"I think what they liked about Parker was that he had chosen to reject society, rather than the other way around. He was the prowling outsider, but it hadn't been forced on him. Or maybe not."

- Donald Westlake, The Getaway Car: A Donald Westlake Nonfiction Miscellany

Richard Stark's Parker novels were reintroduced to modern audiences with Darwyn Cooke's comic book adaptations and in the process, these seminal classics of crime fiction have reached readers that might have generally found the genre unwelcoming. Parker has always been an outsider though, and his exploits have historically resonated with more than just the stereotypical Stark fan. We offer an eclectic collection of reviews, thoughts, obscure finds and news from a different perspective.

You can reach us at toughbusiness@mail.com -- we welcome inquiries, conversation, and any Parker-related ephemera!

latest updates

“All about cold hard practicality” - An Exclusive Interview with Dennis Lehane

08/23/2025

Some pretty prestigious writers, critics, and well-known figures in the world of crime fiction have been involved with the University of Chicago Press editions of Parker, and Tough Business has been lucky enough to interview a good number of them. It's our pleasure to announce that our next guest is Dennis Lehane, award-winning author of more than a dozen novels, including Mystic River and Shutter Island, which have been adapted to film by Clint Eastwood and Martin Scorsese respectively.

Dennis talked about Richard Stark's influence on his writing, his first time meeting Donald Westlake, and much more!

the novels

The Grofield solo novels are counted as part of the original twenty-book series, as per the back cover blurb on the Butcher's Moon first edition, and appear in the in-universe chronological order.