"Encyclopedias are heavy, and John Dortmunder is sick of
carrying them. While in between jobs, the persistent heist-planner is working
an encyclopedia-selling scam that’s about to blow up in his face. The cops are
on their way when his friend Kelp pulls up in a stolen Oldsmobile, offering a
quick escape from the law and a job that’s too insane to turn down. Kelp’s
nephew is an FBI washout who’s addicted to old-time pulp novels and adventure
stories. He tried being a cop, and now he wants to be a robber. His target: a
Main Street bank that has temporarily relocated to a large mobile home.
Breaking in is impossible—there are seven guards and a police station down the
street—but mobile homes were meant to be driven. Dortmunder just has to drive
the bank away."
Whatever can go wrong in Dortmunder’s elaborate attempts at larceny
invariably does, and in the most amusing and unexpected ways possible. Bank
Shot is more nutty and much better than The Hot Rock –which is pretty witty in it
of itself. The best part of the book is once his gang steals the trailer, they
have to hide it from the police (which involve stealing a few cars and trucks,
along with a hitch and some water-based paint), whom are –thankfully- comically
too inept to see the bumbling criminals are within their grasp.
The ending, as well, is perhaps one the most vivid and memorable parts
of the book –a purely absurd and hilarious string of set pieces.
There was a 1974 film based on this 1972 novel, but for whatever
reasons, the film version is only loosely based on Westlake’s book. It would be
interesting to see a faithful adaptation of the book, but it would have to be a
“period” comedy, as there is no way this plot would work in modern times, not
with the GPS technology and all the CCTV that is around.
Still, it’s a very funny book and a quick read. More Donald E. Westlake
is in my future for 2019, so watch out!
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