Secrets Typed in Blood (2022) Stephen Spotswood (Pentecost & Parker) Set in New York City in 1947 This is one of the books that I wanted to read, but couldn’t get myself in the mood for. So I went ahead and read it. First, I really hate the new covers. Well, hate is a strong […]
Playmates, Audio Book (1989) Robert B. Parker narrated by Michael Prichard (Spenser) Accusations have been made of point shaving in college basketball, and Spenser is asked to see if there is any truth in it. Although he is supposed to be looking into point shaving, what draws Spenser in is a discover about Dwayne. “Do […]
Stardust, Audio Book (1990) Robert B. Parker narrated by Michael Prichard (Spenser) TW: Horrible things are alluded to rather than spoken (written) directly, as fit the character to whom the things happened. Jill Joyce–the famous actress who makes any TV show a hit–thinks someone is threatening her. But she is so over the top no […]
Ceremony, Audio Book (1982) Robert B. Parker narrated by Michael Prichard (Spenser) April Kyle has run away from home, and although her father has disowned her, her mother still wants to know where she is. Where she is, is the Combat Zone in Boston, turning tricks. This is not a favorite, nor is the other […]
Pale Kings and Princes, Audio Book (1988) Robert B. Parker narrated by Michael Prichard (Spenser) Cocaine. Police corruption. Murder. Revenge. Barely anyone in this book is likable and most of the people are pretty awful. But–as with other books–there is an open recognition of the importance of mental health and its treatment. It always amuses […]
Valediction , Audio Book (1984) Robert B. Parker narrated by Michael Prichard (Spenser) Spenser continues to unravel as Susan moves to California to work. And starts seeing someone else. Paul is staying with Spenser for summer break, and suggests Spenser take a case for the director of the dance company Paul is working for. A […]
The Widening Gyre, Audio Book (1983) Robert B. Parker narrated by Michael Prichard (Spenser) I’ve been borrowing these from the library, and the book before this one was checked out, so I jumped ahead. I mean, I’ve already read the series multiple times. Spenser is starting to unravel. I sipped another small swallow of whiskey. […]
A Savage Place, Audio Book (1981) Robert B. Parker narrated by Michael Prichard (Spenser) Spenser gets a call from Rachel Wallace that she has recommended him to a reporter in California. She won’t tell him anything other than the woman will be calling soon. Candy Sloan is a reporter who wants to be more than […]
Early Autumn, Audio Book (1981) Robert B. Parker narrated by Michael Prichard (Spenser) Enter Paul Giacomin, and some more Hawk. “Paul Giacomin,” I said. “Yes,” Susan said. “You said you wanted to talk about him.” “But not while I’m watching the ball game.” “Can’t you watch and talk at the same time? If you can’t, […]
Looking for Rachel Wallace, Audio Book (1980) Robert B. Parker narrated by Michael Prichard (Spenser) Publisher: Random House Audio Rating: 8/10
The Judas Goat, Audio Book (1978) Robert B. Parker narrated by Michael Prichard (Spenser) Hugh Dixon’s family was murdered in a terrorist attack in London. Now, a year later, he wants Spenser to find the terrorists and bring them to justice. The 1978 of this book is a foreign world. You just get on a […]
Promised Land, Audio Book (1976) Robert B. Parker narrated by Michael Prichard (Spenser) We are now beginning to see Spenser develop into who he is in later stories. “Maybe Millie might know.” “Your daughter?” “Yeah, she’s sixteen. That’s old enough for them to have girl talk and stuff, I imagine. Maybe she’s got something you […]
Mortal Stakes (1975/2009) Robert B. Parker narrated by Michael Prichard (Spenser) Baseball! For serious looking at baseball there are few places better than Fenway Park. The stands are close to the playing field, the fences are a hopeful green, and the young men in their white uniforms are working on real grass, the authentic natural […]
Small Vices, Audio Book (1997) Robert B. Parker narrated by Burt Reynolds (Spenser) Since my name was anathema at Pemberton, I had to employ guile. I called the alumni office and said my name was Anathema and I was with the IRS. “We have an income tax refund for Ms. Glenda Baker, which has been […]
Bitter Gold Hearts (1988) Glen Cook (Garrett P.I.) I obviously read this before, because there were passages underlined and I have a review for it. I didn’t remember anything about it though, except that it was a fantasy take on a noir PI, which I generally adore. (See Simon Green‘s Nightside) Garrett is asked to […]
Model Exposure (2017) Lissa Kasey (Haven Investigations) This picks up immediately after the end of the previous book. Ollie is healing, but so is Kade. But Kade doesn’t like having to admit that he needs help, and fears that if he needs help, he’ll lose Ollie. “Ollie needs me.” He was healing from a (thing). […]
Model Investigator (2017) Lissa Kasey (Haven Investigations) Back to Ollie, this book takes off after the events of the previous book–which ended on a cliffhanger. First and foremost, this is one of the few mysteries I’ve ever read that actually has characters deal with some of the real-life consequences of repeated concussion. The sparkles around […]
