Jimmy the Kid

By Donald E. Westlake

Taking cues from a pulp novel, Dortmunder arranges a kidnapping.

Kelp has a plan, and John Dortmunder knows that means trouble. His friend Kelp is a jinx, and his schemes, no matter how well intentioned, tend to spiral quickly out of control. But this one, Kelp swears, is airtight. He read it in a book.

In county lock-up for a traffic charge, Kelp came across a library of trashy novels by an author named Richard Stark. The hero is a thief named Parker whose plans, unlike Kelp and Dortmunder's, always work out. In one, Parker orchestrates a kidnapping so brilliant that, Kelp thinks, it would have to work in real life. Though offended that his usual role as planner has been usurped, Dortmunder agrees to try using the novel as a blueprint. Unfortunately, what's simple on the page turns complex in real life, and there is no book to guide him through the madness he's signed on for.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Head of Zeus
• Release date: Jun 1, 2014
• ISBN: 9781784088972

Donald E. Westlake

Donald E. Westlake has written numerous novels during the past 40 years, under his own name and various pseudonyms--most famously Richard Stark. He is generally regarded as the greatest writer of comic mystery of all time. Many of his books have been made into movies, including The Hunter which was filmed first as the noir classic with Lee Marvin and Angie Dickinson, and then as Payback starring Mel Gibson. He has won three Edgar Allan Poe Awards, and has been named a Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America.

Reviews for Jimmy the Kid

[eetzel_2 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

One of the few Dortmunder books I do not like. Probably for the same reason Dortmunder doesn't like the caper. The fake Richard Stark book. At least I assume "Child Heist" is a fake book. It is just a rewrite of "Ransom of Red Chief" with a Dortmunder spin. Maybe if I hadn't seen the Gary Coleman movie before I read the book I might have enjoyed it. Oh well.

[bjkelley · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Juggling 3 points of view - Dortmunder's, a fake Richard Stark novel, and Jimmy The Kid's, Westlake melds all three expertly into one story that is entertaining from start to finish. Highly recommended to anyone who likes a comic crime caper.

[miaculpa-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

"Jimmy the Kid" was my entree to the world of John Dortmunder and his cohort of thieves in New York. Dortmunder has been funnier than here but full points for Westlake's pisstake of his own pseudonymously published novel "Child Heist".Dortmunder's gang decide to follow the plot of "Child Heist" and kidnap a kid for ransom. Of course, in "Child Heist" everything goes right for the gang but sadly not so in "Jimmy the Kid".NB: I saw the film "Jimmy the Kid" starring Garry Coleman" many years ago and I can't remember it following the book's plot too closely.

[ccookie_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this, the further adventures of the Dortmunder Gang. I read this many years ago and it was still on my shelves as a fun read and I was not disappointed in the reread. It reminded me of the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich in that it is a quick read, does not strain the powers of concentration and made me laugh right out loud. Fun, fun, fun!

[bookconcierge · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

3.5***

John Dortmunder is at it again. Talked into a “perfect” kidnapping plot by his “friend” and previous cohort, Andy Kelp, he tries everything to pull of the big caper that is certain to make the gang a fortune. Recently, while a guest of the county for possessing burglar tools, Kelp came across an interesting mystery story in the prison library. Child Heist by Richard Stark outlines a perfect crime – the kid is unharmed, and the kidnappers get away scot free. All the details are there, they just have to follow them in real life! What could possibly go wrong?

A lot.

I love Westlake’s writing, and particularly enjoy the comic capers of John Dortmunder and his gang of inept accomplices. Of course they’ll pick a kid who is smarter than all of them put together. Jimmy’s resourcefulness and superior intelligence serve him (and the gang) well. The cops are as hapless and unlucky as the gang.

As I was reading, I kept thinking what a fun movie this would make. Obviously not an original idea – it’s been adapted THREE times: in Italy (1976), in the US (1982 – starring Gary Coleman!), and in Germany (1998).

[wjohnston_43 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Westlake gets a bit meta as Dortmunder and friends plan a kidnapping based on a Richard Stark book, 'Child Heist.' This one was long out of print until Mysterious Press reissued it last year, and I think it's the only Dortmunder book I hadn't read.It's what you'd expect from a Dortmunder novel - nothing goes as planned, there's a bit of humor, and things turn out generally OK in the end. Westlake includes some chapters from the fake Parker novel, which read as a Stark novel would (although I have trouble imagining Parker would go along with a kidnapping - it just doesn't seem like his style).A couple minor quibbles with this particular edition. For some reason, British spelling is used throughout (colour and tyres, for example), and there are a few minor layout errors. It looks like Mysterious Press is reissuing most of the Dortmunder stuff in uniform trade paperback editions, which aren't quite as nice as the University of Chicago Parker reissues.

[stahl2ricco · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Fun, and funny! It's a book within a book, and a movie of it all too!Basically, Westlake gives us a Dortmunder and gang book called "Jimmy the Kid" that follows along another "book" by Richard Stark (wink,wink!) titled, "Child Heist" which features Parker! Kelp wants to use "Child Heist" as a blueprint for their next "job", but of course, the Dortmunder gang has an entirely different experience than the Parker gang! Loved the double layer of this story, great humor, and fun ending too! Definitely a treat to have the Westlake/Stark worlds collide!