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  • The Dame

  • An Alan Grofield Novel, Book 2
  • Written by: Richard Stark
  • Narrated by: R.C. Bray
  • Length: 4 hrs and 40 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (6 ratings)

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The Dame cover art

The Dame

Written by: Richard Stark
Narrated by: R.C. Bray
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Publisher's Summary

Donald E. Westlake is one of the greats of crime fiction. Under the pseudonym Richard Stark, he wrote 24 fast-paced, hard-boiled novels featuring Parker, a shrewd career criminal with a talent for heists. Using the same nom de plume, Westlake also completed a separate series in the Parker universe, starring Alan Grofield, an occasional colleague of Parker. While he shares events and characters with several Parker novels, Grofield is less calculating and more hot-blooded than Parker; think fewer guns, more dames.

Not that there isn’t violence and adventure aplenty... The Dame finds Grofield in Puerto Rico protecting a rich, demanding woman in her isolated jungle villa, and reluctantly assuming the role of detective. A rare Westlake take on a whodunit, The Dame features a cast of colorful characters and a suspenseful - and memorable - climax.

©2012 Richard Stark (P)2013 AudioGO

What the critics say

"Marvelous.... Nearly half a century into his writing career, Westlake remains superb." ( Entertainment Weekly)
"Stark’s momentum is such that the more matter he throws into the hopper the faster the gears turn. The books are machines that all but read themselves. You can read the entire series and not once have to invest in a bookmark." ( London Standard)
"Crime fiction stripped down - as it was meant to be.... Oh, how the pages keep turning." ( Philadelphia Inquirer)

What listeners say about The Dame

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

Fun and frivolous!

Alan Grofield looks danger in the eye and asks two questions: can I make a joke, and can I get lucky with a lady?

This second Grofield book was far better than the first, as this is the thieving thespian finds himself in a murder mystery he must solve to save his own skin in Puerto Rico. An excellent tale, although the ending was a bit rushed.

R.C. Bray narrates this one excellently.

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

Brilliantly Fun

Richard Stark (Donald E. Westlake) is clearly having a blast with this Alan Grofield character. The plot in this installment is incredibly superficial (helping a gangster's soon-to-be ex-wife in Puerto Rico & trying to solve an Agatha Christie-styled whodunit), but the sardonically "Don't-Give-A-F*ck" protagonist just lives in the moment - seducing young women, giving the metaphorical finger to mobsters, punching faces when he feels like it, and stealing whatever he wants. Stark/Westlake writes clearly, delivers tongue-in-cheek sarcastic dialogue at every opportunity, and provides mind's-eye vivid descriptions. Yes, you need to suspend some disbelief (this story is hilariously implausible.. making MacGuyver escapes look self-evident), but if you can do it - this book is an injection of dopamine.

The casting of R.C Bray was sheer genius. He clearly understands the author's rollercoaster-ride intent and delivers a well-paced, well-acted reading (with exemplary diction, timbre, cadence, and tone).
Bray's voice-acting in this recording is something out of a Hollywood Talent Agency. He is clearly one of the best in the business.

This book is by no means the most consequential Thriller I have read
..but it was free and a brilliant distraction for a quiet snowy afternoon. If you can put aside some literary expectations and simply enjoy, it rates 9 stars out of 10. It's a big improvement on Book One in the 'Grofield' series.

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