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Summary: Nothing new here
Review: Spenser's asked to solve an old murder. He's paid six donuts. Spenser and Hawk insult, beat up and shoot some people. Susan worries. Subplot about a dog. Spenser solves murder. Lots of witty dialogue. Any questions?
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Summary: A compulsive read from the tough guy genre's Mr. Reliable.
Review: Spenser's back -- how many times have we heard that? This is the 30th time he's back, making him an institution several times over. The plot of this (su)spenser dredges up idiocies of the early '70s era that began the series, and that Parker never quite got out of his system. A Patty Heart-like political bank robbery went badly wrong 28 years ago (dating from May 2002), leaving a member of the gang dead at the scene and a coworker of Paul Giacomin's theatrical troupe still angry and upset over the unsolved loss of her mother. Working for six Krisky Kreme donuts as a fee, Spenser takes on one of the most dangerous cases he's faced -- it's also dangerous to his partner Susan, who's threatened by her association with him. Nothing he turns up -- and it's quite a bit -- appears to confirm the assumed facts of the case, and it becomes clear early on the FBI is covering up something it doesn't want known. As in the previous books, good food and lovemaking are close seconds to a solid investigation. We get Spenser's usual acerbic zingers here, and Hawk gets a number in as well, because he's treated as a betrayer to the black cause by radicals and ex-radicals supporting African-American liberation. My only complaint is that Parker lays descriptions of food on a bit heavy before the pace of the book picks up; after that, I was relieved Spenser had a chance to eat between trips to the west coast. As in "Stardust," the woman needing his help is unwilling to help him, so he has to call in most of his favors to unearth the hastily buried family mess that festered over the years. References to "Hamlet" keep us alert to the problem of an unfairly killed parent -- or so it would seem till it's clear who killed who and why. As usual in the Spenser novels, the truth comes twisted enough to undercut our trust in its rectification. Finally, Susan is among the most attractive women ever depicted by an American writer: her strength of character and insight, her constancy and independence make it clear that she (not Spenser) is the real backbone of this series.
Rating: 
Summary: Spenser is alive and well....still standing strong
Review: Spenser, Susan, and Hawk continue to provide the reader with suspense, laughter, love, and loyalty; all this without an excessive amount of profanity......Spenser is still sleuthing with the assistance of his long time friend and assistant, Hawk. Susan proves that beauty and appeal do not diminish as a lady gets a bit mature, at least if her man is Spenser....and "Pearl" is an added bonus....Robert Parker continues to entertain with his forever young and energetic "Spenser"...
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Summary: Mistaken Identity
Review: The cold case is a homicide in a bank robbery dating from 1974. Spenser gets to see the police file. He interviews the retired police officer who headed the investigation. There is a missing FBI report in the file but the officer doesn't know anyting about it it is claimed. In the course of running down leads, Spenser encounters a situation where a group of men wants to kill him. Spenser tells Susan who in turn tells Hawk. Hawk says they have to go to the mattresses. It isn't clear where the threat is coming from. Hawk and Spenser wonder how the mob could possibly be connected. It is strange that anyone would need to cover-up a twenty-eight year old murder. The two men decide to leave Boston and go to San Diego. The investigation starts to veer into the daughter of a mobster who was a class mate of the murdered woman. Interestingly, and this is the the 1960's, the daughter of the mobster was into causes of every kind. Eventually the client does not want to know anything additional about the case after things have taken a rather sordid turn. Nevertheless, Spenser and Hawk do manage to sift down and shoot down the truth. The books is of interest mainly as a demonstration of how an investigation might proceed with so few leads. When the two men travel to the West Coast they are, in a manner of speaking, on a fishing expedition.
Rating:
Summary: One for the Grandmaster -
Review: The Dean is back, school is in session. Spenser and Hawk are in good form, though their quibbling is anything but reminiscint of the earlier novels when Hawk kept his distance. Now they are old friends with all the familiarity of such. Susan's back and still a gerbile despite finally accepting the perils of being a target. Pearl 2 takes the scene in this book. Not much else happens.
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Summary: Investigating the Past
Review: The time setting is 2002. Spenser takes on a case to solve a murder that occurred 28 years earlier during a bank robbery.
He finds that there are dangerous people who do not want the case reopened. The trail leads back through the hippie generation of 30 years ago. He uncovers information that the client did not want to bring to the surface, and discovers a complex Web involving the family of a mob boss.
A few people get shot along the way, but the ending is a little disappointing. I would have hoped that he would take out some of the really bad guys, perhaps dropping some information about how one of them had been an informer. Instead he seems to maintain a live and let live attitude with the main criminals.
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Summary: Like a letter from an old friend
Review: There is one trait about mystery series, which might not hold water for all readers, that I find interesting. As a series moves over the years, the interest moves from the case work to the personality of the detectives. When I first read Spenser I read the books for the puzzles and the action sequences. Now, I read them because of the characters--who feel like old friends--and what is happening. Each book of the series, in brief, becomes like a letter from an old friend.
"Back Story" is such a book. The actions of Spenser, Hawk, and Susan are so well known to followers of the series that we are not surprised by Spenser's price for solving the mystery, the bond between Hawk and Spenser which allows them to move from Standard English to a form of Black English and the reactions of Spenser to attempts at pulling him off the case. It is a salute to Parker's ability as a writer that he keeps these characters and their actions fresh.
There is also a reality about the death of Pearl the Wonder Dog and the pain which comes from such a loss. Pearl was a highpoint of the series because a reader (at least this one!)could see himself watching his dog all the time, noting her reactions, and having the feel of a proud owner/friend.
Pearl was always in the background and she would be missed and griefed over. We also lost a dog and the feelings are real. The buying of a new dog to take the mantle of the older dog was something I have done--a nice touch of realism.
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Summary: Spenser Back
Review: This is an excellent novel. Plot was very suspenseful. Also the ending only is worth waiting for. I'm a Spenser fan for life.
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Summary: SUPER SPENSER NOVEL
Review: This is going to be a quick short review.This is one of the best Spenser novels so don't miss this one if you're a Spenser fan. Paul Giacomin brings Spenser an unsolved murder case, 30 years ago. Spenser starts to pull the string and the mystery slowly, but eventually, unravels. We get all the usual twists and turns in the case, along with Spenser's wit. People try to kill Spenser, but you know that's not a good idea, especially with Hawk around. We even get a cameo appearance by Jesse Stone, a character in another Parker series. All in all a very satisfying addition to the series.
Rating:
Summary: Like all Spensers - it is formulaic but still good.
Review: This is the 30th(?) Spenser novel, and I've probably read all of them. I've only been disappointed by one of them, and this one was a decent return to the form and content of the original dozen or so.
The storyline goes like most of them - Spenser takes a hardluck case, finds very few clues but continues to poke around until someone reacts. He is a smart Private Investigator, but mostly he is very persistant and willing to stir up trouble. Lots of good one liners.
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