Cops and Robbers

By Donald E. Westlake

Book Overview

The Grand Master of Mystery delivers "nerve-end-entertainment" when two of New York's finest set out to become two of New York's richest (Kirkus Reviews). Tom and Joe have been walking the beat on the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0446401331
• Release Date: April 1993
• Publisher: Mysterious Press
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.8" x 0.8" x 4.3"

Customer Reviews

Classic Comic Caper!

I have been trying to obtain all of Westlake's classic comic capers for a while now, a lot are hard to find, Cops and Robbers is no exception but believe me, it's well worth the time and money. Just in case you are unfamiliar with the term Comic Caper, a lot of Westlake's earlier independent storylines were classified with this title by his fans and the media. These books usually have a main character or two who is basically a nice guy/s but not always the most moral or ethical person. This person usually has a sudden monumental hurdle come their way and to achieve their goal or get their normal life back, has to deal with a range of eccentric characters along the way. The majority of these comic capers are crime capers. In Cops and Robbers a couple of New York policeman named Tom and Joe have had a rather hard life. Each day they carpool into Manhattan together watching Yuppies in their cars travelling in air conditioned comfort and wonder why life is so unfair. It is during one of these mornings that Joe tells Tom not long ago he walked into a convenience store in his uniform and robbed the place. These two decide that some crimes are justifiable, and decide as cops, due to their access they can pretty much commit any crime they want. They are also fully aware they will go to jail if they are caught so decide to limit themselves to just one crime. And if they are going to commit a crime it better be a big one. What to steal, what to steal? Tom and Joe will come with a grand plan, but to pull it off they're going to have to contact the mafia. Cops and Robbers has very likeable main characters. Written in 1972 it does show its age at times such as obviously they'd now have mobile phones and things like this, but then again their scheme probably couldn't work in today's modern world anyway. A very enjoyable novel, of Westlake's comic capers I've read so far this is one of my favourites. If you haven't already done so check out Westlake's other comic capers. The best three at an absolute masterpiece level are, Smoke, The Spy in the Ointment and a New York Dance (also published as Dancing Aztecs). Other comic capers also worth checking out are The Fugitive Pigeon, The Busy Body, God Save the Mark, Who Stole Sassi Manoon?, Help I am Being Held Prisoner, Castle in the Air, Enough and High Adventure.

Not Westlakes best, and getting dated, but still fun to read

This book is over thirty years old, and in a lot of ways evokes mental images of grainy color film from early 1970's cop movies like "French Connection," or "Serpico". Not that the plot has anything to do with those movies, it just has the feel of that time and place. A more innocent, slower read than what you would pick up today. I have read a lot of Westlake, and he is allways enjoyable. Westlake has made a career out of writing from a certain vantage point not too many other authors attempt. He follows the efforts and travails of the bad guys. This book, "Cops and Robbers," follows two police officers who are bored with their mundane lives. Events pile up on each other and they come to realize that the badge they carry gives them opportunities to steal, or pull off a big heist. Once this idea gets into their heads, it is too much for them and the story follows their plans to pull off a big one. As I said earlier, this is a slower book than I would expect to find todays mystery thriller writers produce. It is deeply concerned with the two officers motives where as today, the author would jump right into the action. Some of the plot structure I deeply disagree with, but it still works in the end if you suspend your cynical side. Westlake has not put out a book that I have come across yet which would put me into the position of saying dont try reading it. And Cops and Robbers is no different. Good, simple, fun.

A very good book - but not Shakespere (thank God)

I read this twenty or more yeaars ago and have re-read it 2 or 3 time. It's good clean fun, well written and entertaining. It is like junk food for the brain but that's not all bad... not at all.

really good

Involving,full of action,humorous but sad.Absolutely to read