Dirty Work (Brown novel)

Dirty Work is a 1976 novel by American author Donald E. Westlake, writing under the pseudonym Edwin West. The novel is a comedic caper centering around two men, John Dortmunder and Francis Xavier Xavier, who are both separately contracted to break into a prison.

Dortmunder's motivation stems from a need for quick cash. Xavier, on the other hand, is driven by a deeply personal goal: to rescue his father from unjust imprisonment. Both are informed that his father is wrongly convicted and imprisoned in a facility.

The prison in question is revealed to be notoriously difficult to breach, a challenge that immediately appeals to Dortmunder's somewhat chaotic and often unsuccessful approach to criminal endeavors. He is the protagonist in many of Westlake's comical crime novels.

Throughout the narrative, Dortmunder and Xavier find themselves initially working at cross-purposes, unaware of each other's goals. Their inevitable discovery of their shared objective leads to an uneasy alliance, as they must collaborate to overcome the prison's formidable security measures and navigate the treacherous landscape of fellow inmates and corrupt prison officials.

The novel blends suspenseful heist elements with Westlake's signature brand of humor, characterized by witty dialogue, outlandish scenarios, and a cast of colorful and eccentric characters. Dirty Work explores themes of loyalty, desperation, and the lengths to which people will go to achieve their objectives, even when those objectives are ethically questionable.