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291st out of 875 books
—
1,834 voters
Hush Money (Spenser #26)
"Parker says he'll keep writing Spenser novels as long as the public wants to read them, which probably means he'll need to keep writing them for the rest of his life. Spenser is 'the very model of a modern major shamus, '" proclaimed The Boston Globe of Robert B. Parker's most recent New York Times bestseller, Sudden Mischief. With Hush Money, Parker adds another classic...more
Hardcover, 309 pages
Published
March 8th 1999
by Putnam Adult
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Spenser ends up working two cases pro bono after Hawk and Susan both ask him for his help. Since he owes Hawk about a thousand favors as well as probably five figures worth of expenses for ammunition alone, it’s perfectly understandable that he’d work for free on that one, but he should charge Susan double just for being so damn annoying.
Hawk asks Spenser to help a professor that’s the son of an old friend of his. The professor was denied tenure because of a smear campaign that claimed he had a...more
Hawk asks Spenser to help a professor that’s the son of an old friend of his. The professor was denied tenure because of a smear campaign that claimed he had a...more
100 out of 100 books for 2010. I figgin' did it!
Hush Money, along with Sudden Mischief and Small Vices, form a trilogy of Parker's absolute best novels and the best of the Spenser series. In each of these, a major character--Susan, Spenser, and, in the case of Hush Money, Hawk--reveals something about her or his past, proves vulnerable, and grow in some way. This is also the first, and, I think, the only novel in the series in which Spenser takes a case pro bono as a favor to Hawk. On the surfac...more
Hush Money, along with Sudden Mischief and Small Vices, form a trilogy of Parker's absolute best novels and the best of the Spenser series. In each of these, a major character--Susan, Spenser, and, in the case of Hush Money, Hawk--reveals something about her or his past, proves vulnerable, and grow in some way. This is also the first, and, I think, the only novel in the series in which Spenser takes a case pro bono as a favor to Hawk. On the surfac...more
Raymond Chandler did it first, creating the modern Knight in Armour as the honest private detective with his creation, Philip Marlow. Robert Parker does a good job creating someone similar with Spenser.
His Spenser novels are a kind of boys' hero, 'good wins out' stories, a modern man's dream of being a knight to the rescue. In this novel Spenser and his friend Hawk right a wrong and find that a suicide was a murder and solve that too.
As a non-American I find the guns and beatings a little too vi...more
His Spenser novels are a kind of boys' hero, 'good wins out' stories, a modern man's dream of being a knight to the rescue. In this novel Spenser and his friend Hawk right a wrong and find that a suicide was a murder and solve that too.
As a non-American I find the guns and beatings a little too vi...more
The story, dialogue and mystery were OK, it was easy to guess who did it and what I particularly liked was the friendship between Spenser and his side-kick Hawk. I think the only thing that bothered me from the story is the portrayal of women, you get a lust-driven victim with tons of issues, or a backstabbing academic prude and even Spenser's girlfriend is an anorexic sex kitten, who just happens to be smart. Oh yeah and there is a cat fight, of course!
The last chapter was just a summary of the...more
The last chapter was just a summary of the...more
This was a neat little PI detective story. A very easy read. PI Spenser takes on 2 cases at once. Both pro-bono, the first case a student at the university is dead, and presumed to be a suicide. Along with the student, a professor is accused of being gay and causing the student to kill himself. The second case a woman believes she is being stalked. This victim fixates herself on Spenser. This could be very dangerous. Spenser and his side kickHawk do the leg work to find evidence to restore the p...more
I’m weeding BPL’s mystery section and have been reading popular mystery writers that I’ve not read. And I enjoyed this one. Spencer, the main character, is a burly, Boston PI investigating cases for two friends. Susan, Spencer’s inamorata, has a friend, KC, who’s being stalked. And Hawk, Spencer’s sidekick, is trying to help a friend who’s son was denied tenure by a university. Things get complicated by a suicide (or was it murder?) and gay, black, academic and feminist politics. Spencer is abl...more
"Hush" is one of Robert B. Parker's Spencer novels, a long series I've never read before. This one was recommended by a former colleague at the university because it partly takes place at a university and some of the characters are not entirely unlike our colleagues. In addition to academic issues and politics, "Hush" also characterizes or sometimes caricatures different ways of being African American. It's quick, lively, funny and clever -- perfect for in-flight reading. I have a feeling Parker...more
The subject of this book was the tenure system at universities.
The whole higher education world did not come off looking good.
"Whenever I got involved in anything related to a university, I
was reminded of how seriously everyone took everything, particularly
themselves, and I had to keep a firm grip on my impulse to make fun."
"University politics is very odd. You get a lot of people gathered together who, if they couldn't do this, really couldn't
do anything. They are given to think that they are...more
The whole higher education world did not come off looking good.
"Whenever I got involved in anything related to a university, I
was reminded of how seriously everyone took everything, particularly
themselves, and I had to keep a firm grip on my impulse to make fun."
