Did I hear that? What was it?
Elizabeth Louise opened the door and watched Peg Briscoe cross the sidewalk to a little old green car. As Peg opened the driver's door, the passenger door opened by itself. She got in and shut the driver's door and the passenger door shut by itself. She waved and smiled, and drove away, and another wide-body jet's shadow crossed over Elizabeth Louise and the house.
This one she noticed. She looked up, as the shadow went by. One of those would be Freddie, with his nice girlfriend. From now on, it could be any one of them, going over. One of those shadows is Freddie.
PRAISE FOR
DONALD E. WESTLAKE AND
'Explaining what happens in a Donald Westlake novel is like reading a recipe for meringue instead of eating the results. . . . I strongly suggest you buy a copy now and squirrel it away for emergency use the next time you find yourself stuck in an airport lounge with a departure time of maybe. The bartender may resent the fact that you're too busy laughing to order another drink, but you'll definitely feel better in the morning.'
—
'Westlake is a consummate pro. . . . SMOKE is one of his best books in years.'
—
'This is one of the funniest books I've read in a long time. The dialogue is outrageous, the situations implausible, the humor nonstop. Freddie is the most likable fictional scamp you're likely to ever encounter.'
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'More effective than a nicotine patch, and much funnier.'
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'Glorious Westlake comedy. . . . Full of hilarious characters, crackpot conversations and narrative sleight of hand.'
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'A funny mystery writer. . . . Only Westlake could have come up with this one.'
— Larry King,
'No one's touch is as quixotically cockeyed as Westlake's, no one can keep you chuckling as continuously.'
—
'Rousing . . . full of fun. . . . The anti-tobacco satire hits square on the mark.'
—
'Westlake's delightful and absurd new novel . . . delivers the laughs. No one can turn a phrase or pen a comedy caper like Westlake.'
—
'Full of chuckles . . . SMOKE is deft entertainment.'
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'Donald Westlake is very funny and weirdly enlightening.'
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'Westlake [is] establishing himself as one of the hippest, coolest, funniest mystery writers out there.'
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'Mystery connoisseurs will feel driven to rush to their nearest bookstore for a copy of SMOKE.'
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'Donald E. Westlake [is] the Noel Coward of crime. . . . He displays an excellent ear for bitter-salty urban humor, composed of equal parts of raunch and cynicism.'
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'Donald Westlake keeps showing me people I'd like to meet.'
— Rex Stout
'Westlake tosses the sand of petty frustrations and human fallibility into the well-oiled machine of the thriller.'
—
'Westlake is among the smoothest, most engaging writers on the planet.'
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'A glorious Westlake comedy.'
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'There is never a dull moment in this tale . . . a merry romp that is clever and memorable.'
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'If you like humor in your mysteries, you'll love this one.'
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'Suspend disbelief, get a few hankies for those tears of mirth, and spend an evening with this book. It's fun.'
—
Also By Donald E. Westlake
NOVELS
Humans
Sacred Monster
A Likely Story
Kahawa
Brothers Keepers
I Gave at the Office
Adios, Scheherazade
Up Your Banners
COMIC CRIME NOVELS
Trust Me on This
High Adventure
Castle in the Air
Enough
Dancing Aztecs
Two Much
Cops and Robbers
Somebody Owes Me Money
Who Stole Sassi Manoon?
God Save the Mark
The Spy in the Ointment
The Busy Body
The Fugitive Pigeon
Smoke
THE DORTMUNDER SERIES
Don't Ask
Drowned Hopes
Good Behavior
Why Me
Nobody's Perfect
Jimmy the Kid
Bank Shot
The Hot Rock
CRIME NOVELS
Pity Him Afterwards