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Butcher's Moon

A Parker Novel
4.43 goodreads logo

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( 2,111 ratings, 240 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
In Butcher's Moon, the sixteenth Parker novel by Richard Stark, the master heister returns to a corrupt town where he previously lost almost everything. Gathering a formidable cast from his past adventures, Parker orchestrates a daring and brutal plan to ignite and end a gang war in one massive job. Twice the length of previous novels, this thriller delivers relentless action, violence, and tension that define the Parker series.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$3399

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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

Ideal for fans of crime fiction and thrilling heist stories, this novel suits readers who appreciate gritty, tense plots and complex anti-heroes. Those who enjoy classic crime thrillers or follow Richard Stark's Parker series will find Butcher's Moon a must-have addition to their collection.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

Knocking over a lucrative religious revival show, Parker reminds us that not all criminals don ski masks - some prefer to hide behind the wings of fallen angels. Backflash followed soon after, and it found Parker checking out the scene on a Hudson River gambling boat.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The sixteenth Parker novel, Butcher’s Moon is more than twice as long as most of the master heister’s adventures and is absolutely jammed with the action, violence, and nerve-jangling tension readers have come to expect.

Back in the corrupt town where he lost his money, and nearly his life, in Slayground, Parker assembles a stunning cast of characters from throughout his career for one gigantic, blowout job: starting—and finishing—a gang war. It feels like the Parker novel to end all Parker novels, and for nearly twenty-five years, that’s what it was.

After its publication in 1974, Donald Westlake said, “Richard Stark proved to me that he had a life of his own by simply disappearing. He was gone.”

Featuring a new introduction by Westlake’s close friend and writing partner, Lawrence Block, this classic Parker adventure deserves a place of honour on any crime fan’s bookshelf. More than thirty-five years later, Butcher's Moon still packs a punch: keep your calendar clear when you pick it up, because once you open it you won't want to do anything but read until the last shot is fired.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Critics praise Butcher's Moon for showcasing Parker at his finest, with Marilyn Stasio of the New York Times noting Parker has "not lost his touch - or his nerve." Stephen King recommends Stark's work as essential reading in crime fiction, calling Backflash a great starting point, while Elmore Leonard outright declares, "Whatever Stark writes, I read." These endorsements highlight the enduring appeal and quality of the novel.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780226770956

Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 15 April 2011

Country: United States

Imprint: University of Chicago Press

Contributors:

  • Foreword by Lawrence Block

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 2.0mm

Width: 14.0mm

Height: 20.0mm

Weight: 425g

Pages: 320

About the Author

Richard Stark was one of the many pseudonyms of Donald E. Westlake (1933-2008), a prolific author of noir crime fiction. In 1993, the Mystery Writers of America bestowed the society's highest honor on Westlake, naming him a Grand Master.

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