective - Stark wastes no words" - Goodreads reviewer "Parker is fascinating because he's competent but not superhuman" - Amazon review "The plot moves like a bullet train" - LibraryThing user "Missing some of the depth of later books in the series" - Goodreads reviewer

The Professional by Robert B. Parker A mob hitman executes a string of calculated heists while maintaining his strict personal code.

The Hunter by Donald Westlake A thief seeks revenge against those who betrayed him during a heist in New York City.

Drive by James Sallis A getaway driver in Los Angeles takes on dangerous jobs while dealing with criminal forces who want him dead.

The Friends of Eddie Coyle by George V. Higgins A small-time criminal navigates the Boston underworld while working as both a gunrunner and police informant.

The Kill List by Frederick Forsyth A tracker hunts down a terrorist through international criminal networks using methods outside the law.

🔸 The Man with the Getaway Face (1963) is the second novel featuring Parker, a professional thief who becomes one of crime fiction's most enduring anti-heroes, appearing in 24 books total. 🔸 Richard Stark was a pseudonym for Donald E. Westlake, who wrote over 100 books under various pen names throughout his career, but considered Parker his darkest and most complex creation. 🔸 The book's plot centers around Parker getting illegal plastic surgery to change his appearance - a procedure that was largely fictional at the time but became more common in criminal circles decades later. 🔸 Stark/Westlake wrote the Parker novels in a distinct, stripped-down style that influenced many crime writers, including Elmore Leonard, who cited the series as a major inspiration. 🔸 The novel has been adapted multiple times in different media, including as part of the graphic novel series "Parker" by award-winning artist Darwyn Cooke.