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Spenser #23
Chance
Mafia princess Shirley Meeker wants her husband back. So does her father the kingpin and a few other shady characters. Spenser and hawk head to Vegas to find Anthony Meeker and to confirm their suspicion that all these people aren't just missing Anthony's smile. And Spenser has to make some sense of some very disorganized crime...
328 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
637 people are currently reading
2227 people want to read
About the author
Robert B. Parker
482 books2,270 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database named Robert B. Parker.
Robert Brown Parker was an American writer, primarily of fiction within the mystery/detective genre. His most famous works were the 40 novels written about the fictional private detective Spenser. ABC television network developed the television series Spenser: For Hire based on the character in the mid-1980s; a series of TV movies was also produced based on the character. His works incorporate encyclopedic knowledge of the Boston metropolitan area. The Spenser novels have been cited as reviving and changing the detective genre by critics and bestselling authors including Robert Crais, Harlan Coben, and Dennis Lehane.
Parker also wrote nine novels featuring the fictional character Jesse Stone, a Los Angeles police officer who moves to a small New England town; six novels with the fictional character Sunny Randall, a female private investigator; and four Westerns starring the duo Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch. The first was Appaloosa, made into a film starring Ed Harris and Viggo Mortensen.
Robert Brown Parker was an American writer, primarily of fiction within the mystery/detective genre. His most famous works were the 40 novels written about the fictional private detective Spenser. ABC television network developed the television series Spenser: For Hire based on the character in the mid-1980s; a series of TV movies was also produced based on the character. His works incorporate encyclopedic knowledge of the Boston metropolitan area. The Spenser novels have been cited as reviving and changing the detective genre by critics and bestselling authors including Robert Crais, Harlan Coben, and Dennis Lehane.
Parker also wrote nine novels featuring the fictional character Jesse Stone, a Los Angeles police officer who moves to a small New England town; six novels with the fictional character Sunny Randall, a female private investigator; and four Westerns starring the duo Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch. The first was Appaloosa, made into a film starring Ed Harris and Viggo Mortensen.
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March 3, 2018
“You staying around?” — Hawk
“Another day or so maybe, make sure I haven’t missed anything.” — Spenser
“Missed anything. We missed every *@#* thing there was to miss out here.” — Hawk
By the time Chance came around in the Spenser canon, which was just before Small Vices, readers’ expectations for the series had permanently shifted toward fast-flowing, enjoyable entertainment with some sparkling exchanges between Spenser and Hawk. Occasional echoes of earlier, more resonating books in the series still peppered some of the entries. Chance is one of the better books during that period, and a pretty fun read.
Like most Spenser novels, it begins swiftly. Well known Boston bad guy Julius Ventura walks into Spenser’s office with his pouty daughter Shirley. He doesn’t like Spenser, and doesn’t want to be there, but Shirley’s husband has run off — according to Ventura, but not his daughter. Shirley has Julius wrapped around her finger, though, so he wants Spenser to find Anthony and bring back his son-in-law. Since Julius is the kind of guy who has people of his own for that sort of thing, Spenser smells a rat. Learning Julius approached Hawk first, who said he’d only do it if Spenser would, there is no doubt something is up — or Hawk’s just amusing himself.
It proves to be both. Gino Fish had something going with Julius, because his close associate, Marty Anaheim, is having Spenser tailed. Figuring money is involved, it stands to reason Anthony might have skipped with someone’s, but whose? Finding out isn’t going to be easy, for two reasons. Vinnie, sans Joe Broz, is now working for Gino. And Marty Anaheim? Hawk sums him up:
“Marty Anaheim is the meanest man I ever knew. He lost his hands, he’d bite you to death.”
Anthony was fooling around on Shirley too, which doesn’t surprise Spenser in the least, once he has lunch with her. But Dixie does, and later on provides a sad and poignant moment in the narrative. It seems Anthony not only liked to gamble, but had a “system” he planned on using to break the bank — don’t they all? So suddenly we get Viva Las Vegas, Parker style, with Spenser, Hawk, and Susan — who should have been left at home — in Sin City. Actually, Susan isn’t quite as annoying in this one, but there’s still too much of her and not enough detection.
This one introduces the tough little Panama hat-wearing Bernard, who is tailing them around town while they look for Anthony and enjoy being is Vegas. Well, mostly it’s Susan enjoying it, until she has to bug out, and let the story get going. Spenser does find Anthony, but then what? Marty Anaheim shows up, and Anthony is scared to death. It gets a bit confusing from there on out, with one glaringly exception. When Shirley’s body shows up in Vegas, naked and beaten and raped, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out it doesn’t fit Anthony’s profile, though he certainly had motive. It does, however, fit someone else, and for the life of me, every time I’ve read this over the years I’ve always wondered why it takes so long for Spenser to decide it was that person.
It’s so easy to connect the dots I’m not even going to mark it as a spoiler that Anthony has run off not only with someone’s money, but someone’s wife. Bibi and Dixie are in fact the two best characters in the book, and provide some touching moments. Spenser is Spenser, and even though he and Hawk have solved diddly, he keeps poking around, dissatisfied with not knowing what happened. Someone takes a run at Spenser, and he puts two of them down. So much for poking around where you aren’t wanted.
