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Spenser #45
Robert B. Parker's Little White Lies
Boston PI Spenser and right hand Hawk follow a con man's trail of smoke and mirrors in the latest entry of the iconic crime series. After conning everyone from the cable news shows to the local cops, it looks like the grifter's latest double cross may be his last.
Connie Kelly thought she'd found her perfect man on an online dating site. He was silver-haired and handsome, with a mysterious background working for the C.I.A. She fell so hard for M. Brooks Welles that she wrote him a check for almost three hundred thousand dollars, hoping for a big return on her investment.
But within weeks, both Welles and her money are gone. Her therapist, Dr. Susan Silverman, hands her Spenser's card.
A self-proclaimed military hotshot, Welles had been a frequent guest on national news shows speaking with authority about politics and world events. But when he disappears, he leaves not only a jilted lover but a growing list of angry investors, duped cops, and a team of paramilitary contractors looking for revenge.
Enter Spenser, who quickly discovers that everything about Welles is phony. His name, his resume, and his client list are nothing but an elaborate fraud. But uncovering the truth won't be easy, as he'll have to keep the mystery man alive long enough to get back his client's money. As the trail winds from Boston to backroads Georgia, Spenser will need help from trusted allies Hawk and Teddy Sapp to make sure Welles's next con is his last.
Connie Kelly thought she'd found her perfect man on an online dating site. He was silver-haired and handsome, with a mysterious background working for the C.I.A. She fell so hard for M. Brooks Welles that she wrote him a check for almost three hundred thousand dollars, hoping for a big return on her investment.
But within weeks, both Welles and her money are gone. Her therapist, Dr. Susan Silverman, hands her Spenser's card.
A self-proclaimed military hotshot, Welles had been a frequent guest on national news shows speaking with authority about politics and world events. But when he disappears, he leaves not only a jilted lover but a growing list of angry investors, duped cops, and a team of paramilitary contractors looking for revenge.
Enter Spenser, who quickly discovers that everything about Welles is phony. His name, his resume, and his client list are nothing but an elaborate fraud. But uncovering the truth won't be easy, as he'll have to keep the mystery man alive long enough to get back his client's money. As the trail winds from Boston to backroads Georgia, Spenser will need help from trusted allies Hawk and Teddy Sapp to make sure Welles's next con is his last.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published May 2, 2017
982 people are currently reading
1759 people want to read
About the author
Ace Atkins
71 books1,558 followersAce Atkins is the author of twenty-eight books, including eleven Quinn Colson novels, the first two of which, The Ranger and The Lost Ones, were nominated for the Edgar Award for Best Novel (he has a third Edgar nomination for his short story "Last Fair Deal Gone Down"). He is the author of nine New York Times-bestselling novels in the continuation of Robert B. Parker's Spenser series. Before turning to fiction, he was a correspondent for the St. Petersburg Times and a crime reporter for the Tampa Tribune, and he played defensive end for Auburn University football.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 486 reviews
July 11, 2023
4 stars for a book that I read in 3 days. This is a fast paced thriller. Since the bad guys are identified early on, it is more of a thriller than a mystery. A woman comes to Spenser and wants to hire him to get her money back from a con man. Connie Kelly gave $260,000 to M. Brooks Welles, who promptly disappeared.
This is book 45 in the series, but it would work as a stand alone. Spenser sets out to find Welles, who told Kelly than he was ex CIA, Navy SEAL and was now working on a land investment sure to make her money. She trusted him because she had seen him on a news talk show where he was identified as an expert on terrorism, because of his CIA experience. Spenser soon finds out that he has never been in the Navy, or any branch of the military. While this may seem far fetched, there was a man who appeared regularly on Fox "news" as their terrorism expert because of his experience in the CIA. Subsequently he was arrested and convicted for swindling a woman out of her life savings. It was then revealed that he had never worked for the CIA.
Spenser keeps on investigating and soon finds himself involved in a huge illegal gun smuggling scheme. He is attacked several times and nearly killed, but he does solve the case. The ending is bittersweet.
I recommend this book to Parker fans. Ace Atkins has done a good job of carrying on the tradition of Parker's wisecracks and humor, even when dealing with bad guys.
One quote, describing a crook: "He's so crooked he has to screw himself into a pair of pants to get dressed every morning."
