Why Me?
A Dortmunder Novel
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Narrated by:
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Brian Holsopple
About this listen
The Byzantine Fire is much more than a flawless ninety-carat ruby. As a stone, it's worth over a million dollars, a value vastly increased by its pure gold band - but its history is what makes it priceless. A ring that has been fought for with sword and pen and passed from nation to nation by all manner of theft and trickery, has finally made its way to the United States. The US agrees to return it to Turkey, but it's about to be stolen twice more.
A gang of Greeks armed with Sten guns burst into the security room at JFK Airport and escape with the priceless stone, which they deposit in the safe at a small jeweler's shop in Queens. A few hours later, unlucky thief John Dortmunder, expecting a routine robbery, steals it again. Having unsuspectingly lifted the hottest gem in town, John Dortmunder becomes the prey of the FBI, the New York City police, terrorist groups from three nations, and all of New York's petty and not-so-petty crooks.
Much blood has been shed for this little ruby, and Dortmunder's could very well be next.
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When a sniper begins gunning down cops from the 87th Precinct in cold blood, it’s up to Detective Steve Carella to solve the case. With three cops already dead, Carella delves into the city’s underworld to search for the killer.
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Dang, it's about time for the 87th Precinct
- By Eric J. Toll on 05-17-14
By: Ed McBain
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Rising Sun
- A Novel
- By: Michael Crichton
- Narrated by: MacLeod Andrews
- Length: 11 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
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A riveting thriller of corporate intrigue and cutthroat competition between American and Japanese business interests. On the forty-fifth floor of the Nakamoto tower in downtown Los Angeles - the new American headquarters of the immense Japanese conglomerate - a grand opening celebration is in full swing. On the forty-sixth floor, in an empty conference room, the corpse of a beautiful young woman is discovered.
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THESE DAYS, EVERYBODY IS BUILDING WALLS
- By Jim "The Impatient" on 06-14-17
By: Michael Crichton
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Faces of the Gone
- Carter Ross, Book 1
- By: Brad Parks
- Narrated by: MacLeod Andrews
- Length: 10 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
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Four bodies, each with a single bullet wound in the back of the head, stacked like cordwood in a weed-choked vacant lot: That's the front-page news facing Carter Ross, investigative reporter with the Newark Eagle-Examiner. Immediately dispatched to the scene, Carter learns that the four victims - an exotic dancer, a drug dealer, a hustler, and a mama's boy - came from different parts of the city and didn't seem to know one another.
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Wish Brad Parks were more prolific!!!!
- By shelley on 02-16-18
By: Brad Parks
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China Trade
- The Lydia Chin/Bill Smith Series, Book 1
- By: S. J. Rozan
- Narrated by: Christine Marshall
- Length: 9 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
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Asian American private investigator Lydia Chin knows New York City's Chinatown, its people, and its ways as no outsider ever could. It's a city within a city, a rich melange of smells, sounds, dark shops, and close-knit families - a world all its own. And in all of Chinatown, there is no one like Lydia, who has a nose for trouble, a disapproving Chinese mother, and a partner named Bill Smith who's been living above a bar for 16 years. Hired to find some precious stolen porcelain, Lydia follows a trail of clues from highbrow art dealers into a world of Chinese gangs.
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Main character too immature and unbelievable
- By lindy parke on 05-12-21
By: S. J. Rozan
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Every Crooked Nanny
- A Callahan Garrity Mystery, Book 1
- By: Mary Kay Andrews
- Narrated by: Hillary Huber
- Length: 9 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
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After 10 years of cleaning up the dirt on Atlanta's streets, Callahan Garrity is trading in her badge for a broom and a staff of house cleaners. But, though the uniform is a little different, Callahan soon finds herself right back in the middle of a mystery when a client's pretty, pious 19-year-old nanny is gone...along with the jewelry, silver, and a few rather sensitive real estate documents. Before she knows it, the meticulous Callahan is up to her elbows in a case involving illicit love triangles, crooked business deals, long-distance scams, and a dead body.
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For light entertainment - Also reviews explained
- By Chicago Laura on 07-05-13
By: Mary Kay Andrews
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The Letter Writer
- A Novel
- By: Dan Fesperman
- Narrated by: David Bendena
- Length: 12 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
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Who exactly is Danziger? He's a writer of letters for illiterate immigrants on Manhattan's Lower East Side - "a steadfast practitioner of concealing and forgetting" for his clients, and perhaps for himself: He hints at a much worldlier past. What and whoever he really is or has been, he has a seemingly boundless knowledge of the city and its denizens. And he knows much more than the mere identity of the floating corpse.
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Mobsters and Cops, NYC, 1942
- By RueRue on 07-22-16
By: Dan Fesperman
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The Last Policeman
- The Last Policeman, Book 1
- By: Ben H. Winters
- Narrated by: Peter Berkrot
- Length: 8 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
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What’s the point in solving murders if we’re all going to die soon, anyway? Detective Hank Palace has faced this question ever since asteroid 2011GV1 hovered into view. There’s no chance left. No hope. Just six precious months until impact. The economy spirals downward while crops rot in the fields. Churches and synagogues are packed. People all over the world are walking off the job—but not Hank Palace. He’s investigating a death by hanging in a city that sees a dozen suicides every week—except this one feels suspicious, and Palace is the only cop who cares.
