Donald E. Westlake eBooks

Donald E. Westlake was an American novelist born in New York in 1933. He began writing as a teenager, and his first short story was published in 1954. After studying at Champlain College and Harpur College, and serving in the Air Force, Westlake moved to New York City to work for a literary agency.

Westlake published books under a number of pseudonyms. His first novel, All My Lovers, was published in 1959 under the name Alan Marshall. The same year, he published three additional novels as Marshall. His first novel as Donald E. Westlake was The Mercenaries, published in 1960.

Throughout his career, Westlake published over a hundred books, including novels and non-fiction books. His non-fiction books included a biography of Elizabeth Taylor, published in 1961 as John B. Allan. He also wrote six screenplays, the last being 2005’s Ripley Under Ground, which he co-authored with William Blake Herron.

Westlake’s prolific output earned him a number of awards. He earned Edgar Awards for Best Novel, Best Short Story, and Best Motion Picture Screenplay. He was also awarded the Grand Master honor by the Mystery Writers of America.

Many of Westlake’s novels featured recurring characters, including John Dortmunder, who was introduced in 1970’s The Hot Rock. His Parker series, published under the name Richard Stark, was his largest, with over twenty novels. The first Parker novel, The Hunter, was published in 1962. It was adapted for film as Point Blank, and was reissued under that title.

Westlake continued writing up until his death in 2008, with several novels being published posthumously.