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Painted Ladies (Spenser #39)

3.9 of 5 stars 3.90 · rating details · 3,326 ratings · 340 reviews

The brilliant new Spenser novel from the beloved New York Times-bestselling author Robert B. Parker.

Called upon by The Hammond Museum and renowned art scholar Dr. Ashton Prince, Spenser accepts his latest case: to provide protection during a ransom exchange-money for a stolen painting.

The case becomes personal when Spenser fails to protect his client and the valuable pai...more

Audio CD, 0 pages

Published October 5th 2010 by Random House Audio (first published January 1st 2010)

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Nov 28, 2010 Kemper rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: crime-mystery, detectives, spenser

Robert B. Parker died almost a year ago, but from what I’ve read Painted Ladies is the first of two unpublished Spenser novels that he had completed. Plus, considering Parker’s output, who knows how many books from his other three series may come out? It seems like Parker’s literary ghost will be with us for some time to come. Considering how much bitching I’ve done about his later work, I was a bit conflicted over whether this is a good thing or a bad thing. However, I was pleasantly surprised...more Robert B. Parker died almost a year ago, but from what I’ve read Painted Ladies is the first of two unpublished Spenser novels that he had completed. Plus, considering Parker’s output, who knows how many books from his other three series may come out? It seems like Parker’s literary ghost will be with us for some time to come. Considering how much bitching I’ve done about his later work, I was a bit conflicted over whether this is a good thing or a bad thing. However, I was pleasantly surprised that Painted Ladies is one of the better Spenser novels to come out in years.

Ashton Prince is an art expert who has been hired by a museum to help arrange the return of a priceless painting that was stolen. Prince has set up a ransom exchange to get the painting back and hires Spenser for protection during the meeting. As with most of his clients, Spenser doesn’t like Prince much and thinks something smells rotten about the whole set-up, but he takes the job. When the exchange goes badly, Spenser feels responsible and tries to untangle a mystery that involves stolen art that goes back to World War II.

While I long ago accepted that Parker would never match his earlier books in the Spenser series in terms of quality, this one marks a vast improvement over the later books that had gotten repetitive and bogged down with the dreaded S+S=S (Spenser+Susan=Smug) factor that had dominated the stories for years.

Parker had shown signs of trying to mix things up with the last couple of Spenser books, but hadn’t entirely gotten free of his bad habits. In this one, with an interesting mystery and worthy adversaries that take the tension level up a notch, Spenser breaks out of the rut he’d been stuck in .

There’s still a bit too much of the cutsie-pie Susan stuff, but this finally felt like Spenser was really engaged in a case instead of just going through the motions until he could meet her for dinner. Sadly, Hawk doesn’t make an appearance in this one since he’s up to some kind of mischief in Central Asia, but his absence doesn’t hurt the overall story at all.

Hopefully, Parker kept this trend going for the final book and fans will get to end the series on a high note.

Next up: Robert B. Parker writes his last Spenser story in Sixkill.
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Jan 15, 2011 Barbara rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I had previously thought I had read Parker's last book, but now I really think this is it. I shall miss having his books there for me when I need his fiction and humor! It's like eating a bowl of chocolate ice cream- you know it's not really good for you, but so comforting!

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Again Robert Parker has provided me with the perfect medium for a snowy day!One cannot compare him to authors such as Ru...more

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Apr 01, 2013 Denise Dougherty rated it 1 of 5 stars

Seeing that the audio version was read by veteran actor, Joe Mantegna, influenced me to try (one more time) a Spencer book. Unfortunately, I can't decide if Mr Mantegna's reading was more annoying than the characters in the story. Both grated on my nerves so much I couldn't finish. Frankly, I didn't care who did it - only that they all stop talking.

The *clever* banter between Spencer and his Susan was enough to make me shriek. The other characters were so irritating I was surprised more of them...more

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Nov 08, 2010 Jodi rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I read this book with great sorrow, knowing it was the last Spenser novel. It was a good way to go out. I missed Hawk but he was there in spirit. We got nearly everyone else. When Spenser is asked to protect a art professor who is paying a ransom for a stolen, no one expected that the professor would be murdered when the painting exploded. In fact, no one things Spenser could have done anything differently. Except Spenser. As he starts to dig into the case, it becomes pretty clear that someone e...more

