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45th out of 75 books
—
92 voters
God Save the Mark: A Novel of Crime and Confusion
* mark n. An easy victim; a ready subject for the practices of a confidence man, thief, beggar, etc.; a sucker.-Dictionary of American Slang, Thomas Y. Crowell Co., 1960
That's the long definition of a mark. But there's a shorter one. It goes:
* mark n. Fred Fitch
What, you ask, is a Fred Fitch? Well, for one thing, Fred Fitch is the man with the most extensive collection of...more
That's the long definition of a mark. But there's a shorter one. It goes:
* mark n. Fred Fitch
What, you ask, is a Fred Fitch? Well, for one thing, Fred Fitch is the man with the most extensive collection of...more
Paperback, 272 pages
Published
January 1st 2004
by Forge Books
(first published 1967)
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God Save the Mark
by Donald E. Westlake
Forge, 268 pages, Paperback, 2004; reissue of a book
originally published in 1967, with a new introduction by Otto
Penzler
One in Forge's "Otto Penzler Presents . . ." series of
reissues, complete with a new introduction by Penzler himself,
this publication sees the welcome reappearance of Donald
Westlake's 1967 comic delight God Save the Mark. It's not
among the very best of Westlake's deliriously inventive capers,
but it's close to that leading group and certain...more
I was disappointed in this book. I have enjoyed a lot of Westlake's other offerings, so I expected an enjoyable romp. But, the naivete of the Fred was impossible to accept. Every con could be seen a mile ahead, but throughout the book he talked about how he figured it right afterwards. You would think after being scammed a few times he would finally remember.
Anyway. I did like the description of the characters, and the story itself. The language effectively stuck me in the 1960s, as did a lot o...more
Anyway. I did like the description of the characters, and the story itself. The language effectively stuck me in the 1960s, as did a lot o...more
This is a delightful comedy crime-caper from one of the masters of humourous crime. Fred Fitch is a mark, someone who believes he has been at the receiving end of every one of the seventeen thousand con men operating in New York at any time. But then comes the turnaround. Fred is suddenly left a huge legacy by an uncle he didn’t even know existed and suddenly Fred is the most popular man around, as he is chased, hounded, shot at and led on a merry run around New York in this wild caper that will...more
This was the second or third book that I loaded on my kindle. I am not sure why it took me so long to actually read it. I have always enjoyed Donald Westlake, so it should have been top of the pile
I am glad that I read this book, but I am not sure who I would recommend it to. Bill will read it eventually.
Fred Fitch is the mark. His picture should be next to the definition for mark in the dictionary. He has fallen for every con ever contemplated. Fortunately for Fred, this book was written before...more
I am glad that I read this book, but I am not sure who I would recommend it to. Bill will read it eventually.
Fred Fitch is the mark. His picture should be next to the definition for mark in the dictionary. He has fallen for every con ever contemplated. Fortunately for Fred, this book was written before...more
American Gods for the Grifter set!
Fred Fitch is just a normal guy who is constantly swindled by nearly every grifter, con man, con woman and thief in New York City. The main character is Fred who gets sucked up in a series of situations after having received $300K following his Uncle's death.
Not quite a comedy but very funny, not quite a drama but with dramatic moements and not quite a thriller this book is an interesting meditation on a single person and his growing awareness of those people ar...more
Fred Fitch is just a normal guy who is constantly swindled by nearly every grifter, con man, con woman and thief in New York City. The main character is Fred who gets sucked up in a series of situations after having received $300K following his Uncle's death.
Not quite a comedy but very funny, not quite a drama but with dramatic moements and not quite a thriller this book is an interesting meditation on a single person and his growing awareness of those people ar...more
1 like · like · see review
This is an early Donald Westlake book. It was originally published in 1967. I picked it up, when a coworker told me I could get it free for the Kindle!
This was a fun and entertaining book. It is written in a humorous pulp style with a couple of broads, dames, a few conmen and a couple of killings.
Potential Spoiler Alert!
The story centers around Fred Fitch an easy target and magnet for con men. Fred gets taken easily and often early in the book. It's funny and at times painful to be aware that F...more
This was a fun and entertaining book. It is written in a humorous pulp style with a couple of broads, dames, a few conmen and a couple of killings.
Potential Spoiler Alert!
