Book Review: The Road to Ruin

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

The Road to Ruin     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Donald E. Westlake
Class/Genre:   Mystery
Series: John Dortmunder # 12
Mysterious Press, April 2004, $25.00, 342 pp.

Once he was society’s darling, invited to all the posh social events of the season, but now Monroe Hall doesn’t ever leave his Pennsylvanian estate and nobody he used to call friend comes calling. As an executive officer in a well to do company, he embezzled funds that belonged to the workers and the investors. A fleet of high powered lawyers have kept him out of jail and even though he declared bankruptcy, he is still living an affluent lifestyle.

Many people are out to get Monroe Hall including his investors who lost everything and three union workers who want justice (and money) for their 2700 members. The estate is heavily guarded and there is an electrical fence surrounding it. Hall never leaves his property so the people who want to kidnap him so they can force him to access his offshore accounts have to find a way in. Into this mix come John Dortmunder and his felonious crew who are able to secure jobs on the estate to steal Hall’s valuable car collection.

Fans of this long running series will definitely enjoy THE ROAD TO RUIN, in which every character walks on the wrong side of the law. The snappy dry wit repartee, the comical action scenes and the unexpected ending are just some of the reasons why Donald E. Westlake is such a fan favorite. The interactions between the various criminal groups are reminiscent of a slapstick comedy and readers will find themselves chuckling out loud at some of the situations they find themselves in. Dortmunder and his cronies become involved as they plan a heist that could net each of them millions of dollars.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner