Spook: A Nameless Detective Novel

Detective Nameless, whose name is Bill, has reached the age of 61 and plays with the idea of retirement. For a start, he promoted his investigator Tamara Corbin to partner. But then a new case comes up, and he can't refuse to get involved.Spook, a penniless homeless person, is shot to death. What is his identity? Our detective is hired to find out. First off, he hires a taciturn and depressed ex cop as the new investigator. And then the case starts to unravel in a most satisfying way. In the end, the identity is established and, for good measure, the killer is caught.A very satisfying mystery, several cuts above the usual and doing honor to Pronzini's reputation.

Seldom does a wonderful series like that of the Nameless Detective suddenly add an exciting character who makes you anxious for the next book. If you've liked any of the books in this series, you must read this one . . . because it is the beginning of much potential for the future.Nameless is back (and called "Bill"). He's in the process of moving towards retirement . . . beginning with semi-retirement. To facilitate the changes, he's taken his former assistant, Tamara, as his partner. They need to hire a new operative to help handle the street work that Nameless did in the past. After considering two potential men, Tamara insists that they hire Jake Runyon, a silent-as-the-grave ex-cop, ex-detective who looks like he's just lost his last friend. Jake turns out to be the kind of dandy character that Raymond Chandler would have been glad to write about. He loves the grime of the streets and the challenge of the chase. He's smart, tough, focused and self-contained. But he hurts, and his work is his therapy. You'll enjoy learning about him.The action in the book centers on the murder of a street person named Spook who talks to ghosts. I especially enjoyed the way that several people contributed to identifying Spook. It's imaginative problem solving at its best. Each of the detectives has personal issues that develop in interesting ways. Bill is having trouble deciding how to wind down his work and deal with his need to be a lone wolf. Tamara is shaken to the core when her boyfriend decides to move to Philadelphia and proposes marriage. Jake is looking to make a connection with his estranged son while grieving for his lost love. I don't want to say any more because the prose and story line are so smooth and balanced. You should be able to enjoy the development without interruption from me.Fans of Marcia Muller (Mr. Pronzini's wife) will be delighted to see that Bill and Sharon McCone end up working together on a case. It's neat!After you finish this wonderful novel, I suggest that you think about what you will regret if you don't change your ways. How can you begin making the necessary changes?

Despite rumors that Pronzini's Nameless detective may be no more, Spook proves this wonderful character still has a lot of life in him. In fact, this story, written in a new style, opens the door for the series, thankfully, to go on and on and on.Pronzini is a master, no, a grand master of the genre and certainly deserves a lot more recognition than he has received.Spook is a taut story with excellent character development, and takes a serious look at issues in today's social environment.Definitely a don't-put-it-down read.

What better way to start 2003 off than with a brand new Nameless Detective novel, especially since we all thought his last book was the end of the series. In "Spook", Nameless, along with his soon-to-be partner Tamara and new field operative Jake Runyon, are trying to track down the identity of a murdered homeless man. Interspersed throughout the story are personal episodes of all three main characters. Nameless, one of the world's most socially shy butterflies, is persuaded to attend a Christmas charity event with of all people his old friend Sharon McCone and in the bargain saves her from losing a case. Tamara is faced with a huge decision: her boyfriend is pressuring her to marry him and move back east but she isn't sure she wants to give up a job she loves. Jake is still brooding over the death of his wife and the antagonism of his son. All this gives a new and warm twist to the usual Nameless books. To further add to the twist, Nameless's real name is slipped into the story several times! "Spook" is one of Pronzini's best!

Bill Pronzini's Nameless series of detective novels is perhaps the most underappreciated series in crime fiction history. It has been running since Nixon was operating a recording studio in the White House, and SPOOK is entry number thirty in this unique literary achievement. Mr. Pronzini almost chose to end the series with his previous Nameless novel--BLEEDERS. He didn't, and I am certain every reader, writer, and member of the worldwide mystery community is grateful. I know I am.SPOOK adds fresh twists to the Nameless series. Nameless is back, arranging for his semi-retirement with the same moral and ethical anchors that have been hallmarks of this character since the 1970s. He has given Tamara Corbin a full partnership in their agency, and they've hired a new operative Jake Runyon, a man with a troubled past. Kerry and their recently adopted daughter, Emily, are on hand preparing to celebrate Christmas.Subplots abound, yet the main storyline is engrossing. Nameless is hired to discover the identity of a murdered homeless man. The story involves long-buried crimes, and Mr. Pronzini uses Tamara's and Jake's narrative voices, in addition to the classic voice of Nameless, to tell the story.SPOOK is full of surprises and marks a privotal point in the Nameless series. I am thrilled that the series continues, and I hope that this book finally gets Nameless the wide public recognition/readership the character deserves. Wouldn't it be nice if TIME or NEWSWEEK paid homage to Bill Pronzini at this point in his career? It happened once to Ross Macdonald, as well as certain other crime fiction authors.