This is book 45 in the series, but it would work as a stand alone. Spenser sets out to find Welles, who told Kelly than he was ex CIA, Navy SEAL and was now working on a land investment sure to make her money. She trusted him because she had seen him on a news talk show where he was identified as an expert on terrorism, because of his CIA experience. Spenser soon finds out that he has never been in the Navy, or any branch of the military. While this may seem far fetched, there was a man who appeared regularly on Fox "news" as their terrorism expert because of his experience in the CIA. Subsequently he was arrested and convicted for swindling a woman out of her life savings. It was then revealed that he had never worked for the CIA.
Spenser keeps on investigating and soon finds himself involved in a huge illegal gun smuggling scheme. He is attacked several times and nearly killed, but he does solve the case. The ending is bittersweet.
I recommend this book to Parker fans. Ace Atkins has done a good job of carrying on the tradition of Parker's wisecracks and humor, even when dealing with bad guys.
One quote, describing a crook: "He's so crooked he has to screw himself into a pair of pants to get dressed every morning."
April 28, 2017
I received a free advance copy of this from NetGalley for review.
I usually spend some time in my reviews of the new Spenser books from Ace Atkins talking about how well he’s done with the tricky job of taking over the series from the late Robert B. Parker. I’m not going to do that anymore because at this point this is entirely Atkins’ series, and Spenser is as good as he’s ever been.
Connie Kelley was swindled out of several hundred thousand dollars by her boyfriend, M. Brooks Welles, who has since vanished, and Connie would like Spenser to track him down and get her money back. Welles claimed to be a military veteran and spy whose experience made him a regular fixture on the cable news as an expert in those matters. What Spenser quickly finds is that Welles is a con man who has left a trail of broken promises and unpaid bills in his wake including a land scam that involved a shady gun dealer.
One of the best parts of this one is the character of Welles because he makes for an infuriating bad guy for Spenser to chase. He’s a compulsive liar who absolutely will never admit that he’s fibbing even when he’s confronted with direct evidence of it. What’s really amazing is how many people he’s burned who continue to fall for it and keep putting their faith in him. I mean, what kind of rubes continue to believe a guy who has been conclusively proven over and over again to be completely full of shit?
As usual we get a lot of twists and turns that find Spenser eventually making a trip down South where even more shenanigans are going on. Along the way he’ll have to deal with cranky cops, angry ATF agents, a wavering client, professional mercenaries, and more scams than you can shake a stick at. We also get the reappearance of a supporting character we haven’t seen in a while as well as plenty of great stuff with Hawk, too. Atkins also continues to rehab Susan so that I actually now enjoy her interactions with Spenser rather than just cringing at the sight of her name on the page.
Of course the heart of it all is Spenser who is his usual hard-punching, straight-shooting, smart-mouthed, gourmet-cooking self, but he still continues to show signs of growth in these newer books including a refreshingly pragmatic streak of how far he’s willing to take a case. Overall, it’s pretty much a book that most fans of Spenser or modern PI novels in general would enjoy reading.
I usually spend some time in my reviews of the new Spenser books from Ace Atkins talking about how well he’s done with the tricky job of taking over the series from the late Robert B. Parker. I’m not going to do that anymore because at this point this is entirely Atkins’ series, and Spenser is as good as he’s ever been.
Connie Kelley was swindled out of several hundred thousand dollars by her boyfriend, M. Brooks Welles, who has since vanished, and Connie would like Spenser to track him down and get her money back. Welles claimed to be a military veteran and spy whose experience made him a regular fixture on the cable news as an expert in those matters. What Spenser quickly finds is that Welles is a con man who has left a trail of broken promises and unpaid bills in his wake including a land scam that involved a shady gun dealer.
One of the best parts of this one is the character of Welles because he makes for an infuriating bad guy for Spenser to chase. He’s a compulsive liar who absolutely will never admit that he’s fibbing even when he’s confronted with direct evidence of it. What’s really amazing is how many people he’s burned who continue to fall for it and keep putting their faith in him. I mean, what kind of rubes continue to believe a guy who has been conclusively proven over and over again to be completely full of shit?
