“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).

Audio:
Not a fan of this narrator, but I’ve heard worse. 2.5-star performance.



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