The Hunter (1962) is a crime thriller novel by American writer Donald E. Westlake under the pseudonym Richard Stark.

A quick series of cons and identity theft allows him to acquire a false name, a change of clothes, and a small amount of money.

Parker tracks down Stegmann who says Mal deposits the money for Lynn in a bank account and he claims he has no direct contact with or know where to find him.

This pattern is disrupted when he is convinced, against his better judgment, to join a "crew" in California, planning to heist a shipment of cash intended for an illegal arms deal.

With the proceeds from the arms heist, Mal bought his way back in, but panics when he hears from Stegmann that Parker is alive, and seeking revenge.

Mal takes refuge in a penthouse suite and tells his associates to spread the word of his whereabouts, planning to lay a trap for Parker.

Parker outmaneuvers a group of Outfit thugs sent to kill him, and gets his money—only to be questioned at his hotel by police detectives, who have come to the mistaken conclusion that he's involved in drug smuggling, and are going to take him in.

It was the basis for three feature films: Other appearances of the 'Parker' character include: The book was adapted as a graphic novel by artist Darwyn Cooke in 2009 as Richard Stark's Parker: The Hunter.