Rating: 
Summary: strong Sunny Randall tale
Review: When a person sees Sunny Randall for the first time, the individual thinks cute and perky. However, Sunny is a private detective with a spine of steel and she's not afraid to use the gun she's permitted to carry. Psychiatrist Dr. John Melvin stalks romance author Melanie Joan Hall, so while she is going on a book tour she hires Sunny to be her bodyguard.While on tour, the two women see Dr. Melvin many times but are helpless to do anything about it. Melanie Jones starts confiding in Sunny and the private detective realizes the stalker is committing actual crimes against his patients. Determined to put him away Sunny poses as his patient and sets herself up as bait. Robert B. Parker, the author of the famous Spenser series, creates a totally new series using a different voice when he writes about Sunny Randall. In SHRINK RAP, although the reader knows what is going to happen, the fun is in watching a twisted and evil person get his comeuppance. This crime thriller is heading for the bestseller lists. Harriet Klausner
Rating: 
Summary: Dissapointed,sadly...
Review: I've been reading Robert Parker since 1987,and this is the first time i was truely dissapointed...Sadly.
There is way too much psychobabble in here for me,obviously
some will disagree.
I found myself falling asleep too easily.It was boring.
I miss the RBP of old,Spenser and Hawk,the good old days.
It's a KINDER GENTLER Robert Parker,where everything is
psycho-analyzed....
It started with Spenser's Susan,now it's gone to other characters.
I hope the Next Spenser or Jesse Stone is better,i don't
want to give up on him..
Maybe he's just mellowing with age..i don't know.
Advice..a little less conversation,a little more action(Elvis).
Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining yes but touches touchy subjects.
Review: I for one am not a reviewer, but this book shook me just enough to express my opinion on Robert Parkers experience with this central theme. I cannot reveal the story line, this would not be in good character, but the mind of the male stalking the writer doesn't really seem to fit well into the story especially being a shrink and ex spouse. Other than that I found this to be a real page turning capturing read that is superbly written. The character in the book Mad Light by Maddox is much more real and is designed not only to entertain but is for victims as such and for potential offenders as this, as well. I do recommend reading Mad Light.
Rating:
Summary: THE BEST ROBERT PARKER IN YEARS
Review: Sunny Randall is back in a prototypical Robert Parker book; an investigation to be conducted, a mystery to be solved, characters to be developed, spare restrained dialog to be enjoyed, and good to triumph over evil by the conclusion. Even the title is a perfectly minimalist description of the events which we will watch unfold. In this fast paced and quick read, Sunny is hired to "babysit" Melanie Joan Hall by her book publisher as the author embarks on a book tour for her new bestseller. The reason for the bodyguard is that Melanie Joan is terrified of her ex-husband, the "shrink" identified by the title. He does in fact soon begin to stalk her, and the pace quickens when a bloody incident during a book signing leaves Melanie Joan unconscious on the floor. We only very gradually learn the reasons for her terror as we and Sunny get to know her through their conversations while they are on the road together.Meanwhile, the characters that provide the continuity in Sunny's life - her own "ex" Richie, Spike, her friend Julie, her family, and of course Rosie, her companion bull terrier - are all woven into the story as appropriate in typical Robert Parker fashion by an author who both understands and enjoys delving into the complexity of human relationships. When Sunny is threatened with physical harm,she decides that she needs to investigate Dr. Melvin (the "ex") or Melanie Joan will never feel safe. As she and Melanie Joan have traveled together she has come to understand that the author is both likeable and intelligent, not at all a shallow writer of superficial romance novels. Thus, she soon finds herself visiting two shrinks, both Dr. Melvin and a background resource to aid her investigation. At that point she realizes how interconnected her feelings about her complex relationship with Ritchie are to this case, and despite her best intentions gets drawn into her developing own theraputic insights. Since Sunny is still a relatively new acquaintance of Robert Parker fans rather than a old friend like Spenser, we are only gradually learning about her and perhaps that is part of the reason why this book is so enjoyable. In fact, her therapy and the nature of the plot are a wonderful way to make sure that the reader cares what happens next in her relationship with Ritchie. And it is hard not to want to see Spike and Rosie again. Of course, she is not as physical as Spenser, and there is very litle actual violence in the book although two murders and several other violent acts are integral to the plot. However, psychological suspense and tension due to potential violence are almost omnipresent. It is an incredibly fast read, I bought it to start on a two hour flight and finish on the way home but because of a delay due to engine trouble I actually finished the book before we landed, which was probably good since I quickly got swept up in the story and would have gotten aggravated if I had to interrupt it to attend my meeting. The only suggestion that I might make is to read the three books in this new series in order if you have the time; this will let you get a better feel for the nuances of Robert Parker's gradual development of Sunny's character. But if you only have time for one and like intricate psychological thrillers, read this one since it is the best!
Rating:
Summary: Sunny Randall Returns!
Review: Robert B. Parker, creator of the famous Spenser series, writes this third book about wise-cracking, Boston based Sunny Randall. While his portrayal of women tends to get bogged down in stereotypes most of the time, this book is a deep look into the soul of one of his characters, with the return of several of her well-known best friends. In this book, Sunny Randall must help protect an author while investigating exactly what it's like to be in therapy. While it's not exactly fresh, ground-breaking material - it's still a read that will help you laugh till you cry.
Rating:
Summary: Sunny Randall sure has problems
Review: I love his books and this one is also great. But his character, Sunny Randall, P.I. was getting on my nerves through the whole thing. She is a tramp, a feminist(which means she is seriously confused about who she is or what she wants), has major head problems, and at the same time a goody two shoes. How in the god's name can you sympasize with a character like that? She is everything I despise. Despite all that I enjoyed the book so I'm giving it high marks
Rating: 
Summary: Breaking Free
Review: At least I hope that is what Parker is allowing the ex-husband to do. As far as selfish goes, this character is by far much worse than Susan Silverman. And why on earth would a tiny woman who is constantly seeking male help try to be a private eye in the first place?
Rating:
Summary: Annoying Narrator
Review: I listened to this book, and I regretted that within the first ten minutes. The constant use of "she said" or "he said" for every single line of dialogue almost made me roll down my car windows and scream like a banshee. Not only that, but the story was sexist and contrived and, well, rather stupid. This was the first book I ever picked up by this author, and I can't see buying anymore if this is any indication. Give me James Patterson or Patricia Cornwell for murder mysteries any day.
Rating:
Summary: Possibly the most painful book I've ever read/heard
Review: Robert Parker's Shrink Rap is a dog. As a long-time fan of Parker's - I've read 'em all and enjoyed most of them - I found Shrink Rap to be silly, contrived, sexist, and banal - and that's the good parts. This book shows the sign of too much success and not enough effort on the part of the author. After a good start - a successful woman is being stalked by a dangerous ex-husband and hires Sunny Randall to provide security - the novel simply whirls down the drain through some really messy plotting into a totally unsatisfying ending. This thing smacks of the typess of sicko fantasy a demented pre-adolescent might dream up. Go back to what you know, Bob! If Spenser had a problem like this, it would be a subplot in a better novel, because he or Hawk would dispense some street-corner justice and the ex-husband would be on the first bus out of town - as soon as he got out of the hospital. If the next one's this bad, no more Sunny Randall for me!
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