Rating: 
Summary: Who's Chandler's Heir?
Review: Not many graduate students see their dissertations lead to a steady slot on the best seller list. But that's what happened to Robert Parker, whose latest Parker novel "Hugger Mugger" continues almost thirty years of writing novels widely compared to Raymond Chandler's.Chandler is of course the gold standard in American crime fiction, which is why "Chandleresque" is the ultimate accolade, though it seems to be used as often these days as the film reviewer's "Has Oscar written all over it." Still, Robert Parker does have a pretty strong claim to being Chandler's "heir." Before Parker started writing his best-selling novels, Chandler was the subject of his dissertation. Later, the Chandler estate asked Parker to complete an unfinished Chandler manuscript--"Poodle Springs"--and he's even written a sequel to Chandler's "The Big Sleep." Many readers will know Parker's books from their TV adaptation in Robert Urich's popular "Spenser: For Hire." Parker is famed for his lean prose and sharp dialogue, and "Hugger Mugger" won't disappoint you there at all, even though Spenser's sidekick Hawk isn't present this time out. Parker's been hired in "Hugger Mugger" by Walter Clive, a rich and powerful Georgian stable owner, to find out why his horses are being shot. Armed with his cynicism, and aided by his psychoanalyst girlfriend Susan's advice, Boston-based Parker wades into the murky depths of local corruption and the bizarre family dynamics of the tanned, gleaming teethed Clive family, which is full of "drunks, liars, and fornicators." The contrast of tough but tender Parker with all the southern gentility and corruption is a good one, as is his steady devotion to Susan with the murky relationships he finds among the Clives. "Hugger Mugger's" humor is wry, the story compelling, the writing icepick sharp. If at times the repartee can seem overly stylized--given that almost everyone is equally quick-witted--the book moves so swiftly thanks to the terse dialogue and short chapters that it's hard to object. Parker may have the better track record in terms of sales and renown, but in the Chandler sweepstakes, my money's still on the Amos Walker mysteries written by Loren D. Estleman. ...
Rating: 
Summary: No thrill in Georgia
Review: This reviewer is a die-hard mystery fan and the "Spenser For Hire" novels by Robert B. Parker are among my favorites. This latest book however did not live up to my expectations. The three main reasons for my lackluster rating is: no Hawke (his sidekick), no cooking and very few knockouts. The story and the crime involved were so tame compared to other plots that the character "Hawke" was really not needed to solve the problem. The storyline was slow-moving and one would have to be a racehorse fan to really appreciate the setting in Georgia on a racehorse breeding farm. Hawke is a shady character and his outlook and dry wit is pure entertainment. Spenser is an accomplished gourmet cook and often cooks for himself and Susan his fiance. Much of their problem-solving evolves around the kitchen. In this story Mr. Spenser simply eats out because he is out of town and living in a motel. Also lacking from this story was the usual fist-a-cuffs and gun-play that picks up the action in a Spenser novel. One just expects a former cop turned private-eye who is also an ex-boxer to mix it up with the bad guys several times per novel. Not in this one. It almost seemed as though Mr. Parker was setting Spenser up for early retirement. But please note that all was not lost! Spenser and friends are wonderful characters and worth every book published. However, if you do not collect series or having a hardcover is not a priority, you may wish to wait for the paperback edition. This reviewer truly hates hanging this book out to dry but I just wanted real Spenser fans to know it just wasn't up to par.
Rating: 
Summary: Is Parker in the stretch?
Review: It seems to take longer to pick up a Parker novel than it used to. No one has a leaner writing style. Parker can say more with less words than anyone, he is a master. But often I wonder if good guys might be more verbose. The good guys always talk like Spenser. This chapter has less inventiveness than one would like and ends with a scene not unlike the old movies drawing-room conclusions. Just once,maybe more would be better.
Rating:
Summary: falls way short
Review: This latest book along with Hush Money are far from Parker'S BEST. I have read all his Spenser novels and these last 2 are not close to the fun of his previous work. Spenser without Hawk is a waste of time. Next time leave Susan behind and find Hawk in a hurry so some real sleuthing and action can take place!
Rating:
Summary: Almost as good as the Sunny Randall debut.......
Review: Family Honor, the book introducing Sunny Randall, was the first Parker novel I've read. I enjoyed it so much that I decided to pick up one of his famous Spenser novels so I chose Hugger Mugger. Since this is the first Spenser novel I've read I can't compare it to the others in the series...but I can comment on the character. I really like Spenser. I like his self-depricating sense of humor, I like the way he relates to other characters, I like his fairness. Quite often I found myself looking at the photo of Parker on the backcover and imagined that this is what Spenser looked like to me. Maybe that's what Parker hopes for. Unlike most books I read which are rich on description and narration, this book is made up almost entirely of dialogue. This makes for a quick read, it also gives us the sense of being with Spenser at all times, not so much in his mind as like a side-kick. I will definetly read more Parker novels...although I'm really hoping he brings back Sunny Randall on his next outing.
Rating: 
Summary: Hugger Mugger
Review: This was the first Parker book I have read. I absolutely adored Spenser and his foibles; I cannot wait to order all the rest of his novels. Just when I think I have run out of delightful mystery authors I get lucky!
Rating:
Summary: Spenser in the South
Review: Some series tend to overstay their welcome long before they end. This is true of TV, movies, and books as well. One series, however, which has maintained its integrity and relevance is the Spenser series. For 27 years, Spenser has become the icon for all fictional detectives. His wisecracks and anecdotes never grow old even when the backdrop changes from Boston to the deep South. Hawk is absent from this book, and although he is missed, Parker shows that Spenser does not need his sidekick in order to complete his assignment. This book moves as smoothly as any of Parker's other works, and is a welcome addition to the greatest series in American fiction.
Rating:
Summary: Hugger Mugger
Review: The story moves right along, but the author needs some synonyms for "said". The overuse of this word is very annoying on the recorded version.
Rating: 
Summary: when you can't do it well, do it again
Review: Someone must say it. Spenser is cold toast. And it should not be a great surprise. It's nearly impossible (even Doyle's pen nodded) to sustain a series character beyond 10 -12 books, and Parker began to rehash plots that long ago. This book is notable only for the aspects recently become common: large type, small pages; interludes of romance with dear Susan; sub-plots with no relation to the main plot (here, the nanny and the wicked mother/lawyer); Spenser's smart-aleck dialogue, even with friends; and a thin, thin plot,whose resolution brings not a single surprise. Parker's other recent books without Spenser have had, despite the poverty of plot, at least the freshness of new character. Here, even Pearl the WonderDog gets scant attention--though maybe that's a good thing after all. The book is enough of a dog as it is
Rating:
Summary: Spenser is great even away from Boston
Review: I have read all the Spenser novels by Robert B. Parker, and I feel this is one of his best efforts. Even though Susan appears only briefly and Hawk is in France, a strong plot and believable characters make this an excellent addition to an excellent series. Someone is shooting horses at the Three Fillies Stables in Lamarr, Georgia. Walter Clive and his daughter Penny hire Spenser to find out who is shooting the horses. They are concerned about their prized 2-year-old, Hugger Mugger who has a chance to become a Triple Crown Horse. Spenser encounters some strange characters who aren't what they appear on the surface. When Walter Clive is murdered, Spenser is fired by Clive's daughter, Penny. Later a new client hires Spenser to find out who killed Walter Clive. There are many twists, and the reader doesn't know the whole story until the last page. A real winner!
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