BOOK BRIEF

The Ax

Donald E. Westlake
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The Ax

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1998

Book Brief

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Donald E. Westlake

The Ax

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1998
Book Details
Pages

352

Format

Novel • Fiction

Genre
Horror & Suspense

Mystery & Crime Fiction

American Literature
Setting

Northeastern United States • 1990s

Publication Year

1998

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

In The Ax, Donald E. Westlake presents a gripping narrative where an unemployed individual, following a corporate downsizing, devises a drastic plan to secure a job by eliminating their competition. This darkly comedic thriller dives into the lengths a person might go to revive their career in a harsh economic landscape.

Dark

Suspenseful

Gritty

Unnerving

Challenging

Reviews & Readership

4.1

2,582 ratings

71%

Loved it

20%

Mixed feelings

9%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

The Ax by Donald E. Westlake is praised for its dark humor and thrilling plot, capturing the desperation of a man facing economic ruin. Readers appreciate its commentary on corporate downsizing and moral ambiguity. Some criticisms include its slow pace and a protagonist that may not resonate with everyone. Overall, crime fiction fans find it a compelling read.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Ax?

A reader who enjoys The Ax by Donald E. Westlake would be drawn to dark humor and suspenseful crime novels. Fans of American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis or Fargo by Joel and Ethan Coen would appreciate its satirical take on desperation, greed, and the lengths one will go to for survival.

4.1

2,582 ratings

71%

Loved it

20%

Mixed feelings

9%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

352

Format

Novel • Fiction

Genre
Horror & Suspense

Mystery & Crime Fiction

American Literature
Setting

Northeastern United States • 1990s

Publication Year

1998

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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