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Nov 10, 2010 Larry Rogers rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. It's sad to read what must be the last Spenser novel, though the last really good one was "Small Vices," and the last knockout Spenser novel may have been as far back as "A Catskill Eagle." Still, the last one starts nicely and has some good snarky Spenser wisecracking. As one character says, "I was told you have a tendency toward self-amusement." I had hoped that Parker would avoiud the interminable conversations with Susan about the meaning of manhood, and he largely does. (Susan does have a n...more

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Jun 02, 2012 James Thane rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: crime-fiction, spenser

For many years, I've been a fan of Robert B. Parker's Spenser series, and even though many of the later books in the series do not measure up to the standards that Parker set earlier, I've still enjoyed most of them. Parker died a couple of years ago, and I've been reluctant to read Painted Ladies and Sixkill, which are the last two book in the series, because it's like saying goodbye to an old friend. But I finally pulled Painted Ladies off the shelf and read it this week.

Like many of the later...more For many years, I've been a fan of Robert B. Parker's Spenser series, and even though many of the later books in the series do not measure up to the standards that Parker set earlier, I've still enjoyed most of them. Parker died a couple of years ago, and I've been reluctant to read Painted Ladies and Sixkill, which are the last two book in the series, because it's like saying goodbye to an old friend. But I finally pulled Painted Ladies off the shelf and read it this week.

Like many of the later entries in the series, the plot is fairly thin and serves mostly as a framework for a lot of witty banter between Spenser and the other characters. Sadly, Spenser's long-time sidekick, Hawk, is again MIA. Even more sadly, Spenser's long-time lover, Susan Silverman is not.

The story opens when an art historian with the improbable name of Ashton Prince approaches Spenser asking for protection. Prince has been selected as the go-between in the return of a priceless painting that has been stolen and is being ransomed back by the museum to which it belongs. Prince wants Spenser to accompany him to the exchange.

Things do not go well and, through no fault of Spenser's, his client is killed. Though Spenser has fulfilled his end of the bargain and no longer has a client, the PI's code demands that he avenge Prince's death and bring the bad guys to justice. His investigation leads him into a world of art theft and fraud, and it quickly becomes apparent that Spenser's client might not have been quite what he claimed, which of course the reader knew well would be the case when Prince first walked through Spenser's door.

As things progress, Spenser's own life is threatened--something that has happened pretty routinely in each of the thirty-eight books that preceded this one. As always, Spenser is unfazed by this and will deal with the bad guys as they come. In and around the investigation, Spenser will cook a good number of meals and share way too many tender, icky moments with Susan, a woman only Spenser could love.

All it's a quick, fun read and those who have followed this series from the beginning will know exactly what to expect. Those who have not and who are thinking about dipping into this series for the first time, would be much better advised to read one of the earlier books like The Godwulf Manuscript or Early Autumn.(less)

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Jul 26, 2011 Kathy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery, detective-bounty-hunter

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Spencer's case - he is hired by Dr. Ashton Prince, professor of art who specialized in Danish art, to accompany him when he paid the ransom for a famous 18th century piece titled 'Painted Ladies with a Finch' (forgot the artist)... the history of the painting - by an excellent artist who died young, and this was the only surviving painting of his... it was owned by the Prinz's in Holland, was hidden during Germany's occupation... and the 14 year old son was the only one to survive the concentrat...more Spencer's case - he is hired by Dr. Ashton Prince, professor of art who specialized in Danish art, to accompany him when he paid the ransom for a famous 18th century piece titled 'Painted Ladies with a Finch' (forgot the artist)... the history of the painting - by an excellent artist who died young, and this was the only surviving painting of his... it was owned by the Prinz's in Holland, was hidden during Germany's occupation... and the 14 year old son was the only one to survive the concentration camps, and with another boy, Hershberg, they retrieved the painting, sold it for a pitance and then the boys disappeared. It was in a Boston museum and stolen.

Prince asks Spencer to stay in the car, he goes over a ridge, Spencer can hear some car doors and what not, he sees him coming back, with something in his hand... then the something in his hand explodes, blowing Prince to smitheriens....

and Spencer can't leave a job unfinished... he works with the police & FBI (Quirk, Belson, Healy) to figure out what happened... and bit by bit - from the professor's wife, a poet/professor who wrote a poem about her husband that makes it clear that he had a fake painting and was working on some sort of payoff, to the professor's own Phd dissertation about the same painting, and the activities of WWII, to the insurance adjuster - ex-FBI who had a fling with Ariel Hershberg - son of the man who was with Prinz in the camps & when he sold the painting - to Hershberg, who created an organization populated with Jewish thugs that zeroed in on art that was lost to Nazi Germany that rightfully belonged to the Jews - and he kept it himself...

