Richard Stark is the best-known pseudonym of multiple award winner Donald E. Westlake. As Stark, Westlake wrote more than 20 books about the ruthless professional thief Parker, starting with The Hunter, which was the basis for the movie Point Blank starring Lee Marvin. He also wrote books about Parker's partner in crime, Allan Grofield, of which Lemons Never Lie is by far the darkest.
"""The author maintains the dead-eyed tone of Stark while plotting as generously and inventively as Westlake. Trust Stark, or Westlake, to make even the most ordinary heist nail-biting."" - Kirkus Reviews PRAISE FOR DONALD E. WESTLAKE One of the great writers of the 20th Century.—Newsweek The novel’s deeper meditations will keep you thinking long after you’ve closed the book.—USA Today Elegant, melancholy… a significant final work from a master.—Publishers Weekly, starred review One of his most interesting books… absolutely a must-read.—Booklist, starred review Terse and bleak and low-key emotional… indelible.—Entertainment Weekly An unsparing look at a man adrift, it's a fitting final dispatch from a master.—Time A tour-de-force that shows a master at the top of his game.—Edward Champion, Philadelphia Inquirer Relentlessly involving.—Weekly Standard Among the best novels of his brilliant career. It is pure noir writing at its best.—BookReporter A great book… it outshines anything else Westlake has done.—Craig Clarke, Somebody Dies Compelling… bleak stuff – though always with a bit of hope shining through.—The Complete Review With the unveiling of his final unpublished novel [Westlake’s] range and depth as a writer are only deepened.—Barnes & Noble This is an exceptional and painful book. It is the essence of noir… one man's unceasing, provocative struggle to make good in a relentlessly grim world… Our unanimous pick for the best genre book of the year.—PornoKitsch Few novels conjure up such a state of pervasive dread…This is the noir nightmare, plain and simple. I read it in a white heat.—Vince Keenan The most terrifying identity puzzle Westlake ever crafted, and it keeps you guessing all the way.—The Westlake Review A penetrating tale, a wonderful story.—Midwest Book Review"