[.uk] What's So Funny? (Dortmunder Novels) (ISBN 0446582409)

Too much is never enough:
John Dortmunder, the brains behind his gangs various capers is roped into what appears to be an impossible heist. So impossible in fact that he is only going to undertake it to avoid being collared for another long forgotten theft. Those fans who have roared at the Dortmunder gang's travails all these years will not be disappointed in What's So Funny. It is easily the funniest Dortmunder in years. The only one funnier will be the next one, may they never stop coming. Those who are new to John and his pals will be able to get the full effect of a Dortmunder caper without having to read all the preceding novels but will most assuredly want to.

What's So Funny?:
Well written, as usual with Donald Westlake. Can't wait for the next one to come out!

TOO good!:
What's so Funny is that while you read this book you don't stop laughing! I am a fan of Donald E Westlake for a long time, and am never dissappointed by new books. The story flows so well, and you just have to get in and enjoy the ride. I do agree with my father who says that the story could have been more developed - there was so much potential there. but honestly! It was just SO FUNNY!! My sis claims that there were too many scenes featuring different people. yes, that's true, but it was so well written and it connected so well, that it didn't matter. MY only complaint is that it was too New-York. All Dortmounder books are. That's no problem for me - NY is my hometown, I was born here and so did my family for generations. But do non New Yorkers enjoy these books? shouldn't he consider that little detail while writing?

What's So Funny? You are, Donald!:
The answer to the question posed by the title is: This book. It's deranged and hilarious - typical Westlake. He's not slowing down after 35 or so years, which is good news. This is the latest (13th?) of the Dortmunder novels and shares much with its predecessors. All the gags are there: Gloomy and dogged Dortmunder finds ways to pull off impossible capers, Kelp still steals cars with M.D. plates, Murch finds the quickest route from point A to point B, Tiny Bulcher is still "tiny" and intimidating, the O.J. Bar and Grill on Amsterdam still has its clueless regulars and Rollo tending bar (strongly influenced I suspect by P.G. Wodehouse and Mr. Mulliner)... The plot involves a very valuable chess set brought back from WWII and allegedly the subject of a family swindle involving several of the books characters. One of them who doesn't have it but nonetheless lays claim to it hires Dortmunder and his gang to get it back. The only problem is that it's locked up in a vault under strictest security in the sub-basement of a NYC high profile bank corporation. Dortmunder would love to opt out, but another character is black-mailing him (gold-mailing?) into it: he is a retired cop and has managed to obtain videos of Dortmunder engaged in activities, which if revealed will land him right back in the slammer. Well, that's not even the half, quarter or eighth of it. The whole story teeters back and forth from the ridiculous to the sublime and back again. Somehow Mr. Westlake ties it all up with a pretty little ribbon at the end and almost everybody is happy.

Boring:
A good premise, but a bad execution. I'm not sure if this series is getting worse or other comedy crime novels are getting better, but this particular book was terrible. Westlake is off his game.