Eddie Lee from Port City — an earlier entry in the series — gives Spenser a hint at what’s really going on, and it turns out our boy Spenser may be to blame, because when Tony Marcus got put away, it left a vacuum, and some Russians want to move in. That leads Spenser to Joe Broz, a shadow of his former self but still in business. And Jackie the chauffeur for Julius has clued Spenser in on another angle. That confuses matters, though.
Chance is a quick, entertaining read, as every Spenser novel is, but it’s a little disjointed at times. Still, it has some nice exchanges between Hawk and Spenser, Susan isn’t overly irritating here, and there’s a really nice ending which makes the opening prolog all the more poignant. All in all, Chance is well worth your time if you’re looking for a fun read in this genre which will keep you turning pages. For a Spenser from this period in the series, a solid four stars.
“Another day or so maybe, make sure I haven’t missed anything.” — Spenser
“Missed anything. We missed every *@#* thing there was to miss out here.” — Hawk
By the time Chance came around in the Spenser canon, which was just before Small Vices, readers’ expectations for the series had permanently shifted toward fast-flowing, enjoyable entertainment with some sparkling exchanges between Spenser and Hawk. Occasional echoes of earlier, more resonating books in the series still peppered some of the entries. Chance is one of the better books during that period, and a pretty fun read.
Like most Spenser novels, it begins swiftly. Well known Boston bad guy Julius Ventura walks into Spenser’s office with his pouty daughter Shirley. He doesn’t like Spenser, and doesn’t want to be there, but Shirley’s husband has run off — according to Ventura, but not his daughter. Shirley has Julius wrapped around her finger, though, so he wants Spenser to find Anthony and bring back his son-in-law. Since Julius is the kind of guy who has people of his own for that sort of thing, Spenser smells a rat. Learning Julius approached Hawk first, who said he’d only do it if Spenser would, there is no doubt something is up — or Hawk’s just amusing himself.
It proves to be both. Gino Fish had something going with Julius, because his close associate, Marty Anaheim, is having Spenser tailed. Figuring money is involved, it stands to reason Anthony might have skipped with someone’s, but whose? Finding out isn’t going to be easy, for two reasons. Vinnie, sans Joe Broz, is now working for Gino. And Marty Anaheim? Hawk sums him up:
“Marty Anaheim is the meanest man I ever knew. He lost his hands, he’d bite you to death.”
Anthony was fooling around on Shirley too, which doesn’t surprise Spenser in the least, once he has lunch with her. But Dixie does, and later on provides a sad and poignant moment in the narrative. It seems Anthony not only liked to gamble, but had a “system” he planned on using to break the bank — don’t they all? So suddenly we get Viva Las Vegas, Parker style, with Spenser, Hawk, and Susan — who should have been left at home — in Sin City. Actually, Susan isn’t quite as annoying in this one, but there’s still too much of her and not enough detection.
This one introduces the tough little Panama hat-wearing Bernard, who is tailing them around town while they look for Anthony and enjoy being is Vegas. Well, mostly it’s Susan enjoying it, until she has to bug out, and let the story get going. Spenser does find Anthony, but then what? Marty Anaheim shows up, and Anthony is scared to death. It gets a bit confusing from there on out, with one glaringly exception. When Shirley’s body shows up in Vegas, naked and beaten and raped, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out it doesn’t fit Anthony’s profile, though he certainly had motive. It does, however, fit someone else, and for the life of me, every time I’ve read this over the years I’ve always wondered why it takes so long for Spenser to decide it was that person.
It’s so easy to connect the dots I’m not even going to mark it as a spoiler that Anthony has run off not only with someone’s money, but someone’s wife. Bibi and Dixie are in fact the two best characters in the book, and provide some touching moments. Spenser is Spenser, and even though he and Hawk have solved diddly, he keeps poking around, dissatisfied with not knowing what happened. Someone takes a run at Spenser, and he puts two of them down. So much for poking around where you aren’t wanted.
Eddie Lee from Port City — an earlier entry in the series — gives Spenser a hint at what’s really going on, and it turns out our boy Spenser may be to blame, because when Tony Marcus got put away, it left a vacuum, and some Russians want to move in. That leads Spenser to Joe Broz, a shadow of his former self but still in business. And Jackie the chauffeur for Julius has clued Spenser in on another angle. That confuses matters, though.
Chance is a quick, entertaining read, as every Spenser novel is, but it’s a little disjointed at times. Still, it has some nice exchanges between Hawk and Spenser, Susan isn’t overly irritating here, and there’s a really nice ending which makes the opening prolog all the more poignant. All in all, Chance is well worth your time if you’re looking for a fun read in this genre which will keep you turning pages. For a Spenser from this period in the series, a solid four stars.
March 8, 2016
After being released from prison, Spenser decides to rob three Las Vegas casinos and recruits ten other guys to help him …. Oh, wait. That’s the plot of Ocean’s 11.
OK…Spenser’s friend Doug is getting married and the groomsmen go to Vegas for a bachelor party but someone doses them with ruffies so they can’t remember a wild night and they can’t find Doug. Spenser and the others have a hilarious adventure trying to retrace their steps….Damn. That was The Hangover.
