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Product Description
Product Description
When a serial murderer dubbed ""The Spare Change Killer"" by the Boston press surfaces after 30 years in hiding, the police immediately seek out the cop, now retired, who headed the original task force: Phil Randall. Phil calls on his daughter, Sunny, to help catch the criminal who eluded him so many years before. Sunny is certain that she's found her man after interviewing just a handful of suspects - but persuading her father and the rest of the task force is another matter entirely. And when the killer strikes a second and third time, the case takes a macabre turn...
About the Author
Robert B Parker is the best-selling author of over 50 books, including Small Vices, Sudden Mischief, Hush Money, Hugger Mugger, Potshot, Widows Walk, Night Passage, Trouble in Paradise, Death in Paradise, Family Honor, Perish Twice, Shrink Rap, Stone Cold, Melancholy Baby, Back Story, Double Play, Bad Business, Cold Service, Sea Change, School Days, Blue Screen and High Profile. He lives in Boston.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Fans of the Sunny Randall series will find Spare Change very satisfying in terms of Sunny finding her way through ambivalence about being with Richie. There's no resolution there . . . but definite progress does occur. You could easily rename this book, Sunny's Quest for Meaning, since the book is also so much about her feelings concerning her father, mother, sister, and her friend, Julie. Much like Spenser, she also takes detecting actions that help her define what's important to her as a professional.
If you haven't read any of the Sunny Randall books before, you may feel like you've been dropped into an alien universe of psychological perspectives at times. Rather than be puzzled and annoyed by this book, I suggest you go back to the beginning and start with Family Honor.
Mystery fans who like character development will find that aspect of Spare Change nicely balances a pretty standard, and not very productive, police investigation into a serial killer. The two strands of the story nicely intertwine in a number of ways that enhance the reading experience. The book has another appealing feature, Susan Silverman and long-time police characters from the Spenser series have small roles. More than some books in the series, you feel like Sunny lives in the same Boston that Spenser does.
As the book opens, Sunny's romantic life is a mess. Richie has gotten remarried and her relationship with Jesse Stone is over because he can't get over his ex-wife and Sunny can't get over Richie. But things look up when her beloved father, Phil Randall, asks her to help him catch a serial killer who leaves three coins after execution-style killings in public places. Much of Sunny's life has always been focused on pleasing her father and getting his attention, and she feels like she's in a warm limelight.
The killings seem to be connected to a series of earlier murders that followed the same MO that ceased 20 years earlier. Captain Phil Randall had been the lead investigator on those killings, and someone claiming to be the perp sent him regular, taunting notes during the investigation. Now Phil is back as a consultant, and the notes start again.
With few clues, the police find that they have to fall back on mass screening to find suspects. During interrogations of some of these suspects, one stands out as enjoying himself too much. Sunny takes over the interrogation and starts meeting with him in bars. She's convinced this suspect is the one and becomes a one-woman committee to find evidence to prove he's the guilty party. Along the way, she gets a lot of good advice from her father, the police, and even a bit of help from Susan Silverman. The investigation isn't all that interesting, but the mystery of "why" the killings are occurring will keep your attention.
After you finish enjoying the book, I suggest that you think about things in your life that you feel you have to do. What are the lessons you can learn about where you have compulsions to act? In addition, think about what's a good way to love someone. Spare Change will have provided you with much food for thought in both areas.
If you haven't read any of the Sunny Randall books before, you may feel like you've been dropped into an alien universe of psychological perspectives at times. Rather than be puzzled and annoyed by this book, I suggest you go back to the beginning and start with Family Honor.
Mystery fans who like character development will find that aspect of Spare Change nicely balances a pretty standard, and not very productive, police investigation into a serial killer. The two strands of the story nicely intertwine in a number of ways that enhance the reading experience. The book has another appealing feature, Susan Silverman and long-time police characters from the Spenser series have small roles. More than some books in the series, you feel like Sunny lives in the same Boston that Spenser does.
