Good Behavior

A Dortmunder Novel

By: Donald E. Westlake

Narrated by: Brian Holsopple

It was supposed to be a simple caviar heist. Dortmunder is almost in the building when the alarm sounds, forcing him up the fire escape and onto the roof. He leaps onto the next building, smashing his ankle and landing in the den of the worst kind of creature he can imagine: nuns.

Although decades removed from his Catholic orphanage, Dortmunder still trembles before the sisters’ habits. But these nuns are kinder than the ones he grew up with. They bandage his wound, let him rest, and don’t call the cops - for a price. The father of the youngest member of their order, disgusted by their vow of silence, has kidnapped his daughter, locked her in a tightly guarded penthouse apartment, and is attempting to convince her to renounce her faith. The nuns ask Dortmunder to rescue the girl. It’s an impossible assignment - but one he cannot refuse.

©1986 Donald E. Westlake (P)2014 HighBridge Company

Critic reviews

"Dortmunder is back - hurrah! Brilliantly done." ( The New York Times Book Review)

"[Westlake’s] most durable character.... Whatever can go wrong in the man’s elaborate attempts at larceny invariably does, and in the most amusing and unexpected ways possible." ( Los Angeles Times)

Great performance of a great Dortmunder story

A.k.a "the one with the nuns"

Thrilling, clever, and hilarious. The books in the Dortmunder series are some of my absolute favorites.

Good clean fun!

Sometimes you need a book that isn't dark, depressing or disturbing. This book is just such a book. It is "clean" -- limited curse words without violence .

A Return to Form

Any additional comments?

After a couple of Dortmunder books that were good but not great, this one was a real return to form. Dortmunder must pull off a job at the behest of some nuns. Yep, you heard me right. With a hysterical premise in hand, Westlake rounds up the gang and goes to work. There was a twist in the middle I didn't see coming AT ALL and I was seriously on edge at the end hoping that nothing else would go wrong. A wonderful bit of escapism.

Loved it

So different. Laughs and a few WHAT? Very good book with a marvelous narration. Highly recommend. Long time mystery fanatic.

Enjoy - it's Donald E Westlake

Funny, fast paced, politically incorrect, interesting, cute characters, nice twist, escapist, better than the current crop of this genre's proponents.

Hail hail the gang's back for another weird heist!

Glad that Dortmunder and the gang are back on audio! Nice narration, moves along well.

excellent read.

This is a superb example of why this author is the best. a must read.

Donald Got His Groove Back

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

Yes, it's a truly fun listen. Definitely one full day of pleasure. So much more humor in this one, not to mention a good story.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Good Behavior?

The nun choir scene. I know it's been done before but it never seizes to amaze me how hysterical that scene was to me. The reader did a good job helping to visualize it.

What does Brian Holsopple bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He found his pace in this one. So, so much better than the previous one. I wish he could do it over with this enthusiasm and control of the characters.

Outstanding.

Plot twists. Character development. Just an enjoyable Dortmunder caper. Savor the treasures that Donald has left us.

John Dortmunder

one of his best with the customary mix of oddballs, slightly bad participants and nuns to boot.