Twenty-four down, and twenty-five to go!

Spenser is hired by a former public defender who believes her minority client was found guilty - and he's not. On one side, the disenfranchised trouble-maker, who probably deserves some jail time - just not this time. On the other, it's the spoiled, moneyed folks who don't live in reality.

Spenser comes up against one of the few foes who may have a leg up on him in relation to his skill set and abilities, even with Hawk on his wing. Good action yarn.

This brushes up against the plots of several other Spenser novels. Probably not noticeable unless you can burn through the entire series in a few weeks like I've been doing. I am getting tired of the conversations with Susan. They may be one thing that sets Parker's writing apart from other crime novelists, but they also only serve as a distraction from the plot. I am starting to hate the dog too.

Spenser asks the right questions of the right people and someone hires thugs to scare him off. He scares them off. Then a dirty cop comes to scare him. And gets his ass kicked. So they send an assassin, the "Gray Man". He may be the death of Spenser. I mean... if you believe that a series star will die.

More good Spenser fun, with Hawk being both stalwart companion and the coolest son-of-a-bitch on Earth.

One of the best of the Spenser books, if not the best. An excellent mystery, lots of action, plenty of soul searching around a potential life decision for Spenser and Susan, lots of twists, and a chance to call back lots of prior characters. And of course the crackling dialog we expect from our literate ex-fighter detective.

Parker’s Spenser stories are almost always great to read, like coming home in the world of contemporary detective novels.

This might be the perfect Spenser story; Hawk heavy, and with a genuine mystery in the middle of it that isn't just a literary fait accompli. Spenser meets a man who almost kills him, and has to battle back as well, and I doubt that's a spoiler in a 40 book series though.

Great as always. This was my first Spenser book, many many years ago. This is one that Spenser gets shot in and part of the book is his recuperation with Hawk. Just a great novel!

This turned out to be a really great addition to the Spenser story. We get to see a side to Spencer that we have never seen before. I have to say I was kinda worried there for a while.
Spencer is hired to look in to the of a man who was convicted of murder and it does not take long for people to start to get annoyed with him.
I don't want to give away any spoilers, so all I will say is that you are in for a wild ride with this book.
I thoroughly enjoyed it.
As per normal you need to remember when these books were written and published if you decided to read them.

This book reminded me of why I love Robert B. Parker's writing and especially Spenser and Hawk.

Susan, I guess she's dug herself out of the hole I've had her in for the past few books. Maybe.

This fine read delves even deeper into the relationship Spenser and Hawk are so fortunate to have. It's a mutual trust and dare I say love? Well, I think they probably would agree. How about a serious bromance? Does that include love?

A worthy read and has reminded me of why I enjoy reading the Spenser series. Many a mile to go until I'm finished.

Just glancing at other reviews, I'm not alone in my opinion.

“He ain’t heavy—he’s my brother.”

The one with ‘The Gray Man’.

Rita’s law firm hires Spenser to find out whether someone who was prosecuted and subsequently incarcerated was done so wrongfully. Racism is prevalent here, like in other books. Not on Parker’s part! But it seems to have played a part in certain demographics’ lack of opportunities, etc.

I don’t want to share any spoilers, so I’ll simply say: The one with ‘The Gray Man’. And i’ll add, that I think, if I could pick just one as my fave of this series, it’d likely be this one.

Well done, truly.
I grieve the loss of Bob every day … today, I’ll grieve him just a little bit more as I marvel at his talent.


5 stars.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Series semi-regulars:
Spenser has to lean on his friends and allies quite a bit in this one so we see many crime bosses, etc. from the past:

Joe Broz
Gino Fish
Patricia Utley (and Steven)
Quick
Belson
Healy
His Manhattan homicide detective friend whose name I don’t even remember


On a personal front:
Susan informs Spenser she’d like a baby!
She also has to sell the house they’re renovating together in Concord.


*Rita Fiore, who we’ve met before, many books ago is in this one. She’s no longer a DA, but a big-shot prosecutor with a cushy firm.


Audio:
Another Burt Reynolds narration … he’s not ideal but better than all his predecessors. 3-star performance.



First edition cover:  




Spenser Reading Order:

1. The Godwulf Manuscript (1973)
2. God Save the Child (1974)
3. Mortal Stakes (1975)
4. Promised Land (1976)
5. The Judas Goat (1978)
6. Looking for Rachel Wallace (1980)
7. Early Autumn (1980)
8. A Savage Place (1981)
9. Ceremony (1982)
10. The Widening Gyre (1983)
11. Valediction (1984)
12. A Catskill Eagle (1985)
13. Taming a Seahorse (1986)
14. Pale Kings and Princes (1987)
15. Crimson Joy (1988)
16. Playmates (1989)
17. Stardust (1990)
18. Pastime (1991)
19. Double Deuce (1991)
20. Paper Doll (1993)
21. Walking Shadow (1994)
22. Thin Air (1995)
23. Chance (1996)
24. Small Vices (1997)
25. Sudden Mischief (1998)
26. Hush Money (1999)
27. Hugger Mugger (2000)
28. Potshot (2001)
29. Widow's Walk (2002)
30. Back Story (2003)
31. Bad Business (2004)
32. Cold Service (2005)
33. School Days (2005)
34. Dream Girl (2006)
35. Now and Then (2007)
36. Rough Weather (2008)
36.5 Chasing the Bear (2009)
37. The Professional (2009)
38. Painted Ladies (2010)
39. Sixkill (2011)
39.5 Silent Night (2013)
Spenser: A Mysterious Profile (2022)

continued in the series by Ace Atkins

Top notch story from the author and once again the Spenser series just keeps getting better. For the first time in awhile I wasn't put off by the Susan Silverman character and she added some necessary story to keep this one moving forward. Nice too that Spenser isn't quite so invincible in this one. It is a bit repetitive how tough he is and it was nice to see him not so super human. Hawk as always is smooth as silk and deadly as he needs to be, but, more than anything, a friend. Great one here and for me it is one of the best in the series.