there are 2 attempts on Spencer's life - the first is foiled when Pearl growls as they near his office, leading him to ... go across to the office building, use a telescope to see 2 men with guns waiting in his office, to going back to his office, unlocking the door, and scooting down the hall on his belly to wait for them to come out of the office shooting, and then shooting them both... and the 2nd, when he knows someone is following him, and he tosses his bag on the bed so as to look out the window, and the bed explodes... luck and skill both times saved him...

and Susan helps him work out the whys and whos...

and Pearl has a romance - with a terrier who is visiting - and the story ends when the terrier returns for another visit. ahhhhh(less)

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May 29, 2011 Spotsalots added it

Shelves: fiction, mystery

Another mystery from the book exchange table. I had read a few of Parker's Spenser novels years ago, and generally enjoyed them; on the whole I enjoyed this one as well, perhaps partly because it has an art history angle. At the same time, I had a bit of a feeling that the author was really churning this out at the end of his life. All of the dialog is brief exchanges and quips; while I like that kind of thing, it has to be balanced with some longer sentences. Here it gave me the feeling that Pa...more Another mystery from the book exchange table. I had read a few of Parker's Spenser novels years ago, and generally enjoyed them; on the whole I enjoyed this one as well, perhaps partly because it has an art history angle. At the same time, I had a bit of a feeling that the author was really churning this out at the end of his life. All of the dialog is brief exchanges and quips; while I like that kind of thing, it has to be balanced with some longer sentences. Here it gave me the feeling that Parker had done it to get to the end of the book in a hurry. The investigation of the murdered art historian felt a bit the same--hurried and relatively depthless. Sure, we found out that he was an expert who for reasons never explained stayed at a school without a top-rate art history department (no academic would really be that baffled by that--we go where we're offered jobs and while some people move up to more prestigious schools, very often people stay where they land). Sure, we also found out that he was an easy grader who habitually slept with female students--well, why would a top school want to take that on? The art heist involved, while interesting, was never fully elucidated and I was left unsure precisely what prompted the murder, and for that matter why the murderers were so remarkably bloodthirsty and able to recruit so many hired killers given that the main interests of said killer(s) would rarely lead to even accidental death. Oh, and Spenser has acquired a girlfriend (I don't recall her from previous books) whose presence prompts excessive description of their meals, and whose dog's love life fortuitously helps provide clues to the murder, which I felt was really stretching things. Basically, nearly everyone Spenser met in the course of the book proved to know either the victim or the killer, no matter whether they worked in insurance or what.

I suppose it's a tribute to Parker's skills as an author that the book is readable and mostly enjoyable despite all of the flaws and irritations listed above.(less)

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Apr 19, 2011 Sarah rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery

I wonder, that if Robert Parker (RIP) was able to watch the tv series, he would like tv show character better then what he turned the book character into.

Spenser has always been very much a mans' man - he became a PI because he was unable to take orders; he used to box; he uses the bare-bones gym (you know, not those sissy fitness centers); he enjoys a good burger and whiskey. Or beer. Or you know, just about anything of decent quality with an alcohol content. But he is a good guy - he cooks, h...more

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Mar 29, 2011 mark rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: detectives

Recommended to mark by: my father

Shelves: crime, relationships

‘PAINTED LADIES’ is a fine finale for Robert B. Parker and his superhero –sleuth – Spenser, and the girl of his dreams, psychoanalyst Susan Silverman. I love the fact that Parker wrote right, right up until he died at the age of 78 at his writing desk in his home – writing I presume. And also, that Spenser kept on detecting (watching & waiting, poking & provoking, asking questions & pushing for answers) drinking & thinking, cooking & eating, loving Susan, doughnuts, dogs, boo...more ‘PAINTED LADIES’ is a fine finale for Robert B. Parker and his superhero –sleuth – Spenser, and the girl of his dreams, psychoanalyst Susan Silverman. I love the fact that Parker wrote right, right up until he died at the age of 78 at his writing desk in his home – writing I presume. And also, that Spenser kept on detecting (watching & waiting, poking & provoking, asking questions & pushing for answers) drinking & thinking, cooking & eating, loving Susan, doughnuts, dogs, books, girls in short skirts, wine & fine dining, coffee & whiskey, books, and children well into his 70s. Both men (the creator and the created) are inspirational.

