“So Mr. Parker, how can our employment agency help you?”“Things haven’t been going well with my old job, and I’m thinking about a career change.”“Let’s take a look at your resume… It says here that you’ve been a professional thief most of your adult life. You’ve got some experience and skill with firearms, false identities, auto theft…. And you’ve done some very impressive jobs, Mr. Parker. I’m surprised you’re looking for another line of work.”“I’ve had a terrible string of bad luck. A loose end I left breathing once upon a time came back and caused problems, and every heist I’ve tried lately has either fallen apart or been nothing but one headache after another.”“Well, these little setbacks are sometimes what we need to make a change in our lives. Hopefully, we can find something that’s a good fit. We’ve got an opening for someone who negotiates the bids for a construction company. How do you feel about that?”“I’ll give it a try.”“I’m talking about a compromise here, and you know damn well that’s what I’m talking about.”“But I don’t compromise,” Parker said. “My price is forty thousand dollars. Not thirty-five. Not even thirty-nine and a half.”Petulant, Griffith said, “Never? Never in your goddamn life have you done anything for less than forty thousand dollars?”“This job,” Parker said pointing straight down. “This job, my price is forty thousand.”*“So I guess negotiating business deals isn’t for you, Mr. Parker. Let’s see what else I have available….Oh, how about this? This dry cleaner is looking for help.”“There’s blood on the blanket.”“Burn it,” Parker said.“Forget the dry cleaner then. Don’t worry, Mr. Parker. There’s still plenty of good jobs out there. This seems right up your alley. Teaching self-defense classes to women.”He switched his left hand grip to her face, thumb on one cheekbone and fingers on the other. He pulled her head forward an inch, then punched it back against the wall. Her eyes glazed, and he used both arms to lower her to the floor.”“Oh, my. That didn’t work out at all. Don't get discouraged though. I talked the construction company into giving you another chance with their bids.”"Pay me forty thousand,” Parker said, “and I’m in. Don’t pay it, and I’m out.”“You won’t negotiate, damn it. How can I deal with you?”“Maybe you can’t.”“OK, so that’s a definite ‘No!’ on the construction job. But here’s something interesting; fire marshal.”The lining caught all at once, and Parker was holding a handful of flame. He leaned way out of the window and tossed it into a second of the cardboard boxes.“I have to admit that we’re running out of opportunities, Mr. Parker, but I still think we can find you something. This school needs a driving instructor.”Parker was braced, one arm around the seat, the other hand on the steering wheel for guidance, both feet pressed on the floor, but it was still a jolt when the van crashed into the metal door.“Hmmmm…. Animal control?”Finished, he went back upstairs, took the dog by one leg, dragged it over to the cellar doorway, and pushed it downstairs.“Mr. Parker, I have to admit that I’m about to give up on you. Here’s one last opening, and I hesitate to offer it to you, but we‘re out of options. Marriage counselor.”“You’re married to a whore…Get used to it. Either put her on the street to bring home some money, or get rid of her. But stop trying to turn her into the little woman, it won’t work.”“Well, Mr. Parker, I’m sorry to say that was the last job I had. I’m afraid I can’t help you.”“Sure you can. Give me your wallet and watch.”“You’re robbing me??”“I’ve decided to go back to what I do best.”* Items in italics are direct quotes from the book.
For the past few years I've made my last book read each year a Parker book. I didn't get to for 2013 as I was reading quite a large book over the Christmas season (and I tend to read rather slowly; I like to savor) that I didn't finish until after New Year's. So I made my first book of 2014 the next on my list of Richard Stark's amazing series. It was a great way to start the new year. Plunder Squad is vintage Parker, fast-moving and violent, with some great Parker moments. It continued with a theme in recent books that I didn't like much, but I like the way it was handled here. Parker needs money, but every job he takes gets loused up. His last chance at a score is an art heist that, under different circumstances, Parker would walk away from. And on top of that, a loose end he'd left in a previous book is back to cause him grief. Spoilers...So, for a while now (except for Deadly Edge, one of the best of the series), Parker has been getting away empty-handed at the end of his capers. It's been frustrating not seeing Parker win unconditionally. But in Plunder Squad, it's revealed that he isn't the only one with a string of bad luck. It's a regular recession for thieves, as every crook Parker talks to seems to have money trouble and is desperate to pull any heist he can. When the jobs fall apart, it hurts everyone and you really feel their pain (especially Kirwan, devastated that his great idea is unworkable). It creates an interesting atmosphere, like a Depression-era story with criminals who are desperate for cash. ANd the guy financing the heist is a very upper-class type who puts on wealthy airs but, ultimately, can't pay them. And he is given the brush off by his client as well. All of this strengthens the characters greatly. It makes them even more relateable, and ultimately you root for them to succeed. It also puts Parker's recent troubles into perspective. It isn't just him, it's his whole community that's suffering.But what I really loved was Parker's mistake in The Sour Lemon Score coming back to haunt him. He did something very uncharacteristic in that book: he let the traitor on his team live. And now George Uhl is gunning for him. He's the reason the first heist goes south, and he's a looming threat that Parker knows he has to eliminate. It happened earlier than I thought it would, but I was fine with that. And the end of the scene showed that Parker had more than learned his lesson and would never again dispense mercy.So we're left with Parker once again getting nothing for his troubles. But the next book is supposed to be a big one. Here's hoping we see Parker triumph and get the loot once again.
What do You think about Plunder Squad (1985)?
Parker has an old for who he let love come back to try and take him out. But knowing Parker he gets him after the attempts at Parker's life. The heist in ribs is about paintings with big money, but not having all the resources to sell these hot commodities afterwards is the problem. On top of that the middle man who Parker and his friends were going to sell the 21 paintings took a stupid loan with be mob, who of course had their high interest rates. The mob come to collect what is owed after the middle man takes his life when two of the people were caught, thinking it was all shambles. With Parker trying to sell off the last six paintings after giving 15 back anonymously the mob ambushes him. So Parker sets the place on fire and leaves out the front door and walks down the street; hearing sirens as he takes a empty cab a few blocks down away from this mess with nothing to show.
—zackxdig
Once again, reading a Parker novel is, for me, a guarantee of excellent, tight prose, a fantastic amoral "hero", and wonderful plotting. I love the way these books usually start, no wait, and take the reader right into the action. Here is the first sentence: " Hearing the click behind him, Parker threw his glass straight back over his right shoulder, and dove off his chair to the left." I also love Parker's disdain for small talk amongst his companions in crime, only doing so at a bare minimum because it is expected of him. This novel is a study in frustration, as one after another, Parker's heists do not work out. But, somehow, he retains his icy, determined demeanor throughout.
—Alecia
I guess there's usually at least one bad apple in the bunch and Plunder Squad is it, in my opinion. The story is rather a letdown, especially for ace thief Parker.The key heist scene is well-written despite seeming a bit implausible. Nonetheless, Parker's a pro and he knows how to get the job done; he just can't account for other people's hidden greed or momentary stupidity.I did enjoy seeing the return of several characters from earlier Parker books. Their comments are often subtle references to events which occurred in those works and it felt like a nice little reward to the series’ faithful readers.Putting its minor positives aside, I’m not sure what the point of this book was. Since previous Parker novels have already shown him lose out on a score, the happenings here have no new or revealing qualities besides the scale of the loss.Plunder Squad seems like a toss off, something author Richard Stark released simply to fulfill a contractual obligation. The publication time frame might’ve been where he was getting close to tiring of writing the Parker stories and had decided to take a long hiatus. Meh, good riddance.
—Debbie J
