Put a Lid on It
by Donald E. Westlake
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Book Summary Information
Author: Donald E. WestlakeEdition: Mass Market Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2003-03-01
ISBN: 0446612057
Number of pages: 290
Publisher: Warner Books
Product features:
- ISBN13: 9780446612050
- Condition: New
- Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Tracking provided on most orders. Buy with Confidence! Millions of books sold!
Book Reviews of Put a Lid on It
Book Review: Comedy Caper
Summary: 5 Stars
Even though I was never a dyed-in-the-wool mystery devotee, I did opt to form a mystery discussion group at my library a few years ago. People will often ask whether or not mystery titles lend themselves to serious discussion, and I always reply, "You'd be surprised." If books are well written, have interesting twists and turns, and believable, interesting characters, you'll find that you can certainly get a good hour's worth of conversation out of such a discussion.
But the thing is, I'm not a purist. I occasionally get into trouble with my group for straying too far from the "whodunnit" mode. When we recently read Donald Westlake's PUT A LID ON IT, I was informed in no uncertain terms by a few members of the group that, "THIS is not a mystery." I responded that, although it was admittedly more of a caper novel (a Westlake specialty, as far as I knew) it was still a mystery in the broadest sense of the term, and it was also quite funny AND quite tightly constructed. In fact, it was this non-mystery lover's favorite read of the year. I don't know if I convinced anyone else that this was great stuff, and for once, I didn't care. I had a great time reading it, and other people's cavils weren't about to convince me that it wasn't an excellent read OR that it wasn't right for a mystery group. (Sorry, but variety IS the spice of reading).
PUT A LID ON IT is the tale of a skilled thief, Francis X. Meehan (better known simply as "Meehan") who is offered an almost unheard of deal by the Feds who are holding him in detention for armed robbery. If he, a truly capable sneak thief, will perform a Watergate-style break-in BUT do it better than the inept Watergate burglars did it, the Feds will make his legal problems go away. It's an offer the initially reluctant Meehan ultimately can't refuse, as much as he hates dealing with amateur crooks of a governmental stripe. What ensues is a deliciously and meticulously convoluted plot of best-laid plan, some of which go awry, some of which succeed brilliantly (but, ah, there's always a curveball or two coming Meehan's way). And there's a great cast of characters to boot. Meehan's a hoot, an crook with a code of ethics and a sense of humor, the less than apt government agents who recruit him, his dedicated court-appointed lawyer (and incipient love interest), a band of thieves that only Ma Barker could love, and international spies who can't shoot straight or garotte efficiently. Throw in some political zealots who go WAAAY beyond ideology and well into lunacy and you've got yourself a rollicking good read.
It's a somewhat satirical novel too, but not in any heavyhanded way. I'm not sure I'd fully agree with those who'd compare this work with something like PRIMARY COLORS. Here the political background actually stays IN the background, which I personally prefer. For Meehan and Co., the politicians and their flunkies are just means to an end. The crook crooks move in a completely different world than the crooked pols. They have completely different priorities and are much more down to earth and likeable. And that probably says something.
If you've ever been frustrated by detective (or other) novels that are supposed to be "so darn funny and quirky that you're not gonna believe it" and find that, yeah, you really DON'T believe it, cuz they're really not as cute as their authors (and some fans) apparently believe them to be--well, it's time to give Donald Westlake a chance. He's genuinely funny, but he also spins a good, somewhat satirical. I can't think of a better combo in a mystery writer.
But I probably shouldn't be referring to Mr. Westlake in the present tense as though he's going to drop by tomorrow and address my mystery group in person. He's been gone for a few years now, and sadly (as far as I know) there will not be a sequel in the Meehan series--a real shame since PUT A LID ON IT almost begs for one. I'm sad too because he actually did stamp the same grounds as I do (i.e. he lived around here), and he WAS known to give readings at regional libraries from time to time. I would have loved to have hosted him--or at least to have attended a reading somewhere close by. Another missed opportunity, but then who knew? (Actually, I did sort of know, since we had also read another caper, BANK SHOT, several years ago, but while I remember liking that book a lot, I really loved PUT A LID ON IT.
Another missed opportunity. Darn.
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