Mark B quotes Donald Westlake:
<< "I spoiled a book by having him do something he
wouldn't do. The sixth book
in the series is called The Jugger, and that book is
one of the worst
failures I've ever had. The problem with it is, in the
beginning of the book
this guy calls him and says "I'm in trouble out here
and these guys are
leaning on me and I need help," and Parker goes to help
him. I mean, he
wouldn't do that, and in fact, the guy wouldn't even
think to call him!
(laughs)" >>
Again -- or even reinforced here -- I'd say Westlake
misremembers or misrepresents The Jugger (I just read it in
the last month or so). Parker first ignores Joe's initial
message and then another one comes (this one asking for
help). Parker doesn't worry so much about Joe, but about Joe
going senile, so he'd better look into it. Parker has no
trouble eliminating bad seeds, even when they had been solid
before (think of how the Rare Coin Score goes sour). I might
sound like a lunatic for countering Westlake here, but he's
written a lot of books, and many writers can't remember works
from long back (when was the interview given?). It could be
that Westlake didn't remember the book going well, or felt he
had to trump up the plot line to meet a deadline or some
such. Regardless, I didn't feel that the book was
"spoiled." Doug
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