Small Vices

Small Vices (1997) Robert B. Parker

Okay, so I didn’t totally resist, but I’ve limited myself to just Small Vices, which is one of my favorite Spenser books. Small Vices was my introduction to Spenser.

It is also the reason I have some small affection for Burt Reynolds.

Back when I worked in a lab, audio books were the only thing that salvaged by sanity when doing endless hours of cell culture, so I’d listen to almost anything as long as it was unabridged. Thus I ended up with a copy of Robert B. Parker’s Small Vices (Spenser Mysteries (Audio)) read by Burt Reynolds. I was absolutely shocked, both by how good the book was, and what a great job Burt Reynolds did with the reading.

I completely fell in love with the Spenser books.

If you’re going to enter the Spenser series in the middle, this would probably be one of the best places to do it, because although the book mentions past history, nothing is dependent upon knowing that past history, and the story if very good.

SPOILER:
However what I like best about this book is the fact that Spenser isn’t infallible, and the fact that when Spenser gets hurt, the recovery is real. There’s no instant recovery from a life threatening wound, but instead a long time in the hospital, followed by an even longer recover. And it’s hard. He describes how walking is a struggle, how he can barely use his arm, and how much WORK he has to do to come back from there. I though the whole thing was both well done, and necessary, because too many books and movies gloss over the injuries the hero takes, and make the recovery nearly non-existent.

For this Robert B. Parker has made my top ten favorite authors list.

END SPOILER

If you like Spenser books, this is really a must read book. If you have not read a Spenser book, this would be a pretty good place to jump into the series. And if you like audio books, I also recommend the Burt Reynolds unabridged version.
Rating: 9/10

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