Sudden Mischief

Rating:
Summary: Spenser has to help out Susan's ex-husband...fun ensues
Review: It would be accurate to describe "Sudden Mischief" as the Spenser novel in which our hero has a client who refuses to tell him much about the subject under investigation and when Spenser starts poking his nose around in things people show up and tell him to drop the case or they will beat him up. Eventually he finds out the truth and attempts to do the right thing. Of course this describes a whole bunch of Robert B. Parker's novels in this series and the fact that I have been reading them straight through in order probably magnifies the redundancies. That being said, there are certainly some interesting developments in this 25th Spenser story, although most of them focus on the always fascinating relationship between our hero and Susan Silverman. Especially when Susan gets to hit a guy in the head with a brick.

Out of a clear blue sky Susan has received a visit from her ex-husband Brad Sterling (the joke is HE changed his name after Susan nee Hirsch Silverman divorced him). Brad tells Susan he has financial difficulties and a sexual harassment suit that will ruin him. Susan asks our hero to look into the latter, but Brad does not seem too worried about things even though one of the nation's most prominent lawyers is out to get him. Susan, to say the least in an example of gross understatement, is conflicted over the fact she has asked her lover to help her ex-husband. In "Sudden Mischief" we find out more about Susan's past, the way we did about Spenser in "Pastime." The main question on the psychologist's couch is why Susan has been drawn to the men who have complicated her lives. Against this interpersonal drama the case under investigation seems rather incidental, even though there are corpses showing up that do not always have their tongues. "Sudden Mischief" is one of those Spenser novels that make you realize the Spenser series is really an epic love story where our hero and Susan just get distracted by these pesky little cases.

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Summary: Good Book - but HORRIBLE READING for audio version
Review: While the story was entertaining- the strange intonations of the reader made me stop listening about halfway through - which is pretty bad considering the price of audio books! Save your sanity - and money and AVOID this audio book.

Rating:
Summary: Don't get the audio version!
Review: I like Spenser books - the good and not so good, and I love audiobooks as they eliminate commuting driving stress / road rage. But this one made me angry because Windom's reading is REALLY bad! You can't tell one character from another in dialogues. Windom has odd inflection, particularly at the ends of sentences. And he sounds like he's sucking in his last breath with each phrase. Mr. WIndom, find another line of work, please!

Rating:
Summary: It's Spenser, what more do you need to know?
Review: There are some characters who have been around so long and are so consistent that they fit like an old pair of jeans; there are some books that are so easy and go down so smooth that they can be read in one gulp. The character, of course, is Spenser; the book, Sudden Mischief, the latest Spenser novel from the typewriter of Robert B. Parker.

These books are designed for one-stop reading. They take three hours, give or take for your reading speed, and are meant to be devoured by the fire with a bottle of Jack Daniels for company. The plots are pretty similar, and many of the same things happen (Spenser cooks. Spenser quotes Spenser. Spenser beats people up. Spenser and Hawk trade jibes.). Basically, the Spenser novels are genre fiction, formulaic, pure and simple. But they're GOOD genre fiction. Spenser is an easy guy to like, as long as you're not on his bad side. He's intelligent, he makes a mean plate of spaghetti, he's got the cutest sidekick in the business (Hawk can rough me up any time!), he knows his medieval literature, and he's pretty good at walking the balance between solving crimes and committing them. What's not to like?

Rating:
Summary: Spenser goes to his class reunion
Review: While enjoyable most of the time, this book reminded me of a "This Is Your Life" episode.

Without any real reason, Spenser runs into any number of people from previous books (e.g., Rachel Wallace). It's the equivalent of a class reunion, completed with bored significant-other (Susan).

I enjoyed the book because Spenser spends a lot of time with Hawk. The plot isn't very flash (e.g., he beats up thugs in his office, he tries to intimidate various tough guys), but the dialogue with Hawk is fantastic.

Susan whinges a bit less than usual. Unlike books where she's carrying on like a pork chop, I didn't have to turn each page hoping for a hostage drama involving Susan which goes horribly wrong (albeit only from Spenser's point of view).

If you're going to start reading Spenser books, there are better ones. However, if you like Hawk's comments, I think this one is definitely worthwhile reading.

Rating:
Summary: Another Score for Spenser
Review: Throughout this new addition to my Spenser series, Parker keeps our favorite detectives emotions in check. The plot opens as Susan Silverman, longtime girlfriend of Spenser, asks him to investigate the alleged sexual harassment charges against her ex-husband, Brad Sterling. Quickly this case morphs into a multi-murder case, and Spenser finds it difficult to help Sterling while considering him as a suspect. This brings obvious internal struggle for him, as well as some hard pressing and action-packed scenes between him and shady characters involved in money making scemes. Dialogue is quick, with a bite, as can be depended upon in Spenser novels. A devoted reader of Parker's, I noticed most of the story based on the relationship between Susan and Spenser, with that perhaps overcoming the actual mystery. However, Parker writes with enough sass that every new insight into their relationship was devoured. Light on action, but definitely a quick read, a solid Spenser read. A must read for Spenser fans, and anyone else outside the club will instantly fall in love after reading Sudden Mischief.

Rating:
Summary: Light-Weight But Enjoyable
Review: After Small Vices, this seemed to be pretty light-weight as far a story line went. I always enjoy the humor that Parker injects into his tales, and there was plenty in this book. The scene where two thugs enter Spenser's office and threaten him...didn't that same thing happen in a recent Spenser book? An enjoyable if light-weight read.

Rating:
Summary: Good for Spenser Fans
Review: If you are a Spenser fan you'll like this book which builds out more of Susan's background than ever before - and it's a interesting background. The plot is not bad, but not great and the character of Susan's husband is a bit cheesy. However the dialouge is classic Parker and that's always top notch. I enjoyed the book but having read many a Spenser novel and having read Hush Money before hand I can definitely say there are better Spenser books to read first. Hush Money is excellent, and so is Walking Shadow.

Rating:
Summary: strange criticism
Review: I find it odd, having actually discovered Parker with this book, that so many people seem to dislike it. I thought it was incredible, & continue to think so even after reading every other spenser book. I also don't know why people are reading the books if they don't like Susan. The relationship has been there since book two, & i find this chapter in their relationship to be a worthy addition. Are people looking for action? Most of his books, with the notable exception of a Catskill Eagle, are heavy on dialougue, not action. The relationships between all the characters are what have made this series compelling. A worthy addition, and a good introduction for those of us who joined the party late. By the way, I think Valediction is his best.

Rating:
Summary: weak
Review: About to stop reading Spenser novels if Parker doesn't stop emphasizing Susan in this series.