I am re - reading Portnoy's Complaint...What a great book.

[mvccd1000]

7. Hard to say where to start

He wrote a TON, both under his own name and under at least one pseudonym. I think he has 70+ novels out there (just off the top of my head; it may be more). The Dortmunder books involve a jewel thief for whom NOTHING goes right - ever. Buildings built where his loot was hidden, armored cars hidden in barns that were covered when a damn was built and the reservoir filled, Dortmunder crashing through a skylight into a convent and being convinced by the nuns that he needs to commit a robbery for them... he has all kinds of interesting experiences.

One of my all-time favorite books is a non-Dortmunder book by Westlake called "Trust Me On This," about a serious journalist who somewhat unwillingly takes a job at a "National Enquirer-" type newspaper. (Her paper went under, and they offered her 4x as much money as she had been making.)

Westlake is a great satirical writer, and I've enjoyed most of his books that I've read.