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Jan 10, 2009

Mailmanr5 rated it:

This is typical for the Spenser series--but that's good. You can't help but like this series even after 36 books. Usual minimalist banter. Undone ending though. Who cares--it's Spenser.

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Jan 07, 2009

LJ rated it:

ROUGH WEATHER (PI-Spenser-Massachusetts-Cont) – VG+
Parker, Robert B. – 36th in series
Putnam, 2008, US Hardcover – ISBN: 9780399155192

First Sentence: If I rolled my chair back into the window bay behind my desk, I could look up past the office buildings and see the sky.

Spenser is hired by Heidi Bradshaw to “support” her at her daughter’s wedding on a private island off Massachusetts. Shortly after he and Susan arrive, Rugar, the Gray Man, Spenser’s nemesis f More...

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Jan 15, 2009

Rob rated it:

He's b-a-a-a-c-k. The hard-hitting, wise-cracking, poetry-quoting, gourmet-cooking Boston PI is in top form in this new case. What starts as a simple bodyguard job in a church wedding turns into a violent, murder spree when the Gray man shows up at the ceremony and kills the guards, the groom, and the minister then abducts the bride. He made one mistake, he left Spenser alive to track him down again.
Several books back, the Gray man almost kills Spenser. But Spenser is not an easy man to ki More...

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Dec 27, 2008

ayrdaomei rated it:

Rough Weather is the latest in Robert B. Parker's long line of mystery novels involving his private detective Spenser (36 titles and counting). I'd recommend it only to people who are already fans of this series. It's a tremendous improvement over last year's Now & Then, but I found the end a bit unsatisfying. Parker used to be better at telling a more complete story, but lately, he seems to enjoy leaving us with a lot to wrap up ourselves. Still, points for a plot that at least kept me inte More...

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May 18, 2009

Alan rated it:

"[The school:] occupied all of a big Civil War-era estate in Ashfield. Which is not too far from Deerfield, where there had been a massacre once. It was, as far as I could tell, the last excitement they'd had out there." Another good Parker weekend read. It started out looking like another over-the-top entry in the Spenser series. I am not a fan of them (i.e. Catskill Eagle) as much as I am of the more personal, intimate stories. In the end though, this turned out to be pretty good. It More...

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Sep 05, 2010

Eric rated it:

Do you every read an author from whose books, you've earlier taken the cure? Well Parker is one that I gave up on some time ago. But when you're tired and getting over weeks to pain from an infected tooth, you want something easy and entertaining to read. So....

As per usual Spenser the brawny private Bostan eye and his gorgeous Pys girl frien go through their usual shenangans. A few dead bodies, a few close calls and Hawk is called into protect Spenser from ? Special restaurants me More...

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Nov 20, 2008

Nette rated it:

I only got through a few chapters of this one because Susan Silverman, Spensers's lady friend, IS THE DEVIL. And she's all over this book like germs on a shopping card handle. Susan is easily the most annoying secondary character in the entire history of American literature, from her barely-hidden anorexia to her obsession with clothes. KILL HER OFF.

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Mar 20, 2011

B J rated it:

Rough Weather, like all the Spenser novels that came before it, is among the best of the private-eye genre. It's a smart combination of whodunit-and-why mixed with dead-pan, wise-acre humor and mucho machismo. Private eye Spenser is the perfect hero, not only consummately tough, but smart, sensitive and an earnest romantic as well. He finds himself pursuing a case in which he does not have to deduce who did it--because it was committed right in front of him. Rather, his personal quest becomes on More...

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Oct 28, 2009

Alison rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

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Mar 13, 2009

Chuck rated it:

Pretty good Spenser; everything for the long term fan. Spenser is approached by Heidi Bradshaw, a well known Boston socialite, to provide additional security at her daughter's wedding. But Ruger, Spenser's long-time nemesis (knowna s the Gray Man), shows up, kidnaps the daughter, shoots the groom, and disappears. Heidi doesn't seem too worried, and orders Spenser not to "interfere" and orders him not to try and find the daughter. Honor-bound Spenser tries to find her anyway . . . More...

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Feb 01, 2009

Joy rated it:

Another excellent book by Robert B. Parker. I laugh out
loud a lot with the witty, witty dialogue. One of the
friends and assistants of P.I. Spencer is a huge black
guy, Spike, who talks in Ebonics, which Spencer uses with Spike. When there is a tense situation, Spike slips into regular English. This has got to be so
politically incorrect, it is very refreshing.
There was another non p.c. conversation Spencer
had with a police detective about two criminals More...