Uh…Susan breaks up with Spenser and Hawk tries to cheer him up by taking him to Sin City while repeatedly shouting, “Vegas, baby, Vegas!”… Nope. That‘s a part of Swingers.
The mob puts Spenser in charge of one of their casinos, but Hawk screws everything up by coming to town and acting like a gangster?...No, now I'm mixing it up with Casino
This has got to be it…Spenser has become a pathetic drunk determined to drink himself to death so….Shit. That’s the story in Leaving Las Vegas. (Not to be confused with the Sheryl Crow song.)
Damn, but there’s been so many stories set in Vegas that it gets confusing after a while…How about…. Spenser gets hired by a Boston mobster to locate his daughter’s missing husband? And he learns the hubby had a gambling problem and had been talking about hitting the casinos of Vegas so Spenser journeys to Sin City along with Hawk and Susan and proceeds to get entangled in a confusing mess of mob alliances? That sounds right.
This one started exceptionally strong with Hawk essentally arranging this job for Spenser, and one gets the sense he mainly did it for his own amusement to watch Spenser have to deal with the gruff mobster. It also established one of my favorite supporting characters in the Spenserverse with Gino Fish, the leader of a large faction of Boston’s organized crime who has a great vocabulary and is openly gay. Spenser’s old frenemy Vinnie Morris has gone to work for Gino and the pair of them would show up in several more Parker books. There’s another interesting introduction to Bernard J. Fortunato, a Vegas private detective short on stature but long on attitude.
Unfortunately, while the book starts well, it fades a bit in Act 2 when Spenser actually gets to Vegas. Instead of prowling a seedy underworld of gamblers and hustlers, Spenser and Hawk end up mostly tailing people through the large casino hotels on the Strip and making fun of the tourists. While Spenser makes a few literate observations about the nature of Vegas, the setting really doesn’t add much to the story. It’s almost as if Parker decided to do a book about Spenser in Vegas, but then didn’t know what to do with him once he got him there
Still, it’s one of the better books of the later Spenser novels, and it’s pretty entertaining overall. Plus, Susan is only moderately annoying in this one.
Next up: Spenser gets shot full of holes in Small Vices.
OK…Spenser’s friend Doug is getting married and the groomsmen go to Vegas for a bachelor party but someone doses them with ruffies so they can’t remember a wild night and they can’t find Doug. Spenser and the others have a hilarious adventure trying to retrace their steps….Damn. That was The Hangover.
Uh…Susan breaks up with Spenser and Hawk tries to cheer him up by taking him to Sin City while repeatedly shouting, “Vegas, baby, Vegas!”… Nope. That‘s a part of Swingers.
The mob puts Spenser in charge of one of their casinos, but Hawk screws everything up by coming to town and acting like a gangster?...No, now I'm mixing it up with Casino
This has got to be it…Spenser has become a pathetic drunk determined to drink himself to death so….Shit. That’s the story in Leaving Las Vegas. (Not to be confused with the Sheryl Crow song.)
Damn, but there’s been so many stories set in Vegas that it gets confusing after a while…How about…. Spenser gets hired by a Boston mobster to locate his daughter’s missing husband? And he learns the hubby had a gambling problem and had been talking about hitting the casinos of Vegas so Spenser journeys to Sin City along with Hawk and Susan and proceeds to get entangled in a confusing mess of mob alliances? That sounds right.
This one started exceptionally strong with Hawk essentally arranging this job for Spenser, and one gets the sense he mainly did it for his own amusement to watch Spenser have to deal with the gruff mobster. It also established one of my favorite supporting characters in the Spenserverse with Gino Fish, the leader of a large faction of Boston’s organized crime who has a great vocabulary and is openly gay. Spenser’s old frenemy Vinnie Morris has gone to work for Gino and the pair of them would show up in several more Parker books. There’s another interesting introduction to Bernard J. Fortunato, a Vegas private detective short on stature but long on attitude.
Unfortunately, while the book starts well, it fades a bit in Act 2 when Spenser actually gets to Vegas. Instead of prowling a seedy underworld of gamblers and hustlers, Spenser and Hawk end up mostly tailing people through the large casino hotels on the Strip and making fun of the tourists. While Spenser makes a few literate observations about the nature of Vegas, the setting really doesn’t add much to the story. It’s almost as if Parker decided to do a book about Spenser in Vegas, but then didn’t know what to do with him once he got him there
Still, it’s one of the better books of the later Spenser novels, and it’s pretty entertaining overall. Plus, Susan is only moderately annoying in this one.
Next up: Spenser gets shot full of holes in Small Vices.
May 4, 2019
This isn’t a bad Spenser. At least not according to the average quality of the middle third of the series. Pearl the Wonder Dog isn’t in it much, Susan isn’t all that irritating either. And Vinny makes an appearance, which is always a plus. But its plot meanders though an increasingly muddied landscape, and little about it sticks in the mind.
Julius Ventura, Boston mob big shot and doting father, asks Spenser to look for Anthony, his daughter Shirley’s missing husband. Spenser agrees, against his better judgment; he senses that Julius isn’t telling him everything, and what he isn’t saying may be very bad news. He soon learns that Boston’s crime world may be experiencing growing pains, and that Anthony’s disappearance may the key to what exactly is making it grow.
