Rating: 
Summary: Spook
Review: "Spook" is a very special novel to me. I had thought that Pronzini's last novel, "Bleeders", might have been his last "Nameless Detective" novel. Bill Pronzini is my favorite mystery writer working today, and I rejoiced when I found out that this wonderful series is continuing. Some changes have occcured in Nameless' agency. He has made his assistant, Tamara Corbin, his partner, and they have hired former Seattle cop Jake Runyon to do much of the leg work for the agency. Most of the novel is told by Nameless in the first person as always, but several chapters in which Tamara or Jake Runyon are featured are told in the third person. Pronzini makes this style work wonderfully. Steve Taradash hires the agency to find out the identity of a homeless man who was murdered outside his business. This man is known on the street as Spook, and he "talks" to people named Dot, Luke, and Mr. Snow. Jake Runyon does most of the leg work in Mono County, and finds out some very interesting facts. The reader learns about the private lives on both Tamara and Jake Runyon. I also enjoyed reading about Emily, the adopted daughter of Nameless and his wife Kerry. Sharon McCone, Marcia Muller's character, makes an appearance. Marcia Muller is Bill Pronzini's wife. "Spook" is highly recommended!
Rating: 
Summary: Polished and humane entry in the quality series
Review: Bill Pronzini has in the Nameless Detective created a fihure who unlike many similar series protagonists ages as the series progresses and in this book he is 61 years old and on the verge of semi-retirement .To this end he and his streetwise young black partner Tamara engage another operative ,the troubled Jake Runyon .Runyan is still in a state of depression following the death through cancer of his second wife and has returned to San Francisco to try and rebuild a relationship with his gay son from whom he is estranged .
The man case concerns the death of a harmless street person ,Spook ,who is murdered in the entryway to a low rent film company whose proproetor engages the agency to trace his identity .
The bulk of the investigative work is undertaken by Runyan who , after encounters with the more violent and psychotic aspects of the homeless world ,in thr form of the vicious " Big Dog " traces the origins of the killing to an incident some 20 years previously in which 3 people were gunnned down in a remote Clifornia town .This not only points up the true identity of the deceased Spook but enables his slayer to be traced .
This is polished and proficient in its unravelling but is not the only starnd to the book -there is a sub -plot which sees Nameless co-operating with Sharon McCone ( a creation of the authors wife ,Marcia Muller ) in acase exposing City corruption .
Much of the book is taken up with the personal problems of Tamara whose relationship with cellist boyfriend Horace is in trouble ,and with Runyan' s situation as he tries to rebuild his life
There is an air of transition hanging over the book and it seems to be that Pronzini is about to retire his character and maybe start a new series cenred on Tamara and Jake Its a mellow and thoughtful book shot through with realistic compasssion and seems to point the way to a new development in the career of its prolific and reliable author Satisfying as a mystery and a well wrought and compassionate study of lives in transition
Rating:
Summary: Nameless Returns Gloriously
Review: Bill Pronzini's Nameless series of detective novels is perhaps the most underappreciated series in crime fiction history. It has been running since Nixon was operating a recording studio in the White House, and SPOOK is entry number thirty in this unique literary achievement. Mr. Pronzini almost chose to end the series with his previous Nameless novel--BLEEDERS. He didn't, and I am certain every reader, writer, and member of the worldwide mystery community is grateful. I know I am. SPOOK adds fresh twists to the Nameless series. Nameless is back, arranging for his semi-retirement with the same moral and ethical anchors that have been hallmarks of this character since the 1970s. He has given Tamara Corbin a full partnership in their agency, and they've hired a new operative Jake Runyon, a man with a troubled past. Kerry and their recently adopted daughter, Emily, are on hand preparing to celebrate Christmas. Subplots abound, yet the main storyline is engrossing. Nameless is hired to discover the identity of a murdered homeless man. The story involves long-buried crimes, and Mr. Pronzini uses Tamara's and Jake's narrative voices, in addition to the classic voice of Nameless, to tell the story. SPOOK is full of surprises and marks a privotal point in the Nameless series. I am thrilled that the series continues, and I hope that this book finally gets Nameless the wide public recognition/readership the character deserves. Wouldn't it be nice if TIME or NEWSWEEK paid homage to Bill Pronzini at this point in his career? It happened once to Ross Macdonald, as well as certain other crime fiction authors.
Rating:
Summary: Nameless Returns Gloriously
Review: Bill Pronzini's Nameless series of detective novels is perhaps the most underappreciated series in crime fiction history. It has been running since Nixon was operating a recording studio in the White House, and SPOOK is entry number thirty in this unique literary achievement. Mr. Pronzini almost chose to end the series with his previous Nameless novel--BLEEDERS. He didn't, and I am certain every reader, writer, and member of the worldwide mystery community is grateful. I know I am. SPOOK adds fresh twists to the Nameless series. Nameless is back, arranging for his semi-retirement with the same moral and ethical anchors that have been hallmarks of this character since the 1970s. He has given Tamara Corbin a full partnership in their agency, and they've hired a new operative Jake Runyon, a man with a troubled past. Kerry and their recently adopted daughter, Emily, are on hand preparing to celebrate Christmas. Subplots abound, yet the main storyline is engrossing. Nameless is hired to discover the identity of a murdered homeless man. The story involves long-buried crimes, and Mr. Pronzini uses Tamara's and Jake's narrative voices, in addition to the classic voice of Nameless, to tell the story. SPOOK is full of surprises and marks a privotal point in the Nameless series. I am thrilled that the series continues, and I hope that this book finally gets Nameless the wide public recognition/readership the character deserves. Wouldn't it be nice if TIME or NEWSWEEK paid homage to Bill Pronzini at this point in his career? It happened once to Ross Macdonald, as well as certain other crime fiction authors.
