The hot rock (1970)

Dortmunder can plan a theft; getting rid of the need to steal the same emerald again is harder. Westlake makes each complication require a new job, with the crew’s different habits and abilities turning logistical revision into comedy. This first Dortmunder novel is a particularly good starting point for readers who enjoy watching a sensible planner accommodate unreasonable circumstances. The charm lies in the practical conversations as much as the increasingly elaborate action.