The Man with the Getaway Face Audiobook By Richard Stark cover art

The Man with the Getaway Face

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The Man with the Getaway Face

By: Richard Stark
Narrated by: John Chancer
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About this listen

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
Hard-Boiled Mystery Fiction
Engaging Crime Plot • Excellent Characterization • Crisp Writing • Unexpected Twists • Satisfying Ending
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Crisp and economical prose, great characterization, a joy to read for crime buffs! (Padded for 15 word minimum)

Master of the ‘criminal procedural’

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"Face" is a story in a similar vein as its predecessor. Parker is working a job and dealing with trouble from all angles. He gets through using his wits and toughness. If you liked "Hunter", you'll like this too, but "hunter" was more action-packed with a keener plot trajectory.

Not as Great as Book 1, but not half bad

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Not bad, but feels padded despite its brevity. As someone else mentioned, there is an absurd amount of detail regarding the names and numbers of highways, and even specifications of exits and underpasses. There's also an interesting subplot (or co-plot) about a brain-damaged chauffeur seeking revenge, but the main plot is a dull armored car heist.

Not as Good as the First

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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.

Richard Stark, Minimalist

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

Excellent

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this was my first for this author and I found it to be lively and fun.

lively and fun

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Richard Stark has succeeded in making a really bad guy “likable”. Even With a trail of bodies behind him,you still hope the “badder” bad guys don’t succeed. Enjoying this series. Short enough to not get bogged down but still completes the tale to a satisfactory end. Great narration adds to the enjoyment.

Liking the bad guy

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I listened to the Alan Grofield books and I liked them. Thought I would try the Parker books and I liked them as well. They are from an older time period so that’s been interesting to listen to as well. Parker is just likable to stand as a Mao characterize hero. It’s his rules that he has for being a thief that allows me to tolerate him.

Richard Stark has skills

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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

Book 2 builds on the first

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

I love all the Parker books

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