Having said that – now I’ll say this: I think authors of books should quit after three because by then, they have said all that they have to say, in regards to the things that matter. (With the exception of authors such as James Michener, Michael Crichton, and Richard North Patterson - who do extensive research and write about variant places and issues (different settings and different ideas with each book.) F. Scott Fitzgerald said as much when he said about his contemporary, Ernest Hemingway, that he (Hemingway) had nothing left to say and just kept writing about the same thing that had happened to him in his twenties, over and over again. He (Hemingway) became boring to himself. But others, readers and critics, kept on reading and buying his books. The others were apparently infatuated with the “legend.” Maybe THAT explains a little why some great authors, such as, Fitzgerald, Hemingway, Kerouac, Kesey, Thompson and Wallace, check out (die) early by one means or another—they have nothing further to say and can’t stand THAT! but are too damn old to do anything else, or feel trapped – locked into a persona that now feels alien or fraudulent.

If I read 50 books a year (which I do) for fifty years—I’ll have time enough to read just 2,500 books. Sure, that sounds like a lot, but not in relation to how many have been written. How many authors’ ideas’ will I never explore? Surely, in the course of eighteen hundred years of authorship, there are more than 2,500 big ideas worth thinking about, or character’s life’s to loathe and love. Why, in the course of one day my brain engages with anywhere from 500,000 (7-8 per second) to 3,000,000 (46 per second) data points of sensation and vibration. The point (or question) is—why read the same thing over and over again? Why not open up your mind to some thing or idea that is fresh (even if its old)?

Now, having said THAT I’ll say this: If you’re going to limit yourself to a select few authors—you can do a lot worse than Robert Parker. After all, Spenser is a smart guy - and a detective - and he’ll take you to places (in your mind and the minds’ of others) that you might not go otherwise.

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Mar 02, 2011 Joy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Oh, how I love reading Parker books! It's hard to not give five stars to a Spenser book, especially if this might be the last. I'd like to think Parker was 10 books ahead in his writing at the time of his death a year ago. It was good to know I can stay awake to read a hundred pages if the book is so much fun. I loved his 'take' on the modern workplace: "A series of half-partitioned cubicles marched in a fearful symmetry. The one where Winifred Minor had her desk had a higher partition than thos...more

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Jan 08, 2011 Jennifer Estep rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery

Painted Ladies by Robert B. Parker is one of the many books in his long-running series about Spenser, a Boston private investigator.

In this one, art professor Dr. Ashton Prince hires Spenser to protect him when he goes to make a ransom payment for a valuable painting that's been stolen. However, the ransom exchange goes wrong, and Prince is killed by a bomb hidden in the painting. Of course, Spenser feels responsible and sets out to bring the bad guys to justice. Along the way, Spenser deals wit...more

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Dec 08, 2010 Gail Cooke rated it 5 of 5 stars

Have to admit it - seeing the name Joe Mantegna on an audio book sells me immediately. His incredibly compelling reading of Boardwalk Empire is one of my all-time favorites and the same can be said of PAINTED LADIES.

A 40 year show business veteran he is an accomplished, versatile actor as evidenced in over 100 films (The Godfather Part 3, Forget Paris, etc.) In addition, his television appearances have garnered critical praise (The Rat Pack, The Last Don. Criminal Minds).

This wealth of exper...more

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Oct 30, 2010 Jay Connor rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is the last Spenser novel. So the feeling throughout is kinda like an Irish wake -- sad but full of joyful memories. It is disappointing that Hawk only makes an appearance by reference, but all of the other players -- Susan, Quirk, Rita, etc. -- get a pleasant final turn.

Parker was so prolific that I'm not sure he knew that this was his last Spenser excursion. If he did (or even considered it), then Spenser's reflection, starting on page 205, of why he does what he does, how it gives meani...more

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Jan 26, 2011 Frederic rated it 2 of 5 stars

It's silly to complain that the late Robert B. Parker wrote,re-wrote and published what was virtually the same novel under different titles for the last thirty years...even the first decade of Spenser(from Godwulf to Catskill,roughly)were pretty thin...once Susan and Hawk came onboard we got Baby-Talk between the lovers and a lot of Come-Back-to-the-Raft-Huck,honey byplay between Spenser and his Shadow-Self...over the years the secondary and tertiary characters(Tough Cops,Tough Gays,Tough Latino...more

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Feb 11, 2012 Teena in Toronto rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I've been reading Parker's Spencer series for years and have enjoyed them. Over the years, though they are entertaining, they have gotten fluffier.

