- Hardcover: 291 pages
- Publisher: G. P. Putnam's Sons; First Printing edition (Mar 2003)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0399149775
- ISBN-13: 978-0399149771
- Product Dimensions: 24.9 x 15.5 x 3.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,538,788 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
In this 30th entry in one of mystery fiction's longest-running and best-loved series, Spenser--the tough yet sensitive Boston private eye with no first name--takes on an unsolved murder nearly three decades old. The client, an actress, is a friend of Paul Giacomin, Spenser's surrogate son (who first appeared in 1981's Early Autumn). Her mother was slain by leftist radicals at a bank holdup in 1974, and now she wants to know who fired the shot. As Spenser digs into the past, he soon learns that powerful people on both sides of the law want the case left alone--badly enough to kill.
These death threats provide a fine excuse for Hawk, Spenser's extremely scary (yet sensitive) bad-guy pal, to tag along in nearly every scene as bodyguard. The interaction of the two friends is one of this series' familiar pleasures, as is the presence of Susan Silverman, Spenser's longtime love interest. Another pleasure is Robert B Parker's stripped-down prose, a marvel of craftsmanship. (Plus we get the first meeting between Spenser and Jesse Stone, hero of another Parker series.) Yet, alas, the whole enterprise feels a little tired. The plot never generates much sustained suspense, and the author's adoration for his central characters renders them at times almost cartoon-esque. Still, Back Story is excellently prepared comfort food, even if it isn't five-star cuisine. --Nicholas H Allison, Amazon.com
Review
Parker's spruce and cunning book will speed you towards the right conclusion -- Philip Oakes, Literary Review 20030501 'Back Story will satisfy fans looking for the greatness we once took for granted' -- Time Out 20030603
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
When I picked up "Back Story," the 2003 Spenser novel from Robert B. Parker of course the first thing that came to my mind was to wonder how Pearl was doing. By page 2 we know the answer to that lingering question at which point we are distracted by the story of Daryl Gordon, the young woman that Paul Giacomin has brought to see Spenser (she stars in his play). In 1974 a revolutionary group calling itself the Dread Scott Brigade staged a robbery at the Shawmut Bank in Boston's Audubon Circle. During that robbery a woman named Emily Gordon, there to cash a traveler's check, was shot and killed. Daryl is Emily's daughter and wants the person who killed her mother to be brought to justice. Since Paul brought a half-dozen Krispy Kremes along with Daryl, our hero is willing to see what he can find out even thought the murder happened, as we are repeatedly told, twenty-eight years ago. There are a lot of things that Spenser does not do, and round up numbers is one of them. Ironically, of course, this is the 30th Spenser novel.
"Back Story" certainly represents all aspects of the Spenser formula. There is the tried and true practice of asking questions to see what shakes loose, death threats that require Susan to be protected and gunmen to avoid, and all those witty and philosophical discussions between Spenser and Hawk (as well as Vinnie, Quirk, Jesse Stone, and whoever else shows up along the way). However, Spenser really does not cook as much as he did in the early days. Spenser finds out more than Daryl ever wanted to know, which makes it doubtful that she will be joining the ranks of our hero’s expanding “family,” and once again puts our hero in the position of being judge, jury, and lord high executioner as he tries to make the world right.
The results are enjoyable as always and Parker's novels are perfect for people who like to get a quick chapter in here and there throughout the day, but there is a sense in which Spenser is just going through his standard bag of tricks. I swear, if somebody came in and threw down a copy of the Warren Commission Report our hero would ask a few questions and somebody who come out of the woodwork to tell him to leave that JFK thing along and he would end up solving that one too. However, the ending does find our hero taking a position that might be somewhat contrary to his nature and even if we have read literally hundreds of witty exchanges between Spenser and the people he encounters they are still appealing (especially the ones with his second bananas).
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
First off, you don't want this to be your first Spenser book. If you don't know the character, go back to the first book, THE GODWULF MANUSCRIPT, and follow the series from there.
