Slayground

What would you do if you were trapped in an abandoned amusement park full of gunmen trying to kill you? If you were Parker, you'd simply set to work . . . Richard Stark's Parker novels are the hardest of hard-boiled, classic crime novels where the heists are huge, the body counts are high, and the bad guys usually win. The Parker novels have been a huge influence on countless writers and filmmakers, including Quentin Tarantino, Stephen King, George Pelecanos, Colson Whitehead, Lucy Sante, John Banville, and many more. Their stripped-down language and hard-as-nails amorality create an unforgettable world where the next score could be the big one, but your next mistake could also be your last. There's nothing else like them. The hunter becomes prey, as a heist goes sour and Parker finds himself trapped in a shuttered amusement park, besieged by a bevy of local mobsters, in Slayground. There are no exits from Fun Island. Outnumbered and outgunned, Parker can't afford a single miscalculation. He's low on bullets and making it out alive is a long shot-but, as anyone who's crossed his path knows, no one is better at playing higher stakes with shorter odds. The wildest of all Parker novels, Slayground offers nonstop action, shuddering suspense, and jaw-dropping surprises.