Castle in The Air Hardcover - Hard Case Crime Series #148 | Classic Crime Fiction Novel | Perfect for Mystery Lovers & Book Collectors

Crazed, comedic caper novels are Westlake’s forte and CASTLE IN THE AIR is a prime exemplar of his craft. A slimey dictator from a fictional South American country is being sought for extermination by the political left, while the political right is happy to allow him to escape, so long as he surrenders the totality of his ill-gotten gains. El Presidente has other plans; he will sequester his treasure in the stones of a local castle which will then be transported—piece by piece—to Paris for an international exhibition. He will attend and recapture the loot.A British criminal named Eustace Dench has other ideas. Linked with an informant from El Presidente’s country, he will assemble an international team of gonefs to steal the treasure, promising (halfheartedly) to return half to the country via his female informant. The international team which he summons for the task consists of Germans, Frenchmen/women, Italian men/women and Englishmen. Needless to say, no one trusts anyone and all are up for a major double-cross, even within their own national groups.Since all of the characters are hilariously stereotypical it is a short step to a bevy of now politically-incorrect belly laughs at their expense. The book reminds us of the comedic possibilities of 1980, something for which many now hunger (including a wide array of professional comedians, forced to take their wares away from contemporary college campuses).Westlake knows his Paris—the principal setting—and he knows the nuances of the languages which tend to lead to mutual incomprehension and more laughs at the uncomprehending speakers’ expense. He knows how to plot and he knows precisely how to craft a satisfying ending.This is a romp, pure entertainment, and largely harmless entertainment. There is no gore, no dark side, no explicit sex, just good, clean politically-incorrect fun. For that we can all be grateful.Thanks again to Charles Ardai for reissuing this lovely confection; we remain in his and HardCaseCrime’s continuing debt.