One of the pleasures of this novel is that it reveals, in greater detail, the criminal factions that have been operating in the background of Spenser's universe since the beginning: the aging, now ineffectual boss Joe Broz, disappointed by his incompetent son; the increasingly powerful well-dressed, well-spoken "fairy" Gino Fish, urbane and ruthless as a shark; the weakened black mob, once led by Tony Marcus (recently sent to prison by Spenser), Mr. Lee the Tong Lord; and now a contingent of Russians from New York, eager to expand their area of influence.
There is a nice irony at the end too. Spenser the White Knight, who has spent most of the book taking pains to save a woman who does not want to be saved, executes a bit of hard justice: he abandons someone to the horror of mob justice and doesn’t bat an eye. Makes you wonder about this whole “white knight” thing, now, don’t it?
June 5, 2025
Забавна кримка + лош превод (огромна коса/ огромна прическа, wtf?) = на няколко приятно прекарани часа, нищо неочаквано. 😉
May 23, 2017
(The word "maroon" appears 3 times in this novel)
Great fun. A return to form for Parker. Complex noir, with thugs, Las Vegas, and a femme fatale.
After the previous 1-star book Thin Air, this is a joy to read. Much of the young Spenser is here, aged as would be natural. Susan is illuminating in some places, but mostly irritating, sadly. And the "wonder dog" is like a small, too-frequent pothole in the plot. The action sequences are fewer than early-Spenser, but mostly well done, especially the Russians in Cambridge.
Spenser's good heart is shown well in this book, solid and genuine - one of the most endearing qualities of the character.
About 2/3 the way through, the story seems to almost end, unresolved. Only knowing the 70+ pages left clues you to the satisfying resolution to come. Hurray!
I also love the philosophical Parker, which we have not seen much of, in the recent previous books.
Notes -
22.0% "... yet another Buick following Spenser. Hahahahaaaaha"
22.0% "... the story is moving along well, but some of the characters are sliding into caricature."
53.0% ".... wow, nice plot twists!"
57.0% ".... the little thug Bernie working for Marty reminds me of Harry Jones (Elisha Cook Jr) in The Big Sleep..."
Great fun. A return to form for Parker. Complex noir, with thugs, Las Vegas, and a femme fatale.
After the previous 1-star book Thin Air, this is a joy to read. Much of the young Spenser is here, aged as would be natural. Susan is illuminating in some places, but mostly irritating, sadly. And the "wonder dog" is like a small, too-frequent pothole in the plot. The action sequences are fewer than early-Spenser, but mostly well done, especially the Russians in Cambridge.
Spenser's good heart is shown well in this book, solid and genuine - one of the most endearing qualities of the character.
About 2/3 the way through, the story seems to almost end, unresolved. Only knowing the 70+ pages left clues you to the satisfying resolution to come. Hurray!
I also love the philosophical Parker, which we have not seen much of, in the recent previous books.
Watching her I felt the little knot in my stomach that I always felt when I left her. She walked a ways down the concourse, and looked back and waved and then turned a corner and was out of sight. I still stood for a moment, looking at the last place I had seen her, being careful not to be routine, while I became the other guy again, the one I was without her. It took a couple of minutes. And then I was him. He wasn’t a bad guy; in fact sometimes I thought he had strengths that the other guy didn’t have. Certainly he wasn’t worse. But he was no one I wanted to be all the time.
--
I parked in the town lot and got out and walked around to Dixie’s side of the car. She sat still in the front seat and didn’t get out. I opened the door. She still sat without moving.
“Care to dine?” I said. She looked up at me and I realized she was crying. “Or not,” I said.
“You don’t have to pay me off,” she said, “just because I showed you where Anthony lived.”
“I know,” I said. “But I like your company.”
“Are you going to expect anything after?”
“No.”
Dixie sat staring straight ahead. She sniffed a little as she cried. “It’s been a long time,” she said, “since anyone took me to dinner.”
“Well, let’s try it,” I said. “If you like it we can do it again.”
She nodded and got out of the car while I held the door. The food in the restaurant wasn’t too good, but we had a pretty nice time.
Notes -
22.0% "... yet another Buick following Spenser. Hahahahaaaaha"
22.0% "... the story is moving along well, but some of the characters are sliding into caricature."
53.0% ".... wow, nice plot twists!"
57.0% ".... the little thug Bernie working for Marty reminds me of Harry Jones (Elisha Cook Jr) in The Big Sleep..."
October 8, 2016
Interesting and a short read!
April 20, 2020
This is a very enjoyable Spenser novel. When Spenser agrees to take on a missing-person case for mob boss Julius Ventura, he’s pretty sure things aren’t as they seem. And of course, he’s right.
The search leads him to Las Vegas, with the welcome (to me) assistance of Hawk and the less-welcome (to me) accompaniment of Susan. Although they locate the target, the situation is much more complex than the way Ventura presented it. It involves double-dealing mobsters, cheating spouses, and a murder. Spenser and Hawk have lots of questions about what’s been happening, but no answers. And to top it all off, a woman whom they attempt to save in a typical Spenser-style chivalrous gesture doesn’t seem particularly grateful for their efforts on her behalf.
