--- product_id: 60832290 title: "The Road to Ruin" price: "Bs.344" currency: BOB in_stock: true reviews_count: 12 url: https://www.desertcart.bo/products/60832290-the-road-to-ruin store_origin: BO region: Bolivia --- # The Road to Ruin **Price:** Bs.344 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** The Road to Ruin - **How much does it cost?** Bs.344 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.bo](https://www.desertcart.bo/products/60832290-the-road-to-ruin) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description The Road to Ruin [Westlake, Donald E.] on desertcart.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The Road to Ruin Review: The return of Dortmunder - There are a lot of writers out there that I enjoy, but there are a limited few who I consider extra special. Getting a new book from one of these writers is a special treat, and since such treats are limited, I need to space them out over time so as not to use them up to quickly. Donald Westlake is such a writer, and the latest treat of his that I've read is The Road to Ruin. The Road to Ruin is the eleventh novel featuring hard-luck thief John Dortmunder. Dortmunder is a gifted "planner": he's the one who can come up with the plans for the great caper. Unfortunately, no matter how great his scheme, fate always seems to conspire against him. In this novel, the target is Monroe Hall, a Ken Lay-ish sort of scheming billionaire who has avoided conviction but lives in solitude in a New Jersey mansion. Hall has ruined many with his sly bookkeeping, and now he needs to stay out of the public eye. It's even hard for him to keep household staff. Hall has a collection of valuable cars that is the target of Dortmunder and his gang. Since security is air-tight, Dortmunder decides the way to get in is to become employees. Andy Kelp becomes a private secretary, hulking Tiny Bulcher becomes a security guard and Stan Murch becomes a chauffeur. Dortmunder is the new butler. Everything works brilliantly. They've got the jobs, they have access to the cars, a place to stash them and a way of getting cash for them. There's just one problem.... Hall has ruined many people and some of those people want revenge. Mac, Buddy and Ace are some blue collar employees who were laid off when Hall's company went under; Mark and Os are investors who lost a lot of money when the stock collapsed. They team up with the intent of kidnapping Hall and forcing him to transfer money out of his "secret" off-shore accounts. But unlike Dortmunder and his crew, these folks are strictly amateurs. They do eventually develop a plan of their own, but the execution of their plan will create havoc with Dortmunder's own plot. Westlake's Dortmunder books are always a delight, and this book is no exception. Although crime rarely pays in these books, Westlake is hardly moralizing. Actually, if there is a moral to a Dortmunder story, it's a rather cynical one: you can work hard and plan well and still, something can come out of nowhere and louse things up. But that's probably reading too much into Westlake's intent; this book should be strictly read for the great entertainment it provides. The Road to Ruin is a fun and funny read. Review: Very entertaining - Easy read. Great characters. Goofy,fun plots. Have enjoyed all of the Westlake books I have read and look forward to the next one. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #1,249,858 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #22,646 in Suspense Thrillers #53,319 in Mysteries (Books) #472,128 in Literature & Fiction (Books) | | Book 11 of 15 | The Dortmunder Novels | | Customer Reviews | 4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars (420) | | Dimensions | 6.38 x 1.13 x 9.38 inches | | Edition | First Edition | | ISBN-10 | 089296801X | | ISBN-13 | 978-0892968015 | | Item Weight | 1.2 pounds | | Language | English | | Print length | 352 pages | | Publication date | April 21, 2004 | | Publisher | Mysterious Press | ## Images ![The Road to Ruin - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71OmQgVlZVL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The return of Dortmunder *by M***L on July 7, 2006* There are a lot of writers out there that I enjoy, but there are a limited few who I consider extra special. Getting a new book from one of these writers is a special treat, and since such treats are limited, I need to space them out over time so as not to use them up to quickly. Donald Westlake is such a writer, and the latest treat of his that I've read is The Road to Ruin. The Road to Ruin is the eleventh novel featuring hard-luck thief John Dortmunder. Dortmunder is a gifted "planner": he's the one who can come up with the plans for the great caper. Unfortunately, no matter how great his scheme, fate always seems to conspire against him. In this novel, the target is Monroe Hall, a Ken Lay-ish sort of scheming billionaire who has avoided conviction but lives in solitude in a New Jersey mansion. Hall has ruined many with his sly bookkeeping, and now he needs to stay out of the public eye. It's even hard for him to keep household staff. Hall has a collection of valuable cars that is the target of Dortmunder and his gang. Since security is air-tight, Dortmunder decides the way to get in is to become employees. Andy Kelp becomes a private secretary, hulking Tiny Bulcher becomes a security guard and Stan Murch becomes a chauffeur. Dortmunder is the new butler. Everything works brilliantly. They've got the jobs, they have access to the cars, a place to stash them and a way of getting cash for them. There's just one problem.... Hall has ruined many people and some of those people want revenge. Mac, Buddy and Ace are some blue collar employees who were laid off when Hall's company went under; Mark and Os are investors who lost a lot of money when the stock collapsed. They team up with the intent of kidnapping Hall and forcing him to transfer money out of his "secret" off-shore accounts. But unlike Dortmunder and his crew, these folks are strictly amateurs. They do eventually develop a plan of their own, but the execution of their plan will create havoc with Dortmunder's own plot. Westlake's Dortmunder books are always a delight, and this book is no exception. Although crime rarely pays in these books, Westlake is hardly moralizing. Actually, if there is a moral to a Dortmunder story, it's a rather cynical one: you can work hard and plan well and still, something can come out of nowhere and louse things up. But that's probably reading too much into Westlake's intent; this book should be strictly read for the great entertainment it provides. The Road to Ruin is a fun and funny read. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very entertaining *by P***H on July 28, 2025* Easy read. Great characters. Goofy,fun plots. Have enjoyed all of the Westlake books I have read and look forward to the next one. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Can't stop reading these books *by K***R on March 24, 2022* With so many characters whose lives intertwine in surprising ways, these Dortmunder books always involve a hopeful caper, with zaniness ensuing. I wish they were turned into movies on a par with Oceans Eleven and Italian Job. This story fell a little short in a way i can't explain without ruining the end and i may have given it only 4 1/2 stars, but i love the core characters, their quirks, interactions with Rolo, details on driving routes. Can't wait to start the next one. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.bo/products/60832290-the-road-to-ruin](https://www.desertcart.bo/products/60832290-the-road-to-ruin) --- *Product available on Desertcart Bolivia* *Store origin: BO* *Last updated: 2026-05-10*