Book Review: The Getaway Man

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

The Getaway Man     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Andrew Vachss
Class/Genre:   Mystery
Vintage, Feb 2003, $11.00, 188 pp.

As a youngster Eddie finds cars quite fascinating. He teaches himself how to drive by stealing cars, which leads to time in youth detention facilities where he begins to understand the workings of society, at least his segment that is. Grand theft auto sounds like music to Eddie’s ears as opposed to kiddy joyrides.

Eddie begins stealing cars for Mr. Clanton, which leads to his becoming the GETAWAY MAN for two brothers, Virgil and Tim. A bank robbery goes bad when a vice president tries to be a hero. Virgil and the Veep are dead with Tim and Eddie in jail. Tim testifies taking the heat because Eddie stayed though fleeing would have been easy and smart. Eddie receives a reduced sentence. In prison, Eddie meets big shot J.C. Upon their mutual releases, Eddie begins driving for J.C. However, his boss’ girlfriend looks great and wants Eddie to help her when J.C. goes for the big score.

THE GETAWAY MAN is an exciting insightful autobiographical crime fiction that will open the eyes of readers to how a young felon thinks. The story line is a first person character study that enables the audience to comprehend Eddie’s world as he sees it. The "hard on crime when the vote counts" politicians and the social do- gooders whom neither stop to understand the specimen they place so eloquently under the microscope should read this discerning tale. Andrew Vachss is at his noir best with this homage to the pulp fiction of the 1930s while jabbing the elite of the right and the left.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner

Please Note: Books reviewed are usually provided by the publisher, author, or an agent. Reviewers usually get to keep the book.