Silent Night (Spenser, #41.5)
Robert B. Parker
It’s December in Boston, and Spenser is busy planning the menu for Christmas dinner when he’s confronted in his office by a boy named Slide. Homeless and alone, Slide has found refuge with an organization named Street Business which gives shelter and seeks job opportunities for those like him. Slide’s mentor, Jackie Alvarez, is being threatened, and Street Business is in danger of losing its tenuous foothold in the community, turning Slide and many others like him back to the street. He asks Spenser, "Can you help Jackie?" But it’s not a simple case of intimidation. Spenser, aided by Hawk, finds a trail that leads to a dangerous drug kingpin, whose hold on the at-risk community Street Business serves threatens not just the boys’ safety and security, but their lives as well. Unfinished at the time of his death, 'Silent Night' was completed by Parker’s literary agent, whose decades-long association with his work gives her unique insight and perspective to his voice and storytelling style. Helen Brann's contribution also speaks volumes about their enduring friendship.
Publication Year: 2013
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Truly, the last book that is semi-in RPB’s voice, as it was unfinished when he died in 2010. His literary agent completed it and for that, I am eternally grateful.
This is another case in which kids are involved—not quite the same situation as Lullaby and Mattie, but I suspect a similar pull on Spenser’s heartstrings. Interestingly, this situation also pulls on Hawk’s and he volunteers to help. He also volunteers a tiny bit about his own childhood and it fits well with all we’ve seen in the previous 40ish books. This was really fun, captured the holiday spirit, captured Spenser as well as anything possibly could and ultimately packed some feel-good vibes.
Thank you so much, Helen, for finishing this novel—what a shame it would be if it had remained unfinished.
Hearing the credits and how it was completed with the consent of Bob’s estate, and Helen’s conversation with the late Joan, about the late Bob, nearly broke me. Bob was an absolutely legend and will live on in the hearts of Spenser fans everywhere—I will just have to find a way to accept this. Thirteen years post-mortem and I’m not there yet, but trying.
A 5-star read.
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