Donald E. Westlake, Mystery Writer, Is Dead At 75

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

Source: The New York Times



Donald E. Westlake, a prolific, award-winning mystery novelist who pounded out more than 100 books and five screenplays on manual typewriters during his half-century career, died Wednesday night. He was 75.

Mr. Westlake collapsed, apparently from a heart attack, as he headed out to New Year’s Eve dinner while on vacation in Mexico, said his wife, Abigail Westlake.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/02/books/02westlake.html?_r=1&hp

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Great writer, big loss.

[Doctor_J]

1. Loves me some Westlake

His comic capers are uniformly high-larious.

RIP

[Ian David]

2. Do not accept an invitation to the reading of his will at his island estate. n/t

[GCP]

3. I loved his books

Always made me laugh out loud.
RIP Don.

[navarth]

4. Awww

I read 'Help, I'm Being Held Prisoner' back in the 70's. Very funny book. We need people like Westlake. That's very sad to hear.

RIP Mr. Westlake. Thanks for the laughs.

[SheilaT]

5. Oh, no!

I just today finished reading Watch Your Back which I think is his most recent. I love his writing, and have read most of what he's written under the name Donald Westlake.

[HopeHoops]

6. The butler did it.

[Elidor]

8. That might have been his best book

Out of about 20 or so that I've read, all of them great. One of the best - and funniest - writers ever.

HELP I'M BEING HELD PRISONER

[mitchum]

7. Or is he?

[marasinghe]

9. if the elevator goes up, mr. westlake, the word is ...

afghanistan ... bananastan. if it heads in another direction, i'm sure parker'll be waiting on the curb to toast you point blank - with a hip flask o' scotch, of course.

r.i.p. mr. westlake, alias richard stark; you done good; 'n you done brooklyn proud.
\~/
here's to you ~

[Paladin]

10. What A Loss. Condolences To His Family And Fans (n/t)