The Score

By: Richard Stark

Narrated by: Stephen R. Thorne

It was an impossible crime: knock off an entire North Dakota town called Copper Canyon - clean out the plant payroll, both banks, and all the stores in one night. Parker called it "science fiction," but with the right men (a score of them), he could figure it out to the last detail. It could work. If the men behaved like pros, cool and smart; if they didn't get impatient, start chasing skirts, or decide to take the opportunity to settle secret old scores…they just might pull it off.< /p>

©1964 Richard Stark. All rights reserved. (P)2011 AudioGO

Best Parker Book Since The Outfit

If you could sum up The Score in three words, what would they be?

Return To Form

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Score?

Parker's interactions with women both before and after a job.

Which scene was your favorite?

When Edgars reveals his pychotic side and starts shooting people and blowing the town up.

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

It was the perfect score. What could go wrong?

Any additional comments?

I prefer Stephen Thorne's reading than John Chancer's who tended to exaggerate the voices, sometimes quite differently than how I imagined them. While not quite as exciting as The Hunter (the original and still the best) and The Outfit, both of which feature a revenge theme, it is the best of the Parker heist stories so far and a return to form after the disappointing "The Mourner".

the series gets better and better

Parker is not a sympathetic character but each of these stories is engrossing well-written had well performed. They are certainly addictive.

Shut Up, Grofield.

In the opening scene of the first Grofield novel, he's just completed a job with Parker. But not until this, the fifth installment of the Parker series, do we get to see them together. Grofield's sallies of wit do much to alleviate the grimness that comes standard with these stories; hence my title, spoken at regular intervals by Parker throughout the narrative, like a leitmotif.

A second departure from previous stories is the appearance of a sociopath even more dangerous than Parker—one with a grievance. Granted, it’s a question of degree, but this new arrival succeeds in transgressing even Parker’s brutal, utilitarian code of professional conduct.

As always with Richard Stark (aka Donald Westlake), it’s easy to get sucked in, wondering if and how the bad guys will get away with it—and end up (almost) rooting for them. These books are so short they can have the impact of a movie, an effect heightened by Stephen Thorne’s flawless performance. He catches every conversational nuance.

Copper Canyon!

We find Parker in Jersey City, New York walking to the meeting place and things go wrong immediately. Parker is tailed. He braces the guy, the guy pulls a knife, Parker kills him. Parker proceeds to the meeting place, Pauliss’s apartment. Here he meets Grover Edgars, the setup man, middle-aged, no experience, arrogant, seemingly running things. Parker was out, he was leaving. Edgars convinced him to at least hear the setup. The job was outrageous; a town in a box canyon. An entire town! A refinery payroll, two banks, a jewelry store, and miscellaneous. Twelve men on the crew. So much for the setup of the story. This was one wild tale, the details and coordination were amazing. Considering there were twelve men of various backgrounds, experiences, and education, it’s almost unavoidable that something would go wrong. It could have been smooth and quiet and sweet.

Tough guys, crazy heist, good listening

If you can stand the 1950's social standards for noir crime stories, this heist job is right up your alley. I can't get enough of Stark's stories. Great narrator.

Best Parker story yet

Love these stories. The 50's noir and the detail. If I did crimes, I would want a partner like Parker.

Vintage PARKER

If you are a Parker fan, The Score will NOT disappoint. At this listening, l have heard most of the Parker novels and it’s amazing how Stark finds creative new ways to intrigue his fans. The story line is the same but….. never the same! I love it!

Best book so far in series

This is a straight forward crime caper.
We see how a heist is put together,planning it , anticipating possible problems, getting the crew necessary together
This book introduces a new character Alan Grofield who later has his own series by Richard Stark

this is a good one.

ever since i saw the movie Payback I've been on the look out for these books. When i saw them on audible I tore into them. each of them are good . I liked this quite a lot.

He should have passed on this job

I hated everything about this job, especially the payout to work with that many people. Too many unknowns for a meager boodle. Fun to dig into all those characters and this narrator had his work cut out for him and really delivered. On to the next one.