Westlake, Donald E. Somebody Owes Me Money.

Mike Rogers -- Library Journal, 6/24/2008 6:57:00 AM

Westlake, Donald E. Somebody Owes Me Money. Hard Case Crime. Jun. 2008. 253p. ISBN 978-0-8439-5962-8. pap. $6.99. MYS

First released in 1969, this charming mystery hasn’t seen daylight in more than 35 years. Rescued from oblivion by the wonderful Hard Case Crime series, this reprint comes complete with a gorgeous noir cover. Leaning more toward breezy humor than a hardboiled whodunit, Westlake serves up Chet Conway, a down-on-his-luck New York cabbie who gets a hot racing tip from a fare. Winning at 27-1 brings him a small fortune, making Conway think it’s the nail in his losing streak’s coffin, but it’s just the beginning of his real troubles and almost a nail in his own box. When collecting his cash, Chet discovers the murdered bookie’s corpse and everyone from the cops to a pair of rival wiseguys think him the shooter and want him dead or alive. Toss in the victim’s mini-skirted hottie sister as a love interest along with some snappy dialog (there’s great Nick & Nora-esque banter between Chet and the sister) and just enough action and twists to keep you guessing and you have a perfect read. Gangbusters!—Mike Rogers, LJ/LJX