"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

Happy New Year!

01/04/2025

Happy New Year! It's almost hard to believe it's been a year since Tough Business was born, and we're proud to say we've already accomplished so much and connected with so many amazing individuals -- if you've been a part of our journey, whether as reader or contributor, we can't thank you enough for giving us a chance!

Our original motivation behind the site was to offer a different perspective on Parker. At the heart of Donald Westlake's writing has always been a dedication to diversity exemplified in a body of work uniquely concerned with the daring and the different. All his protagonists are outsiders, and we've set out to prove that people like us still find themselves in his timeless novels. Our other priority was to approach a subject that's been talked about in a legitimate capacity even less than Mr. Westlake's social themes: Alan J. Grofield.

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.