The Asphalt Jungle by W.R. Burnett (Resurrecting the Oldies W/O)
Written: Oct 06 '04
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Desperately dark mood, wonderful character study.
Cons: ..
The Bottom Line: A dark caper story set in a bleak city and examines a diverse mix of criminals as they rely on each other for success.
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| damieng's Full Review: The Asphalt Jungle Books |
THE ASPHALT JUNGLE is probably one of the earliest crime caper stories written in which the details of the planning, execution and aftermath of a crime are explained. It may not be the first book of its kind but it’s certainly the earliest that I can remember reading and is a terrific study of the interactions of a diverse group of individuals who are all dependent on one another for the success of their operation. I found this to be rather reminiscent of the more recent caper stories such as Donald Westlake’s Dortmunder books, if only in the description of the planning and execution of a major heist. The similarity ends there with the tone of THE ASPHALT JUNGLE being considerably darker and more serious.
We are alerted to the dire state of the city in which the story is set right at the opening of the book with a statement from the new Chief of Police acknowledging that the crime rate in their (unnamed) city was at disturbing levels. He follows this up by vowing that he was going to make a difference and clean up the city while he was running the police force, so we’re given notice, it’s going to be more difficult for criminals to successfully pull off an operation.
We switch over to the criminals where a plan is being organised by a mastermind criminal known as Herr Doktor, or as we come to know him, Doc, a very unlikely looking little man who has just been released from prison. Doc is after three reliable men to help him carry out his plan and asks a small-time bookie named Cobby for help assembling them. Cobby’s link to Doc is through Doc’s cellmate from prison. The plan that Doc has cooking is of a jewellery heist that could be worth half a million dollars.
They recruit an unusual mixture of small-time hoods and thieves to carry out the heist. Gus, a small hunchbacked man with a bad temper is to be their driver, Louis “Schemer” Bellini, a young man with a wife and baby looking to get out of the game, is their lockman and the largely unknown quantity of a man named Dix as their muscle. They then turn to a crooked lawyer named Emmerich to stake the operation. Emmerich is well known in criminal circles for his wealth and tight lips, but little do the conspiring thieves know that his fortune has dwindled to the point where he is now just about broke. The prospect of such a huge take is almost too much for Emmerich to conceal his enthusiasm agreeing to finance the operation while secretly planning a double cross would solve his financial woes.
Even though the planning is impeccable, problems occur during the heist and the way in which the makeshift team works together is critical to their success. It’s this aspect of the story that becomes the main focus once the robbery is over and the pressure of evading an ever tightening police dragnet is applied.
The mood is splendidly set through the thoughts and emotions of the characters involved. From Doc to the police chief, right on through the lesser characters such as Dix’s girlfriend, there is an air of desperation hanging over them all and they seem to be relying on the outcome of this caper to improve their lives. With people on both sides of the law counting on the outcome, by necessity this story can only end in tragedy, with someone going to come out a winner and someone a loser.
W.R. Burnett has written a wonderful story of desperation, deception and mistrust set in a gritty world of tough criminals and equally tough cops. His style is economical and has given his caper the suitably dark setting of a brooding city rife with corruption as he dangles the promise of vast wealth just out of reach of his flawed characters.
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This is my entry in msmorvay's 2nd Annual “Resurrecting the Oldies Book” Write Off. If you would like more information or would like to join in please see her profile page.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
damieng
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Location: Sydney, Australia
Reviews written: 427
Trusted by: 94 members
About Me:
Stop thanking me for my patience...I don't have any.
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