I am truly a lifelong fan of Robert B. Parker, and especially his Spenser series, having grown up on it. It's about 10 years older than I am, so I've read and loved these all my life.
Recently, I decided to re-read all of the Spenser novels in order and it's been a blast!! I think I'll be doing this more.


Below are my individual reviews for each title:



Playmates.

Spenser’s trying to figure out whether a college kid is shaving points and … whether or not to turn the kid on vs doing what he was hired to do and providing proof. It heats up when he barely starts sniffing around only to be threatened … the threatener tries to hire Hawk to kill him, so things get really fun and proceed in the usual Spenser fashion.

While it’s not necessarily super different from other Spenser novels, it’s no less fun. In fact, it’s even more fun once Spenser purposely acts even MORE annoying than usual (if you can imagine!).

Overall: great.

5 stars.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

First edition cover:


Stardust.

The one with Jill Joyce …
Opens on a movie set and Spenser’s wit actually gets a laugh from at least one of the crew. We so rarely find people with as good a sense of humor as Spenser in this series.

**First time we see Spenser asked for his first name. Jill asked him for it and he simply tells the reader that he told her and then it shows her disapproving of it and vowing to figure out something else to call him. He suggests Pebbles.**

Set around the holidays and does a good job of conveying a wintery / Christmassy vibe.

This one did manage to be a bit more mysterious than some, due to Spenser’s client being a total flake (it’s hard to tell if she’s just attention-seeking or genuinely in danger).

As usual, Spenser’s compassion shows strongly through his actions.
Overall, a fun read, especially the hateable, yet pathetic and really just broken protagonist.

5 stars.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️


**Recurring characters introduced here:
-Chollo
-Bobby Horse

We also see Samuelson, who we know from Candy Sloan’s book.

First edition cover:

Pastime.
PEARL THE WONDER DOG is introduced in this one, FINALLY!
And we get the complete story of why / how Hawk & Spenser became friends (their telling of it is hilarious!).

Jerry Broz is screwing things up again, Joe is still blind to it. Vinnie’s still loyal to Joe but … sympathetic to Spenser. Something about the crime bosses coming into it is always an added layer of fun … and of course that means Hawk’s around for added protection.

Maybe-spoiler:

An excellent example of Spenser’s personal ethics, etc.
He was hired to discover who is point-shaving, and that it’s definitely going on and to prove it. Meaning his job is simply to figure it out & hand over the info. Not wanting to necessarily turn in a kid that has been largely failed by ALL of the adults and educators in his life thus far though, he might not do that … he might opt to go after whoever the points are being shaved FOR and simultaneously help the kid onto a better path. ;)

First edition cover:


Double Deuce.

DARK opening … so dark. Heart-wrenching, despite being fiction, which is a testament to Parker’s writing.

Hawk actually comes to Spenser for help with this case, a first.
It only gets darker from the start … it also shines a light on certain racial issues this country faces today. This book was released in 1991 but things clearly haven’t changed in that aspect.


On a personal front: Susan and Spenser move in together on a trial basis, into her house in Cambridge.

This one was super fun, as they all are, but specifically I liked the way it ended up. I won’t spoil it here—read if for yourself!

5 stars.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

First edition cover:


Paper Doll.

“Once I start, I go where it takes me … you have to understand I do what I do and I keep doing it until I finish.” —Spenser explaining to his client that he’ll be poking around / getting all up in his friends/ loved ones’ business. We, as the readers, already know this, being 20 books in, but it was fun to hear him just lay it out straight like that.

If you’re a fan of Quirk, read this one! He gets really mad in this one, and his subsequent actions are glorious!

This one went the usual way of Spenser novels … until there was a very dark twist—brilliant!

5 stars.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

*Recurring characters introduced in this one:
Lee Farrell! (his partner, Brian, is dying).

First edition cover:

Walking Shadow.

Spenser’s managed to anger an entire gang and needs both Hawk and Vinnie to protect him—this is fun because it’s the first time we see Vinnie on his side and not just agreeing to stay out of his way.

Personal life:
Spenser and Susan own a house in Concord that they’re renovating together.

Overall: intriguing with an extra psychotic antagonist. A fun read.

5 stars.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

*Note:
Spenser mentions how he used to watch Linda from his office—I believe every book since the one those 2 hooked up in has had him do so. :)

*Recurring (semi-major / major) characters:
Hawk & Vinnie as mentioned above.
Spenser reconnects with Healy.
Mei Ling

Quan Chang - crime boss


*LOL quote:

“I solve ALL my cases … some of them are just not solved yet.” —Spenser
First edition cover:




Spenser Reading Order:

1. The Godwulf Manuscript (1973)
2. God Save the Child (1974)
3. Mortal Stakes (1975)
4. Promised Land (1976)
5. The Judas Goat (1978)
6. Looking for Rachel Wallace (1980)
7. Early Autumn (1980)
8. A Savage Place (1981)
9. Ceremony (1982)
10. The Widening Gyre (1983)
11. Valediction (1984)
12. A Catskill Eagle (1985)
13. Taming a Seahorse (1986)
14. Pale Kings and Princes (1987)
15. Crimson Joy (1988)
16. Playmates (1989)
17. Stardust (1990)
18. Pastime (1991)
19. Double Deuce (1991)
20. Paper Doll (1993)
21. Walking Shadow (1994)
22. Thin Air (1995)
23. Chance (1996)
24. Small Vices (1997)
25. Sudden Mischief (1998)
26. Hush Money (1999)
27. Hugger Mugger (2000)
28. Potshot (2001)
29. Widow's Walk (2002)
30. Back Story (2003)
31. Bad Business (2004)
32. Cold Service (2005)
33. School Days (2005)
34. Dream Girl (2006)
35. Now and Then (2007)
36. Rough Weather (2008)
36.5 Chasing the Bear (2009)
37. The Professional (2009)
38. Painted Ladies (2010)
39. Sixkill (2011)
39.5 Silent Night (2013)
Spenser: A Mysterious Profile (2022)

continued in the series by Ace Atkins