Sudden Mischief

Somehow, I feel a batch of people have missed the point here. This is a pivotal novel, one in which Susan has to face some things she would prefer not to. Susan's ex-husband comes to her for help. Of course, she doesn't understand the kind of help he's looking for and her misunderstanding involves Spenser and eventually turns up a batch of stuff that the ex is involved in. Human emotions are dealt with here, and it's revealing to watch Susan as she begins to realize some of her own hang-ups. As far as the mystery goes, there isn't great mystery here. We learn what's going on at the same time that Spenser does and much of it isn't a surprise. Parker does telegraph much of the time and I believe this to be purposeful. More and more, in these later Spenser stories, Parker does something unexpected. This time, it's the ending which is unusually abrupt. There's reason here, and Parker does know exactly what he is doing in the way he's crafting these stories.

I find it odd, having actually discovered Parker with this book, that so many people seem to dislike it. I thought it was incredible, & continue to think so even after reading every other spenser book. I also don't know why people are reading the books if they don't like Susan. The relationship has been there since book two, & i find this chapter in their relationship to be a worthy addition. Are people looking for action? Most of his books, with the notable exception of a Catskill Eagle, are heavy on dialougue, not action. The relationships between all the characters are what have made this series compelling. A worthy addition, and a good introduction for those of us who joined the party late. By the way, I think Valediction is his best.

Reading Robert B Parker is for me like eating potato chips or cotton candy. Insubstantial for the most part but I cannot stop. Once again, the silver-tongued Spenser dazzles his way through most of Massachusetts, unwinding a ball of twine which has Susans ex-husband in the middle. Susan, who has always seemed slightly above the rest of mortal women, actually shows some flakiness here. But she still doesnt eat or drink. I am looking forward to a novel which has Susan ingesting more than a teaspoon of anything. This one is a great (but way too quick) read.

Once again Robert B. Parker has gone out and written a masterful novel in the Spenser series. This time Spenser is asked to look into a sexual harasssment case against Susan's ex- husband, Brad Silverman. As Spenser digs deeper and deeper into the past of Brad and Susan, Brad suddenly disappears. Because Spenser and Hawk found a dead body in Brad's office suspicion is shifted towards Brad and his cloudy and questionable past. When one of Brad's other ex- wives is found murdered that is when Spenser becomes very confused about where Brad is hiding and who killed these two people. Happy reading spenser fans!