As the book opens, Sunny's romantic life is a mess. Richie has gotten remarried and her relationship with Jesse Stone is over because he can't get over his ex-wife and Sunny can't get over Richie. But things look up when her beloved father, Phil Randall, asks her to help him catch a serial killer who leaves three coins after execution-style killings in public places. Much of Sunny's life has always been focused on pleasing her father and getting his attention, and she feels like she's in a warm limelight.
The killings seem to be connected to a series of earlier murders that followed the same MO that ceased 20 years earlier. Captain Phil Randall had been the lead investigator on those killings, and someone claiming to be the perp sent him regular, taunting notes during the investigation. Now Phil is back as a consultant, and the notes start again.
With few clues, the police find that they have to fall back on mass screening to find suspects. During interrogations of some of these suspects, one stands out as enjoying himself too much. Sunny takes over the interrogation and starts meeting with him in bars. She's convinced this suspect is the one and becomes a one-woman committee to find evidence to prove he's the guilty party. Along the way, she gets a lot of good advice from her father, the police, and even a bit of help from Susan Silverman. The investigation isn't all that interesting, but the mystery of "why" the killings are occurring will keep your attention.
After you finish enjoying the book, I suggest that you think about things in your life that you feel you have to do. What are the lessons you can learn about where you have compulsions to act? In addition, think about what's a good way to love someone. Spare Change will have provided you with much food for thought in both areas.
Format:Paperback
I can only endorse Professor Mitchell's review, both for its resumé of the plot of Spare Change and for his comments on its underlying message. It is, too, a pleasure to meet again Susan Silverman, Quirk and Belson, old friends from the Spenser novels. The portrait of Sunny's family is unsentimental and the more plausible for it. Sunny's father, Phil, is the other half of the laconic dialogue that always lifts Parker above others in this genre. I almost didn't miss Hawk.
Be aware that this review is written by an unmitigated Robert B Parker fan; be aware, too, that reading Spare Change as a newcomer is likely to make you one, too.
Be aware that this review is written by an unmitigated Robert B Parker fan; be aware, too, that reading Spare Change as a newcomer is likely to make you one, too.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
54 reviews
26 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Interior Motivations
7 Jun 2007
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
SPARE CHANGE, the sixth Sunny Randall novel, shouldn't be read as an entry to the series. Too much subtext from earlier novels is needed for the reader to competently understand all the dynamics of family and self that are going on in this one.
The plot is simple. Sunny and her dad Phil attempt to close out a cold case he had before he left the Boston Police. The case had suddenly turned hot again as a new victim is discovered. The serial killer known as Spare Change (named so because he leaves a nickel, dime, and quarter behind at each murder scene) has struck again. Phil gets called out of retirement to advise on the case and he brings his private-eye daughter with him.
The solution of the murders is the plot that drives Parker's theme: his examination of families, how they work together and how they shape the individuals within them.
On many levels, Parker succeeds admirably. Fans of the Sunny Randall series (of which I am one) will love seeing some of the changes. But a few of them, like the change with her ex-husband, comes out of left field. And that one, to a degree, gets dropped to hang around for the next book. I think the extended views into the dynamics of Sunny's family, and especially the exploration of character between father and daughter, is great and a lot of readers are going to find parallels in their own lives. Always an amazing experience for readers.
However, the story of the serial killer resonates the same theme, but misses the boat because it doesn't offer quite the same reveals.
Parker's writing is as smooth and exciting as ever. I sailed through this book and the pages kept turning. I was drawn as much by the character development and insights as I was the homicide investigation.
Parker is also cross-pollinating his series with characters from other books. Martin Quirk, who's known primarily from the Spenser novels, was present. And Dr. Susan Silverman has been a mainstay for a while in Sunny's series as her counselor. But Frank Belson, Healy, and Lee Farrell were also onboard this one for a while.