I guess one could argue that having Spenser and Hawk spinning their wheels for a while doesn’t do much to advance the plot, but I enjoyed watching their growing frustration and their efforts to deal with it and turn things around. It was kind of like a gambler going for one more spin of the wheel, waiting for the score.
As usual, Susan is pretty annoying, especially when it comes to her interactions with “the baby,” a.k.a. “Pearl the Wonder Dog.” But I will give Parker credit this time around, as he gives her an important role in a pivotal scene.
Meanwhile, Hawk and Spenser exchange their usual witter banter while they have each other’s backs, which is one of the delights of the series. And the book is populated by a large array of other colorful characters, including regulars like Vinnie Morris, Joe Broz, and Lennie Seltzer, as well as some newcomers, including tough-guy Marty Anaheim, topless waitress Dixie Walker, and Las Vegas private eye Bernard J. Fortunato. I found this one to be a lot of fun.
The search leads him to Las Vegas, with the welcome (to me) assistance of Hawk and the less-welcome (to me) accompaniment of Susan. Although they locate the target, the situation is much more complex than the way Ventura presented it. It involves double-dealing mobsters, cheating spouses, and a murder. Spenser and Hawk have lots of questions about what’s been happening, but no answers. And to top it all off, a woman whom they attempt to save in a typical Spenser-style chivalrous gesture doesn’t seem particularly grateful for their efforts on her behalf.
I guess one could argue that having Spenser and Hawk spinning their wheels for a while doesn’t do much to advance the plot, but I enjoyed watching their growing frustration and their efforts to deal with it and turn things around. It was kind of like a gambler going for one more spin of the wheel, waiting for the score.
As usual, Susan is pretty annoying, especially when it comes to her interactions with “the baby,” a.k.a. “Pearl the Wonder Dog.” But I will give Parker credit this time around, as he gives her an important role in a pivotal scene.
Meanwhile, Hawk and Spenser exchange their usual witter banter while they have each other’s backs, which is one of the delights of the series. And the book is populated by a large array of other colorful characters, including regulars like Vinnie Morris, Joe Broz, and Lennie Seltzer, as well as some newcomers, including tough-guy Marty Anaheim, topless waitress Dixie Walker, and Las Vegas private eye Bernard J. Fortunato. I found this one to be a lot of fun.
November 26, 2016
This is book #23 of Parker's Spenser series and this one tends to be a little confusing. Read it in a few days so you keep all the characters straight.
This book starts out with Spenser being hired by one mobster to find his son-in-law who has disappeared-for his daughter's sake. The son-in-law was working for daddy transporting money between mobsters and then he is gone. Anthony loves to gamble (and he is bad at it) and messes around on Shirley quite a bit. Spenser heads to Vegas and things get messy. It really becomes a mob mess with Spenser and Hawk trying to figure out who did what to whom.
Typical Spenser book with the enjoyable banter between Hawk and Spenser. No mystery here unless you look to the mystery of figuring out the inter-mob connections and the internal scams going on within the various tough guy factions.
This book starts out with Spenser being hired by one mobster to find his son-in-law who has disappeared-for his daughter's sake. The son-in-law was working for daddy transporting money between mobsters and then he is gone. Anthony loves to gamble (and he is bad at it) and messes around on Shirley quite a bit. Spenser heads to Vegas and things get messy. It really becomes a mob mess with Spenser and Hawk trying to figure out who did what to whom.
Typical Spenser book with the enjoyable banter between Hawk and Spenser. No mystery here unless you look to the mystery of figuring out the inter-mob connections and the internal scams going on within the various tough guy factions.
May 26, 2023
In Chance we see Spenser head off to Las Vegas to find a missing husband. I hate to break it to people that are going to be reading this, but yes Susan is in the book and her irritating self at that.
There is plenty of on page time for Hawk that ups the comedy we are so use to with Spencer. While not the best in the series it is also not the worst. Another good addition to the series
There is plenty of on page time for Hawk that ups the comedy we are so use to with Spencer. While not the best in the series it is also not the worst. Another good addition to the series
March 6, 2019
Spenser & Hawk in Vegas...desert beware. The softhearted PI, but tough and manly when confronted. With the usual humorous dialogue, another fine Spenser case.
August 28, 2011
The Spenser formula never fails to entertain. I am finding that I increasingly enjoy reading about the lives and relationships of the main characters - Spenser, Susan, Hawk, Pearl the Wonderdog. The conversations between Spenser and Susan are always witty, sexy and insightful and the interchanges between Spenser and Hawk are always good for a laugh, if only because of their politically corrext racist humor. And within the stories there are sometimes sidelines that touch you in a way you would never expect in a detective story. In this story it is the scene where Spenser asks Dixie, the unhappy waitress from a topless bar who has shown Spenser the way to her ex-lover's appartment, to have dinner together, no return favors expected. Dixie starts to cry, because it has been such a long time since a man asked her out for dinner. There is a whole world of sadness behind such a seemingly insignificant scene.
