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The hot rock
the first Dortmunder novel
First published 1970 · 287 pages
A delightfully chaotic heist where absolutely everything that can go wrong does, executed with deadpan brilliance.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like watching a meticulously constructed house of cards collapse in slow motion, only to watch the builders sigh and immediately start stacking again. It is a masterclass in the comic caper, driven by a brisk, snappy momentum and a deeply cynical yet affectionate worldview. The atmosphere is steeped in the gritty, pragmatic hustle of 1970s New York, but the mood remains buoyant, buoyed by the sheer absurdity of the escalating disasters. The prose is sharp and economical, delivering deadpan punchlines and razor-sharp dialogue without ever breaking a sweat. It is an absolute delight for anyone who appreciates the humor in Murphy's Law, offering a wildly entertaining ride alongside a crew of weary, stubbornly persistent misfits.
- Mood
- chaotic
- gritty-yet-lighthearted
- absurd
- Tone
- wry
- deadpan
- cynical
- humorous
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- Murphy's Law · the absurdity of ambition · camaraderie of misfits · persistence against the odds
- The writing
- Sharp, economical, and relentlessly witty, the prose relies on snappy dialogue and deadpan observations to highlight the absurdity of the situations.
- The arc
- The reader rides a rollercoaster of weary optimism that plunges into escalating, hilarious frustration before coasting into a state of exhausted satisfaction.
- Who it's for
- Readers who love clever, low-stakes capers and dry, cynical humor will devour this chronicle of lovable, perpetually unlucky rogues.
Content notes
- mild violence
- criminal enterprise
- dated cultural references
About the book
John Archibald Dortmunder is the thief whose capers never quite come off. Here, the released convict and his ride pal Kelp plot to steal the $500,000 Balaboma Emerald. The former British colony has recently become independent and split. The Akinzi have the stone, the Talabwo want it back, and their UN rep will pay for retrieval.
Description from Open Library.
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