Rating: 
Summary: A Little Farfetched
Review: This was farfetched but still an enjoyable read. Paul Giacomin is back, but just doesn't have enough role in the story for full enjoyment. It's also missing the delectable Hawk. And, thank goodness, Susan Silverman's role is small too. I would recommend this to the diehard Spenser fan.
Rating:
Summary: A Blast from the Past
Review: This was my first Spenser book. (And yes, it is nonetheless quite pleasant here on my planet ;-) Sure, I'd seen glimpses of the late Robert Urich TV show while surfing around the dial - but never really read one of these. (Quot libros, quam breve tempus: Too many books, too little time!) What caught my eye was a blurb about this one talking about similarities to the Symbionese Liberation Army and the Patty Hearst thing. I was intrigued.Prior reviews have lugubriously belabored Back Story's plot. Suffice it to say that Spenser, Hawk, their old and new friends, associates, and acquaintences are out to solve an old cold case of a 70's bank heist by the one-hit-wonder "Dread Scott Brigade." The story moves swiftly back and forth chronologically and geographically (if one is going to investigate hippie sects, one must get out of Boston and go to San Francisco/Berkley) accompanied by snappy dialogue. My favorite: Hawk's translation of Kemo Sabe. All in all, a cool trip! Reviewed by TundraVision
Rating: 
Summary: annoying repartee
Review: This was the first Parker book I ever read. I picked it up in an airport out of desperation when I had nothing left to read. While I liked it enough to read it through, and the story moved along, I found myself increasingly annoyed by the dialog. Every other line of banter spoken by the characters is a clever little quip. It's like they're all trying to be funny--all the time. It gets old quickly and has the effect of making each character sound exactly the same. They're all witty and full of one-liners.
Rating:
Summary: Importance of consistency
Review: Too many of my favorite authors are jeopardizing their work by dragging in material that they seem to think is of social importance or is "true to life." I buy mysteries and thrillers to be entertained, and to revisit characters I've grown to like. Robert Parker is one of the few whose books I still buy in hardbound, as soon as they're out, because he consistently tells a good story. "Back Story" was Parker (and Spenser and Hawk) at their reliable best. I've written eleven academic books, but I'd swap them to have done just one novel that engaged its readers as Parker's novels have engaged me.
Rating: 
Summary: Tight, Tense, Brilliant.....
Review: What is the going rate to investigate a twenty-eight year old murder? If you're Spenser, and the request comes from surrogate son, Paul Giacomin, the price is a hefty six Krispy Kreme doughnuts, paid up front. Paul's friend, Daryl Gordon, is looking for answers. Back in 1974, her mother, Emily, was shot and killed during a bank robbery right here in Boston. A hippie revolutionary group, The Dread Scott Brigade, claimed responsibility, and then, along with the stolen money, disappeared. There seemed to be few clues and leads to this robbery/murder, and the unsolved case has been cold and pretty much forgotten, all these years, until Spenser decides to take a look and stir things up. Now as two unlikely partners, the mob and the FBI, threaten Spenser to lay off and let this old crime remain unsolved, it's just the push he needs to dig deeper and see the case to its bitter end..... After a couple of rather disappointing, lackluster Spenser novels, Robert Parker is back in rare form, and Spenser's thirtieth outing is as intriguing and entertaining as his first. Mr Parker's well-paced story line is tense and compelling, filled with non-stop action, vivid, riveting scenes and brilliant characterizations. But as always, it's his spare, crisp prose and droll, witty dialogue that is the strength of this novel, and no one does it better than the P.I. Grand Master of them all. For those new to Robert Parker and Spenser, start with some of his earlier mysteries to get a real feel for the series and its characters. For those who are already fans, kick back, visit with old friends, and enjoy. Back Story is a strong addition no mystery lover should miss.
Rating:
Summary: This made me laugh out loud!
Review: When a book makes me laugh loudly to the point that I can't control it...it is definitely worth a look! Parker gives his characters such snappy comebacks and hilarious lines that you end up racing for a pad and pen so you can remember to use them on pals at a later time! (shhhhhhhh!;) LOL)
Parker has a wonderful sense of timing both in his comedy and his pacing of the story as it opens before the reader. I was simply unable to put this one down until I had finished it.
I give this book 5 badges!
Rating:
Summary: Better than average Spenser story
Review: When a friend of his foster son Paul offers him half a dozen donuts to find out who killed her mother 28 years previously, Private Detective Spenser takes the job. It's just the kind of funky job that interests him. But when the police report turns up missing the critical FBI report, Senser suspects that there is more to the case than a simple bank robbery. When both mob and FBI enforcers warn him to back off the job, he knows that something is rotten, but he still can't get to the bottom of the case. Along with muscle from side-kick Hawk and wise philosophical advice and frequent sex from main-squeeze Susan Silverman, Spenser sets off on a case that won't bring in any money, can't result in a happy ending for anyone, and just might end up getting him, or Susan, killed. Author Robert B. Parker uses witty dialogue, occasional literary illusion, and male-bonding between Spenser and Hawk to propell the story forward. Fortunately for the reader, Susan is allowed to play a minor (if annoying) role in this story providing emotional support to Spenser and validating the killing that this job requires him to make. After two decades of Spenser stories, Spenser seems little older and is still a tough guy that remembers and uses his boxing skills. Parker's characterization, dialogue, and story-telling are all firing in BACK STORY. Although I found the end to be a bit anticlimactic, BACK STORY is one of the better recent Spenser novels.