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Jan 11, 2009

Beth rated it:

By my count, Robert B. Parker has written thirty-six Spenser novels, and I've read every one of them at least once.

I've read many 2-3 times, because I found them so satisfying.

Why?

It's the characters.

My favorite books all star characters I would like to know personally.

I care about them, like they were friends, or blogging buddies.

Rough Weather did not disappoint this Robert B. Parker fan, only left her wanting more.

More...

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Feb 05, 2011

Drew rated it:

If you are a fan of Robert Parker you will once again enjoy this book as it follows the Spenser paradigm. If you are not, then you can try this novel on for size. Spenser is a PI,Susan is a practicing psychologist and his lover, and Hawk is his black body guard who would protect Spenser and Susan with his life and they would do likewise. A very unusual triangle. His plots are clever enough yet a quick easy read. I most enjoy the saucy,sassy spirited conversational style Parker employs with all t More...

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Jul 13, 2009

Greg rated it:

When I was in college, I once spent an entire semester eating tuna and noodle casserole every single night for dinner, and by the end of the semester I still wasn't tired of it. In other words, I am comfortable with sameness, with the tried and true, with the old and familiar of life. Thus, though other reviewers have shown some real disappointment for Robert B. Parker's latest Spenser novel, I enjoyed it. Clearly it is not his best, and yes, he plagiarizes interactions and even dialogue from hi More...

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Feb 16, 2010

John rated it:

Spenser is hired as bodyguard/companion for the mother of the bride, during a wedding held on an offshore island. He and Susan attend, and witness the killing of the minister and the groom, and the kidnapping of the bride. Oh by the way, this takes place during a hurricane. The remainder of the story consists of Spenser, Hawk, and Spenser's cop friends' efforts to determine who's responsible. In other words, it's vintage Parker, and that's a good thing. This book seems to be an improvement over More...

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Oct 26, 2011

Carol rated it:

Heidi Bradshaw is wealthy and beautiful—and she needs Spenser’s help. In a most unlikely request, Heidi, a notorious gold digger recently separated from her latest husband, recruits the Boston P.I. to accompany her to her private island, Tashtego. The reason? To attend her daughter’s wedding as a sort of stand-in husband and protector. Spenser consents, but only after it is established that his beloved Susan Silverman will also be in attendance. It should be a straightforward job for Spenser but More...

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Jan 21, 2012

Lorin rated it:

Another winner for Parker's sparse style. Here Spenser and Hawk unravel a murder/kidnapping scheme involving a wealthy couple who inhabit an island off the Massachusetts coast. In the middle of a fancy wedding the bride is kidnapped. I won't layout the rest of the plot details. Suffice it to say, Parker knows how to hold my attention and his characters are tuned so well that it is a pleasure to follow them, and see them as they interact. Spencer has his own brand of integrity and it is that whic More...

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Sep 11, 2011

Kathy rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

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Jul 12, 2010

Betty rated it:

I hurts me to give a Robert B Parker book a low rating and especially a Spenser book but I think it had to do with listening to it on CD. First the man reading the Spenser character did not sound at all like the Spenser in my imagination and after every character spoke their line, there was the *he said*, *she said* *Susan said* *I said* *Hawk said*. I think you get the driff--to many *saids* --I don't think about it when I am reading the book but having it read to me it got tiresome. Anyway I w More...

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Jul 06, 2009

Liz rated it:

One of the reasons I like Robert B. Parker books is that they are super quick and easy reads. Plus they are lots of fun. This one is no exception and I did enjoy the further delving into Susan Silverman's character - she often seems to get short shrift in many of the books and I like her a lot. Not a lot of Hawk in this book - I'd love to see one that really explores him further as well.
I have to admire how the author can create such a vivid world with so little words. These books are g More...

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Dec 21, 2011

Kevin rated it:

Another nice entry in the Spenser series. Spenser is hired to bodyguard Heidi Bradshaw, a wealthy socialite. He helps protect her during her daughter's wedding on a private island. The Gray Man, an old Spenser nemisis, arrives, murders several people and kidnaps the bride. The remainder of the novel is Spenser pursuit of the truth, and uncovers juicy detail. Typical Parker banter is common, which is always enjoyable. The climax and ending was surreal, and amost seemed as if nothing happene More...

