Rough Weather: A Spenser Novel
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Amazon.co.uk Review
If your taste is for tough, wise-cracking private eyes in the Raymond Chandler/Philip Marlowe vein, you should make the acquaintance of Spenser. Robert B Parker's durable detective has been at the centre of a long-running and accomplished series, with Rough Weather a strong new entry in the canon.
A rich woman client has handed Spenser a particularly strange job: he is to be present at her daughter's wedding as kind of ‘surrogate husband’. Spenser has said yes, aware that his long-term lover, the highly intelligent Susan Silverman, will be on the scene. Trouble, needless to say, ensues – and an old foe of Spenser’s, Rugar, The Gray Man, is involved.
Parker's tenacious private dick is still a favourite of the author’s admirers, despite his introduction of another series character (Jesse Stone, Chief of Police of Paradise, Massachusetts). But the sardonic Spenser remains Parker’s signature character, even when some of the entries in the long-running series are less than top-notch. Rough Weather, however, is the author on form: the dialogue and the evocation of locale here is as strong as in the best Parker. It’s no mean achievement to keep a form that many felt had been played out (the private eye novel) in such rude health – and Robert B Parker is to be applauded for his continuing success. --Barry Forshaw --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
'We are witnessing one of the great series in the history of the American detective story' New York Times Book Review.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The grey man, being the only one who has almost taken Spenser out, always has potential. His first appearance was terrific, his second was okay, this one is between the two. The moral dilemma is his decision to protect Susan and let the other (rich, not a lot of sympathy) people take their chances.
Maybe not a vintage Spenser (Valediction, etc) but I read this in two hours and am looking forward to reading it again as I type. Softback sure thing.
Maybe not a vintage Spenser (Valediction, etc) but I read this in two hours and am looking forward to reading it again as I type. Softback sure thing.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Unless you feel that you must read every word that Robert B. Parker ever wrote about Spenser, you could skip Rough Weather and not miss a thing you need to know about the continuing characters. And you might like the series better if you did skip this book.
The good news is that Rough Weather has lots of humorous dialogue involving Spenser, Hawk, and Susan. Otherwise, the story would make you sea sick from its choppy plotting that combines a ridiculous crime scheme with ludicrous investigation methods. The bad news is that the dialogue opens little new ground for information or humor. As a result, many readers will have a hard time being sure this really is a new novel . . . rather than being a mélange of past novels stirred up to look like a tasty parfait, but containing ingredients that are not so delicious when combined.
What's it all about? In her late forties, Heidi Bradshaw has had three marriages to wealthy men and enjoys the lifestyle of a queen. Prior to an undefined special event on her private island, Tashtego, off the southern coast of Massachusetts, Heidi decides she needs a man around to make her feel better ("I want you to be the man I can turn to if I need something."). Spenser is the choice, and he agrees after Heidi agrees that Susan can attend.
Moving past the armed guards on the island for what turns out to be the wedding of Heidi's daughter, Spenser can't figure out what his role is . . . until he spots Rugar, the Grey Man who has been both an enemy and an ally, among the guests and wonders what's up. Rugar observes, "I hope we are not here in conflicting missions." Susan later comments, "It's as if Rugar has no soul."
Naturally, the issue is quickly resolved when Rugar leads an armed band into the wedding to kidnap the bridge and dispatch those who oppose him. A storm comes up unexpectedly, and Rugar cannot leave the island. Spenser decides that the best he can do is look out for Susan, and let Heidi, et al, fend for themselves.
But that doesn't end the matter. Wrong has invaded Spenser's turf and he feels responsible to sort matters out. Working with various police and federal agencies, Spenser gradually sorts out the reasons behind the murderous marriage vows.
Unless you aren't paying attention as you read, you'll figure out what the game is pretty early in the book. The only mystery will be why Spenser and the police have so much trouble. The answer might be related to the need to turn this weak story into something longer than a novella.
The worst news is that the book's ending suggests the possibility of a sequel. Yuck!
The good news is that Rough Weather has lots of humorous dialogue involving Spenser, Hawk, and Susan. Otherwise, the story would make you sea sick from its choppy plotting that combines a ridiculous crime scheme with ludicrous investigation methods. The bad news is that the dialogue opens little new ground for information or humor. As a result, many readers will have a hard time being sure this really is a new novel . . . rather than being a mélange of past novels stirred up to look like a tasty parfait, but containing ingredients that are not so delicious when combined.