The story was interesting and could have been meatier. The pages that are thick, the type is large and there is a lot of white space to give you the illusion that it's a big story in a big book. The characters were bland and the ending seemed to be wrapped up quickly. Perhaps Parker's estate (he died in January 2010) wanted to put out another Spencer...more

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Oct 21, 2010 Giovanni Gelati rated it 5 of 5 stars

Many different emotions went through my mind even before I opened this novel up. I have read all of the novels Parker has written, and to be honest I can’t really say which of his characters I enjoy the most. The odds on favorite for most would be Spenser, but I have to say I enjoy Jesse Stone and Virgil Cole as well. I guess though, a Spenser novel is fitting for the end of the run; it is what started it all, the alpha and now the omega.
I am not a real emotional guy but I am totally bummed try...more Many different emotions went through my mind even before I opened this novel up. I have read all of the novels Parker has written, and to be honest I can’t really say which of his characters I enjoy the most. The odds on favorite for most would be Spenser, but I have to say I enjoy Jesse Stone and Virgil Cole as well. I guess though, a Spenser novel is fitting for the end of the run; it is what started it all, the alpha and now the omega.
I am not a real emotional guy but I am totally bummed trying to write this. I am reading Cannell’s The Prostitutes Ball right now and it is like a double whammy. The thing that drew me to Parker in the first place and what made me devour novel after novel to catch up to the new stuff was the character interplay. The novels aren’t deeply plotted. They are what they are; fun, great dialogue, a code that remains unbroken, and a group of characters that know each other so well that sometimes words are not even needed. The man was a legend in his day, the characters are excellent and I was heartened that this last one was all Spenser. Hawk is away, Benson is poking around, but it is Susan and Spenser all through the novel. I find it to be fitting. Is it the best Spenser novel? I really didn’t care as I savored every page; I am a fan, pure and simple. This gets five stars no matter what for me. The man gave me too many good reads, made me laugh, and I actually put aside the fact that I hate the Red Sox so much (me being raised a Yankees fan).
Painted Ladies is your typical quick Parker read, except you know it is your last. The ride is way too short. The characters are doing their thing with the short, choppy dialogue, Spenser is kicking the hornets’ nest trying to see what comes out at him, Susan analyzes everything, and Pearl is Pearl. What more does one expect from a Robert Parker novel, just maybe a few more. At least I have 50 novels of his I can reread. What is your favorite Parker novel? Who is your favorite character?
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Feb 03, 2013 Connie N. rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: detective

This is another wonderfully typical Spenser book, although sadly it's Robert Parker's last before his death. As always, I love the repartee between him and Quirk, Belson, and Healy. No Hawk this time, but Susan and Pearl are prominent cast members. The reason I rated it 4 is because the story is a bit confusing, with a stolen painting, lots of Holocaust references, and a complicated connection between Walford College, the Hammond Museaum, and something called the Herzberg Foundation. But it was...more

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Jun 13, 2011 False Millennium rated it 5 of 5 stars

I rated it amazing because I know it's the last Spenser book I'll ever read, and I'm heartbroken. Truly heartbroken. Parker died working at his desk, and I was struck down by the news. Yes, his books are beach reading...goof off reading for me...but I fell in love with Spenser and Hawk and my beloved Boston. Others will tell you what this book is about. I will quote one passage that struck me to the bone.

A professor's death is being investigated, and Spenser goes through the man's calendar. "Pri...more

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Feb 01, 2011 Susan rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult-level-mystery

I have to have my detective novels! This is the last, or one of the last, of Robert Parker's novels that he wrote before he died. They are elegant in their simplicity, and Parker's humor makes for a good bedtime read. My daddy, who was a doctor, used to read Mickey Spillane and those of his ilk to turn off his mind so he could go to sleep, and I guess I learn to love mysteries and lawyer stories and detective novels from him. This one is a "Spencer for Hire" dealing with an art professor who had...more

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May 18, 2011 Randy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Spenser is hired as bodyguard for Dr. Ashton Prince in a ransom exchange for a stolen painting. Things go bad, Spenser has to stand well below the exchange, then a bomb in the package explodes, blowing Prince to bits.

Spenser, as usual, won't let things go.

He starts investigating, looking for the killer. He has suspicions about the dead Prince. As clues start to turn up and events happen, things keep pointing to WWII.

Prince turns out to have been Jewish, real name Prinz, the Herzog Federation. Tw...more

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Apr 07, 2011 Andrea Larson rated it 4 of 5 stars

After the last book I read, Moon Over Tokyo, Painted Ladies was a breath of fresh air. It reminded me once again how much I enjoy reading Robert B. Parker's books.