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Feb 09, 2009

Donna rated it:

Spenser is hired to be Heidi Bradshaw's escort at her daughter's wedding. Although the wedding is held on a private island patrolled by security, the bride is kidnapped by 6 med with machine guns lead by the Gray Man, Rugar, whom Spenser has tangled with before and whom almost killed Spenser the first time they met. Spenser is determined to find the kidnapped woman despite Heidi's paying him off and telling him to leave it alone.
The tale is action filled and has a lot of wit. Lasted le More...

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Sep 26, 2010

Steven rated it:

Read this one already, as I have every Parker book, but I read something about The Grey Man, so I thought I'd give this another shot. Better than I remembered, but not one of his best. You would think Rugar would have killed him right away, esp. to protect his daughter. Since Rugar knew he was tough to kill, as he mentions in Small Vices, he would have done it himself. But everything good about the series is evident here. All minor characters from the series make an appearance here. Overal More...

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Aug 01, 2010

Gretchen rated it:

Hard to believe there will be no more Spenser, no more Hawk, no more Susan Silverman, no more Pearl. Felt very sad reading this one, which was pretty well plotted and moved right along. It isn't his last book, there are two or three waiting to be published. This one was about a girl who was kidnapped at her own wedding by Spenser's arch-enemy The Gray Man. With Hawk's help, he solves the mystery surrounding the kidnapping and the murders which took place. I surely will miss all of them and I More...

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Jan 16, 2011

Ed rated it:

Another Robert B. Parker winner as Spenser, his irreverent P.I., becomes involved in a complicated mystery by agreeing to be a body guard to the Mother-of-the-Bride at a high Society wedding held on a remote Island near Boston. At the wedding, he sees an old enemy, The Grey Man, whose last name either is or isn't Rugar. The wedding is interrupted by a kidnapping and a number of murders in the middle of a horrendous storm. The plot proceeds from there to a semi-happy conclusion in which all t More...

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Feb 24, 2011

David rated it:

I read this a week or so ago and don't remember all of the details. I recall enjoying this book, but the specifics of it have faded from memory. It probably doesn't help that I read three Parker/Spenser books within days of each other. This one brought back "Spenser's nemesis, The Gray Man" from his 1977 novel "Small Vices" but damned if I can remember that one. There are numerous references to the previous encounter, but not enough to stir old memories. A good "Spenser" More...

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Feb 12, 2009

Willa rated it:

Everyone is capable of violence, everyone is capable of love & life changes us as we go through it. This sums up the meaning, though not the plot, of this most recent Spenser novel. Robert B Parker's Spenser character has been suffering in the last 10 years or so but this novel was wonderful. Spenser is surely not as quick or witty as he used to be but he has gained depth & caring.
This book is an enjoyable time spent with an old friend & is the best Spenser in about a decade.

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Dec 16, 2008

Angie rated it:

I've not met a book in Parker's Spencer series I didn't like. This was no exception.

I love Parker's minimalist descriptive style and his dialogue heavy writing. It's fast paced and enjoyable. The only problem is they are always too short.

In Rough Weather, Spencer gets invited to be "personal security" for a local socialite for the weekend of her daughter's marriage. Things go awry when The Grey Man, who once tried to kill Spencer, shows up as one of the gues

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Jan 24, 2009

Donna rated it:

Parker can't be beat for his Hemingway-type style : no lengthy descriptions of streets, cities, clothes (except Susan), etc. Just read between the lines for what Spenser means. Known for his tenacity, persistance, smart mouth, and loyalty to Susan, love of his dog, Pearl; and confidence in sidekick, Hawk. Boston is his city. Always an adventure. Characters are rich, immoral, and the bad guy turns out to be cooperative. Lots more involvement of Susan and Hawk.

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Jul 20, 2009

Mary rated it:

Another fine Spenser adventure that was so much fun to read on my island vacation. Thanks to Beaver Island (MI) Public Library for their fine selection available even to vacationers! If you love Spenser, you'll love this book. If you've never read Spenser books, start with this and then get to work on the others. Of course, if you don't like funny wise guys or feel a book must be significant, this book (and probably this author) is not for you.

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