Donald Westlake is dead.

Depressing news. He was 75, so one can't say it was unexpected, but depressing nevertheless. Westlake had it. He really had it. He could tell a story so effortlessly that it made you think novel writing has to be a cinch. Wrong. He was just that good. The always on the ball Sarah Weinman has a roundup of links. His next book, Get Real, a Dortmunder novel, is due in April. I'm going to go have a drink.