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. ;)


5 stars.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️


**Recurring characters introduced here:



Audio:

This narrator … is absolutely AWFUL. Horrendous. Painful. And WHY for the love of everything holy does he depict Susan Silverman with a Southern accent? She’s born/raised/bred and lived her entire adult life right outside Boston … there’s absolutely NO REASON she would speak like that.
He also depicts Hawk worse than any other narrator I’ve heard and absolutely DOES NOT fit Spenser. Hated the narration. 0-star performance.



First edition cover:


Maybe-spoiler:

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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. ;)



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