- Paperback: 224 pages
- Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd; New edition edition (31 Jan 1991)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 014012652X
- ISBN-13: 978-0140126525
- Product Dimensions: 17.6 x 11 x 1.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 404,281 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
This is a further novel featuring Spenser, the hard-boiled Boston private eye with a chivalric code. This time Spenser's in for the closest shaves of his career when he discovers that college basketball can be a killer sport. He is aided by tough-guy Hawk, and Susan Silverman, sexy psychotherapist.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
one of the best of the early/mid years Spencer novels.
Spencer investigates a College Basketball team who may be shaving points. But does anyone really want to know the answer? as usual Spencer pokes around until he gets beat up, screwed over and shot at but he and Hawk take it in a most phlegmatic and philosophical way.
After all they would know if they found a clue if they didnt upset someone.
Spencer investigates a College Basketball team who may be shaving points. But does anyone really want to know the answer? as usual Spencer pokes around until he gets beat up, screwed over and shot at but he and Hawk take it in a most phlegmatic and philosophical way.
After all they would know if they found a clue if they didnt upset someone.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
15 reviews
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
A welcome breather after CRIMSON JOY
30 Jan 2003
Format:Mass Market Paperback
This is a bit of a relief after the very intense predecesser. Here, you're dealing primarily with point shaving in college basketball, not with serial murderers.
However, as usual in a Spenser novel, there's more here than just the primary plot. There's insight into racial relations, a theme that Parker explores deeper in the later PASTIME. There's also the very human theme concerning dealing with a person who's abilities you admire, but who is an insufferable so-and-so.
It's a typical fast read and yet leaves you with a feeling that you've picked up something of value from the reading.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
A better title: Dwayne Should Have Gone to Jail
28 May 2000
Format:Mass Market Paperback
In Playmates, Spenser investigates a point shaving scheme involving Taft University basketball players. Spenser quickly deduces that Taft star player Dwayne Woodcock is involved, and sets out to undo the illiterate young man's predicament, primarily out of respect for Dwayne's girlfriend Chantel.
Much like Parker's Double Deuce, Playmates delves into African American issues of self esteem and poverty. And much like Double Deuce, Parker stumbles by relying too much on trite popular press rationales for criminal conduct - all in defense of his own unsympathetic hoods. Spenser's affection for Chantel is intended to resolve this dilemma, but her character is so underdeveloped that there's no compelling motivation for Spenser's heroics.
But it's easy to overlook a thin plot, because the joy of a Parker novel is really Spenser's sassy wit and his violent outings with the devastating and equally humorous Hawk. Particularly enjoyable is a scene in which Hawk chides Spenser about the low street value currently offered to have him "aced." One wonders how Parker can write Hawk so unapologetically while offering up sociologic platitudes for any other African American character involved in questionable circumstances.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Spenser 4 Hire
15 Aug 2000
Format:Mass Market Paperback
This is the first Spenser novel I have read, and I think I am off to a good start. I never really watched the tv show and I don't know if it was indicative of the books. I am a big fan of both Harlan Coben and Robert Crais and I feel that their characters and sidekicks are very similar to Spenser and Hawk. Obviously Parker's novels precede those two authors, so I have to say he originated a good trend of the witty private detective and his cool but dangerous partner. I am also a big sports fan, so this book was all the more appealing. It's a quick read, so pick it up.
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