The story centers around Fred Fitch an easy target and magnet for con men. Fred gets taken easily and often early in the book. It's funny and at times painful to be aware that F...more
I loved this book. I think part of it is that it was written in the 1960's so it has a bit of an old-fashioned feel, and partly because I didn't have a bunch of people telling me how excellent it was and elevating my expectations.
This book is fun, sometimes funny, and interesting. It's about a guy who is gullible and has been the sucker for every con known to man. He inherits a bunch of money from an uncle he never knew he had, and then the grifters come out of the woodwork. He goes from trusti...more
This book is fun, sometimes funny, and interesting. It's about a guy who is gullible and has been the sucker for every con known to man. He inherits a bunch of money from an uncle he never knew he had, and then the grifters come out of the woodwork. He goes from trusti...more
While technically a murder mystery, much of this book is a crazy romp through New York c.1960, with unusual characters, witty banter and hilarious situations. It's only at the end -- the very end -- when this all slows down and the plot is tied together.
The "Mark" in the title refers to the main chracter (Fred Fitch) who is the ultimate "sucker" when it comes to falling for cons. He reacts by withdrawing from society, but this is to no avail when he inherits money from a perviously unknown -- a...more
The "Mark" in the title refers to the main chracter (Fred Fitch) who is the ultimate "sucker" when it comes to falling for cons. He reacts by withdrawing from society, but this is to no avail when he inherits money from a perviously unknown -- a...more
well! all this time i had been thinking that donald westlake is the one who wrote get shorty but i have just found out it was elmore leonard instead. this explains much.
a breezy read that made me feel weird misplaced nostalgia for a 1960s new york i never knew and which probably never existed. you know, a new york where phrases like "brassy blonde" can get thrown around with cheerful abandon. not really my thing, but this book has at least given me an excuse to make a tag called "comic caper," s...more
a breezy read that made me feel weird misplaced nostalgia for a 1960s new york i never knew and which probably never existed. you know, a new york where phrases like "brassy blonde" can get thrown around with cheerful abandon. not really my thing, but this book has at least given me an excuse to make a tag called "comic caper," s...more
Fred Fitch is a born mark, a man of incredible gullibility and a favorite target of con men. Being a smart man and relatively self-aware, he knows this (but never realizes he's being conned until it's too late). When he inherits a large sum of money from a relative he's never met, it seems like everyone wants to help relieve him of his newfound burden.
This is a fast, fun read that's laugh-out-loud funny in places. It's also a good mystery story by a Grand Master of the field and it won the Edgar...more
This is a fast, fun read that's laugh-out-loud funny in places. It's also a good mystery story by a Grand Master of the field and it won the Edgar...more
This was really fun. When it was predictable, it was predictable in the good way; where it was unpredictable, it was in the language, descriptions, and certain parts of the action. I love Westlake. Some of his work is better than other -- this falls somewhere short of his strongest work, but is not his weakest either. Westlake wrote 'The Hot Rock' which was made into a movie with Robert Redford and like everyone else who was acting in the 70's. Available on Netflix. I recommend that as a low-ris...more
I read this as part of an ongoing project to read all the Edgar winners for Best Novel. It was the 1968 winner, published in 1967.
Although another character refers to him as a shlemiel, I'd say Fred Fitch, the protagonist and narrator of GOD SAVE THE MARK, is a shlimazel. The way I heard it, the shlemiel spills the soup in the shlimazel's lap. Fred Fitch's way of being a shlimazel is that he's a sap, a sucker, a mark. He has fallen for every con or scam that's been tried on him all his life. He...more
Although another character refers to him as a shlemiel, I'd say Fred Fitch, the protagonist and narrator of GOD SAVE THE MARK, is a shlimazel. The way I heard it, the shlemiel spills the soup in the shlimazel's lap. Fred Fitch's way of being a shlimazel is that he's a sap, a sucker, a mark. He has fallen for every con or scam that's been tried on him all his life. He...more
Strikingly silly after the two other Westlakes I'd read (361 and Memory) but enjoyable. A guy who's easily conned inherits money from an uncle he never met, resulting in comedic, mildly dark complications. (I'm sure this is an idiosyncratic connection, but it reminded me of Disney's No Deposit, No Return in tone.) It wasn't what I was in the mood for at the time, but thinking back on it makes me smile.
Also I hate the cover of this edition.
Also I hate the cover of this edition.
I've plowed through the Dortmunder and Parker series, but luckily I still have more Westlake pages to turn. The high points in this book are the details along the journey: the "simple" task of cashing a check at a bank, the back exit scene (with sound effects), the little cons that provide insight into the main character, the patter between the two detectives, and the phrases that seem to wink at the reader ("rotund and orotund"). These elevate the story above the genre expectations.