"University politics is very odd. You get a lot of people gathered together who, if they couldn't do this, really couldn't
do anything. They are given to think that they are...more
I think the reasons I liked this book are the same reasons I like Spenser books in general. Spenser and Hawk are great characters. They are tough guys without being stupid; they are smart guys without being annoying. And their friendship comes through as real and believable. You can tell by the way they talk to each other that they have known each other for a long time. And the book is written with a lot of wit. So it’s fun to read. It deals with issues like prejudice and racism without reading...more
Wonderful. I simply can't read most mysteries because they are written so shoddily. Pages of description at the start. Pages of italics. Over-locality (self-absorbed author forgets that readers don't care). And on and on. Parker almost never commits these faults. And he's just a wonderful craftsman. Like his fellow Virgo, H.L. Mencken, he never chooses the wrong word. In Hush Money, the central theme of academic political correctness is handled with refreshing earthy humor. One of Parker's very...more
I am not sure where I got this book, probably found it in the laundry room at my sister's apartment. Wherever it was, I'm very glad it happened! I love this guy! His style of writing is exactly what I like, a smart, sarcastic, capable sleuth who solves predicaments for those in need. This book was great, I already ordered two more Spenser books. I learned that Parker died in January of this year, but I'm glad to see he left behind a ton of books. I hope to read many or all of them. The only weak...more
Another pretty good entry in the Spenser series. Spenser finds himself, again, taking on cases pro bono for his friends. One of them is at Susan's request; you would think that would bother him after the last book. The second one is for Hawk.
As a part of the case that Hawk brings him, we learn some interesting things about Hawk's past. This can be a tricky thing, and has to be handled very carefully. Parker handles it quite well. It never seems obtrusive, it's only explanatory of Hawk's interest...more
As a part of the case that Hawk brings him, we learn some interesting things about Hawk's past. This can be a tricky thing, and has to be handled very carefully. Parker handles it quite well. It never seems obtrusive, it's only explanatory of Hawk's interest...more
While the book moves a bit slowly, and 56 chapters is a bit much, the level of detective entertainment is superb. Spencer solves a murder, gets a professor his well-deserved tenure, and attracts a stalker after alieviate a female client from the same problem. Thanks to Susan, his psychotherapeutic sweet heart,and her left hook to get that crazy hooker off of his back so that they are able to enjoy their lives in peace.
Hush Money is one of Robert Parker's best books. Spenser's ability to wiggle himself into the intimate lives of people in his effort to find the truth is always fascinating. The part of the story I liked best, though, was Susan's reaction to K.C.'s stalking of Spenser. For once, Susan really came alive, and she seemed more human than in many of the other stories.
Fun and easy read. Two wise acres private investigators set out to solve three cases going on at once, all pro bono. I like these two characters, Spenser and Hawke. Plus the author made me laugh. The subject of tenure and how serious college professors take themselves was a good relative poke at the academia world. It was a page turner and more my kind of murder mystery fun.
This is a Spenser novel in which he takes on two cases: one at the request of Hawk and one at the request of Susan. I like Parker for his quick-fire delivery. In a way, his books are like sketches. He doesn't spend a lot of time on elaborate descriptions of people or events and he moves the story forward through conversation.
I listened to the audio book version read by Burt Reynolds. I didn't care much for the author or the reader.
5/12/2011. I just finished listening to this book for the second time and bumped up the rating to two stars. I guess I've just read too much trash in the interim. Despite my low opinion I listened to it the second time because (a) My car will only play audio-tapes and anything would beat listening to the radio when I drive to work, and (b)I didn't recognize the title and had paid to rent t...more
5/12/2011. I just finished listening to this book for the second time and bumped up the rating to two stars. I guess I've just read too much trash in the interim. Despite my low opinion I listened to it the second time because (a) My car will only play audio-tapes and anything would beat listening to the radio when I drive to work, and (b)I didn't recognize the title and had paid to rent t...more
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Read this one for the fun of it. In thus installment, Spenser takes on two cases at once, both unpaid, and explores some morally difficult territory. What this tale lacks in significance is more than made up for in entertainment value. Parker's characters shine.
Always enjoy the quick read of a Robert B Parker novel with Spenser as the detective and main character. Enjoyed this one with Susan the girlfriend and Hawk the sometimes sidekick. Spenser solves two mysteries pro bono in this episode.
Excellent; Continuing character: Spenser; he takes on two cases simulataneously, a professor turned down for tenure due to rumors of a gay relationship with a student, and a friend of Susan's who is being stalked.
A Typical Spenser tale as he tries to discover why university Prof was denied tenure for Hawk and tries to identify the stalker of a friend of Susan’s. A light and quick read with plenty of Spenser irreverent humor.
story about the world of stalking and homosexual in and around Boston. I love the dialogue between Hawk and Spenser. After reading, make me feel like i am bostonian!
We really lost something when we lost Robert B. Parker. The dialogue in this book is razor sharp, especially between the characters of Spenser and Hawk. I recommend this highly.
Spenser isn't the usual hard-bitten detective. In the midst of the macho action, observations, and quips, here is an honorable character with depth and kindness.
I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11492564
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11492564
Good book, great series, loved the way Robert Parker told his stories and loved the Spenser character along with all his exploits.
The Spencer series continues but sadly, the stories have taken on a cookie-cutter sameness. Predictable and cliche-filled.
My review is found here at my blog: Martin's View: Hush Money.
A good quick read.Always enjoy the humor between Spenser, and his group of characters.
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Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database named Robert B. Parker.
Robert Brown Parker was an American crime writer. His most famous works were the novels about the private detective Spenser. ABC television network developed the television series Spenser: For Hire based on the character in the late 1980s; a series of TV movies based on the character were also produced....more
More about Robert B. Parker...
Robert Brown Parker was an American crime writer. His most famous works were the novels about the private detective Spenser. ABC television network developed the television series Spenser: For Hire based on the character in the late 1980s; a series of TV movies based on the character were also produced....more
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Jun 28, 2012 05:06pm
Especially for Hawk. Those shells for that hand cannon gotta cost a small fortune.
Jun 28, 2012 07:49pm