Monroe Hall embezzled a lot of money from a lot of people but somehow was acquitted. He’s universally hated, however, and never leaves his huge compound in rural Pennsylvania. Dortmunder and his gang come up with a scheme to steal Hall’s antique car collection. They take on new identities and get jobs on the estate, planning to sneak out with the cars one night.

What they don’t know is that two commodities traders and three members of a union, all of whom lost money to Hall, have joined up with a plan of their own. They enter the estate hidden in a horse trailer and kidnap Hall. The also grab Dortmunder, posing as Hall’s butler, who happened to be there at the time. The two are taken to a remote mountain lodge. Hall escapes, but smashes his head in the process and gets permanent amnesia. Dortmunder escapes also, by smashing one of the kidnapper with a chair.

But the plan is ruined. Mrs. Hall has a museum come and take the cars. Dortmunder and his gang get nothing. The kidnapper who was hit with the chair confesses.
The book was rather dull. Westlake’s books have started sounding alike. Halfway through, I decided I’d finish it but that I was done reading Westlake. I took the rest of his books off my to-read list.