"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

Tough Business & The Outfit (1973)

05/05/2026

The official announcement from Arrow Video has been making the rounds for a while now, but we're delighted to say we've got a featurette on their upcoming Blu-ray release of The Outfit (1973)! It was an honor to be approached by the folks at Arrow in the first place, but it's particularly incredible to see our names up there with the many talented & creative individuals who have continuously kept both Stark's legacy and the crime genre alive with essays, discussions, and sheer passion for many years now.

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.