The Hot Rock

Fresh out of Sing-Sing with little more than ten dollars and a tarnished reputation, the perpetually unlucky but undeniably brilliant John Dortmunder is immediately pulled back into the criminal underworld. His old friend, the eager-beaver Kelp, intercepts him with an irresistible proposition: a half-million-dollar emerald, known as 'The Hot Rock.' This isn't just any jewel; it's a sacred artifact, the crown jewel of a newly independent African nation, currently held by one faction (the Akinzi) while another (the Talabwo) desperately wants it back. The Talabwo's UN representative is offering a hefty sum for its 'retrieval,' thrusting Dortmunder and his bumbling crew into an international political quagmire. What begins as a straightforward heist quickly spirals into an escalating series of blunders, re-heists, and hilarious near-misses as the elusive emerald proves to be far more difficult to keep stolen than to steal in the first place. Westlake's classic caper is a masterclass in comedic timing and a testament to the enduring appeal of a thief who just can't catch a break.