Warning: Reading Donald Westlake may lead to shortness of breath, prolonged chortles, outbreaks of hysterical laughter, and sudden, drop-dead surprises. Poof! One minute Freddie Urban Noon was a burglar, a gentleman, and a liar. The next he was something else: Invisible.
It all started in a secret research lab where two scientists were getting rich proving that cigarettes are good for you. Then Freddie broke in, swallowed a pair of experimental formulas, and vanished in a puff of smoke. Which would have been a boon for his burglary career (except you can't wear shoes, and there's nowhere to hide the loot), if everyone didn't see an angle in it.
Now a crooked cop wants Freddy. Criminals want Freddy. And the Tobacco Research Institute wants Freddy. For America's best invisible thief, things are getting hazardous indeed: one false step, and Freddy Noon goes up in smoke.
"Explaining what happens in a Donald Westlake novel is like reading a recipe for meringue instead of eating the results... I strongly suggest you buy a copy now and squirrel it away for emergency use the next time you find yourself stuck in an airport lounge with a departure time of maybe. The bartender may resent the fact that you're too busy laughing to order another drink, but you'll definitely feel better in the morning."
NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW "Westlake is a consummate pro... Smoke is one of his best books in years."
WASHINGTON POST BOOK WORLD
"This is one of the funniest books I've read in a long time. The dialogue is outrageous, the situations implausible, the humor nonstop. Freddie is the most likable fictional scamp you're likely to ever encounter."
SAN FRANCISCO EXAMINER
"More effective than a nicotine patch, and much funnier."
SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS
"Glorious Westlake comedy... Full of hilarious char
