The Handle: A Parker Novel (Parker Novels)

Richard Stark’s Parker novels never grow old and always keep the reader engaged and entertained. Every time I finish one of his novels, I think to myself, “That was one of his best novels yet… better than the last one…” and then the next one is better, even if you read them out of sequence.“The Handle” is a perfect example of what happens every time I read a new Parker novel. The flamboyant Grofield character is memorable, relatable, and struck a chord with me in this book. Stark writes, “Grofield heard music, movie-type background music. He heard it all the time, in every part of his life.”I am always hearing soundtracks and movie music in my heard. I’m a movie buff. If you too hear soundtracks in your life, then the Grofield character in “The Handle” is the book to get a “handle” on.The heist is intriguing, suspenseful, and dangerous in “The Handle.” Parker is hired to prove the old adage that “No Man is an Island,” when the Outfit sends him in to take out the insular, fortified and well-protected Baron.I am on to my next Parker book and I'm sure I'll face the Parker dilemma once again... trying to decide which is my favorite Parker novel. In the final analysis they're all good.

I am working my way through the Parker books in the order they were written and my favorite book so far is "The Score." This one is my second favorite. The story brings a bunch of elements from earlier Parker books into play. One of the great things about the Parker series is how each story builds on the previous one, so it is pretty cool to see things like the Outfit and Grofield make appearances. The Feds also make an early play and put the squeeze on Parker, whose invisibility to them has slowly been destroyed over the last few books, especially in "The Jugger."The caper is incredible and the stakes are high as Parker sets out to take down an isolated island casino. This Parker outing has the usual breakneck pacing Parker fans are used to. It is not unusual to read reviews which claim these books are too short, This was the first book where I would agree with that. So much goes on and things happen so fast that characters and motivations are introduced then pushed aside or left unresolved because the action moves forward relentlessly. This is OK with Parker books because you know things will come back to haunt Parker and his cohorts in future novels.I also think the perception of the books being too short comes from the pacing. You can really find yourself flying through the pages as you get completely caught up in the story. On my first sitting, before I even realized it, I had already plowed through 60% of the book and the big robbery was just starting.If you haven't read any Parker novels, I suggest you start with the first one called "The Hunter." By the time you get to this one, you won't even be bothering with reviews any more. You will already be on the Parker bullet train.

I enjoy Richard Stark's (a.k.a. Donald Westlake) Parker novels for several reasons. The Parker character is a strong "anti-hero" who the reader wants to succeed. Parker's plans for his capers are normally brilliant if executed well. Some unexpected interference always causes Parker to improvise during the operation. Parker tends to survive despite the serious complications, but never gets rich enough to retire.In "The Handle", Parker gets an unusual new challenge. The mob wants to hire him to rob a competitor. This guy, who calls himself Baron, bought an island in the Gulf of Mexico more that forty miles off the coast of Texas. The Baron built a fancy casino and pleasure resort and, since he is out of all legal jurisdictions, he sets his own rules. The Baron rakes in the money and the mob is left out. If Parker can steal all the Baron's money and destroy the casino, it may put the Baron out of business.The island is like a fortress with very little access. Boats can approach in two small areas, both easy to protect. There is no suitable place to land an aircraft. The Baron and several highly trained, experienced security personnel live on the island and keep it under constant surveillance. Security has the latest equipment and weapons.How can Parker manage this tough job? Considering Parker's habit of having brilliant plans go awry, what will happen this time? "The Handle" is a suspenseful novel with multiple actions scenes, interpersonal conflicts, and intrigue. I recommend this novel to those who love action thrillers.

Parker said, "So you want me to take his money away.""Right. I want you to pluck him like a chicken, scrape him clean. Don't just rob the place, burn it to the ground, rip it right off that God damn island and throw it in the sea. Gut it, like Couffignal. Or don't you know that one either?"Parker didn't. He said, "What's in it for me?"I read and enjoyed this book about a year ago. Re-reading it for this review, I found I enjoyed it even more."The handle" is thieves' slang for the loot, the take, the kitty; but Westlake/Stark is so clever, that he makes a key scene depend upon Parker seeing, and going for, a literal handle."Parker walked along the road toward the two men, and then he turned around and walked back toward the jeep. He passed the jeep and walked another twenty yards, and then turned around and did it all over again. On the second circuit he saw it, peeking up over the top of the wall, curved, plastic, black, alien. The handle. He let his lips spread in a smile. He started toward the handle."Every Parker novel adheres strictly to a four-part form- parts one, two, and four from Parker's point-of-view, and part three from other points of view- in this case, Parker's partner Alan Grofield (who will have his own adventure in  The Damsel: An Alan Grofield Novel ), and Wolfgang Baron, the crafty overseer of the offshore casino. "The gutting of Cockaigne," as one might expect, does not come off quite as planned.

As Luc Sante points out in the foreword, The Handle owes something to the vogue for James Bond, and it is much the worse for it. There's a pantomime villain (amongst all the other villains), an improbable plot (more so than usual) and a disappointing lack of weight in the atmosphere of the novel, where Parker doesn't quite behave like himself. At times he reads more like George Clooney's Danny Ocean.If you're this far into the series, however, you'll probably read it anyway!

Richard Stark's anti-hero,Parker, has shown in previous stories that business is business and personal feelings don't have any place in his line of work. This is particularly true in the case of 'The Handle' when Parker works not only for himself but for two of his most surprising partners to date, the 'Feds' and the 'Outfit'. A criminal called Baron has set up a Las Vegas style operation on a heavily defended island in the Gulf of Mexico where the United States has no authority. The 'Feds' want Parker to get Baron onto the U.S. mainland where they can arrest him, and the 'Outfit' want Parker to shut down Baron's very profitable gambling den which is making a lot of money at their expense. As usual, the question is not whether Parker will survive or not, but whether the difficulties thrown in his path are worth all his efforts. An old ally from a previous story is killed off and another barely survives but the usual trail of bodies ensure that the plot never falters and the excitement is maintained right to the very end. This is another terrific book from Richard Stark and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys superior detective stories.

I certainly enjoyed it but it felt a little disjointed and a bit rushed towards the end.

Good read

Good read