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.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️



Audio:
This isn’t a performance at all, just an absolute garbage reading with ill-fitting accents and other nonsense. 0-star “performance”.
Also a very poor-quality production overall. Lots of static and skipping, etc. Lots of extra noise. Awful.



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