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Rough Weather: A Spenser Novel
 
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Rough Weather: A Spenser Novel (Hardcover)

by Robert B. Parker (Author)
3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Hardcover: 320 pages
  • Publisher: Quercus Publishing Plc (2 Oct 2008)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 1847242448
  • ISBN-13: 978-1847242440
  • Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 15.4 x 2.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 224,005 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in this category:

    #47 in  Books > Crime, Thrillers & Mystery > Authors, A-Z > P > Parker, Robert B.

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Product Description

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

Review
We are witnessing one of the great series in the history of the American detective story - New York Times Book Review. ... deftly sketched characters - his use of genre material is always fresh. He demonstrates his continued ability to write well-constructed and literate works of detective fiction - Times Literary Supplement. I enjoyed it - Glasgow Herald.

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Customer Reviews

3 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
3.7 out of 5 stars (3 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Witty Dialogue, Stupid Crimes, and Poor Detection, 9 Nov 2008
By Professor Donald Mitchell "Jesus Makes Me a P... (Boston) - See all my reviews
(TOP 10 REVIEWER)      
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!
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4.0 out of 5 stars Always a "must buy" for me, 8 Jan 2009
By L. J. Roberts (Oakland, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Rough Weather (Hardcover)
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.

Spenser is hired by Heidi Bradshaw to "support" her at her daughter's wedding on a private island off Massachusetts. Shortly after he and Susan arrive, Rugar, the Gray Man, Spenser's nemesis from "Small Vices" appears. The wedding is that evening and is heralded by a tremendous storm and the violent kidnap of the bride, killing of the groom and several security guards by the Gray Man. Spenser questions the whole event as none of it seemed to make sense or be Rugar's normal style.

Parker never disappoints and I actually think this is one of the best he's written in a long time. What he does, he does extremely well--sense of place and dialogue. With sense of place, during a storm, you feel the wind, rain and mud; but also the sunny, crisp days. His dialogue is always sharp, crisp and wry.

I was particularly pleased with the plotting of this book. When the case looks rather absurd, it's because it deliberately is. How good is that? Was the whole thing improbable? Absolutely. Was it enormously run to read? You bet!

I do like his characters and feel he presents them well. All of them have tangible personalities. We have certainly come to know the recurring ones and even Susan annoyed me less than usual here.

Parker is now and, I imagine, always will be on my "must buy" list.
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4.0 out of 5 stars Not classic but not bad, 9 Dec 2008
By Richard C. P. Pedley "richclive" (jersey, the old one) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
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.
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