Rating: 
Summary: A Formidable Duo
Review: Sometimes it's lucky to be a "Johnny-Come-Lately." My reason for saying this is that I am not encumbered by the history of something like 30 previous Spenser novels. I have read 3 of them, just enough to become familiar with Spenser, Hawk, and Susan, but not so many that they have become stale characters, or that Parker's plots have become repetitive.Any number of previous reviews have discussed the plot in great detail. In order not to be repetitious, my review will just discuss the plot in barest outline form and then will talk about the main protagonists, their interactions and characteristics. The plot: Spenser takes on a case for a young actress who wants to find out who killed her mother in a bank hold-up some 28 years earlier. In spite of a cold trail, missing documents,and threats on his life, Spenser, with the physical support of his friend, Hawk, and the emotional and analytical support of his lover, Susan, soon finds out enough to make his investigation dangerous to both the FBI, and the most powerful mob figure in Boston, thus making it dangerous to Spenser. It also turns out that what he is uncovering is NOT what his client wants to hear. For the final outcome of this case, I guess that you'll just have to read the book. Now for the promised character studies: Spenser and his ally, Hawk, form quite a duo. They are both in superb physical condition and can handle anyone who tries to intimidate them. Spenser, alone can handle (read manhandle) at least two or three assailants by himself. So, for that matter, can Hawk. Together they can out think, out strategize, and out shoot just about anyone. In at least one case, where Spenser is caught off guard, he also proves that he can outrun just about anyone before turning the tables on them. Hawk and Spenser are not just dumb mugs, between them they can quote from Shakespeare, are students of ancient and modern history, and have a philosophical bent. Susan provides a softer side, but only when softness is appropriate. She is supportive even when Spenser and Hawk need to kill, as long as the killing is necessary to save their own lives. To give Spenser and Hawk credit, they'd rather work out an amicable settlement than to resort to violence, if, of course, their adversaries are amenable to a peaceful settlement. If you like your Private Investigators to be men of terse dialog (a la Hemingway), with a touch of introspection thrown in, I think that you'll really enjoy this novel.
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.
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: typical parker
Review: I was a big fan of this series for a long time but I find it to be a little stale. It's not that back story is bad, it's just not anything new. If you've read one Spenser isthe last ten years you have read them all. It's the same cast of characters, Hawk, Susan and Vinny and Quirk. Same storyline. Spenser takes a job for no money, angers people, someone tries to kill him and he calls in backup. Parker needs to take a break and come up with something new for this series.
Rating:
Summary: Not even close.
Review: Spenser needs to retire. For those who haven't bothered to notice: it you would compare the physical descriptions of Spenser with the pictures of Parker on the back of the dust jacket you will get the distinct impression Parker is basing Spenser to a great degree on himself. Spenser, as he has said himself, was with MacArthur at Inchon. This makes him at least 70. This latest entry is a bit of a letdown. No mention is made of Spenser's cooking abilities. And absolutely nothing is said about the details of the deal Spenser made with the aging crime boss at the end of the novel. This novel is a pleasant, but like another reviewer has said already: if you really want to read it borrow it from the local library or get it in paperback when it comes out.
Rating: 
Summary: Only buy if if you are collecting a complete set.
Review: Parker is a much better writer than this book reveals. It is a poor value for the price. I read it in an evening. Big type, lots of white space. Not much plot or character development.
All the usual buttons are pushed in all the usual ways. No real surprises. Even the new dog is bored. I think Parker is getting weary of this series. It reads as if he produced this one in his sleep after much nagging from his editor or agent for just one more Spencer. If you must read it, get it at the library before spending your money. It is certainly better than much in this genre.
Rating:
Summary: Parker prevails!
Review: Back Story is the 30th novel in the Spenser series. The popularity of this series is a testimony to Parker's ability to weave a compelling story, tell it in a clean and direct way, and sustain the same personalities for a generation. Spenser is still strong. Hawk, his sidekick, is still stronger. They both are fierce protectors of Susan, a lovely psychologist and Spenser's longtime love interest. All three characters are gradually aging but with a continuing commitment to a life worth living. Spenser, a Boston private eye, retains his gift for finding a case that brings him into a threatening relationship with a mobster, who is willing to use hired guns to kill him. When Spenser doesn't back down, Susan's life is threatened. Enter Hawk, whose loyalty to Spenser and Susan is matched only by his deadliness toward anyone who threatens them. If you already love Parker's works, you'll want to purchase Back Story automatically without reading any other reviews. If you have never sampled Parker before, this is an excellent place to begin.
Rating:
Summary: Mistaken Identity
Review: The cold case is a homicide in a bank robbery dating from 1974. Spenser gets to see the police file. He interviews the retired police officer who headed the investigation. There is a missing FBI report in the file but the officer doesn't know anyting about it it is claimed. In the course of running down leads, Spenser encounters a situation where a group of men wants to kill him. Spenser tells Susan who in turn tells Hawk. Hawk says they have to go to the mattresses. It isn't clear where the threat is coming from. Hawk and Spenser wonder how the mob could possibly be connected. It is strange that anyone would need to cover-up a twenty-eight year old murder. The two men decide to leave Boston and go to San Diego. The investigation starts to veer into the daughter of a mobster who was a class mate of the murdered woman. Interestingly, and this is the the 1960's, the daughter of the mobster was into causes of every kind. Eventually the client does not want to know anything additional about the case after things have taken a rather sordid turn. Nevertheless, Spenser and Hawk do manage to sift down and shoot down the truth. The books is of interest mainly as a demonstration of how an investigation might proceed with so few leads. When the two men travel to the West Coast they are, in a manner of speaking, on a fishing expedition.
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: Big mistake
Review: It was fun to visit with all the old characters, and the Spenser/Susan/Hawk interplay is very enjoyable, but there's a big plot mistake. On pp. 180-181, Spenser, looking at Anne Fahey's college yearbook, is struck by the resemblance between Emily and Daryl. Emily's photo "could have been Daryl with a protest sign." "Her daughter looks just like her," he says. Later in the story, Daryl turns out to be the child of Bunny/Bonnie, the gangster Karnofsky's daughter. Emily had unofficially adopted Daryl. So how could Daryl resemble Emily?
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