Model Bodyguard (2016) Lissa Kasey (Haven Investigations) The second book in the Haven Investigations series switches from Oliver’s POV to Kade’s POV. Which is fantastic, because Oliver sees Kade as strong and almost perfect, whereas Kade actually? A huge mess. This was the stuff of nightmares— a mental hospital. It wasn’t my first trip. No, […]
Model Citizen (2015) Lissa Kasey (Haven Investigations) Oliver Petroskovic hoped that once he bought the house his life would start to be more settled. Sure, he’d do more modeling gigs, but with the house he was finally able to repay his brother for the years spent raising him. He’d paid for private school and attended […]
Small Vices (1998) Robert B. Parker (Spenser) Since my name was anathema at Pemberton, I had to employ guile. I called the alumni office and said my name was Anathema and I was with the IRS. “We have an income tax refund for Ms. Glenda Baker, which has been returned by the postal service. Would […]
Iron & Velvet (2013/2019) Alexis Hall (Kate Kane, Paranormal Investigator) Kate Kane is a paranormal private investigator, called when something goes wrong i the supernatural world. She’s called out to Velvet–an expensive nightclub–to investigate the exsanguiation of a werewolf in the back alley. It doesn’t look like he had been killed by a vampire, but […]
A Talent for Trickery (2015) Alissa Johnson (The Thief-Takers) Set in England in 1872. It’s still the time for falling back on old favorites. This book was my introduction to Alissa Johnson, and I immediately snatched up everything by her I could find. Charlotte Walker (now Bales) was the daughter of an infamous confidence man–and […]
Gumption & Gumshoes (2013) Alex Kidwell August Mendez moved to the city in the hopes of following his dreams, and when he gets the opportunity he decides to try. A sense of freedom surged through me, that euphoric realization that I was staring at a whole weekend of nothing but cheese curls and old movies, […]
Small Vices, Audio Edition (1997) Robert B. Parker narrated by Burt Reynolds It’s been more than two decades, so this review is going to be completely full of spoilers, because I want to talk about the many reasons why I love this book so very much. So if you haven’t read it, well, you’re missing […]
The Art of Theft (2019) Sherry Thomas Charlotte Holmes has been taking a break from consulting after her last case. But when Mrs. Watson’s old friend asks for help, Charlotte, Livia, and everyone else is drawn into a heist. I’ve had a request for this from the library since it came out, so when it […]
The Night Raven (2018) Sarah Painter (Crow Investigations) Lydia Crow has returned to London for a bit, after a case she was investigating turned uglier than expected. But she liked being on her own, and doesn’t want drawn back into the family, yet she turns to Uncle Charlie for a place to stay, which draws […]
So This is Christmas (2016) Josh Lanyon Adrien and Jake are finally living together, in the house he grew up in. (T)he first rule of cohabitation is Thou Shalt Not Diss the Other Dude’s Kinfolk. But before they can spend the first night of their new life together, they have arrived back from London with […]
The Hollow of Fear (2018) Sherry Thomas The third Lady Sherlock Mystery. Society is still searching for Charlotte Holmes–and treating her sister Livia with the suspicion of one closely related to a scandal. So Livia is glad to escape to the country home of Mrs Newell–who happens to be a near neighbor of Lord Ingram. […]
Very Important Corpses (2017) Simon R. Green This is the third Ishmael Jones mystery. The Organization is sending Ishmael and Penny to Scotland (to that very famous Loch in fact) to provide security for a gathering where one agent has already been murdered, and it’s probable the House has been infiltrated by one or more […]
Sharper Than A Serpent’s Tooth, Audio Edition (2006/2008) Simon R. Green narrated by Marc Vietor This is the 6th book of the Nightside series, and closes a major story arc–John Taylor knows who his mother is, and the battle between them has come to Nightside. Now all John has to do is defeat his mother […]
Paths Not Taken, Audio Edition (2005/2008) Simon R. Green narrated by Marc Vietor The fifth Nightside book finds John looking to go back in time for a way to stop his mother–the Being Lilith–from destroying the Nightside and possibly the world. John takes with him Suzie Shooter and Tommy Oblivion in the hopes that their […]
Hex and the City, Audio Edition (2005/2008) Simon R Green narrated by Marc Vietor The fourth Nightside book finds John Taylor taking a case to look into something he always wanted to know: the origin of The Nightside. Unfortunately, neither his enemies nor the current authorities want John looking into the past of the Nightside–or […]
Nightingale’s Lament, Audio Edition (2004/2008) Simon R Green narrated by Marc Vietor Because I like to make things difficult for myself, while Michael and I are listening to the Felix Castor series in the car, my exercise / baking / cooking series is Simon Green’s Nightside. Both have a smart-ass protagonist who wears a long […]