Rating:
Summary: Mother Hunt
Review: When an author has been writing a series through 29 volumes, there is always the possibility of the stories taking on a 'cookie cutter' similarity. To some degree, this is unavoidable, since a series requires a certain predictability in its characters and type of plot. Robert Parker's Spenser novels are no exception to this rule, but Parker is one of those writers who can usually find a new twist, even in an old pattern. 'Back Story' is a grand example of Parker's story telling skills, still fresh after all these years. The daughter of the victim, Daryl Gordon, draws Spenser into a thirty-year-old murder, a friend of Spenser's 'nearly' adopted son, Paul Giacomin. The killing occurred in the middle of a bank robbery, committed by the Dread Scott Brigade, a 70's revolutionary group. There were no witnesses, and no one was ever caught. For Paul's sake, Spenser reopens the case and discovers a web of subterfuge surrounding the investigation. FBI reports have been squelched, all the characters seem to have unexpected links to each other, and finally, Spenser's own life is threatened. Into this chaos steps Hawk, Spencer's long time friend and co-perpetrator. These two are on of mysteries original black/white partnerships, and one of the hallmarks of Parker's style is the politically incorrect, whiplash banter that takes place between the two. The make fun of their own stereotypes (and ours) while scaring there suspects witless. Spencer's other partner is his very significant other, Susan, who does not participate in the investigations but is often all that keeps Spenser on this side of sanity. She adds wit, insight and an unselfconscious sexuality to what otherwise might be a grim story of tawdry revenge. The story, while not particularly complex, takes some surprising twists. There is a high violence content, not unusual for Spencer and Hawk, but Parker always manages to use violence without making it into an end in itself. What is unusual this time is Spencer's own introspection at the brutal aspect of his nature. Feeling his own maturity, he begins to wonder what he is really looking for. Susan, the psychologist, has answers, and the pair seem to grow before the reader's eyes. Thoroughly modern, 'Back Story' reads like vintage Parker - a swiftly moving plot, snappy dialogue, and respectable characters. Even if you have skipped the last few, I think you will find this one worth reading. Newcomers need have no fear. The relationship between the characters becomes clear quickly, and the story does not depend on any of the 29 previous novels.
Rating:
Summary: Your basic Spenser novel and another quest for the truth
Review: When I picked up "Back Story," the 2003 Spenser novel from Robert B. Parker of course the first thing that came to my mind was to wonder how Pearl was doing. By page 2 we know the answer to that lingering question at which point we are distracted by the story of Daryl Gordon, the young woman that Paul Giacomin has brought to see Spenser (she stars in his play). In 1974 a revolutionary group calling itself the Dread Scott Brigade staged a robbery at the Shawmut Bank in Boston's Audubon Circle. During that robbery a woman named Emily Gordon, there to cash a traveler's check, was shot and killed. Daryl is Emily's daughter and wants the person who killed her mother to be brought to justice. Since Paul brought a half-dozen Krispy Kremes along with Daryl, our hero is willing to see what he can find out even thought the murder happened, as we are repeatedly told, twenty-eight years ago. There are a lot of things that Spenser does not do, and round up numbers is one of them. Ironically, of course, this is the 30th Spenser novel. "Back Story" certainly represents all aspects of the Spenser formula. There is the tried and true practice of asking questions to see what shakes loose, death threats that require Susan to be protected and gunmen to avoid, and all those witty and philosophical discussions between Spenser and Hawk (as well as Vinnie, Quirk, Jesse Stone, and whoever else shows up along the way). However, Spenser really does not cook as much as he did in the early days. Spenser finds out more than Daryl ever wanted to know, which makes it doubtful that she will be joining the ranks of our hero's expanding "family," and once again puts our hero in the position of being judge, jury, and lord high executioner as he tries to make the world right. The results are enjoyable as always and Parker's novels are perfect for people who like to get a quick chapter in here and there throughout the day, but there is a sense in which Spenser is just going through his standard bag of tricks. I swear, if somebody came in and threw down a copy of the Warren Commission Report our hero would ask a few questions and somebody who come out of the woodwork to tell him to leave that JFK thing along and he would end up solving that one too. However, the ending does find our hero taking a position that might be somewhat contrary to his nature and even if we have read literally hundreds of witty exchanges between Spenser and the people he encounters they are still appealing (especially the ones with his second bananas).
Rating:
Summary: Better Than Usual
Review: When one picks up a Spenser novel one used to expect clever dialogue, likeable characters and a good story line. A few years ago, I thought the series got stale and stopped reading them. This book was a pleasnat surprise because it was as sharp and fresh as the early Parker/Spenser mysteries. The characters have again begun to evolve and have some depth. Back Story has a better than usual plot which brings it to the four star level. Spenser is asked to solve a 28 year old murder and bank heist(for the fee of 6 Krispy Kreme donuts). Hawk is in on the action early and Susan is always there as well - as well as a new Pearl. Spenser has to go back to the hippy/radical world of the early seventies and the question and investigate the players who have now grown to middle age. The plot has some clever twists and interesting characters woven in to give it depth. The mobsters are in on action to add the requisite danger and intrigue. I recommend this to any Spenser fan as the best in the series in a while. It was good to enjoy these characters once again after a hiatus. I recommend it to any mystery fan who enjoys witty dialogue and excellent repartee among characters.
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