I love Parker's books even when they're more comfortable than groundbreaking. Reading one is like sitting down with a friend and catching up on events in that person's life. Long-time fans will enjoy the book and already know what the score it, but new readers would best be advised to at least have read some if not all of the other Sunny Randall novels.
The plot is simple. Sunny and her dad Phil attempt to close out a cold case he had before he left the Boston Police. The case had suddenly turned hot again as a new victim is discovered. The serial killer known as Spare Change (named so because he leaves a nickel, dime, and quarter behind at each murder scene) has struck again. Phil gets called out of retirement to advise on the case and he brings his private-eye daughter with him.
The solution of the murders is the plot that drives Parker's theme: his examination of families, how they work together and how they shape the individuals within them.
On many levels, Parker succeeds admirably. Fans of the Sunny Randall series (of which I am one) will love seeing some of the changes. But a few of them, like the change with her ex-husband, comes out of left field. And that one, to a degree, gets dropped to hang around for the next book. I think the extended views into the dynamics of Sunny's family, and especially the exploration of character between father and daughter, is great and a lot of readers are going to find parallels in their own lives. Always an amazing experience for readers.
However, the story of the serial killer resonates the same theme, but misses the boat because it doesn't offer quite the same reveals.
Parker's writing is as smooth and exciting as ever. I sailed through this book and the pages kept turning. I was drawn as much by the character development and insights as I was the homicide investigation.
Parker is also cross-pollinating his series with characters from other books. Martin Quirk, who's known primarily from the Spenser novels, was present. And Dr. Susan Silverman has been a mainstay for a while in Sunny's series as her counselor. But Frank Belson, Healy, and Lee Farrell were also onboard this one for a while.
I love Parker's books even when they're more comfortable than groundbreaking. Reading one is like sitting down with a friend and catching up on events in that person's life. Long-time fans will enjoy the book and already know what the score it, but new readers would best be advised to at least have read some if not all of the other Sunny Randall novels.
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Another Satisfying Read from Robert Parker
6 Jun 2008
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Spare Change by Robert Parker teams up Sunny Randall and her father in a case involving a serial killer who drops coins next to the bodies of his victims. Although Parker's dialogue is always razor sharp and his characters well delineated, there's a certain perfunctory quality about the plot that perhaps comes from writing too many crime dramas over the years. You won't be disappointed by this book, but you won't necessarily remember it as one of Parker's best, either. A good airport read. You'll enjoy yourself between the soft drinks and the on board movie.
Donald Gallinger is the author ofThe Master Planets
Donald Gallinger is the author ofThe Master Planets
16 of 18 people found the following review helpful
What the #%$@*???
11 Jun 2007
Format:Hardcover
Ok. I have read and enjoyed Mr. Parker's books for as long as I can remember but I am seriously wondering if writing 3 series is too much for him. What's the deal with the continuity issues???
SPOILER ALERT-PLEASE DO NOT READ BELOW IF YOU HAVE NOT YET READ THIS BOOK!!
In Blue Screen, the last Sunny Randall novel, Sunny learned that Richie's wife was PREGNANT. Now all of a sudden, Richie decides he loves Sunny and leaves his wife and there is absolutely no mention of his wife being pregnant in this book??? What the heck??? That's beyond sloppy and a slap in the face of loyal readers who deserve more respect. I am very disappointed...where oh where did the quality of A Catskill Eagle or Valediction go???
SPOILER ALERT-PLEASE DO NOT READ BELOW IF YOU HAVE NOT YET READ THIS BOOK!!
In Blue Screen, the last Sunny Randall novel, Sunny learned that Richie's wife was PREGNANT. Now all of a sudden, Richie decides he loves Sunny and leaves his wife and there is absolutely no mention of his wife being pregnant in this book??? What the heck??? That's beyond sloppy and a slap in the face of loyal readers who deserve more respect. I am very disappointed...where oh where did the quality of A Catskill Eagle or Valediction go???
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