Mystery

I hate to say it but this was the best Spenser book in years. I was starting to lose interest towards the end of Parker's series. Very enjoyable, although I still think there was too much Susan. A tiny bit too much of the little girl also. ( )

"Who were her friends before she died?"
"Don't ever call those parasites friends. And don't get Mattie's hope up either. How much is she paying you?"
"A dozen donuts." ( )

Not as good as Parker's Spenser novels when he was at his best, but much better than Parker when he was writing plots that were just too off the wall. Atkins does a great job of capturing Parker's style, dialogue, and it is good to see these characters stay alive a little longer. ( )

In what I found to be a surprising move, the Spencer series is continuing through a new writer, Ace Atkins. While I was definitely skeptical, he won me over! The best part of the Spencer series has always been the dialogue and the relationships between both friends and foes. The wit continues in the same, well-loved vein. This time out Spencer takes a case for a 14-year-old girl trying to find the "real" murderer of her mother four years ago. Spencer has a weakness for lost youth and takes the case for a fee of a bag of donuts and a large coffee. The investigation takes him back into the lives of the Broz crime family and necessitates the services of Hawk, Spencer's fearless right hand man. Of course the forces of good overcome those of evil (for the most part). I look forward to the next installment of this excellent series. ( )