By the way, a thing I don't understand about all these Goodreads reviews is that so many people add a summary of the story. Why is that? I am sure that these reviews are read almost exclusively by people who - like me - know the story already and who are therefore more interested in what other people think about the book than in reading yet another plot summary.
By the way, a thing I don't understand about all these Goodreads reviews is that so many people add a summary of the story. Why is that? I am sure that these reviews are read almost exclusively by people who - like me - know the story already and who are therefore more interested in what other people think about the book than in reading yet another plot summary.
January 25, 2020
This was pretty much your typical Spenser book. Hawk and Susan play a significant role. The plot was about the mob. Spenser gets hired to help find Anthony Meeker. His wife says he has disappeared and she wants to find him. So Spenser takes the case. His investigation takes him to Vegas and he spends some time there.
I didn’t like this book as much as some of the others. It seemed to drag. There was too many pages where Spenser and Hawk don’t know what to do next and keep talking about it. Not enough action for me.
And the story lines of the main characters are kind of boring.
I’m not going to give up on this series because I’ve read so many, but this definitely wasn’t my favorite book in the series.
I didn’t like this book as much as some of the others. It seemed to drag. There was too many pages where Spenser and Hawk don’t know what to do next and keep talking about it. Not enough action for me.
And the story lines of the main characters are kind of boring.
I’m not going to give up on this series because I’ve read so many, but this definitely wasn’t my favorite book in the series.
December 10, 2018
Believe it or not, this was my first Spenser novel, though I remember the TV series from days gone by. This is a snappy, breezy read with delightful touches of sardonic, sarcastic humor. Set in a Vegas of days gone by as well, PI Spenser and his wingman, Hawk, are on a circuitous trail of mobsters looking to cut in on one another’s action. Stylish and sexy girlfriend Susan is along for some of the ride, with Pearl the Wonder Dog. I’ll have to try some more of these!
February 1, 2018
Enjoyable if a little repetitious a few times, if a little less like the zip-bang story of two super heroes - it sort of meanders across a flatlands area.
April 26, 2018
Another enoyable Spenser adventure. Highly recommended.
April 2, 2017
So-so Spenser story concerning a crime boss looking for his spoiled daughter's missing hubby. The wayward guy carries money between crime groups and has a weakness big time for gambling. An inevitable trip to Vegas ensues, with a little more fisticuffs and gun play than in the previous few novels.
December 11, 2021
After the grey water that was Thin Air, anything would have been an improvement. But this is classic Spenser; hired by a local thug to track down his son-in-law, who has ran off with a large sum of money that hasn't his, we get Spenser and Hawk heading to Vegas, cracking wise every step of the way, where they uncover double-cross upon double-cross (Susan also comes along for the ride, and the passages in which she features are pretty funny). We also get a really nasty, sadistic villain in Marty Anaheim, which makes the climax of the novel hugely enjoyable (spoiler alert; Spenser knocks seven bells out of Marty in a deserted parking lot in the midday Vegas sun). We also get a cameo from one of my favourite recurring characters, Vinnie Morris, as well as introductions to two new semi-regulars, Boston mob boss Gino Fish, and Vegas PI Bernard J Fortunato.
Things are about to get a whole lot tougher for Spenser next time round in Small Vices.
Things are about to get a whole lot tougher for Spenser next time round in Small Vices.
September 22, 2017
Wow! another thoroughly enjoyable book in the late Robert B. Parker's Spemcer series. It had been a few years since I read my last Spenser novel, and I was quickly reminded of why I have enjoyed the series so much. This one involved a search for a major Boston mobster's daughter's husband, and quickly became a much more complex case, involving warring mob factions and extending to mob activities in Las Vegas, where much of the action takes place. Of course Hawk and Susan are involved, and the not-particularly-subtle humor that marks this series was a constant feature. Of course the Spenser team wins through at the end (if that's a spoiler, then you are unfamiliar with the series!), requiring the usual deductive reasoning and fighting. Parker is truly missed. The series is being continued, but I haven't tried any of these later efforts as yet.
July 2, 2022
Формулата на този роман, влизащ под #23 в серията "Спенсър" е абсолютно идентична с прочетения преди него #21 "Вечните сенки": тънка криминална жилка, в която отново са намесени мафиоти, щипка романтична лиготия и почти нулево напрежение за тандема Спенсър и Хоук, както обикновено ползващ се със статут "недосегаемост" за всички важни играчи от двете страни на закона; има бегли препратки от новата към старата история, мяркат се и някои познати ни вече второстепенни герои. А заради мааалко по-засуканата фабула ще бъда мааалко по-щедър: 3,5/5.
April 4, 2022
I haven't read many Spenser books. I've read Parker's Jesse Stone novels and enjoyed them, but somehow Spenser escaped me. This book is the 23rd in the series. Having read this one, I feel I've read them all. The wise-cracking Spenser, his buddy Hawk, the lady Susan and a variety of Boston thugs and "wannabe" thugs are the characters in every Parker novel. One thug, Gino Fish, appears in the Jesse Stone series decades later. This story takes the three of them to Las Vegas, trying to locate the husband of a mobster's daughter. Exciting? The magic is the writing. It's light, filled with humor and social commentary, filling in for the lack of action. I admit the mystery escaped me (as it did Spenser and Hawk) until the end. But that was ok; I enjoyed the ride. That's what makes a Spenser book good. It's a fun ride
September 22, 2022
A quick read with Spenser, Parkers relevant PI, looking for a missing person who happens to be the son in law of a mob boss. Entertaining - Like the manner in which Parker integrates dry humor throughout the books as well as relating the story well without a lot of description but by the use of dialogue.