Rating:
Summary: Nameless endures
Review: Despite rumors that Pronzini's Nameless detective may be no more, Spook proves this wonderful character still has a lot of life in him. In fact, this story, written in a new style, opens the door for the series, thankfully, to go on and on and on.
Pronzini is a master, no, a grand master of the genre and certainly deserves a lot more recognition than he has received.
Spook is a taut story with excellent character development, and takes a serious look at issues in today's social environment. Definitely a don't-put-it-down read.
Rating:
Summary: Detective Nameless goes after the homeless
Review: Detective Nameless, whose name is Bill, has reached the age of 61 and plays with the idea of retirement. For a start, he promoted his investigator Tamara Corbin to partner. But then a new case comes up, and he can't refuse to get involved. Spook, a penniless homeless person, is shot to death. What is his identity? Our detective is hired to find out. First off, he hires a taciturn and depressed ex cop as the new investigator. And then the case starts to unravel in a most satisfying way. In the end, the identity is established and, for good measure, the killer is caught. A very satisfying mystery, several cuts above the usual and doing honor to Pronzini's reputation.
Rating: 
Summary: Not the best , Bill
Review: I love the Nameless Detective series. Started with a copy of Shackles,years back, loved it, found the first novel Snatch, and have read every single novel up to/through Spook (Nightcrawlers will be found and started soon.)
This is not prime Namesless. Pronini has semi-retired his Nameless Detective, bought in a new Op and tries to do a three part running narrative (with Bill, Jake and Tamara). Very poor decision, Pronzini. The strong single person narrative of Nameless, was the strength of the other novels; to "split off" the action and have Bill (aka Author) sitting in the narartive background to me was a major disppointment.
I'll read Nightcrawlers next. But Bill, as in Bill Pronzini, don't do the split chapter narrative again, and if you must, two people mazimum. Nameless is a great character, if he wants Jake to take over, let him. But no more Nameless as Consultant; doesn't work for me.
Rating:
Summary: The Nameless Detective Acquires a New Op
Review: Seldom does a wonderful series like that of the Nameless Detective suddenly add an exciting character who makes you anxious for the next book. If you've liked any of the books in this series, you must read this one . . . because it is the beginning of much potential for the future. Nameless is back (and called "Bill"). He's in the process of moving towards retirement . . . beginning with semi-retirement. To facilitate the changes, he's taken his former assistant, Tamara, as his partner. They need to hire a new operative to help handle the street work that Nameless did in the past. After considering two potential men, Tamara insists that they hire Jake Runyon, a silent-as-the-grave ex-cop, ex-detective who looks like he's just lost his last friend. Jake turns out to be the kind of dandy character that Raymond Chandler would have been glad to write about. He loves the grime of the streets and the challenge of the chase. He's smart, tough, focused and self-contained. But he hurts, and his work is his therapy. You'll enjoy learning about him. The action in the book centers on the murder of a street person named Spook who talks to ghosts. I especially enjoyed the way that several people contributed to identifying Spook. It's imaginative problem solving at its best. Each of the detectives has personal issues that develop in interesting ways. Bill is having trouble deciding how to wind down his work and deal with his need to be a lone wolf. Tamara is shaken to the core when her boyfriend decides to move to Philadelphia and proposes marriage. Jake is looking to make a connection with his estranged son while grieving for his lost love. I don't want to say any more because the prose and story line are so smooth and balanced. You should be able to enjoy the development without interruption from me. Fans of Marcia Muller (Mr. Pronzini's wife) will be delighted to see that Bill and Sharon McCone end up working together on a case. It's neat! After you finish this wonderful novel, I suggest that you think about what you will regret if you don't change your ways. How can you begin making the necessary changes?
Rating:
Summary: The Nameless Detective Acquires a New Op
Review: Seldom does a wonderful series like that of the Nameless Detective suddenly add an exciting character who makes you anxious for the next book. If you've liked any of the books in this series, you must read this one . . . because it is the beginning of much potential for the future. Nameless is back (and called "Bill"). He's in the process of moving towards retirement . . . beginning with semi-retirement. To facilitate the changes, he's taken his former assistant, Tamara, as his partner. They need to hire a new operative to help handle the street work that Nameless did in the past. After considering two potential men, Tamara insists that they hire Jake Runyon, a silent-as-the-grave ex-cop, ex-detective who looks like he's just lost his last friend. Jake turns out to be the kind of dandy character that Raymond Chandler would have been glad to write about. He loves the grime of the streets and the challenge of the chase. He's smart, tough, focused and self-contained. But he hurts, and his work is his therapy. You'll enjoy learning about him. The action in the book centers on the murder of a street person named Spook who talks to ghosts. I especially enjoyed the way that several people contributed to identifying Spook. It's imaginative problem solving at its best. Each of the detectives has personal issues that develop in interesting ways. Bill is having trouble deciding how to wind down his work and deal with his need to be a lone wolf. Tamara is shaken to the core when her boyfriend decides to move to Philadelphia and proposes marriage. Jake is looking to make a connection with his estranged son while grieving for his lost love. I don't want to say any more because the prose and story line are so smooth and balanced. You should be able to enjoy the development without interruption from me. Fans of Marcia Muller (Mr. Pronzini's wife) will be delighted to see that Bill and Sharon McCone end up working together on a case. It's neat! After you finish this wonderful novel, I suggest that you think about what you will regret if you don't change your ways. How can you begin making the necessary changes?
Rating:
Summary: Somewhat distracting
Review: This book contains a very nice plot, leading up to an excellent ending. My only criticizm is that now and then he gets to moralizing, almost preaching, - do not believe that has a place in the middle of a murder mystery.
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