Spenser knows something’s amiss the moment Dennis Doherty walks into his office. The guy’s aggressive yet wary, in the way men frighten...
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reviews
May 20, 2008
William
rated it: 
(i'd actually rate this book 2 1/2 stars but i don't know how to do the half-star thing.)
i went to the library looking for a mystery to reward myself for finishing my article and i found this. spenser is always (well, almost always) enjoyable, so i picked it up. it was indeed a fun read. in this book you not only get the expected character ticks -- with lots of manly badinage -- and some shooting, but as an extra bonus, spenser actually does some detecting. in cleveland, no less. pa More...
i went to the library looking for a mystery to reward myself for finishing my article and i found this. spenser is always (well, almost always) enjoyable, so i picked it up. it was indeed a fun read. in this book you not only get the expected character ticks -- with lots of manly badinage -- and some shooting, but as an extra bonus, spenser actually does some detecting. in cleveland, no less. pa More...
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Dec 30, 2007
ayrdaomei
rated it: 
I have been a big fan of the Spenser series for a long time, but I've definitely noticed a decrease in quality with the ones written in the last ten or so years. I'm not sure what's more at fault - the frequency with which Parker churns out the Spenser titles, the fact that he's got two new characters with their own book series now (Jesse Stone and Sunny Randall), or the fact that he's been writing Spenser for so long?
Parker put the first Spenser title out in 1974, and he's written More...
Parker put the first Spenser title out in 1974, and he's written More...
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Sep 05, 2009
Beth
rated it: 
Okay so it ain't literature and it's definitely formula fiction but I LOVE the formula. Tough non-flappable Spenser (with a heart). Tough Hawk (without a heart). Susan (best beloved). Vinnie Morris (i-Pod listening shooter without either heart or soul). Pearl, Spenser and Susan's second dog. Also I loved the big print version I read because that meant I could read it while on the elliptical exerciser. In this book a man asks Spenser to follow his wife whom he thinks is cheating on him. S
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Apr 19, 2008
Mister Jones
rated it:
I was well aware of the whole Parker-Spencer series, so I read this one, (my first one) and I finished it.
It's an easy read--sparse, to the the point, and not over the top with gratutious violence, the latter has become a big turn off in my reading novels of this pop suspense/mystery genre. Thus, in that aspect Now and Then has a positive.
After about 2/3rds of the book, however, I found myself losing interest. I can't even remember the cast of characters except for Spen More...
It's an easy read--sparse, to the the point, and not over the top with gratutious violence, the latter has become a big turn off in my reading novels of this pop suspense/mystery genre. Thus, in that aspect Now and Then has a positive.
After about 2/3rds of the book, however, I found myself losing interest. I can't even remember the cast of characters except for Spen More...
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Dec 23, 2008
Gayle
rated it: 
Got this book from Aunt Kathee; started it then learned it's #35 of a series!!!! :) Finished it quickly, easy to read.....in spots, almost TOO easy if that's possible. Good story line, but I won't read the entire series (too many other books on my to-read list, lol).
Mar 19, 2011
mark
rated it:
Spenser NOW & THEN (2007) set me on a mission of detection--to compare and contrast Robert B. Parker's 1st Spenser novel with this one, his last, before he died at his desk writing still more Spenser tales (subsequently published.) It is my contention that the 1st novel is often the best an author has to offer, maybe not in writing, but in the having of something to say--the big idea rattling 'round his or her brain that is. Parker's 1st, THE GODWULF MANUSCRIPT, was published in 1973 and so ther
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Feb 25, 2011
David
rated it:
Once upon a time, in a college far, far away, I had a Creative Writing Professor declare "Write what you know."
If this is the case, there are two things Robert B. Parker knows.
First, how to find food just about anywhere, how to eat in nearly every chapter, even if it is just a cinammon bun. Seriously, the references to food, to coffee, and other edible things just get annoying. It is almost as if he has to insert something to fill in the spaces between his w More...
If this is the case, there are two things Robert B. Parker knows.
First, how to find food just about anywhere, how to eat in nearly every chapter, even if it is just a cinammon bun. Seriously, the references to food, to coffee, and other edible things just get annoying. It is almost as if he has to insert something to fill in the spaces between his w More...