Some readers figure Spenser to be around 70 & think he should retire, but when he just gets paid in doughnuts like with this case, how can he afford to retire?
OK, we do envision Spenser as being in his 40's, but even if he's older, he voices his opinion of retiring in this book and you can tell he wouldn't know what to do with himself.
The story here is good, dealing with a few left over hippies. A lady friend of Paul's wants to know who killed her mother back in the 60's, and so Spenser collecting his fee consisting of six Krispy Kreme doughnuts digs into the past and comes up with more than his client wants to know. In the meantime, he manages to disturb one of the ganglords who just happens to live in Paradise, and so he meets the police chief, Jesse Stone. The two Parker characters working together, even briefly, envigorate the story.
Recent Spenser books have been a bit disappointing, but this one is back on track.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Reading any new title by Robert B. Parker is a rare treat but a new Spenser Novel can only be described as like being reunited with old friends.
This story begins with Spenser being hired to investigate the twenty eight year old murder of a hippy, by the victim's daughter.
Along the way Spenser has to engage the help of the menacing Hawk, his own life's love Susan, not to mention several seedy characters from the criminal underworld of Boston.
The action is intense and taut. The dialogue is fast and funny, particularly the bi-play between Spenser and Hawk, or between Spenser, Hawk and Vinny Morris.
One of the really superb facets of this story, of which there are many is the introduction into a Spenser Novel of Jessy Stone, the Paradise Police Chief. Regular readers of Robert B. Parker will appreciate his involvement.
The conclusion, as with most of the Author's stories is complex and uncompromising and I, for one found it to be one of the finest in the Spenser series.
Robert B. Parker deserves a great deal of praise for this Work. After Potshot and Widows Walk which were not his best books this novel puts him right back there on top of his game. May he continue to write such superb stories.
This story begins with Spenser being hired to investigate the twenty eight year old murder of a hippy, by the victim's daughter.
Along the way Spenser has to engage the help of the menacing Hawk, his own life's love Susan, not to mention several seedy characters from the criminal underworld of Boston.
The action is intense and taut. The dialogue is fast and funny, particularly the bi-play between Spenser and Hawk, or between Spenser, Hawk and Vinny Morris.
One of the really superb facets of this story, of which there are many is the introduction into a Spenser Novel of Jessy Stone, the Paradise Police Chief. Regular readers of Robert B. Parker will appreciate his involvement.
The conclusion, as with most of the Author's stories is complex and uncompromising and I, for one found it to be one of the finest in the Spenser series.
Robert B. Parker deserves a great deal of praise for this Work. After Potshot and Widows Walk which were not his best books this novel puts him right back there on top of his game. May he continue to write such superb stories.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Cold Case
You don't get to write a thirty book detective series without being good at writing detective stories and this relatively late entry in Parker's Boston set PI canon is competent... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Rotgut
Another great Robert.B.Parker story
Yes,a great read,as good as all the other Spencer novels.Spencer, Hawk & Quirk are as tough asallways,yet still the story has the slight wit & sarcasm between them in it to make... Read more
Published on 4 Sep 2009 by J. Burnham
The Honourable Detective Is Tested
Back Story involves Spenser almost casually in an abandoned trail to a 1974 killing of actress Daryl Silver's (nee Gordon) mother, Emily. Read more
Published on 22 Jun 2004 by Donald Mitchell
The Honourable Detective Is Tested
Back Story involves Spenser almost casually in an abandoned trail to a 1974 killing of actress Daryl Silver's (nee Gordon) mother, Emily. Read more
Published on 22 Jun 2004 by Donald Mitchell
The Honourable Detective Is Tested
Back Story involves Spenser almost casually in an abandoned trail to a 1974 killing of actress Daryl Silver's (nee Gordon) mother, Emily. Read more
Published on 3 May 2004 by Donald Mitchell
So smooth, so effortless
You can always rely on Parker to deliver classy crime writing, and Spenser as ever remains a charming, bewitching creation. Read more
Published on 1 Jun 2003 by Mr. Warren M. Fisher
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