Widow's Walk

Nobody does dialogue like Robert B. Parker, especially in his Spenser novels. The intelligence, the staccato, the bare-bones brilliance are there as always, perhaps more finely honed than ever. Widow's Walk is not his best book but it is a good one and would be worth reading for the dialogue alone if there were no plot. But there is a plot, and a good one. Parker's client, Mary Smith, is accused of murdering her husband under circumstances that make her pretty much the only suspect. And she comes across as dumb, very dumb. Or is it dumb like a fox? As Spenser tries to find out and get to the bottom of the murder, side issues and side trails galore arise. As he follows them, the body count multiplies. He, and the reader, are in the dark almost until the very end but it's a most entertaining ride. It's nice as this series continues to see its characters age. Pearl the wonder dog is in her final innings. Susan and Spenser have become solid and comfortable after 25 marriageless years and we get some glimpses into Susan's depth along the way in this one. The too-glib sexual innuendos are still there but the deepening of their relationship is palpable. Only Hawk is inscrutably unchanged. It's a wonderful visit with old friends, a nice, involved plot and, pardon the pun, dialogue to kill for.

Few voice artists can rival Joe Mantegna. He brings an unparalleled depth of understanding to the characters he represents. Perhaps this isn't surprising when one remembers that he's a Tony Award-winner for his portrayal of the memorable Richard Roma in David Mamet's Glengarry Glen Ross. His stellar Broadway credits would be impressive enough, but don't forget the big screen - he's starred in such feature films as Godfather III, Bugsy, and Searching for Bobby Fischer. Mantegna brings every ounce of this ability to his readings - close your eyes, relax, and let the story unfold as only he can tell it. And, this story is a spellbinder. Robert Parker brings back Spenser, one of America's favorite private investigators in another suspenseful tale laced with spine tingling action and crunching dialogue. When 51-year-old Nathan Smith is murdered, his young wife is immediately suspect. Few believe her innocence but she has multi millions so she retains the best to get her out of this jam. Never one to turn down a hefty fee, Spenser takes the case even though the widow's alibi wouldn't stand up in a slight breeze. Mary Smith says she was watching the tube in another room when her husband went to join the heavenly host. Furthermore, witnesses saw the couple loudly disagreeing earlier in the evening and the prosecution has a fellow eager to testify that Mary once tried to pay him to kill Nathan. Stir in another murder and you have a tempest in tea town. Good luck Spenser! As always the remarkable Mr. Parker gives readers what they want - roller coaster ride action, and cleverly conceived characters. Mr. Mantegna gives listeners what they want - a superb reading. - Gail Cooke

I enjoyed Widow's Walk. I was glad Mr. Parker brought Spenser back home to Boston for his latest adventure. He has this setting nailed. The novel involves a woman who is accused of murdering her wealthy husband. Spenser is hired by Rita, her defense attorney. The plot roars along at a breathtaking pace. Parker's humor always hits the mark. Susan's concerns with her client makes up a fitting subplot. Hawk, Quirk, and the rest of the supporting cast perform about as the experieinced Spenser reader would expect. Widow's Walk is a satisfying read.

Robert B. Parker's pithy and literate private detective Spenser, with an S" like the English poet, is back with his street smart sidekick Hawk for a thrilling novel that will fill you up like a fine meal at Spenser's favorite restaurant the East Coast Grill. Startling accusations against his "main squeeze" Susan Silverman provide an interesting side story to the already brilliant and flexuous mystery into the matter of just who killed banker Nathan Smith? Spenser and Hawk's usual descants on issues of the day also make this a novel to remember.Also brought up again in this novel are the issues of homosexuality. Although this is no surprise given what we know about Dr. Parker's sons, it is always a treat to hear Dr. Parker's moderate yet enlightened vista on this touchy question. Any fan of Parker, Spenser, mysteries, or just a good book should read this fabulous novel.

Decades ago with his GODWULF MANUSCRIPT, Robert B. Parker largely reinvented the mystery sub-genre of the tough-guy private eye novel. He showed us all how to update this traditional American prototypical character for today's sensibilities, and Parker's Spenser has earned a place among the most popular of our age's PIs.As does his beloved Red Sox, Parker sends a fresh Spenser mystery onto the field of play every year. Each spring, Spenser seems like a championship creation. Every novel is consistently thrilling, witty, unpredictable, and, in the end, a bit heartbreaking. This series is obviously written by a Red Sox fan. One knows when they begin that in the end all will not be idyllic.WIDOW'S WALK fits this Spenser mold perfectly. Parker is amazingly consistent. In this novel, Spenser is hired by Rita Fiore (an series semi-regular)to help build her defense for her client Mary Smith. Mary's husband, Nathan, of Mayflower lineage, is murdered. Mary, his much younger and terribly unfaithful, widow is everyone's, including Rita's, favorite suspect.Spenser springs into action. Pearl the Wonder Dog is on hand. Susan is here, and, of course, so is Hawk. WIDOW'S WALK has all we have grown to expect from Parker's series. The witty dialog snaps rapidly throughout. Parker's social observations are astute. The true origin of the crime rests with a real estate scam. As one reads WIDOW'S WALK, one has to hope that this year the Red Sox will actually find a way to win the World Series in October. The last time Parker's team won it, the Series was played in September.WIDOW'S WALK is an excellent novel.