Publication
Orion (2006), Edition: New Ed, 176 pages
Original publication date
1959
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Description
"Doc McCoy is the most skilled criminal alive. But when for the first time in Doc's long criminal career, his shot doesn't hit the mark, everything begins to fall apart. And Doc begins to realize that the perfect bank robbery isn't complete without the perfect getaway to back it up. THE GETAWAY is the classic story of a bank robbery gone horribly wrong, where the smallest mistakes have catastrophic consequences, and shifting loyalties lead to betrayals and chaos. The basis for the classic Steve McQueen film of the same name, as well as a 1994 remake with Alec Baldwin, Thompson's novel set the bar for every heist story that followed--but as Thompson's proved time and again, nobody's ever done it better than the master"--
User reviews
LibraryThing member caklr650
Not as good as "The Killer Inside Me", but good all the same. I actually liked the final chapter where things get weird.
LibraryThing member Stahl-Ricco
Nice, quick read! I'm really becoming a fan of Jim Thompson! And I love that his good guys are often bad guys. And the bad guys are the even worse guys! Case in point - the main character of this story, Doc McCoy. I was rooting for him, and his wife, even though they rob banks and kill anyone who
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gets in their way! And they are being chased by the even worse guy, Rudy Torrento, with his broken up rib cage and his "mug like a piece of pie". I liked the chase, the scene at the lockers in the train station, and the time spent with Ma Santis and family. I didn't really like the ending at all, but am intrigued to know if the El Rey in this book inspired Quentin Tarintino's "El Rey" in his movies. Adios Doc, Carol, and Rudy - 'twas nice knowin' ya'! Show Less
LibraryThing member mstrust
Doc McCoy has set up the perfect bank heist: he gets two associates to do the dirty work and bring him the money, then they pick up Doc's wife and hole up in the middle of nowhere until things cool off. The robbery goes off as planned, but Doc underestimated just how violent and resilient the
A good, solid noir. I'd like to see how Peckinpah handled this with his movie version.
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pie-headed Rudy could be. He also never anticipated the day when he couldn't trust his beloved wife, a woman he'd plucked from the library.A good, solid noir. I'd like to see how Peckinpah handled this with his movie version.
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LibraryThing member Carlie
Doc McCoy and his wife Carol run from the law after a bank heist.
LibraryThing member DeltaQueen50
The Getaway by Jim Thompson is the story of a bank robbery and its’ aftermath and, as written by Jim Thompson, this is an intense twist filled story full of double crosses, violent encounters and harrowing incidents. The main characters are Doc McCoy and his wife, Carol, a pair of murderous
Although I never fully bought into this story and really would have preferred to see these two get caught, it was interesting to read about the slow breakdown of their marriage. Of course these two could never just decide to call it quits, it was very obvious that only one would ever walk away from this alliance.
This was my first book by Jim Thompson and although I liked his story presentation and style, The Getaway won’t be remembered as one of my favorites. I am however looking forward to reading more of this author, especially his classic, The Killer Inside Me.
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psychopaths that actually appear to really care about each other at the beginning of the book. As the story develops and this pair desperately tries to escape to Mexico, the reader begins to see the cracks forming in their relationship.Although I never fully bought into this story and really would have preferred to see these two get caught, it was interesting to read about the slow breakdown of their marriage. Of course these two could never just decide to call it quits, it was very obvious that only one would ever walk away from this alliance.
This was my first book by Jim Thompson and although I liked his story presentation and style, The Getaway won’t be remembered as one of my favorites. I am however looking forward to reading more of this author, especially his classic, The Killer Inside Me.
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LibraryThing member leslie.98
While well written, this book is not my "cup of tea" as they say. I generally don't like books in which the criminal(s) is the main character and this book is entirely from the point of view of the criminals. However, I did think that the ending was magnificent!
LibraryThing member soraxtm
Personally I loved the whacked out ending
LibraryThing member bjkelley
What a great book with a strange ending. 9/10 of the book is a straight out crime book, the last part turns into some a dystopian future. Knocked off one star for the abrupt turn of the story. Short book (185 pages), Quick Read.
Language
Original language
English
ISBN
075287960X / 9780752879604
Physical description
176 p.; 7.87 inches
Pages
176