{"id":9299,"date":"2017-09-21T09:17:53","date_gmt":"2017-09-21T13:17:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/?p=9299"},"modified":"2026-01-23T19:27:58","modified_gmt":"2026-01-24T00:27:58","slug":"valediction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/9299","title":{"rendered":"Valediction, Audio Book"},"content":{"rendered":"

Valediction<\/a><\/em>, Audio Version (1984\/1992) Robert B Parker<\/a> narrated by Michael Prichard<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Susan has finally graduated–and has decided to move to California. Spenser is very close to falling apart, and so takes on a case for Paul–one of the dancers in his company has disappeared and the head of the company (and her boyfriend) claims she’s been kidnapped by a religious sect called the Bullies.<\/p>\n

The things get complicated.<\/p>\n

Although he doesn’t mention the Army, Spenser does mention being in Korea in this book. He also talks a bit about getting older (trying to cut back on coffee).<\/p>\n

First, the mystery. I do like this mystery, although I think the “surprise” is a bit less of a surprise than it was in 1984, but that’s perfectly fine.<\/p>\n

Second, Susan. This is where I start to dislike Susan. I comprehend her need to prove her independence to herself, but (intentionally or not) she plays games with Spenser that are very unpleasant. Refusing to give him her address (even though she knows he could find it), taking up with someone else (although I don’t dislike her honesty in telling Spenser), and generally being a mess and making Spenser a mess in the process.<\/p>\n

I appreciate Paul saying all the things the reader is thinking, and that Spenser does listen to him (and Hawk) a tiny bit. But it’s still frustrating.<\/p>\n

This, however, also has a scene that has always stuck in my memory and amused me.<\/p>\n

Hawk was there and Paul. As I came out of the sleep I heard Paul’s voice, softly.<\/p>\n

‘No, like this, shuffle, ball, change. You see, shuffle, ball, change.’ I heard his feet move lightly on the hospital floor. ‘How can a man with your heritage not be able to tap-dance.’<\/p>\n

I heard Hawk’s gliding chuckle. ‘My ancestors busy eating missionaries, boy. We didn’t have no time for no fucking shuffle ball change.’<\/p>\n

‘Well, you wanted me to show you.’<\/p>\n

‘That’s before I knew you was going to do it better than me,’ Hawk said.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

That quick exchange is a delightful summation of Hawk.<\/p>\n

But aside from all the Susan crap, this is a good mystery.
\nRating: 7.5\/10<\/strong><\/p>\n

Published by Random House Audio<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Valediction, Audio Version (1984\/1992) Robert B Parker narrated by Michael Prichard Susan has finally graduated–and has decided to move to California. Spenser is very close to falling apart, and so takes on a case for Paul–one of the dancers in his company has disappeared and the head of the company (and her boyfriend) claims she’s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[194,37,8,43,41],"tags":[500,106,107],"class_list":["post-9299","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-7-5-10","category-audio-book","category-mystery","category-private-eye","category-reread","tag-michael-prichard","tag-robert-b-parker","tag-spenser"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/piQkW-2pZ","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":22553,"url":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/22553","url_meta":{"origin":9299,"position":0},"title":"Valediction, Audio Book","author":"Michelle","date":"November 23, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"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\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "7\/10"","block_context":{"text":"7\/10","link":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/category\/7-10"},"img":{"alt_text":"Valediction","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Spenser-Valediction.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":9288,"url":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/9288","url_meta":{"origin":9299,"position":1},"title":"Ceremony, Audio Book","author":"Michelle","date":"September 14, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Ceremony, Audio Book (1982\/1992) Robert B. Parker narrated by Michael Prichard April Kyle is a pretty sixteen year-old runaway who is working as a prostitute somewhere in the Combat Zone in Boston. Her father wants nothing to do with her, but her mother wants her safe, so Spenser takes on\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio Book"","block_context":{"text":"Audio Book","link":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/category\/audio-book"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Spenser-Ceremony.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":9296,"url":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/9296","url_meta":{"origin":9299,"position":2},"title":"The Widening Gyre, Audio Book","author":"Michelle","date":"September 19, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"The Widening Gyre, Audio Version (1983\/1992) Robert B. Parker narrated by Michael Prichard Spenser is hired to protect a conservative candidate for the Senate. There are several interesting things here. 1) I'll need to check, but I don't think his military service was mentioned here at all. So no Korea.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "7.5\/10"","block_context":{"text":"7.5\/10","link":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/category\/7-5-10"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Spenser-Widening-Gyre.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":22572,"url":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/22572","url_meta":{"origin":9299,"position":3},"title":"Stardust, Audio Book","author":"Michelle","date":"November 29, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"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\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio Book"","block_context":{"text":"Audio Book","link":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/category\/audio-book"},"img":{"alt_text":"Stardust","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Spenser-Stardust.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":22532,"url":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/22532","url_meta":{"origin":9299,"position":4},"title":"Looking for Rachel Wallace, Audio Book","author":"Michelle","date":"November 14, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Looking for Rachel Wallace, Audio Book (1980) Robert B. Parker narrated by Michael Prichard (Spenser) Publisher: Random House Audio Rating: 8\/10","rel":"","context":"In "8\/10"","block_context":{"text":"8\/10","link":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/category\/8-10"},"img":{"alt_text":"Looking for Rachel Wallace","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Spenser-Rachel-Wallace.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":22541,"url":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/22541","url_meta":{"origin":9299,"position":5},"title":"A Savage Place, Audio Book","author":"Michelle","date":"November 18, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"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\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "8.5\/10"","block_context":{"text":"8.5\/10","link":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/category\/8-5-10"},"img":{"alt_text":"Savage Place","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Spenser-Savage-Place.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9299","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9299"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9299\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9299"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9299"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9299"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}