The Hot Rock

A band of four thieves - bomb maker Greenberg, driver Murch, locksmith Kelp and the mastermind Dortmunder (who happens to be Kelp's brother-in-law) - are hired by Dr. Amusa, an African ambassador, to steal the museum-housed diamond called the Sahara Stone, a gem of cultural importance to Dr. Amusa's country. This heist is not going to be the only one that Dortmunder has to plan to retrieve the diamond, as, one time after another, the foursome manage to have the gem, but not quite in their own possession. Working with, or perhaps against the foursome in retrieving the gem is Greenberg's father (shyster lawyer). Despite the problems in getting the diamond, Dortmunder is determined to break what he calls the curse of the diamond.