- Hardcover: 293 pages
- Publisher: Putnam Publishing Group (Oct 2000)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0399146687
- ISBN-13: 978-0399146688
- Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 15.2 x 3.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,758,089 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Robert B Parker's quick quips, droll wit and staccato dialogue are all on display in the Sunny Randall novel, Perish Twice.
When radical feminist Mary Lou Goddard hires Sunny to protect her from a stalker, Sunny accepts the case with some reluctance. After all, Goddard detests Rosie, Sunny's bull terrier, canine vacuum, and stakeout companion ("Rosie was in the passenger seat, staring out the side window, alert for the appearance of a strange dog at whom she could gargle ferociously."). It doesn't take Sunny long to track down and confront Lawrence Reeves, a particularly pestilential human being. But pestilence is no excuse for murder, so when Reeves and Gretchen Crane, one of Goddard's colleagues, are both found dead, Sunny dives into the murky waters of Boston's prostitution industry, where Reeves was a client and Gretchen was trying to unionise the workers. Politics and sexuality can be a nasty tangle, and the unravelling threads lead straight to mobster Tony Marcus's door. Tony may appreciate Sunny's sharp wit, but business is business: interference can--and does--lead to a bullet with her name on it. And as if all of this weren't enough, Sunny's sister and her best friend are in the throes of nasty divorces. Luckily, the leap from PI to marital counsellor is well within Sunny's abilities.
While there's no doubt that rabid Parker fans will snap up anything the author turns out (and with reason), Perish Twice may be more appealing to new readers, for whom Sunny's charm will carry none of the uneasy echoes of private investigators past.--Kelly Flynn, Amazon.com --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
Review
"Nobody does it better than Parker" - The Sunday Times "I fell in love with his books" - Helen Hunt "Very readable, slick and professional." - Evening Standard "If you want non-stop, awesome characters and overall kick-ass entertainment, you need to read Parker." - Janet Evanovich "Robert B parker's Spenser is one of the best private detectives in fiction." - The Sunday Telegraph "Parker has gone into brilliant overdrive." - The Literary Review
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is certainly not Robert Parker's best effort. Those accustomed to the fast pace and easy charm of Spenser will be disappointed with the thin story line and rather petulant heroine. I don't think Parker does women particularly well, so Sunny is a two dimensional character and it is difficult to appreciate what motivates her. In Spenser Parker has created a male archetype, however, as a keen reader of Parker's books I have always felt that he is prone to put women on a pedestal and that often his female characters lack realness or are annoying (Susan for example, a most irritating character). This lack of strong characterisation could be overcome with a strong story line but sadly this one is very thin and failed to engage me. Three quarters way through the book I frankly didn't give a damn what happened to any of the characters. It is understandable that Parker wants to try out other characters, he must be getting a bit sick of Spenser, but I think Jesse Stone is more promising. Despite the great potential of Sunny Randall I don't think the character will work if she is just a female Spenser who sometimes cries.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Perish Twice is the second in Robert Parker's new series about his female private detective, Ms. Sunny Randall. No one who reads the story will miss the similarities to Spenser. Through the parallels, you can begin to see more clearly Mr. Parker's thesis about what being a good, honest person should be about. What constitutes a proper life for women and men is remarkably similar. As in the Spenser books, most people don't get it. His interpretation of the proper feminist version of goodness and a healthy mind becomes more obvious in Perish Twice than in any other book by Mr. Parker. This transparency is helped by his setting up so many alternative models of women who are either phony, hypocritical, or miserable (or perhaps a little of each). As with the previous Sunny Randall book, Family Honor, this one makes Sunny a little too dependent on her hoodlum ex-in-laws to be totally palatable.
The story has four major plot lines. The primary one revolves around a bodyguard job that Sunny does for a high profile feminist, Ms. Mary Lou Goddard. Someone is threatening Ms. Goddard. Sunny soon spots a stalker and tracks him down. The path from there takes many twists. The second one involves Sunny's sister Elizabeth who wants to know if her husband is cheating on her. Sunny quickly finds out that he is, and Sunny plays chaperone and analyst for her emotionally floundering and confused sister. The third relates to her friend, Julie, who suddenly walks away from her marriage. The fourth continues Sunny's relationship with her ex-husband, Richie. Each plot line crosses the others from time to time, providing for a rewarding set of developments.
The mystery in the book has two very interesting features. First, it develops surprising depth after what appears to be a very simple beginning and initial plot. Second, Mr. Parker leaves the ending at a place where many stories don't end. As a result, you will have many thoughts about what the story means that you would not otherwise have. That's a fine bit of writing. So you have at least two nice surprises to look forward to enjoying.
After you finish this book, you should think about why connecting to other people is so difficult and painful. Another useful question might be why we don't draw more love and support from our connections to one another. What's missing?
Put honoring your values ahead of pursuing your needs, if you want to enjoy self-respect.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
If you are a fan of Robert B. Parker, and particularly of his Spenser series, this is disappointing.
The Sunny Randall books contain alot of parallels to the Spenser books - set in Boston with some overlapping characters (look out for Lee Farrell and Tony Marcus)- but none of the consistency.
In the first book in the series Sunny 'adopts' a teenager with parental problems (ring any bells?) but in this second book the kid gets no mention. This book is built around a prominent Lesbian but at no point is it mentioned that Lee Farrell is gay ... even though he investigates the crime.
A readable book, interesting for it's Spenser parallel's but essentially disappointing.
Hurry back Spenser!
The Sunny Randall books contain alot of parallels to the Spenser books - set in Boston with some overlapping characters (look out for Lee Farrell and Tony Marcus)- but none of the consistency.
In the first book in the series Sunny 'adopts' a teenager with parental problems (ring any bells?) but in this second book the kid gets no mention. This book is built around a prominent Lesbian but at no point is it mentioned that Lee Farrell is gay ... even though he investigates the crime.
A readable book, interesting for it's Spenser parallel's but essentially disappointing.
Hurry back Spenser!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
It takes time to get to know her....
Sunny Randall is fun to read. Some readers though make too much of the similarities between her and Spenser. There are definite differences that some seem to miss. Read more
Published on 11 Mar 2003 by Neal C. Reynolds
Spenser is a bit of a drag
Is the hand of Helen Hunt visible in this second outing for Sunny Randall? It seems a whole lot different in its pace and fragrant tone to Ms Randall's debut. Read more
Published on 9 Mar 2001 by sue@hardy.clara.co.uk
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