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The Jugger
by Richard Stark Warner Books, October 2002 211 pages, $12.95 ISBN: 0446677744 Parker series #6 Parker is a cold-blooded professional thief and his specialties are planning and violence. He makes his living by being in on an institutional robbery ("much more lucrative than robbing individuals.") once or twice a year.
Unlike most juggers, Sheer was not limited in his methods in cracking safes and vaults. As a result, he had been in steady demand before his retirement. But now, it appears that Joe has trouble and he asks for Parker's help. Parker has his own concerns about Joe, who is serving as his answering service in the business. Joe is the one link between Parker and his cover as Charles Willis. And trouble for Joe could mean danger to Parker and all he has built up for himself. So Parker heads for Sagamore only to find Joe's house in darkness. Joe is dead and the funeral is the following morning. Interestingly, Parker finds himself followed by the town's police captain, Younger. Then, a gaudily dressed crook by the name of Tiftus approaches Parker and suggests that they "work together" and split the take. Parker is at somewhat of a loss for he has no idea what the little man is talking about but he is not going to admit that. In his quest for information, Parker visits the town's undertaker and the town's doctor to get more information about Joe's death, officially listed as a heart attack. Parker suspects that both men are hiding something. He heads back and searches Joe's house. On his way down to the cellar, Parker is bashed in the head. Captain Younger is standing over him when he awakens. And it turns out that Younger is also Parker's alibi in a fresh murder and Younger takes full advantage. Parker has no choice but to go along with Younger's search for Joe's treasure trove or be turned over to the state police on suspicion of murder--the last thing Parker needs with his past. The Jugger is a lean mean stark story in which you won't know who to cheer for. The good guys are bad and the bad guys are even worse. Parker is not a likable person but you can't help but admire his cold intellect and his quick action. In Parker's world, crime is truly not for amateurs. This is a different kind of crime story and should not be missed! Go To Page: 1 |
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