Dec 31, 2010
Renee
rated it:
An enjoyable Spenser story, made even more enjoyable by Joe Mantegna as narrator. Only five and a half hours long, which is a great length for an unabridged audio book. Truth be told, I had tired of Spenser after reading a half dozen or so and layed off for a while until I started listening to the novels as audio books. Spenser has turned into my back-up for when other items that interest me are not available. This works out well, since the local library has many of the Spenser titles availa
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Jun 06, 2011
F.R.
rated it:
The only Robert B. Parker I’d previously read was ‘Poodle Springs’, his polishing-off an unfinished Raymond Chandler manuscript. It was a long time ago, but I remember it as being fairly flat and nothing to write home about. As such I’d never picked up anything in his, apparently Phillip Marlowe influenced, ‘Spenser’ series before – and I’m quite happy to agree that maybe volume 35 was not the best place to start.
‘Now and Then’ is a curious concoction of taut prose and dialogue marri More...
‘Now and Then’ is a curious concoction of taut prose and dialogue marri More...
Aug 19, 2009
Tracy
rated it:
I've already said it in other reviews: What's not to love about Spenser? And as before there were places I laughed out loud - and yes, it was during conversations with Hawk.
I gotta tell you, though, I have some issues with (author) Parker. As you'll read in the book description, Spenser is hired to find out if a wife is cheating on a husband (she is). People end up dead, as usual, and Spenser takes the high road and tries to bring their killer to justice.
That's fine as f More...
I gotta tell you, though, I have some issues with (author) Parker. As you'll read in the book description, Spenser is hired to find out if a wife is cheating on a husband (she is). People end up dead, as usual, and Spenser takes the high road and tries to bring their killer to justice.
That's fine as f More...
May 11, 2011
Anthony
rated it: 
In Now and Then, you will be more than a little delighted with Robert B. Parker’s motley coterie of characters, including Spencer (the detective), Hawk (Spencer’s sidekick) Susan Silverman (his fiancée and a psychiatrist), Cholla (Mr. Del Rio’s strong man from Los Angeles), and Vinnie Morris (the shooter).
Although it starts out as a typical detective story – a man walks into the office and wants the detective to follow his wife because he thinks she is cheating on him – or visa versa – t More...
Although it starts out as a typical detective story – a man walks into the office and wants the detective to follow his wife because he thinks she is cheating on him – or visa versa – t More...
Dec 02, 2008
Ed
rated it:
For some reason, I almost always read Parker's books in one or two sittings. In this case, I was in bed with a touch of the flu and read it in one day.
This story hit all the right notes. The usual characters are here Susan and Hawk, of course, Vinnie, Chollo, Frank Belsen and Marty Quirk.
The story is fast paced and switches between the case he is working on and an event in his and Susan's past which he hasn't quite processed. Is he doing this because he really wants to More...
This story hit all the right notes. The usual characters are here Susan and Hawk, of course, Vinnie, Chollo, Frank Belsen and Marty Quirk.
The story is fast paced and switches between the case he is working on and an event in his and Susan's past which he hasn't quite processed. Is he doing this because he really wants to More...
Jul 27, 2011
Les
rated it:
Spenser is hired to find out if a wife is cheating on her husband who turns out to be FBI agent. The person (Perry Alderson) she's having an affair with is part of a terrorist organization. Soon after Spenser offers his evidence, a tape recording of a tryst, both are found dead. The trail leads to Perry Alderson as the man who had them killed and Spenser delves into his past to find other murders. Fearing for Susan's safety, Spenser needs to ask his friends to help. Hawk, Vinnie, Chollo team up
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Aug 21, 2011
Jeff
rated it:
Parker's consistancy continues with this installment of the Spenser series. This time Boston's favorite PI finds than taking the case investigating an unfaithful wife can lead to a lot more than meets the eye. Along the way Spenser must deal with the FBI, anti-government terrorists, and the past that haunts his present with his girlfriend Susan. Unlike some of the other Spenser books I have experienced, this one had a better feeling of closure. Listening to the audio book was a treat thanks
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Dec 08, 2008
DWGibb
rated it:
Short rapid fire, staccato sentences reminiscent of Spillane, Chandler and Hammett, I said. Spenser is a detective in that tradition, he said. Never watched the TV series, but found this book an engrossing diversion while doing daily fitness regimen, I said.
