Bank Shot

A Dortmunder Novel

By: Donald E. Westlake

Narrated by: Jeff Woodman

With the help of an unusual set of cronies, bank robber John Dortmunder puts a set of wheels under a trailer that just happens to be the temporary site of the Capitalists' & Immigrants' Trust and hauls it away. But when the safe won't open and the cops get close, Dortmunder realizes he's got to find a place to ditch the "bank".

Listen to more Dortmunder capers.©1972 Donald E. Westlake (P)2010 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

All-Time Top 100 Mysteries (Mystery Writers of America).

great story - well narrated!!!

Happy I discovered Donald Westlake. I love Thomas Perry's capers such as 'Metzger's Dog' (except his Jane Whitefield stories), this is similar! Great fun to listen to and well narrated by Jeff Woodman who I sometimes find a bit whiney (e.g. Chris Grabenstein stories). Don't miss out!

Lots of fun but felt a little rushed at the end

A fun caper with lots of ridiculousness and clever character foibles. It definitely does not require you to remember or even to have read the previous book. My only gripe was that the end wrapped up too fast which made it feel a bit disappointing. But I did enjoy right up to the end.

Great Read

Westlake really knows how to "spin a yarn". Each character is terrific. An implausible plot, but I felt like this could really happen.

Amusing Crime Hijinx from Dortmunder and Crew

If you could sum up Bank Shot in three words, what would they be?

"Stolen bank job." Why waste time cracking the safe onsite when you can drag off the whole bank and crack it at your leisure. That's the hypothesis that Dortmunder and crew test in this, the second book in the series.

What other book might you compare Bank Shot to and why?

Westlake's Parker series, written under the pen name of Richard Stark, are incredible heist novels of a different sort. The tone is dark and the main characters are generally competent. The Dortmunder novels are a lighter take on the heist story, filled with quirky characters, sloppy execution, and general hilarity. These are thoroughly enjoyable listens (both series).

Have you listened to any of Jeff Woodman’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Jeff Woodman is the perfect choice for this book. He does a fantastic job, putting just enough character into each voice to differentiate them without sounding like one-man's attempt at a full-cast dramatization. After hearing Jeff, I can't imagine anyone else reading these.

Bank on the Run

What did you love best about Bank Shot?

The outrageous idea of steeling a bank. Fresh idea.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Kelp, unbelievable character. Too ditsy to be true. Merch's mom is a hoot.

Have you listened to any of Jeff Woodman’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Only the Dortmunder books. The characters are coming along quite well.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

HAVE BANK WILL TRAVEL!!!

Any additional comments?

Not to long a book definitely a one day listen and truly hysterical. This group is a dense as a bag of nail. I found myself talking to myself saying your on the phone to long they can trace, or your giving them enough information so they can find out who you are. Funny, Funny, Funny.

Fun read. Excellent performance.

A classic Dortmunder yarn.
Good characters. Lots of snags in the caper. Great dialogue. Nobody bleeds.
A perfect road-trip novel.

The Best

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. It's funny and clever.

What did you like best about this story?

Making the unbelievable believable.

What about Jeff Woodman’s performance did you like?

Each character voice was unique and seemed appropriate.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Laugh!

Dortmunder rides again

Any book with Dortmunder is tons of fun. The narrator was a little different from some of the others, but he's great.

Elmore Leonard fans—see what you've been missing

This was an unexpected treat. Vibrant characters, a plot that has plenty of hooks, and a lighthearted tone. As good as anything by Elmore Leonard. Penned in a style that says Westlake (who also wrote as Richard Stark) had fun at the typewriter. Makes for an entertaining and breezy drive. Can't miss.

Another terrific Dortmunder novel, well read

I've been an enthusiastic fan of Westlake's Dortmunder books for decades, and was very pleased to discover that someone had the sense to get readers that do them justice. In "Bank Shot," Jeff Woodman does an excellent job; his voices and tone are perfect for the book.

If you're not familiar with Dortmunder, you really should be: Westlake pretty much invented the comic caper novel with the gloomy John Dortmunder (the first was "The Hot Rock," also an excellent audiobook) and his group of somewhat misfit pals. The extraordinarily quirky situations they get into are invariably entertaining, and the curve balls Fate throws at Dortmunder have, on occasion, actually helped me see the comic side of my own misfortunes...not that mine are nearly as entertaining as Dortmunder's!

The only people I would not recommend this & other Dortmunder books to are those who absolutely hate to laugh.