Agents Of Light And Darkness, Audio Edition (2003/2008) Simon R. Green narrated by Marc Vietor Angels have come to the Nightside searching for the Unholy Grail–the cup Judas drank from at the Last Supper. Before the entire Nightside is destroyed, John Taylor is hired to find the Grail so it can be taken to the […]
Something from the Nightside, Audio Book (2003/2008) Simon R. Green narrated by Marc Vietor Ah, John Bloody Taylor, how the Nightside has missed you. I saw myself as a knight-errant . . . but the damsel in distress stabbed me in the back, my sword shattered on the dragon’s hide, and my grail turned out […]
A Deeper Sleep, Audio Version (2007) Dana Stabenow narrated by Bernadette Dunne Louis Deem has been getting away with murder for years. He’s killed three wives, but has gotten off every time; no jury in the park is willing to risk his retribution. Kate Shugak and every other decent person wants him locked away–wants young […]
A Brush with Shadows (2018) Anna Lee Huber Set in 1831 in Dartmoor England Lady Darby and her husband Sebastian Gage have been summoned to Dartmoor by Sebastian’s grandfather, because his cousin has gone missing. But when they arrive, it seems that everyone believes Alfred has simply gone off for awhile–he has a deserved reputation […]
A Conspiracy in Belgravia (2017) Sherry Thomas This is the second Lady Sherlock Holmes book, and as I’ve mentioned before, I generally hate Sherlock Holmes stories, but this one I don’t mind as such, since instead of taking the characters are Doyle wrote them, she has imagined that Sherlock Holmes was based upon a woman, […]
Hugger Mugger (2000) Robert B Parker narrated by Joe Mantegna Walter Clive has hired Spenser to come down to Georgia to see who has been shooting his horses. What Spenser finds makes no sense: there is no rhyme or reason to the shootings, and the in-house security has seen nothing. Two of the three daughters […]
Hush Money, Audio Version (1999/2000) Robert B Parker narrated by Burt Reynolds WARNING: The production and transfer to digital on this are awful. Truly terrible. What I listened to was full of clicks and skips and was generally terrible. If I’d have paid money for it instead of borrowing I’d probably have been pissed off. […]
Sudden Mischief (1998) Robert B Parker narration mangled by William Windom In case the above didn’t clarify, that was terrible. The narration was so bad that if I wasn’t stubborn I’d have stopped listening after the first chapter. However, I was already reading a couple other books, and since I was walking when I started […]
The Black Hand (2008) Will Thomas The fifth Barker & Llewelyn book finds the inquiry agent and his apprentice asked to find a solution to mafia killings that have come to London. “Are many of them Sicilian?” “Sicilian?” Dunham asked, as if it were a new word to his vocabulary. “Dunno ’bout that. One I-talian’s […]
Small Vices, Audible Version (1997) Robert B. Parker narrated by Burt Reynolds This is, hands down, one of my favorite Spenser books. It’s a story that puts Spenser’s complexity right up front, as the client he is hired to clear is an unlikable career criminal. “Just don’t get romantic on this one,” Jackson said. “Ellis […]
Chance, Audio Version (1996/1997) Robert B. Parker narrated by Burt Reynolds And I’ve reached Burt Reynolds narrating, and almost the book where I entered this series. The criminals in Boston are in a bit of an upheaval, and some of it is Spenser’s fault: He and Hawk took out Tony Marcus several years earlier, and […]
The Hellfire Conspiracy (2007) Will Thomas Set in London in 1885. Barker and Llewellyn are pulled into a case possibly involving the white slave trade–the sale of girls into prostitution. I’d seen women in the East End, pursuing their occupation boldly in the light of day, but it had never occurred to me that they […]
Thin Air (1995) Robert B. Parker Belson’s wife has disappeared. He first comes to talk to Spenser, because Spenser went though something similar with Susan. However, when Belson is shot, Spenser takes over the case (mind you, Quirk and the BPD are working on the case as well, but Spenser has more leeway and time). […]
Walking Shadow (1994) Robert B. Parker I’d not actually forgotten how much I like this story, I’d just forgotten the details. On re-read, I realized that details were just one of the things I liked. First, Spenser is more thoughtful and poetic than usual. The twenty-three-year-old women who filled the building were restoring makeup, reorganizing […]
Paper Doll (1993) Robert B Parker Spenser is hired to look into the murder of the wife of Louden Tripp, who is presented as an ideal wife and mother–a pillar of society without a blemish. Except that she was brutally murdered. So Quill recommends Spenser to look into it. And we meet Lee Farrell for […]
Double Deuce (1992) Robert B Parker Since I disliked the narrator so much when he read the last book, I’m switching to reading the ebooks until … Well, it would be Chance, but the library doesn’t have it, so it looks like it’ll be Small Vices, the first Spenser book I came across, and one […]
Pastime, Audio Version (1991/1992) Robert B. Parker narrated by David Dukes I thought Michael Prichard was a weak narrator for this series. In contrast to David Dukes, he was marvelous. I had to listen to multiple words and names mispronounced (including acorn and Vinnie Morris) which was awful, but not as awful as his narration […]