Jimmy the Kid

A Dortmunder Novel

By: Donald Westlake

Narrated by: Brian Holsopple

Kelp has a plan, and John Dortmunder knows that means trouble. His friend Kelp is a jinx, and his schemes, no matter how well intentioned, tend to spiral quickly out of control. But this one, Kelp swears, is airtight. He read it in a book.

In county lock-up for a traffic charge, Kelp came across a library of trashy novels by an author named Richard Stark. The hero is a thief named Parker whose plans, unlike Kelp and Dortmunder's, always work out. In one, Parker orchestrates a kidnapping so brilliant that, Kelp thinks, it would have to work in real life. Though offended that his usual role as planner has been usurped, Dortmunder agrees to try using the novel as a blueprint. Unfortunately, what's simple on the page turns complex in real life, and there is no book to guide him through the madness he's signed on for.

©1974 Donald E. Westlake. Recorded by arrangement with Mysterious Press.com, LLC (P)2013 HighBridge Company

Another great Dortmunder

Dortmunder reluctantly gets involved with Andy Kelp in a kidnapping this time. As usual, there are many amusing missteps and mishaps , but it is a fun ride and thoroughly enjoyable. You don't want to miss it!

What a hoot!

I love the Dortmunder series for what it is! Give me more and more of the gang that could shouldn't shoot straight. I am happy to laugh my way through their escapades time after time. Here is a book that you can read with a light heart and a big laugh. Here is a book that isn't pretending or even trying to be great literature. It has no depth. It has no message. It doesn't even call out for a review.

The Kid Steals the Show

Any additional comments?

Another great entry in the Dortmunder series. I was laughing out loud at a scene where Dortmunder's gang is trying to pull off a kidnapping while in rubber masks.

Dortmunder Does It Again

Outstanding entertainment. Good and evil? There is no evil. Just entrepreneurship. Clever plot with twists. Brian's voice brings the characters to life.

What's up with the narrator

This is a great story, but the choices made by the narrator are inexplicable. Kelp's voice is so high he sounds like a bad cartoon character. Both of the women have 30-year, four pack a day voices. They are indistinguishable from one another. Loved the book...not so much the narration.

A Comic Tour de Force

I've never seen a writer simultaneously:

1. Write a novel based on another novel that he never wrote.
2. Use the first, comic novel to satirize his own darker, more serious work.
3. Make me laugh so hard I almost fell out of my chair. Seriously.

To get the full comic wattage out of this little gem, start at the beginning. That means the first two Dortmunder novels, and at least the first two or three Parker novels (written under the Richard Stark label). Don't worry. You'll enjoy them. And you'll be fully prepared to enjoy this one even more.

At first, Brian Holsopple struck me as a little stiff. But as the story unfolded, I realized his semi-serious local newscaster tone was just that: semi-serious, the perfect key for this hilarious misadventure.

A fun crossover

Dortmunder and the gang come across a thrilling crime novel about a team heist led by a professional thief named Parker. Not only does it feature a decent plan like one they could have come up with, it's quite feasible how well the scheme worked out for the characters in that story. So as long as Kelp, Murch, and the others stick to the same plan, what could go wrong?

What they'll never know is, in an almost meta twist, that book's author, Richard Stark, is a pen name of the very author who writes the books they unknowingly live in. In our world, Stark's books have more grit, edge, and those characters are more prone to choose violence than Dortmunder and his friends. Meanwhile, "what could go wrong" is a primary comedic premise of the Dortmunder series, and its author, whose real name is Donald Westlake, is reliably up to the challenge of giving a clever answer to that question in his books, at the gang's expense of course.

The narrator has performed a couple of the Dortmunder audiobooks, and does good voices that give life to the comically likeable characters without distracting or breaking the immersion from the thrilling twists and turns of the story.

Early on, it felt like some details were missing, like the plan was underway without us the readers knowing very well what it was, but snippets of the contents of our protagonists' new favorite novel are revealed alongside their enacting of it, so the reader gets to experience the hilariously "stark" (sorry not sorry for the pun) contrast of results between the two.

I'm loyal to a different reader

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

The book was fine. It's not one that I would recommend. To recommend a book I have to find it especially good.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Having read Westlake before, the ending was predictable. Endings are not the reason I listen to a Westlake book. I listen for the humor and fun between the beginning and the end.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

I am sure that Brian Holsopple is a great narrator for many books. With that said, the first 2 Westlake books I listened to were read by Jeff Woodman. His narrating was spot on, and enhanced the books, which is what a good reader should do. Holsopple's voice for women was exceedingly annoying, whereas Woodman's was wonderful. I bought 3 more Westlake books that I have not yet listened to. Sadly, only one was read by Woodman - which I did not know when I bought them.

Did Jimmy the Kid inspire you to do anything?

No.

very funny

Would you consider the audio edition of Jimmy the Kid to be better than the print version?

It's Donald Westlake at his best. A great since of humor.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Mom, is the person you encounter on any day in customer service work.

Which character – as performed by Brian Holsopple – was your favorite?

Holsopple made each person come to life.

cartrip go to

held driver's attention! great for adult friendly experience. would recommend to a friend and listen again.