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This page lists novels that feature the thief Parker.

The Hunter

Richard Stark

1962

A Parker novel.

Also published as Point Blank and Payback following movies with these titles based on The Hunter.

"The Hunter, the first book in the Parker series, is the story of a man who hits New York head-on like a shotgun blast to the chest. Betrayed by the woman he loved and double-crossed by his partner in crime, Parker makes his way cross-country with only one thought burning in his mind — to coldly exact his revenge and reclaim what was taken from him!"

The Man With the Getaway Face

Richard Stark

1963

A Parker novel.

Also published with the title The Steel Hit.

"Master thief Parker comes to a plastic surgeon in Nebraska with a face that the Outfit--the New York syndicate--wants to decorate with a bullet. But nothing can keep Parker away from his old life of crime--and the major heist of an armored car somewhere in New Jersey."

The Outfit

Richard Stark

1963

A Parker novel.

"When the Outfit tries to kill him, Parker declares war. Ripping off the syndicate is easy, but going one-on-one with Bronson, the Outfit's big boss, is the hard part. Hard for anyone but Parker, because the entire underworld understands that whatever Parker does -- he does for keep."

The Mourner

Richard Stark

1963

A Parker novel.

"The statue wore white and grieved. Parker wasn’t interested in its sentimental value. The thief cared more about retrieving a certain gun that came with it, the one he had used in a previous crime that could incriminate him. By the time Parker comes face to face with the 16-inch-tall alabaster figurine called The Mourner, he knows that stealing it for a rich man and his beautiful, amoral daughter is the least of his worries. New players are coming in every minute, from strutting syndicate boys to a fat man with a heavy accent who is lighter on his feet than he looks. Now in a deadly, treacherous endgame, Parker will find out who intends to bury whom — and why no one will be crying over his grave."

The Score

Richard Stark

1964

A Parker novel.

Also published with the title Killtown.

"It was an impossible crime: knock off a huge plant payroll, all the banks, and all the stores in one entire city in one night. But there was one thief good enough to try — Parker. All he needed was the right men, the right plan, and the right kind of help from Lady Luck. The men and the plan were easy; Lady Luck was another story. She turned out to be a good-looking blonde with a taste for booze and eyes for Parker. And Parker knew this chilling caper could either be the perfect crime… or a set-up that would land him in jail — for life."

The Jugger

Richard Stark

1965

A Parker novel.

"Not many men knew what Parker did for a living, because what he did was steal. But Joe Sheer, a retired safecracker — also known in the business as a jugger — knew. He knew Parker’s alias, his whereabouts, his plans… and because he knew too much, he knew to keep his mouth shut. Or die. But Joe was more than ready to trade what he knew for a soft mattress, windows without bars on them, and what every man needs — his freedom. So Parker had come to Nebraska to find the old jugger… and probably murder him. But what Parker found was trouble: Joe was already six feet under; something very valuable was missing; and somebody was planning a funeral… Parker’s. Too bad for somebody — that Parker wasn’t an easy man to kill."

The Seventh

Richard Stark

1966

A Parker novel.

Also published with the title The Split.

"In The Seventh, the heist of a college football game goes bad, and the take is stolen by a crazed, violent amateur. Parker must outrun the cops — and the killer — to retrieve his cash."

The Handle

Richard Stark

1966

A Parker novel.

"The Baron ran a gambling island off the Texas coast in the Gulf’s blue waters. To Parker, it was just a floating crap game with class. To the Big Boys, it was competition they couldn’t stomach. They wanted a specialist to rob the Baron blind, pluck him like a chicken, and burn this paradise island into the sea. That’s why they sent for Parker. His price was 200 grand in cash and Crystal — a beautiful little blonde. So the pot was sweet, but the heist soon had so many twists it smelled like a brand-new lemon — and Parker knew the line between success and failure on this score would be exactly the length of the barrel of a .38."

The Rare Coin Score

Richard Stark

1967

A Parker novel.