I really enjoyed reading this book. It always kept me guesing what would happen next and the ending wasn't what i expected. The best part about this story is how funny it is. You can't help but love the main character and all his flaws. I didn't feel like any of this book was only there as "filler" all of it was important to the plot and entertaining. I can't wait look up Donald Westlake and see what else he has written.
This was a fun book. It's a mystery and sort of a comedy of errors. It reminded me a bit of Carl Hiaasen and Tim Dorsey books, wacky and off-the-wall. Given that this book was first published in the 1960's though, it's not gory in any way and there's no cussing. You definitely feel the atmosphere of New York in the 60's. And whatever happened to the Bunco squad anyway??
Mr. Fitch, a lifelong mark, comes into money via his con man uncle, who was murdered, and heads off to catch a killer and/or avoid getting caught in another con. Funny-ish and odd. Didn't quite feel like I was reading a book, more like the back of the tallest cereal carton ever.
AKA: Alan Marshall, Alan Marsh, James Blue, Ben Christopher, Edwin West, John B. Allan, Curt Clark, Tucker Coe, P.N. Castor, Timothy J. Culver, J. Morgan Cunningham, Samuel Holt, Judson Jack Carmichael, Richard Stark, Donald E. Westlake
I am not even half way through this book and can't recommend it enough. So witty and on point with dialogue...its an older book but reads as if it is taking place today. Way more donald westlake in my future, for sure!
A diverting little read. Westlake keeps the plot moving, the language sharp and the tone amusing. There are a few bodies, a lot of misunderstandings, some tension, some heartbreak and even a bit of uplift. Good fun.
Sorry for the tardy review. I only gave this four stars because it's not the best in relation to other work by Westlake. That said, the pre-Dortmunder crime/comedy novel was has all the plot, suspense, laughs and great odd-ball characters that I expect from this comic crime genius.
This one was a classic crime farce to put one in mind of films like Edward G. Robinson's, "Larceny Inc." and Woody Allen's "Small Time Crooks" with Tracy Ullman.
This one was a classic crime farce to put one in mind of films like Edward G. Robinson's, "Larceny Inc." and Woody Allen's "Small Time Crooks" with Tracy Ullman.
An enjoyable trip through 1960's New York with a hapless hero. If you like murder mystery and a slightly dim-witted hero, this book is for you!
I'm an old-time Westlake addict, first read this when it was released. I was in junior high then, and got all the jokes. It's good stuff.
A patron recommended this book to me and I thought it was a really good, cheeky mystery. Kind of similar to Jonathan Ames.
Ah, nothing finer than a Westlake novel. The perfect winter reading when laughs are hard to come by. The non-Dortmunder ones aren't quite as hilarious but still A+ in my book.
Westlake is always really enjoyable and funny, and I particularly liked this one-- very clever.
Hilarious, and a good mystery to boot.
(But the Kindle edition has a carp-load of typos.)
(But the Kindle edition has a carp-load of typos.)
Oh, this was fun! I admired Westlake after eading "The Ax;" now, I am absolutely in love!
I was lucky to have stumbled upon this book when it was offered free on the Kindle. This is a laugh-out-loud crime caper, centered on a gullible protagonist (Fred Fitch) who unexpectedly comes into a large sum of money when an uncle he never knew leaves him his fortune after being murdered. In spite of himself, Fitch comes out on top at the end, but there are amusing and suspensful twists and turns along the way. Lucky for me Westlake was a prolific writer. It should take me quite a while to mow...more
One of the funniest mysteries I've read and one of the best-written. No wonder Mr. Westlake was so popular!
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aka John B Allen, Curt Clark, Tucker Coe, Timothy J Culver, J Morgan Cunningham, Samuel Holt, Sheldon Lord (with Lawrence Block), Alan Marshall, Allan Marshall, Richard Stark, Edwin West, Judson Jack Carmichael.
Donald Edwin Westlake was an American writer, with over a hundred novels and non-fiction books to his credit. He specialized in crime fiction, especially comic capers with an occasional for...more
More about Donald E. Westlake...
Donald Edwin Westlake was an American writer, with over a hundred novels and non-fiction books to his credit. He specialized in crime fiction, especially comic capers with an occasional for...more
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Sep 11, 2011 05:46pm