Butcher's Moon

A Parker Novel, Book 16

By: Richard Stark

Narrated by: Joe Barrett

The 16th Parker novel, Butcher’s Moon, is more than twice as long most of the master heister’s adventures, and absolutely jammed with the action, violence, and nerve-jangling tension listeners have come to expect. Back in the corrupt town where he lost his money, and nearly his life, in Slayground, Parker assembles a stunning cast of characters from throughout his career for one gigantic, blowout job: starting - and finishing - a gang war. It feels like the Parker novel to end all Parker novels, and for nearly 25 years, that’s what it was.

©1974 Richard Stark; Foreword © 2011 by Lawrence Block (P)2013 AudioGO

Great story!

Where does Butcher's Moon rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This book ties together a lot of issues from other Parker books
. And once again... nobody cheats Parker. Cold and calculating, if you like Parker, you will love this!

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

The suspense was palpable, what do you do against overwhelming odds?

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

I find his voice a bit indistinct at times.

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

Just enjoyed another Richard Stark

Any additional comments?

Ranks among the top Parker novel for me.

Unrestrained retribution!

We join Parker and the rest of the string running ahead of the cops from a botched jewelry store job. An undetected alarm called the police. Parker was on a bad string of four jobs and he needed cash. He thought of the old armored car job in Tyler where he had hidden the loot in the longboat on the Desert Island in the Marooned building at Fun Island Amusement Park. That was two years ago. Time to see if it was still there. He called Grofield. It was gone. Mob boss Adolf “Al” Lozini was next, but he was heading the same way as Bronson from the past. Lozini said he didn’t have it, never had it. So much for the setup of the story. There’s a takeover in the works in Lozini’s organization, and a Mayorial election coming up in a matter of days with Lozini’s man dragging behind. These circumstances could spell the end for Lozini. But where was, or who had Parker’s money? Then again, it’s a fatal mistake to double-cross Parker or do worse. One of the most intense and violent volumes of the series. Quite out of character for Parker but one man pushed him too far. Back in 1974, this would have been the end of the series but thankfully, 23 years later Parker returned.

Loose Ends come back again

This book is a return for Stark to the Parker character after a years long hiatus, and a triumphant one at that for weaving in several hanging story threads from “Slayground” and other previous books. Stark always finds ways to improve and refine his stories, such as bringing Parker and Alan Grofield together for jobs even if Grofield suffers for them. Either from greed or hubris, Grofield keeps teaming with Parker. Parker, despite being annoyed with Grofield’s cavalier personality, demonstrates a strong sense of loyalty to him in saving his life when the job turns south (except for “Slayground”, although Parker was too occupied to worry about anyone else’s life). These dynamics hit a new high in the book, with Parker having to get creative in helping his partner make it home. Even Handy McKay notices Parker’s determination here. Other favorite tertiary characters return, heroes and villains, and Stark gives each of them their own demeanor and desires to distinguish them. It’s always fun seeing the fellow travelers in Parker and Grofield’s line of work as they drop into the story looking for their own scores so they can chase their own dreams.

Something that has been a running theme in the last few novels preceding this one, is Stark’s story climax. The plot is so tight and engaging, that when the final act starts it’s explosive with Parker or his friends gunning for their lives and money barely factoring in due to the danger. The first dozen books were not wanting for satisfactory resolutions, but it is evident that the later ones improved on that front. Easily one of the top ten best Parker books so far.

6 Stars

If allowed * * * * * *. Enjoyed the cameo appearances of Parker's partners in crime. Does crime pay?

Best of the Parker novels.

The others are novellas with highly formulaic structures, fun but predictable. This one is twice as long and has more extensive plot and unexpected denouement. Enjoyed it.

Maybe the Best - Certainly the Longest

This Parker book is over 10 hours. That’s more than twice what most of the books are. But it earns it. I highly recommend you read most of the others that are before this one first. Because now I am pretty sure if you like the Parker books, you could still enjoy this one on its own, it’s much better if you know some of the threads which get tied up in this one. This was the last book for many decades, end it works as kind of a temporary final chapter.

Thankfully Westlake did come back to the Parker universe over 20 years later.

So far, this is my favorite of the series. And that’s saying something, because I have liked a few of them quite a bit.

the best Parker book ever

THIS IS MY ALL-TIME FAVORITE BOOK OF THE SERIES

So intense! So intricate.

Loved it!

Parker

This has been my fave of the series! Very well developed . Joe does a great job of narrating.

Ed Mackey alive?

I love these books. I’ve just binged them in two weeks in order until this one. I know Don Westlake is not alive to help me through this, but I’m pretty sure Mackey died in the art heist in Plunder Squad.

Oh well, I liked him, so I’m happy to see him resurrected.

incredible

I have listened to 4 of parker's adventures and the last one was slayground, which was amazing, when I found out this was the final book and the conclusion to slayground I had to listen and what a ride it was