December 4, 2019
Spenser novels are always good. This one had too many mob connections in the plot for my taste, but Spenser protected a damsel in distress, even if she wasn’t grateful. It’s what he does.
January 9, 2020
The longest Spenser novel, still excellent though. They have become more thinking mysteries and less thriller. I’m okay with that. I started Parker with the Stone books and I see the similarities now. Waiting on Sunny Randall (sp?) to appear.
January 4, 2023
Nice to see Spenser and Hawk mess up
November 27, 2024
I liked this Spenser adventure. The Las Vegas setting was quite enjoyable and refreshing, and I generally liked the mystery. It's a bit hard to explain why I found Pearl the wonder dog so annoying in the previous novel, but thankfully she was barely in this one.
August 2, 2018
A very good book with interesting story and good interactions between the character. The story felt like it stoped and started a bit and spoiled the flow so lost a star. This is the 2nd time I have read this book so I suppose that speaks for itself.
August 13, 2018
Okay for passing the time, not much of a story.
February 3, 2014
This Spenser novel is better than some I've read. There is a coherent plot, an actual mystery, and the tough guy vs. tough guy dialogue and activity actually makes sense as Spenser goes up against a number of mobsters as the story progresses.
As usual, the novel is marred by the author's obsession of using descriptions of food, meals, etc. as filler material in a lame attempt to set the scene.
This made sense is one scene where Spenser takes his client to a nice restaurant and how they both seemed out of place, though Spenser was ordering a fancy dish and describes what the dish is.
However, it just gets annoying to me in the other places where he spends time discussing things like a bakery basket in a coffee shop, the sandwich Hawk is eating, the donuts his girlfriend brings to his office, This is supposed to be a detective novel, but if this one was adapted to film including all the food references-- it really could be televised on the food channel-- yes there are that many references.. I know because I circled those references as I came across them so I could reference them here....
Here-- I'll show you:
Chapter Three: The bakery basket
Chapter Eight: The lunch scene with the client, the only food reference/ scene that truly furthers the plot
Chapter Eleven: Eating Chinese takeout-- girlfriend feeds Peking ravioli to the dog while Spenser eats chicken with cashews-- doesn't really serve to provide any real flavor (pun intended) to the setting
Chapter Twenty-two: Eating with another character Spenser orders a Roman salad while questioning her-- (She eats a cheeseburger)-- in the middle of the conversation, the author takes the time to have the waiter bring the food so he can tell the reader what a Roman salad was.. I didn't care and was annoyed by the break in the conversation.
Chapter Thirty: Girlfriend brings donuts back to the office-- a conversation about how to properly eat the donuts takes place.. might provide insight into the relationship between the characters... slowed the story for me.
Chapter thirty-six: Takes a prospective informant to lunch, and for once doesn't elaborate on the food. Thank you, Mr. Parker, for the break from the food network.
Chapter Forty: Hawk brings a lobster, basil mayo, on Sourdough breakfast to the office
Chapter Forty-three: Dinner with the girlfriend provides the setting for a discussion about how the detectives should proceed. Steaks vs. seafood platter is discussed.
Chapter Forty-six: Airline food is criticized and discussed. Possibly the only other place in the book where a discussion of the food makes sense.. When you fly in first class you might describe the food to those you are telling the story to.. Still, served to slow the book down for me.
Chapter Fifty-Two: Cooking beans and cornbread is discussed
The author seems to feel that about the only two places people actually exchange information have to be over food or alcohol. While there is some semblance to reality in this, the author doesn't need to describe every meal his characters encounter. It is almost as if the author learned that if he ordered a lobster sandwich, and then wrote about it in his book, he could use that expense as a deduction as a business expense. Either that, or the author, a large man based on the dust cover of the hardbound copy, really, really enjoys his food and expects the reader to be delighted with his description of various foods, etc.
Now, with all that complaining aside, the author managed to provide an intriguing mystery, even if Spenser's actions at times are a little overly full of bravado, etc. Spenser keeps trying to be the knight in shining armor-- well-- with all that eating-- his armor is starting to get a few nasty crimps in it.
As usual, the novel is marred by the author's obsession of using descriptions of food, meals, etc. as filler material in a lame attempt to set the scene.
This made sense is one scene where Spenser takes his client to a nice restaurant and how they both seemed out of place, though Spenser was ordering a fancy dish and describes what the dish is.
However, it just gets annoying to me in the other places where he spends time discussing things like a bakery basket in a coffee shop, the sandwich Hawk is eating, the donuts his girlfriend brings to his office, This is supposed to be a detective novel, but if this one was adapted to film including all the food references-- it really could be televised on the food channel-- yes there are that many references.. I know because I circled those references as I came across them so I could reference them here....
