Potshot

Rating:
Summary: Less about Spencer, More about Parker
Review: Totally enjoyable and more of the same. Spencer does the Magnificent Seven. Enjoy Potshot it is pure fun.

I think I have read every Spencer novel, in fact probably every novel that Parker has written. And I've come to view Parker's novels are being more about exploring the veiled themes in his life and how to explore new themes and creative ideas while staying with the confines of a popular genre. What next Robert B? You've done Spencer as a woman (Sunny Randall). You've done Spencer if he had become an alcoholic cop (Jesse Stone).

Why not age Spencer finally. Why does Pearl grow old and not Spencer? He's closing on seventy I think. I would vote for seriously exploring how to be tough and aging. Relevant to the boomer population.

Rating:
Summary: The best in a long while
Review: For several years now I have felt like Parker was phoning it in - many of the recent Spenser books have had unconscionably wide margins and low page counts - but this recent outing must be considered a return to form. All the usual dry banter with Hawk and Susan is as enjoyable as always, as is Spenser's smart-mouth style and grace under pressure. But there is also a strong plot line to carry the story forward, a genuine puzzle that widens, deepens and resolves very satisfactorily.

The best part, however, is getting to spend quality time with almost all the hard cases Spenser has charmed in the past, including the inimitable Bernard J. Fortunato. There are indeed seven of them, contrary to another review's count: a conscious homage to the Magnificent Seven. They are a tough crew indeed - honorable after their fashion, but as Hawk very memorably states at the end, not like Spenser.

If I were to quibble, it's that the climactic gunfight misses the last degree of intensity and reality, and many of the true bad guys don't get their full comeuppance. But it is still worth the trip to get there: you're in the hands of a master, writing at the top of his game. This series is a national treasure, and he can't write enough of them.

Rating:
Summary: The hole-in-the-wall gang rides again!
Review: I had not read a Robert Parker novel before. So I did not knowwhat to expect. I understand he has written several westerns? Itshows. While I enjoyed Mr. Parker taking a potshot by writing Potshotin the back of my mind I kept wondering when his characters wouldcircle the wagons and if the cavalry would arrive on time. Don'tget me wrong I loved the book. And Mr. Parker seems to have coveredall of his bases. The beautiful damsel, the tough as nailsprotagonist, .... You see, the Preacher and his banditos are holed upin the Dell, kind of like the hole-in-the-wall gang from the oldwest. The hero needs to root them out so he rounds up his posse, ... etc. He comes up with four of them; he falls twohombres short to suit me. I wanted seven, kind of like in the moviewestern The Magnificent Seven. If you have sound tracks from any ofthe Clint Eastwood spaghetti westerns I'd recommend you play themsoftly in the background as you sip your branch water and enjoyPotshot

Rating:
Summary: Spenser Stays Fresh and Keeps Getting Better!
Review: As an author of a recently published mystery, I genuinely admire the work of Robert B. Parker. After nearly thirty Spenser books in as many years, Parker's Spenser series remains consistently fresh, and, in Potshot, it gets even better. In this latest novel, Spenser is Spenser, with his unique style, wit, and attitude. He is hired by a lovely widow and sets his sights on cleaning up an Arizona town. To accomplish his goal, Spenser enlists the help of a number of supporting characters from recent books. Parker's sidekick concept is a stroke of brilliance by a master of the mystery genre. Potshot has everything that his readers have grown to expect from Spenser and then some. Parker and Spenser keep walking the walk and talking the talk. Fast plot. Clever quips. Social observations. Well-researched ambience. I hope my work can remain as solid as Mr. Parker's after my next thirty books!

Rating:
Summary: Spener at his best
Review: Since he has nothing better to do, Boston's most beloved private detective (at least in Susan's mind), Spencer takes on the case of Mary Lou Buckman. She left Los Angeles to live in Pothole Arizona. However, the Dell, local thugs living in the nearby foothills, threatens the tranquillity of the town. Mary Lou believes the group leader The Preacher ordered his membership to kill her spouse over his refusal to pay protection money.

Spencer arrives in town and immediately meets with his client, the local sheriff, and a consortium of business owners who want the Dell gone. Spence leads an army of hired guns, including Hawke to fight the Dell, in a modern day rendition of the gunfight at the OK Corral.

Spencer retains his cynical sense of humor, acerbic dry wit, and all around tough guy persona that has kept him so appealing for so many years. Robert B. Parker gives his large following an action packed tale complete with a multitude of villains with few heroes except for Spenser's team. The storyline is absorbing as readers will want to finish this novel in one sitting to learn who committed murder and why. Mr. Parker leaves his audience surprised and eager for the next rendition.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: A tired plot
Review: Spenser goes out west to be the white hat to ride in and clean out the baddies in a town. Sound familiar? The "good citizens" pay him and he gathers his own crew of thugs to fight the local gang of thugs. The problem is, you can't really tell the bad guys without a program. One has to wonder if any of the real crooks were punished. Oh yes, there is shootout at the end, and a lot of people get gunned down, but those are all spear carriers. How about the people with the money? The dialog sometimes leaves a little to be desired - something along the lines of "Me Tarzan, you Jane."

Rating:
Summary: Extremely Far-Fetched
Review: Arizona state police allow (and silently condone) Spenser gathering together a posse of homicidal thugs to do battle over a little town? Yeah, right.
Once again Spenser decides pretty and sexy must equal innocence. And when the truth is reveal, he allows homical pretty and sexy to walk away scot free.
His writing ability is still excellent, but I think his age is affecting his ability to creat reasonable scenarios. Too bad.


Rating:
Summary: Sad
Review: I enjoy the Spenser series. I have read maybe 10 so far, and plan on getting them all eventually. The characters are fun, the stories are interesting, the dialog is perky, and the action is exciting. Sure, I often skim over a lot of the "Susan" stuff, and I do get tired of over-long descriptions of food/clothing. But I generally enjoy these books.

Potshot is easily the worst one I have encounted. Admittedly, the typical "Spencer" plot is not a paragon of coherance/continuity. In "Potshot", however, it becomes so problematic that it detracts a lot from enjoyment of the story. I won't bother to list the holes and inconsistancies here, it's just not worth the time. Other reviews have mentioned the unsatisfiying ending, so I won't dwell on that either. All I will say is that, as I turned the last page and closed the book, I was filled with disappointment. "Phoned it in" was my first thought.

I do strongly recommend this series. But this is NOT the one to start with.

Rating:
Summary: just plain bad
Review: How can a book that is at least 125 pages too long manage to have an abrupt and unfulfiling conclusion? Maybe if Parker would quit cranking out books like they were on an assembly line, he might produce a work that is at least entertaining.

Rating:
Summary: Overall - worth the trip
Review: I'm relatively new to the Spenser series (I know - "Where have I been?!?"), so I don't have the history to rank this against the earlier work. In and of itself, it was a fun ride worth the read. I did read a couple of prior Spenser books and I think it's always fun when a character revisits characters from old stories. It was great to see the separate characters interact with each other. I do agree with another post that the limited Susan was a plus. That dialogue is getting a little worn. The Spenser/Hawk dialoque on the other hand - I'll never get sick of it. Joe Mantengna is a great narrator, but if you ever come across a Spenser novel read by Burt Reynolds (I heard Chance), it's a real trip!