Painted Ladies does not refer to ladies of the night nor Victorian homes but artwork that has been stolen. Spenser is called in to protect the man who is to pay the ransom in exchange for the stolen painting. However, that protection fails when Ashton Prince is blown to bits (along with the painting) after paying them off. Not feeling...more

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Jan 11, 2011 Kay Wright rated it 4 of 5 stars

It can take me longer to read a New Yorker article than Spenser novels but I have always dearly loved the dialog and solving the mystery while wandering around Boston. But his adoration of Susan always annoyed me. Now that Parker is dead and we learn that he and his "Always Joan" lived separate lives it adds poignancy to the fantasy romance he concocted as the heart of his Spenser novels. Must have been the love he wished he had found. It is sad to read the last Spenser, he was like an old frien...more

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Sep 07, 2012 Mark rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: crime, detective, mystery-adventure, robert-b-parker, spencer

I had a few hours to kill and a copy of one of the last Robert B Parker Spenser books nearby. It turned out to be a lovely little mystery about a stolen Nazi painting, a professor/expert getting blown up while in the process of retrieving the painting, two attempts at the life of Spenser.

It really is a very little tale where SPenser feel responsible for the endresult of his job, in which he felt he did fail. He decided to solve the case not because he liked the professor, which he didn't, but be...more

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Jan 16, 2013 Bill Williams rated it 3 of 5 stars

This plodding novel near the end of the Spenser run shows the flaws of the series. There is too much Susan and too much of the rut she brings to the world of Spenser. There are too many name checks from previous novels.

Over 40 novels and who knows how many years, not a single lead or supporting character has died or even changed jobs. Talk about a static fictional environment when contrasted with the changing landscape of Boston.

The plot about the murder of an art historian was tedious and stre...more

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Aug 10, 2011 Patricia rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery

Much as I have been getting sick of the Spenser novels, I still read them and had to read this, the last one. Regrettably, one of my favorite characters (Hawk) was not in it, and too many characters bought into Spenser's annoying repartee. I am glad that I don't have to suffer through another discussion of Spenser being who he is and doing what he does and how much they love each other between he and Susan Silverman because quite frankly I think I would either hurl or throw the book across the r...more

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Apr 29, 2011 Liz rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery, series-book, own

When R.B.P passed away I thought I would not read anymore about Spencer and Susan and Hawk. I was so glad to see that there are a couple more books still to be published. Some people might say that the books now are "formulaic" as a negative. I say they are familiar like spending time with good friends. They talk the same, have the same issues, and they are comfortable to spend time with. What I enjoy is his dry sense of humor and I wish I could be so quick "on my feet" in certain situations. I...more

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Aug 09, 2011 Dave rated it 4 of 5 stars

Parker is my favorite author to listen to while driving long trips. He tends to use few words to describe a scene, which keeps the driver engaged in the story. His dialog is good and there is usually some level of banter between the lead character and others that is entertaining. The plot flows well. In most Parker books, you and the lead character figure things out before the climax - so if and how the bad guy is caught becomes the suspense, as well as whether or not the good guys will all surv...more

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Jan 26, 2011 Gavin rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: pulp-detective-spy

I have only read a few of the Spenser books, so I can't really elaborate as some of the other reviewers have about Parker getting back to his old self in this one. However, I can say, unlike the ones I had read previously, this one seems to be driven more by the actual mystery than the banter of the characters. With that being said, I have to admit that I like the banter of the characters. It's pithy and adroit. And, heck, who doesn’t like a poetry spouting detective? The big downfall of this bo...more

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Oct 22, 2010 Greg rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Parker fans

Shelves: fiction-and-humor

Written before he died, but not published until after his death, Painted Ladies is another in Parker's Spenser series. Not bad, not great, but good Parker writing. I often find myself looking up esoteric bits of information, or following up on artifacts or quotes that appear in his books, just to learn a bit more about them. This was no exception, and I enjoyed learning a little more about Robert Frost. I only found a few hits on Google on low country realism, but did discover what could not hav...more

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About Robert B. Parker

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

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avg rating	preview: Painted Ladies Goodreads rating: 3.90 (3326 ratings)
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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7625566-painted-ladies?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320532565l/7625566.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7625566-painted-ladies?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Painted Ladies by Robert B. Parker[/url]

Painted Ladies (Spenser #39)

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