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Not your regular mystery
- By Victor @ theAudiobookBlog dot com on 09-20-16
By: Ben H. Winters
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The Firefly
- By: P. T. Deutermann
- Narrated by: Dick Hill
- Length: 15 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
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At midnight, in a secret medical clinic in Washington, D.C., two foreign doctors and their team are completing plastic surgery on an anonymous client who is changing the appearance of his face, among other things. After the procedure, the client begins to stir - and suddenly the operating room erupts in violence, and the clinic is ablaze.
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Great stuff... no place to quit.
- By karen on 06-17-12
By: P. T. Deutermann
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No Lesser Plea
- Butch Karp and Marlene Ciampi, Book 1
- By: Robert K. Tanenbaum
- Narrated by: Traber Burns
- Length: 11 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
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Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Roger "Butch" Karp has been around New York long enough to realize that the judicial system can be dirty and cynical. But he still believes in justice. So when a vicious sociopath tries to dodge a brutal murder charge by convincing the court he is incompetent to stand trial, Karp teams up with firecracker Assistant DA Marlene Ciampi to unleash the full force of their relentless energy, hardboiled wit, and passion for the truth to put the killer away for good. They will accept no lesser plea.
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A Decent LIsten
- By Ted on 08-31-14
What listeners say about Why Me?
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Kitewood
- 10-27-23
Entertaining; caveat for dated slurs.
I love Dortmunder stories. Westlake is an all-time favorite. I did find the racial/gay slurs a bit jarring, but I’m old enough to be able to take in in the context of the time and simply overlook, understanding we have come a long way.
Performance was really good. Did find Andy’s voice a bit too high-pitched and Mae’s sounded like she was a man due for an iron lung. When I read these books decades ago, I did not have these impressions. Still, John came through like the character we know him to be.
Now that I prefer audio to reading, I look forward to listening to my favorite books. Not all Dortmunders are done in audio, but enough to keep me amused for a while.
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- Mike From Mesa
- 07-13-14
Another delightful mis-adventure.
John Dortmunder scores his biggest prize accidentally. If it were anyone else they would be set for at least a nice vacation, but not Dortmunder.
The curse strikes again and John not only cannot get rid of the item but he has become a huge target for both the police and the underworld. He biggest goal is to somehow survive his "good luck" and live to see another day. What a hoot!
Donald Westlake has created a wonderful character with John Dortmunder and I have found every one of the first 5 novels well worth the time and money. I have not been disappointed with the characters, the stories or the wonderful finishes Mr Westlake has come up with. After a little rest (and some more serious books), it will be on to #6.
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2 people found this helpful
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- aemsab
- 01-27-15
Very entertaining but not for the thin skinned
The story is now dated, and the ethnic slurs run hot and heavy. But if you are old enough to understand the jokes I found it very entertaining. Not the usual Dortmunder story where he steals the same thing over and over again.
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1 person found this helpful
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- JB
- 07-06-21
Great story
Narrator was good. The story was fun and interesting. Dortmunder is a great character.
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- John
- 11-03-23
Dortmunder Contra Mundi
Usually, Dortmunder is contending with law enforcement, the quirks and foibles of his own friends, and of course the infamous Dortmunder luck. But here he's up against the NYPD, the New York underworld, the FBI, the CIA, assorted nationalist movements, terror groups, religious factions...oh yes, and the infamous Dortmunder luck. The result is the best Dortmunder yarn I've listened to yet. And Brian Holsopple makes it even more enjoyable.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Grandma G
- 05-22-15
Cool
Good listen. Easily passed the time on a 7 hr flight. Ready for more Westlake. Westlake. Westlake Westlake. Westlake. Westlake.
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- M. Hayes
- 05-30-19
I love the Dortmunder books
I love this series of books. The way that Donald Westlake wrote is wonderful. I was introduced to these stories when the movie “The Hot Rock “ came out in 1971.
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- Mary B. Wheeler
- 08-18-20
Rubies are hot
This is not my favorite Dortmunder, because the action is somewhat missing. But still fun! Enjoy!
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- Edvr Schl
- 11-20-23
The words?
The words! Not sure what else there is to a terrific story. Well maybe? No.
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- RJ
- 01-28-23
My greatest triumph!
John Dortmunder, an experienced thief, finds more than he bargained for. The 90-carat Byzantine Fire Ruby was one of the most valuable rubies in the world. Worth a quarter of a million dollars, the setting of pure gold, surrounded by blue and white sapphires doubled the price. The history of the ruby made it priceless. The jeweled ring was being transferred when it was stolen and moved to a local jewelry store. By coincidence, Dortmunder robbed this store, not knowing what he had. The story continues with the city-wide clamp-down to find the jewel and all the repercussions behind it. Westlake has used several narrators. I’ve listened to later episodes of Dortmunder, liking the narrator, William Dufris much better. Other than that, the story was very good.
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