Family Honor

Sunny Randall is more than a female equivalent of Spenser, though that's a convenient starting point. Like the Spenser novels, these are told in first person by a Boston private investigator. There is a similar wit about her as there is to Spenser. And Parker's writing style is very similar in this novel -- crisp dialogue, brief but important descriptions, and good character development for the genre. Also, as I found in the Jesse Stone novels, there is the occasional involvement of minor characters from the Spenser novels.But -- to a degree -- Randall thinks about the issues that surround her more than Spenser does (or at least Parker shares more of these insights with us). As Spenser sometimes will bounce ideas and theories off Susan Silverman about the psychological make-up of some his clients, Randall does the same about herself, both internally and with her friend, Julie, who is a psychiatrist.Don't get me wrong -- there's plenty of hard-boiled detective mystery here. But Parker continues to prove that he can write more than one-dimensional characters.

Okay, ditto on the Spencer/Stone/Parker fan interested to see how he handles a female heroine. Okay, ditto on the similarities between Spencer/Sunny, right down to the dog. But to it all I say a resounding so what? By the end of the book, I was so interested and attached to Sunny, Richie, Spike, Brian, Millicent, and ever her mother, I didn't care! So, write on, Robert (all puns intended)! Long may you type!!

This was a great read even though the plot wasn't up to Parker's best, suspense wise. However, the characters he introduces are fun and compelling to read about and easy to get to know.I disagree with some other comments here that this parallels "Thin Air." I see a direct parallel between Sunny and her teen age protaganist, and Spenser and Paul G. in "Early Autumn." In both "Family Honor" and "Early Autumn" the young people are saved by the hero/heroine and a relationship developes which transcends the immediate case (book). At least in the Spenser version. It remains to be seen if this will reappear in future Sunny Randall novels.All in all a fun read. So hunker down and enjoy!

Robert Parker has done something that no mystery writer has ever done before, to my knowledge: He has turned his hero into a heroine. Sunny is clearly Spenser and vice versa. You can change the characters, but you cannot change the authors. For those who are enjoying the powerful trend toward female detectives, this is particularly interesting because it sheds light on perceptions about women. How would a woman go about accomplishing what a man would in a violent, tough world? I found the contrast to be interesting and stimulating. On the other hand, I am not sure I want to read two series about Spenser. More troubling is that Parker has Sunny rely on her mob connections through her ex-husband a lot. It seemed to me that he crossed an ethical line along the way that was unnecessary, and sets a bad example. Parker seems to suggest that the female Spenser can only make it if men help a lot, including the most corrupt men on the planet. Frankly, that is offensive to me. After all, much detection these days can use modern methods to search out answers, such as computer-based research. Why not create a real female detective for his next book? I think it would sell better and be more rewarding for readers like me. I also thought the plot was a little thin for Parker. At one point he assumes that the mob has gone so public that you can look them up like anyone else to find out exactly what they are doing. I doubt if that is, has been, or ever will be the case. Read this one for curiosity value if you are a Spenser fan, not because it is a mystery you would have otherwise picked up.