Potshot

Detective Samuelson who you might remember from past Spenser novels (originally: Candy Sloan’s book) referred a newly widowed client to Spenser … so we’re going back toward the west

After the usual—he irritates the wrong bad guys and proves himself in a fight—some of the locals proposition him … this makes things very interesting. (They want him to take out the local crime gang, which he agrees to take on, in addition to his other case, which is solving a murder.) Spenser of course brings in Hawk, and Vinnie (with Gino Fish’s blessing), Teddy Sap (who we met in Hugger Mugger), Bernard (from Las Vegas), Chollo from L.A., Bobby Horse from L.A., (as well as cooperation from / with Del Rio).

They all rent a house together and it makes for a really entertaining read at times. Potshot may be one of my faves in this series just for this reason.


Henry’s gym seems to continue to get even trendier, if that’s possible.

Pearl is said to be aging, and described to have some physical issues and a gray muzzle.

Overall an extremely fun read, more so than others, because all the collaboration going on makes for even more wit than usual.

5 stars.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️


Audio:
Joe Mantenga … he’s not exactly the best Spenser but … out of the narrators this series has seen, he is by far.



Widow’s Walk

Spenser’s on another case for Rita Fiore (really her law firm, biggest one in Boston!). She’s still trying to get with him.

Wowwww … the widow in this one is unbelievably dumb. (Sadly, it’s not really unbelievable, as I’ve met people in real life like this.)

Personal front:
-Pearl the Wonder dog is still declining … Susan & Spenser have had her about 12 years now and she wasn’t a puppy when they took her in … awful. :(

-Spenser’s still reeling from screwing up the Candy Sloan case over 20 years ago. It’s mentioned multiple times.


Overall:
A fun read and a fun listen. This one takes Spenser in more circles than usual so it manages to be curious as well.

5 stars.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️



Back Story

Aww, they’ve clearly lost Pearl between the end of the last one & the beginning of this one … and so Spenser picked up a new, “all chocolate” German Shorthaired Pointer. I hate that she was purchased from a breeder, #AdoptDontShop and all that… but I do love Parker’s depiction of all dogs in all of his series.

Susan seems to think this one is previous Pearl the Wonderdog reincarnated.

Onto the action/mystery part, Spenser’s been asked to look into a murder that took place 28 years prior … and for no pay. After he makes an enemy out of a cold-blooded professional killer who is very good at what he does, Hawk and Vinne volunteer to watch his back—nothing new but I still love it.

**We get a brief cameo from Molly Crane of the Paradise PD. If you know you know.**

Overall:
Epic, as always.

5 stars.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️


Audio:
Joe Mantenga … he’s not exactly the best Spenser but … out of the narrators this series has seen, he is by far.




Bad Business

Spenser’s investigating the kids involved in a school shooting in this one … it’s an odd case. The school is set in a fictional town that I suspect is modeled after Weston, MA. Very affluent, west of Boston. All kinds of problematic. :)

Susan isn’t really in this one, as she’s out of town for work.
Pearl (2) is prevalent, and that’s always a good time. So is Rita Fiore.

This one turns out to be pretty heart-wrenching, and very relevant and plausible, sadly.
Very well done, as always.


Overall:

5 stars.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️



Cold Service

Starts out with Hawk in the hospital, having been shot 3 times in the back. Obviously Spenser is going to help him avenge this incident.

They even bring in Ruger (AKA: ‘The Gray Man’) , so it gets very interesting, as they try to take out an entire crime unit.
It’s also interesting to see how some of these men have Hawk’s back at times and to see—a very rare sighting—the soft side of Hawk.

Excellent, as always.

5 stars.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️




School Days

This one was excellent, way to really bring Spenser into the current times and still capture his usual ‘vintage-y’ essence.

5 stars.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️


Audio:
Joe Mantenga … he’s not exactly the best Spenser but … out of the narrators this series has seen, he is by far.

***




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