1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Hush Your Mouth, 24 Mar 2009
This review is from: Hush Money (A Spenser novel) (Paperback)
The Private Eye genre is perhaps one of the most oversubscribed around and Robert B Parker one of its most prolific authors. With countless novels to his name it's amazing to see that the quality is usually of a decent standard and in some cases great. `Hush Money' is another in the Spenser series and follows battered PI Spenser around as he investigates a stalking case and a University Professor not getting tenure. Neither concept should be overly interesting, but Parker makes them exciting and funny cases.
It's the humour in `Hush Money' that makes it a joy to read. Spenser and his friend Hawk in particular have a cynical and amusing look out on life and this comes across on the page. The story itself is also good with a decent pace and interesting conclusion. The only real misgiving I have with this book is the slightly chauvinistic feel that it has. This is all done in a tongue and cheek manner, but with storylines surrounding sexuality and race it skates a slightly uncomfortable line. Overall, I really enjoyed this light and breezy book as it was a genuinely amusing crime fiction novel.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Entertaining and snappy, 30 July 2006
This review is from: Hush Money (A Spenser novel) (Paperback)
This is the first Spenser novel I have read, and it is entirely carried by the wise cracking dialogue, and the interesting relationships between Spenser (the detective), Susan (his girlfriend) and Hawk (Spenser's friend) as the key characters. Assuming these themes recur in the other Spenser novels, I will certainly give more Robert B Parker creations a read. The spare style is reminiscent of the best 40s detective novels. And it would be nice to think that you could behave in the way Spenser and Hawk do, with complete disregard for the "normal" rules of conduct, and still put the bad guys away and ride off into the sunset!
Not a book that will change your life, but one that will provide several hours of enjoyment and entertainment.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
More Than Double the Usual Spenser Fun!, 26 May 2004
Robert Parker has introduced a new element in this fine novel. He has Spenser carrying on two investigations at the same time. One is for a friend of Susan's, the other for a friend of Hawk's. Both are nonpaying jobs, and both are demanding. So you get the equivalent of two novels in one.
Better than that, the two story lines involve different ends of the Spenser spectrum. We get lots of female, sexual and romantic issues in the case involving Susan's friend, and lots of political, sexual and racial issues in the other case. Seeing them all together provides a fuller picture of Spenser's personal ethic, Robert Parker's favorite theme. Parker does a good job of designing the challenges to Spenser a way that he comes up against his moral limits quite often, which helps to flesh out his character is a very satisfying way.
Beyond that benefit, the book is also improved by providing new insights into Susan and Hawk that have not been revealed before.
As a result, the story line keeps moving much better than in most Spenser novels. That asset is further improved by a plot that has more reversals in it than in any other Spenser novel I can remember. The irony is chin deep before long.
The only thing I didn't like about the book was Parker's insistence on having Susan and Spenser feed Pearl, the wonder dog, all kinds of unhealthy food like doughnuts at every possible occasion in the story. What's the point?
If you have ever enjoyed another Spenser novel, read this book immediately! It will probably turn out to be one of your favorites among the books in the series. Have a great read!
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