What's it all about? In her late forties, Heidi Bradshaw has had three marriages to wealthy men and enjoys the lifestyle of a queen. Prior to an undefined special event on her private island, Tashtego, off the southern coast of Massachusetts, Heidi decides she needs a man around to make her feel better ("I want you to be the man I can turn to if I need something."). Spenser is the choice, and he agrees after Heidi agrees that Susan can attend.
Moving past the armed guards on the island for what turns out to be the wedding of Heidi's daughter, Spenser can't figure out what his role is . . . until he spots Rugar, the Grey Man who has been both an enemy and an ally, among the guests and wonders what's up. Rugar observes, "I hope we are not here in conflicting missions." Susan later comments, "It's as if Rugar has no soul."
Naturally, the issue is quickly resolved when Rugar leads an armed band into the wedding to kidnap the bridge and dispatch those who oppose him. A storm comes up unexpectedly, and Rugar cannot leave the island. Spenser decides that the best he can do is look out for Susan, and let Heidi, et al, fend for themselves.
But that doesn't end the matter. Wrong has invaded Spenser's turf and he feels responsible to sort matters out. Working with various police and federal agencies, Spenser gradually sorts out the reasons behind the murderous marriage vows.
Unless you aren't paying attention as you read, you'll figure out what the game is pretty early in the book. The only mystery will be why Spenser and the police have so much trouble. The answer might be related to the need to turn this weak story into something longer than a novella.
The worst news is that the book's ending suggests the possibility of a sequel. Yuck!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition
I'm not a Spenser fan mainly because I don't remember reading any previous novels. I probably have but they obviously made no lasting impression. Of course, I may be rather disingenuous about this but, in any event, I review this as a newcomer to the cause and pretty much enjoyed it.
I enjoyed it because it's easy to read, the dialogue is snappy - actually, it's too snappy. Nobody is quick witted enough to talk as Parker's characters do on a regular basis and frankly, if they did, they'd be exhausted. However, it makes for light reading. The story is rather basic and the denouement is not unexpected but there are no wasted words. There's action when needed and as the story unfolds, we meet more characters each with a quick wit and ready repartee. There's a high body count with a low moral ground for accumulating that total. It seems many of these people have been in the series several times but it doesn't lessen the enjoyment of this type of book. I'll look out for another Spenser book, not an earlier one for sure but they lighten up one's reading which is what books are all about on occasions.
I enjoyed it because it's easy to read, the dialogue is snappy - actually, it's too snappy. Nobody is quick witted enough to talk as Parker's characters do on a regular basis and frankly, if they did, they'd be exhausted. However, it makes for light reading. The story is rather basic and the denouement is not unexpected but there are no wasted words. There's action when needed and as the story unfolds, we meet more characters each with a quick wit and ready repartee. There's a high body count with a low moral ground for accumulating that total. It seems many of these people have been in the series several times but it doesn't lessen the enjoyment of this type of book. I'll look out for another Spenser book, not an earlier one for sure but they lighten up one's reading which is what books are all about on occasions.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
More of the same...
... which is good, if you like Spenser, which I do. But nothing new here. Maybe he has said all there is to say about Spenser, Hawk and Susan. I will still buy the next one. Read more
Published on 1 Feb 2010 by Constant Bookworm
Spenser never disappoints
If you are already a fan of the Spenser novels you will love this one too - has all the glamour and danger of the previous books. Read more
Published on 14 Jan 2010 by N. Wilson
Unusual fare
This is classic Spenser, but with a structure that Parker doesn't seem to have used before. All the usual suspects appear, rather adding to the sense of cosy familiarity (which... Read more
Published on 3 Nov 2009 by David J. Boggis
Parker is Parker
A good and enjoyable read.
Spenser and his friends are always good for some action and snappy dialogue.
Always a pleasure to visit with them again . . .
Spenser and his friends are always good for some action and snappy dialogue.
Always a pleasure to visit with them again . . .
Published on 25 Oct 2009 by Jay Diamond
Rough is correct
This is difficult to write. It feels like disloyalty from one who has been a Parker addict - and particularly a Spenser addict - for many years. Read more
Published on 21 Oct 2009 by G. M. Sinstadt
Always a "must buy" for me
First Sentence: If I rolled my chair back into the window bay behind my desk, I could look up past the office buildings and see the sky. Read more
Published on 8 Jan 2009 by L. J. Roberts
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