>Has anyone read Garry Disher? He's an Australian
writer whom
> Westlake recommends to those who like the Parker
books. Pretty clean,
> tight, hard-boiled books with a lead character thief
named Wyatt.
I have a friend in Australia who's the nephew of Gary Disher
and who's secured me signed copies of all six Wyatt
books.
I've become quite an admirer of this series, though to a
slightly lesser extent than the Parker books. The Wyatt books
tend to meander and expound more than the leaner, meaner
Parker novels. More plot, less focus on the protagonist.
However, one element I found a bit refreshing was that the
Wyatt character found his luck and fortune dwindling steadily
throughout the six-book series while Parker's tend to remain
somewhat constant. While one couldn't mistake Wyatt for a
"kinder, gentler" Parker, he does come off as perhaps a bit
more human at times.
For the most part, however, the Wyatt / Parker similarities
are startling and endless, making the Wyatt series much more
than a simple "homage" to the Parker legacy - and if that's
okay with Westlake, it's okay with me...'cause they're
terrific reads and truly shouldn't be missed by any Parker
fan.
Ron Clinton
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