New York Times bestselling author of the Spenser series of crime thrillers—Book 1 in the series“The toughest, funniest, wisest, private eye in the field these days.”—Houston ChronicleSpenser earned his degree in the school of hard knocks, so he is ready when a Boston university hires him to recover a rare, stolen manuscript. He is hardly surpised that his only clue is a radical student with four … surpised that his only clue is a radical student with four bullets in his chest.
The cops are ready to throw the book at the pretty blond coed whose prints are all over the murder weapon but Spenser knows there are no easy answers. He tackles some very heavy homework and knows that if he doesn’t finish his assignment soon, he could end up marked “D”—for dead.
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I absolutely love the “Spenser For Hire” series by Robert B. Parker. Tragically, the author passed away several years ago, but the author the estate picked to continue the series has stuck faithfully to the characters and witty dialogue. The narrators who read the audiobooks are also good. This is Parker’s best series!
Parker’s first Spenser novel. All the great writing is there from the very beginning of his career. He had a PhD in English literature and was a full professor of English lit at Northeastern University. He wrote his first five Spenser novels while still a professor. I think after the fifth, he thought it safe to give up his day job.
Anyway, this …
The first Spenser novel, this story brings the 70’s to life while keeping a bright and snarky pace that is timeless.
Spenser is clever, observant, self-deprecating, and a foodie. The book was short, but managed to pull me completely into the world of this gumshoe.
The first of the Spenser novels, the best PI series out there.
Not the a Best Robert Parker I have read. Kind of boring actually.
Loved it! Everything by Robert Parker is great.
Spenser debuts. Dated, but still entertaining.
I normally love Robert B. Parker novels but didn’t love this one (I think it was his first effort?). I like that he cleaned Spenser up a little in later novels, and made him a more likable character.
To me, all Parkers books are 5 star! I’m a big fan.
Average for Parker.
I miss Mr. Parker
Vocabulary building.
Loved it. Went on to read more of Spenser series.
This is the first book in the Spenser series. I read it many, many years ago and fell in love with Spenser. Love him and Hawk. I’ve read every book Robert B. Parker wrote. You can’t go wrong reading any book of his.
Great writing. Great characters.
First of one of my favorite series of novels and favorite protagonist.
The very first Spenser novel, worth re-reading by die hard Spencer fans and a good read for those unfamiliar with Robert B Parker’s work. Even though it was written almost 50 years ago the plot and characters carry it through nicely. One point of Interest is the rhetoric of the early 1970s campus radicals. It sounds just like what’s coming out of …
Spenser is always entertaining
This is one of his earlier books, before Susan and close relationship with Hawk, so it was very entertaining watching it all develop, along with a terrific and unusual story line.
not the usual spenser