Now & Then

August 20, 2007
When a client who suspects his wife is cheating on him is murdered in Parker's 35th snappy Spenser adventure (after Hundred-Dollar Baby
), the Boston PI takes it personally, not only because the case resonates with Spenser's past history with love interest Susan, but also because, like Dashiell Hammett's Sam Spade, Spenser feels he can't let a client get murdered without doing something about it. The repartee is up to Parker's high standards, and the detection is hands on and straightforward, with Spenser carrying the load. Since Spenser's aides, including the stalwart Hawke, outclass the heavies, Spenser has time to deal with the mysterious other man, Perry Alderson, whose academic background appears as suspect as his dealings with various subversive groups. This briskly paced cat-and-mouse game offers Spenser fans exactly what they've come to expect from the reliable Parker—no-nonsense action and plenty of romantic give-and-take between Susan and Spenser, who even find the subject of marriage intruding once more.

Starred review from July 1, 2007
In his Spenser novels, when hes writing at the top of his game (which he is here), Parker is like a brilliant musician. From the opening chordswhich, in just about every Spenser novel, comprise the staging of the first meeting between private-eye Spenser and a troubled clientyou know youre listening to someone who has absolute command of his work. And it just gets better, as Parker builds his theme, with variations both comic and thrilling. This time out, in the thirty-fifth addition to the series, the troubled client is a husband who feels his wife has been behaving bizarrely. Spenser thinks shes probably having an affair, and through the magic of a planted listening device, he presents the worried husband with the damning evidence. The device has also picked up that the wifes lover is involved in a group called Last Hope, which turns out to be a kind of brokerage outlet for terrorists looking for equipment and other terrorists. The case has moved from the kind of private-eye work that Spenser finds sleazy to one with horrific ramifications. The story itself makes compelling reading on its own, but Parker, as usual, spikes it with caustic wit andthe interplay between Spenser and his longtime love, Susan. And here he ups the ante by calling on Spenser to use all his brain and brawn to protect Susan. Terrific.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2007, American Library Association.)

October 22, 2007
If ever there was an argument for selective abridgment, this audio version of Parker's latest Spenser outing is the poster child for it. Spenser, Susan and everyone else uses "I said" or "she said" so often that it soon becomes laughable. It's also unnecessary, considering Mantegna's vocal talents easily let listeners know exactly who is talking. His Susan and Hawk sound different enough to let us in on the secret, and his Spenser has the humorous crackle we've come to expect. With villains that are equally differentiated, Mantegna keeps the book moving and excels at Parker's smart dialogue. But even the most loyal Spenser addicts might have to swallow a chuckle because of the attribution repetition. Simultaneous release with the Putnam hardcover (Reviews, Aug. 20).