Joe Mantegna does the reading and one of the first things I noticed was his use of dialog tags, I said. He said, apparently in previous audio books the readers eliminated them and relied upon voice tone, accent and inflection t More...
Joe Mantegna does the reading and one of the first things I noticed was his use of dialog tags, I said. He said, apparently in previous audio books the readers eliminated them and relied upon voice tone, accent and inflection t More...
Feb 26, 2009
Jim
rated it:
A friend foisted this book on me, after I told him I had never read any Parker's, and I was happily surprised. I can't of course say if this is one of his best efforts, but I enjoyed it. It was like eating candy. Very dialogue driven. Fast paced. The characters are "hard boiled" but not as hard edged as you find in some detective stories. There is an easy-going attitude among his friends. I suspect that people who like his work, such as I do with James Lee Burke, keep coming back over
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Nov 05, 2011
Pete
rated it:
I can tell from the other reviews that not everyone was satisfied with this 35th Spenser novel, and I suppose I would have to agree. Too much Susan Silverman and not enough Hawk. Hawk's dark character needs to be more prominent, in my opinon, to offset the lovey-dovey stuff. I'm not against romance, mind you, but this is supposed to be a Spenser after all, and few pick up this kind of novel to read about nuzzling between S and his girlfriend. The story itself was not really compelling, but of c
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Sep 07, 2010
Mom
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Aug 22, 2009
Monia
rated it:
My mother used to read the Spenser series to my brother (who is bed-bound), and they both enjoyed them. Mom died two years ago, and I decided to continue the tradition, mixing this lighter fare inbetween more substantial novels and non-fiction which I read to him.
I wish I'd come to Spenser sooner! Easy but clever, with dialogue that's propulsive and fun. Hawk and Spenser both made my brother laugh out loud, and I suspect this title wasn't even among the best of the series. We've More...
I wish I'd come to Spenser sooner! Easy but clever, with dialogue that's propulsive and fun. Hawk and Spenser both made my brother laugh out loud, and I suspect this title wasn't even among the best of the series. We've More...
Nov 09, 2009
Marsha
rated it:
In this novel, Parker's chapters are short, descriptions brief, and dialogue corky and to the point. However, what should have been a quick read, had me dragging because I did not care for the weak plot or its outcome. I did like the main character, Spenser, a detective, and I liked the relationship he had with his girlfriend Susan. They had a solid, trusting relations and throughout the book, they kept debating if they should get married. Spenser was investigating a few murders and I really
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Jan 18, 2010
Tom
rated it:
I liked it, but after reading other reviews of Parker's books, I realized that I'm getting tired of the series. (Probably doesn't help that I'm reading them all in a month or so) I'm really tired of of the seemingly endless drone between Spenser and Susan about their "endless love". The secondary characters continue to interest me, more than Spenser, but they're locked in place and don't grow very much. I'd say it's 4 if you like the Spenser series, but a 2.5 to 3 if you're just loo
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May 12, 2009
Laura
rated it:
I usually listen to the Spenser books on CD while doing some needlework. I love Spenser. The writing style and Spenser's narration are wonderful. The characters he surrounds himself with are so interesting and seem very real.
Because I haven't read the series in order, there are allusions to previous issues the characters have dealt with, and it makes me want to go back and read the novel that has what event is being talked about.
There were also very few "some"s More...
Because I haven't read the series in order, there are allusions to previous issues the characters have dealt with, and it makes me want to go back and read the novel that has what event is being talked about.
There were also very few "some"s More...
Sep 09, 2008
R. Francis
rated it:
I was actually quite pleased by this novel. I mean, most Spenser novels please me, in a generic Spenser novel sort of way, but for some time there's been a hint of the cruise control about them. And why not? He's getting unnervingly close to 40 of them by now (and is anyone else having trouble ignoring the fact that Spenser was in Korea, and consequently is... kinda old now?)
This time out, however, things connect back on an emotional level to the pivotal events of Valediction and More...
This time out, however, things connect back on an emotional level to the pivotal events of Valediction and More...
