The Comedy is Finished

When Westlake, master of the comic caper novel, develops a story around the late-'70s kidnapping of America's most renowned has-been comedian by a group of revolutionary wannabes, one might expect plenty of humor. Instead, we find a story that examines the major characters and their motivations. Peter Berkrot's narration is compelling, and he doesn't let the story lag. Curiously though, he frequently lapses into a Southern accent, which is unsupported by the story. In spite of this, his voices are suited to the well-drawn characters. If we take the title literally, the comedy is finished--that is to say, there's no comedy to the story. Berkrot acknowledges this by not forcing humor where it doesn't exist. Instead, we hear an absorbing narration. F.T. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine

December 12, 2011
MWA Grand Master Westlake (1933–2008) shows his skill and versatility as an author in this posthumous crime novel. In 1977, the radical fervor that grew through the 1960s and early 1970s, fueled by the struggle for civil rights and the Vietnam War, has largely subsided, but a small group seeks to reignite passions by kidnapping comedian Koo Davis, known for his longstanding USO tours during WWII, Korea, and Vietnam in support of the troops. The snatch is perfectly planned and executed, but things soon start to fall apart for the bewildered Koo, the kidnappers, and the FBI agent leading the investigation, who hopes success will remove the taint his reputation suffered because of Watergate. Westlake provides a probing analysis of the kidnappers’ various and sometimes vague motivations, including their demands for the release of 10 “political” prisoners. Sharply written and insightful, this “lost” novel is a worthy addition to Westlake’s lengthy catalogue. Agent: Einstein-Thompson Agency.