“He ain’t heavy—he’s my brother.”

The one with ‘The Gray Man’.

Rita’s law firm hires Spenser to find out whether someone who was prosecuted and subsequently incarcerated was done so wrongfully. Racism is prevalent here, like in other books. Not on Parker’s part! But it seems to have played a part in certain demographics’ lack of opportunities, etc.

I don’t want to share any spoilers, so I’ll simply say: The one with ‘The Gray Man’. And i’ll add, that I think, if I could pick just one as my fave of this series, it’d likely be this one.

Well done, truly.
I grieve the loss of Bob every day … today, I’ll grieve him just a little bit more as I marvel at his talent.


5 stars.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Series semi-regulars:
Spenser has to lean on his friends and allies quite a bit in this one so we see many crime bosses, etc. from the past:

Joe Broz
Gino Fish
Patricia Utley (and Steven)
Quick
Belson
Healy
His Manhattan homicide detective friend whose name I don’t even remember


On a personal front:
Susan informs Spenser she’d like a baby!
She also has to sell the house they’re renovating together in Concord.


*Rita Fiore, who we’ve met before, many books ago is in this one. She’s no longer a DA, but a big-shot prosecutor with a cushy firm.


Audio:
Another Burt Reynolds narration … he’s not ideal but better than all his predecessors. 3-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