"When it comes to heists, Parker believes in some cardinal rules. On this job, he breaks two of them: never bring a dame along—especially not one you like—and never, ever, work with amateurs. Nevertheless, with the help of a creep named Billy, and the lure of a classy widow, he agrees to set up a heist of a coin convention. But Billy’s a rookie with no idea how to pull off a score, and the lady soon becomes a major distraction. The Rare Coin Score marks the first appearance of Claire, who will steal Parker’s heister’s heart—while together they steal two million dollars worth of coins."

The Green Eagle Score

Richard Stark

1967

A Parker novel.

"Here's Parker-planning to steal the entire payroll of an Air Force base in upstate New York, with help from Marty Fusco, fresh out of the pen, and a smart aleck finance clerk named Devers. Holed up with family in a scrappy little town, the hoisters prepare for the risky job by trying to shorten the odds. But the ice is thinner than Parker likes to think - and Marty's ex-wife is much more complicated."

The Black Ice Score

Richard Stark

1969

A Parker novel.

"A corrupt African colonel has converted half his country's wealth into diamonds and smuggled them to a Manhattan safe house. Four upstanding citizens plan to rescue their new nation by stealing the diamonds back-with the help of a 'specialist' - Parker, that is. He has the best references in town. Will Parker break his rule against working with amateurs and help them because his woman would be disappointed if he doesn't? Or because three hired morons have threatened to kill him and his woman if he does? They thought they were buying an advantage, but what they get is a predated death certificate."

The Sour Lemon Score

Richard Stark

1969

A Parker novel.

"Bank robberies should run like clockwork, right? If your name’s Parker, you expect nothing less. Until, that is, one of your partners gets too greedy for his own good. The four-way split following a job leaves too small a take for George Uhl, who begins to pick off his fellow hoisters, one by one. The first mistake? That he doesn’t begin things by putting a bullet in Parker. That means he won’t get the chance to make a second. One of the darkest novels in the series, this caper proves the adage that no one crosses Parker and lives."

Deadly Edge

Richard Stark

1969

A Parker novel.

"Deadly Edge bids a brutal adieu to the 1960s as Parker robs a rock concert, and the heist goes south. Soon Parker finds himself—and his woman, Claire—menaced by a pair of sadistic, drug-crazed hippies. Parker has a score to settle while Claire’s armed with her first rifle—and they’re both ready to usher in the end of the Age of Aquarius."

Slayground

Richard Stark

1971

A Parker novel.

"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. There are no exits from Fun Island. Outnumbered and outgunned, Parker can't afford a single miscalculation."

Plunder Squad

Richard Stark

1972

A Parker novel.

"When a job looks like amateur hour, Parker walks away. But even a squad of seasoned professionals can't guarantee against human error in a high-risk scam. Can an art dealer with issues unload a truck of paintings with Parker's aid? Or will the heist end up as too much of a human interest story, as luck runs out before Parker can get in on the score?"

Butcher’s Moon

Richard Stark

1974

A Parker novel.

"Back in the corrupt town where he lost his money, and nearly his life, in Slayground, Parker assembles a stunning cast of characters from throughout his career for one gigantic, blowout job: starting—and finishing—a gang war. It feels like the Parker novel to end all Parker novels, and for nearly twenty-five years that’s what it was."

Comeback

Richard Stark

1997

A Parker novel.

"The heist went down while the people prayed. An angel walked with sagging shoulders - he was Parker's inside man, dressed in wings and robes and destined to be a problem. An hour later, Parker, Liss, and Mackey were out in the shimmering heat of a stadium parking lot with four duffel bags full of cash. Then the double cross began. Now the half-million-dollar robbery of a Christian crusade is drawing a crowd of cops, crooks, and the evangelist's own unrelenting security man, a tough ex-Marine who trusts nobody and nothing. What began at a gathering of the faithful has moved into the realm of night. Here every move has a countermove, every man is on his own, and every lie leads to the deadliest moments of truth."

Backflash

Richard Stark

1998

A Parker novel.

"When the steel-nerved crook Parker receives a tip about a floating casino stuffed with cash on the Hudson River, the job is too tempting to pass up. With his usual meticulous precision, he plans every detail of the heist, from the guns to the getaway boat. His team is ready. But somebody finds out about the scheme, and soon Parker finds himself at the center of a maelstrom of greed, lies, and bullets. With no one to trust but himself, Parker must do what he does best: punch, shoot, and kill his way out of the night."