Here-- I'll show you:
Chapter Three: The bakery basket
Chapter Eight: The lunch scene with the client, the only food reference/ scene that truly furthers the plot
Chapter Eleven: Eating Chinese takeout-- girlfriend feeds Peking ravioli to the dog while Spenser eats chicken with cashews-- doesn't really serve to provide any real flavor (pun intended) to the setting
Chapter Twenty-two: Eating with another character Spenser orders a Roman salad while questioning her-- (She eats a cheeseburger)-- in the middle of the conversation, the author takes the time to have the waiter bring the food so he can tell the reader what a Roman salad was.. I didn't care and was annoyed by the break in the conversation.
Chapter Thirty: Girlfriend brings donuts back to the office-- a conversation about how to properly eat the donuts takes place.. might provide insight into the relationship between the characters... slowed the story for me.
Chapter thirty-six: Takes a prospective informant to lunch, and for once doesn't elaborate on the food. Thank you, Mr. Parker, for the break from the food network.
Chapter Forty: Hawk brings a lobster, basil mayo, on Sourdough breakfast to the office
Chapter Forty-three: Dinner with the girlfriend provides the setting for a discussion about how the detectives should proceed. Steaks vs. seafood platter is discussed.
Chapter Forty-six: Airline food is criticized and discussed. Possibly the only other place in the book where a discussion of the food makes sense.. When you fly in first class you might describe the food to those you are telling the story to.. Still, served to slow the book down for me.
Chapter Fifty-Two: Cooking beans and cornbread is discussed
The author seems to feel that about the only two places people actually exchange information have to be over food or alcohol. While there is some semblance to reality in this, the author doesn't need to describe every meal his characters encounter. It is almost as if the author learned that if he ordered a lobster sandwich, and then wrote about it in his book, he could use that expense as a deduction as a business expense. Either that, or the author, a large man based on the dust cover of the hardbound copy, really, really enjoys his food and expects the reader to be delighted with his description of various foods, etc.
Now, with all that complaining aside, the author managed to provide an intriguing mystery, even if Spenser's actions at times are a little overly full of bravado, etc. Spenser keeps trying to be the knight in shining armor-- well-- with all that eating-- his armor is starting to get a few nasty crimps in it.
August 4, 2022
Spenser also finds himself with one of those clients who doesn’t tell him all he needs to know and tries threatening him … added fun for the reader! We get lots of series regulars in this one, such as Gino Fish, Joe Broz, and a few others. Hawk is employed along with Spenser on this case and so there’s lots of shooting and other danger and violence bits.
Fun as always.
5 stars.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Audio:
Burt Reynolds narrated this one and … while he isn’t exactly the right fit for Spenser, he’s better than the previous 22 books’ narrators. Not a huge fan of this performance, but … we’ve definitely heard worse.
First edition cover:
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
Fun as always.
5 stars.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Audio:
Burt Reynolds narrated this one and … while he isn’t exactly the right fit for Spenser, he’s better than the previous 22 books’ narrators. Not a huge fan of this performance, but … we’ve definitely heard worse.
First edition cover:
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
November 21, 2013
Love reading Parker's Spenser novels, especially when his compadre Hawk is also involved with the "nitty gritty." This was my 3rd reading of this novel, according to my notes. Read 1st time back in May 2001, then again in January 2005.
One can descern differences in his writing these tales over the years, since he did pen many, many Spenser tales. There have been times when I haven't always liked the complete plot lines of one of these novels, but have always loved the Spencer & Hawk style(s) when they were together on a case, whether working for a paying client or on their own trying to right a wrong. Even Susan plays a valuable role in this story that goes back and forth between Boston and Las Vegas. (haven't always cared for her character in these novels, but she is indeed an integral part of Spenser's life for many years.)
And, as usual, with Parker's novels, this one was a relatively quick read over a few days, less than a week. My father used to love reading these Spenser stories, and I believe that was one of the reasons that he liked reading the hard backs .... a quick read, large enough print to easily see, and plenty of space in the margins and between lines/paragraphs. Since he was getting older back in the early to mid 2000's, these hard back setups made reading for him a pleasure; as well as, Parker's comedy writing of Spenser's humorous banter with everybody in his life, from close buddies to the bad guys.
One can descern differences in his writing these tales over the years, since he did pen many, many Spenser tales. There have been times when I haven't always liked the complete plot lines of one of these novels, but have always loved the Spencer & Hawk style(s) when they were together on a case, whether working for a paying client or on their own trying to right a wrong. Even Susan plays a valuable role in this story that goes back and forth between Boston and Las Vegas. (haven't always cared for her character in these novels, but she is indeed an integral part of Spenser's life for many years.)
And, as usual, with Parker's novels, this one was a relatively quick read over a few days, less than a week. My father used to love reading these Spenser stories, and I believe that was one of the reasons that he liked reading the hard backs .... a quick read, large enough print to easily see, and plenty of space in the margins and between lines/paragraphs. Since he was getting older back in the early to mid 2000's, these hard back setups made reading for him a pleasure; as well as, Parker's comedy writing of Spenser's humorous banter with everybody in his life, from close buddies to the bad guys.
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