The Man with the Getaway Face

By: Richard Stark

Narrated by: John Chancer

Parker, the ruthless antihero of Richard Stark's eponymous mystery novels, is one of the most unforgettable characters in hardboiled noir. Lauded by critics for his taut realism, unapologetic amorality, and razor-sharp prose-style, Stark is a master of crime writing, his books as influential as any in the genre. Parker goes under the knife in The Man with the Getaway Face, changing his face to escape the mob and a contract on his life. Along the way he scores his biggest heist yet: an armored car in New Jersey, stuffed with cash.

©1963 Richard Stark (P)2010 AudioGo

Master of the ‘criminal procedural’

Crisp and economical prose, great characterization, a joy to read for crime buffs! (Padded for 15 word minimum)

Richard Stark, Minimalist

Strip away all the striking imagery and insights you find in, say, a Ross Macdonald novel, and you have a Richard Stark novel. For me, the merit of these books lies in their lack of frills—a style consonant not only with our author's pen name, but with his antihero Parker, who prefers simplicity above all things in his life and work.

Of course, there’s also the fascination of seeing how a “job” was planned and executed in the days before the Internet, iPhones and the Dark Web. And I admit I enjoy taking a vacation from responsibility and slumming with the crooks—in this second installment, I’m already beginning to root for Parker (a little). And I very much enjoy the way John Chancer reads these stories.

Excellent

Another great choice from the Plus catalog. Solid old school definitely worth being listened too

Book 2 builds on the first

Parker gets plastic surgery to evade the outfit, which he tangles with in book one.

Like real life things don't go as planned and Parker has to deal with several unexpected twists

I love all the Parker books

I love the slow pace, the exciting moments, the story line. Always a joy to read a Parker book.