Flashfire

Richard Stark

2000

A Parker novel.

"In Flashfire, Parker’s in West Palm Beach, competing with a crew that has an unhealthy love of explosions; when things go sour, Parker finds himself shot and trapped - and - forced to rely on a civilian to survive."

Firebreak

Richard Stark

2001

A Parker novel.

"When the telephone rang, Parker was out in the garage killing a man. Someone from his past had hired a soon-to-be-departed assassin -- and Parker wasn't one to give a guy a second chance. But where there's one cockroach, a whole nest isn't far behind. Now, with one eye over his shoulder, Parker's gotta keep focused on the project at hand: breaking into a computer mogul's compound to retrieve some priceless, purloined works of art. With new hit men on his tail and his cronies turning up the heat, Parker is feeling the pressure. Thankfully, he's always at his dead-on best when he's got a deadline."

Breakout

Richard Stark

2001

A Parker novel.

"One Way in. No Way Out. Even master criminals make mistakes. Parker's most recent sin has landed him in prison, where it's only a matter of time before the law uncovers his real name-and the extent of his astounding criminal career. To escape, Parker must ignore one of his cardinal rules and take on the only partners he can find. Yet his fellow convicts demand a price: the moment they get free, they want Parker to help them break into a former armory now storing a mother lode of precious gems. For Parker, the plan includes too many people, too many complications, and too many weak links. But with a potential big payoff just ahead, Parker is willing to jump-out of the frying pan, into the fire, and onto a scheme that will soon pit every man against every other."

Nobody Runs Forever

Richard Stark

2004

A Parker novel.

"Seven men came to a meeting in Cincinnati. One wore a wire, and another didn't hesitate to kill him-fast and hard. Now Parker has left that meeting and the murder behind, and gotten involved in a scheme that is stuffed with money and trouble. In the rural northwestern corner of Massachusetts, Parker and a pal plan to steal an armored car. But the human element gets in the way. From a nervous ex-con and his well-intentioned sister to a bank manager's two-timing wife and a beautiful, relentless cop, too many people have their hands too close to Parker's pie. Then a bounty hunter, who just happens to be hunting the man who never left the Cincinnati meeting, joins the fray. Parker can see this job turning bad, yet he can't let go of the score. And when guns go off and the heist goes down, the perfect plan will explode with a sound and fury all its own."

Ask the Parrot

Richard Stark

2006

A Parker novel.

"In Ask the Parrot, Parker’s back on the run, dodging dogs, cops, and even a helicopter. Forced to work with a small-town recluse and a group of fools at a gun club in rural Massachusetts, Parker focuses on getting the cash and getting out. It'll be a deadly day at the races."

Dirty Money

Richard Stark

2008

A Parker novel.

"Master criminal Parker takes another turn for the worse as he tries to recover loot from a heist gone terribly wrong. In Nobody Runs Forever, Parker and two cohorts stole the assets of a bank in transit, but the police heat was so great they could only escape if they left the money behind. In this follow-up novel, Parker and his associates plot to reclaim the loot, which they hid in the choir loft of an unused country church. As they implement the plan, people on both sides of the law use the forces at their command to stop Parker and grab the goods for themselves. Though Parker's new getaway van is an old Ford Econoline with Holy Redeemer Choir on its doors, his gang is anything but holy, and Parker will do whatever it takes to redeem his prize, no matter who gets hurt in the process."

The Parker Omnibus: Volume 1

Richard Stark

1997

A Parker omnibus.

An omnibus that brings together the three early Parker novels: Man with the Getaway Face; The Outfit; and Deadly Edge.

The Parker Omnibus: Volume 2

Richard Stark

1999

A Parker omnibus.

An omnibus that brings together the three more 1960's Parker novels: The Split (first published as The Seventh); The Score; and The Handle.

Comeback, Backflash, Flashfire: A Parker Omnibus

Richard Stark

2007

A Parker omnibus.

An omnibus that brings together the three 1990s Parker novels: Comeback; Backflash; and Flashfire.

Comeback, Flashfire: Omnibus

Richard Stark

2009

A Parker omnibus.

An omnibus that brings together the two 1990s Parker novels: Comeback and Flashfire.