Jul 19, 2008
Cindy
rated it:
I've read Spenser and Hawk mysteries for the last 20 or 30 years. I'm almost certain I started watching the TV show with Robert Urich as Spenser (okay but a little too pretty) and Avery Brooks as Hawk (authentic and mesmerizing) before I read the books, which would make it 20 years, but I'm not sure. I have to admit I've read and reread most of the 35 books in the series picturing Urich and Brooks as the main characters but with a very different image for Susan Silverman than represented in TV
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Jan 09, 2008
LJ
rated it:
NOW & THEN (Priv. Invest-Spenser-Boston-Cont) – VG+
Parker, Robert – 35th in series
Putnam, 2007, US Hardcover – ISBN: 9780399154416
First Sentence: He came into my office carrying a thin briefcase under his left arm.
*** When a man hires Spencer to find out whether is wife is being unfaithful, it raises memories of the time when Spenser and Susan were apart. A simple surveillance turns into much more when a surveillance tape uncovers that the wife’s lover is m More...
Parker, Robert – 35th in series
Putnam, 2007, US Hardcover – ISBN: 9780399154416
First Sentence: He came into my office carrying a thin briefcase under his left arm.
*** When a man hires Spencer to find out whether is wife is being unfaithful, it raises memories of the time when Spenser and Susan were apart. A simple surveillance turns into much more when a surveillance tape uncovers that the wife’s lover is m More...
Oct 29, 2007
Matt
rated it:
I think I actually got interested in reading by the Robert B Parker spencer paperbacks that were all over my parents house when I was in high school.
He has an interested perspective on ethics, like in one a college basketball player can't read and spencer points him in the direction of going pro. In another one a character is a street prostitute and Spencer resolves it by giving her a contact for a high class call girl service with a nice madam. Seemed kind of cool to a tenth grader.
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He has an interested perspective on ethics, like in one a college basketball player can't read and spencer points him in the direction of going pro. In another one a character is a street prostitute and Spencer resolves it by giving her a contact for a high class call girl service with a nice madam. Seemed kind of cool to a tenth grader.
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Jan 02, 2008
Kay
rated it:
Several years ago I was in a used book store. I picked up a Robert B. Parker book and the lady next to me said, oh he's a male Evanovich. That was all I needed to buy the book. I'm not sure which book it but it was a Spenser book and one of those written a long time ago. [keep in mind I never saw the t.v. series]. I just loved the book, the characters, the humor etc... Since I am compulsive, i knew I had to find his other 37 books he had written. And I had to read them in order! I search
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Jul 30, 2011
Dave
rated it:
Now & Then (Spenser #35) by Robert B. Parker (G.P. Putnam's Sons 2007)(Fiction - Mystery) is one of the better Spenser tales. An FBI agent hired Spenser to see if his wife was having an affair; she was. When both husband and wife turn up dead, Spenser's investigation revealed that the wife's paramour was not who he professed to be and that he represented mysterious anti-government interests. Chollo, Vinnie, and Hawk all star as they help protect Susan. 6/10, finished 7/30/11.
Oct 23, 2009
Simon
rated it:
The thirty-somethingth Spenser novel follows a familiar blueprint. Boston PI Spenser is approached by a man suspicious of his wife; in discovering the wife's infidelity Spenser and Hawk stumble on what appears to be something much darker and more complicated. I wish the villain had turned out to be a bit more formidable but I did enjoy seeing Spenser's sense of right and wrong challenged when his love Susan may be in danger. I'd give this 3.5 stars if I could. Recommended.
Jan 05, 2009
Rob
rated it:
I have to admit, I am slightly disappointed by this Spenser adventure, but not by much. Will still read the next one in the series just because of the pleasure I derived reading the earlier ones.
Maybe the disappointment comes from having to compare this with the previous books - dialogue is no longer as smart, action becoming too predictable, adversaries too incompetent, or are Spenser's friends becoming ultra super? (Forgive me if there is no such word).
Maybe the disappointment comes from having to compare this with the previous books - dialogue is no longer as smart, action becoming too predictable, adversaries too incompetent, or are Spenser's friends becoming ultra super? (Forgive me if there is no such word).