As usual we get a lot of twists and turns that find Spenser eventually making a trip down South where even more shenanigans are going on. Along the way he’ll have to deal with cranky cops, angry ATF agents, a wavering client, professional mercenaries, and more scams than you can shake a stick at. We also get the reappearance of a supporting character we haven’t seen in a while as well as plenty of great stuff with Hawk, too. Atkins also continues to rehab Susan so that I actually now enjoy her interactions with Spenser rather than just cringing at the sight of her name on the page.
Of course the heart of it all is Spenser who is his usual hard-punching, straight-shooting, smart-mouthed, gourmet-cooking self, but he still continues to show signs of growth in these newer books including a refreshingly pragmatic streak of how far he’s willing to take a case. Overall, it’s pretty much a book that most fans of Spenser or modern PI novels in general would enjoy reading.
September 24, 2018
Spenser, Robert B. Parker's iconic Boston P.I., appears here for the forty-fifth time, now in the very capable hands of Ace Atkins who has revived the series and made it fresh again.
As the book opens, Spenser's Significant Other, the therapist Susan Silverman, refers one of her clients, Connie Kelly, to Spenser. Kelly has fallen hard for a guy named M. Brooks Welles who claims to be a former high-ranking secret agent for the U. S. government. Welles has impressed not only Kelly, but a number of cable news networks who have regularly featured him as a noted authority on military matters and international developments.
Welles convinces Kelly to give him nearly $300,000, which he is going to invest in a sure-fire scheme that will make her a fortune. But then Welles disappears and Kelly realizes that she has been conned. Embarrassed, she wants Spenser to find Welles and recover her money.
That will turn out to be a complicated process. Welles is involved in a complex web of mischief with a bunch of gun runners and other bad actors, none of whom want Spenser messing around in their business. Federal agents are also involved in the hunt, and they don't want Spenser messing around in their business, either.
Naturally, Spenser could not care less what either the Bad Guys or the Good Guys want. He's on a mission, with the assistance of his best friend, Hawk, and he's not about to be deterred. The result is a very entertaining novel that is sure to please any fan of the series and practically anyone else who enjoys crime fiction.
If I have one nit to pick with the book, it involves the fact that in his earlier Spenser novels, Atkins had seriously toned down the sappy, saccharine byplay between Spenser and Susan Silverman that so annoyed many readers, this one included. He seems to have stepped it back up a notch in this book, and thus left me cringing at several of their scenes together. Otherwise, I enjoyed the book enormously.
As the book opens, Spenser's Significant Other, the therapist Susan Silverman, refers one of her clients, Connie Kelly, to Spenser. Kelly has fallen hard for a guy named M. Brooks Welles who claims to be a former high-ranking secret agent for the U. S. government. Welles has impressed not only Kelly, but a number of cable news networks who have regularly featured him as a noted authority on military matters and international developments.
Welles convinces Kelly to give him nearly $300,000, which he is going to invest in a sure-fire scheme that will make her a fortune. But then Welles disappears and Kelly realizes that she has been conned. Embarrassed, she wants Spenser to find Welles and recover her money.
That will turn out to be a complicated process. Welles is involved in a complex web of mischief with a bunch of gun runners and other bad actors, none of whom want Spenser messing around in their business. Federal agents are also involved in the hunt, and they don't want Spenser messing around in their business, either.
Naturally, Spenser could not care less what either the Bad Guys or the Good Guys want. He's on a mission, with the assistance of his best friend, Hawk, and he's not about to be deterred. The result is a very entertaining novel that is sure to please any fan of the series and practically anyone else who enjoys crime fiction.
If I have one nit to pick with the book, it involves the fact that in his earlier Spenser novels, Atkins had seriously toned down the sappy, saccharine byplay between Spenser and Susan Silverman that so annoyed many readers, this one included. He seems to have stepped it back up a notch in this book, and thus left me cringing at several of their scenes together. Otherwise, I enjoyed the book enormously.
June 11, 2017
Another underwhelming story that features Mr. Parker's characters in name only. Unimaginative, unlikeable and no more stories by Mr. Atkins for me. 0 of 10 stars
April 8, 2017
I received a copy of this to review from the publisher through NetGalley.
LITTLE WHITE LIES by Ace Atkins follows Spenser as he takes on a case from a patient of his girlfriend and psychiatrist Susan Silverman named Connie Kelly, who comes into his office after having been taken for almost three hundred thousand dollars by her older boyfriend named M. Brooks Welles who has disappeared. Spenser is hired to locate him and see that the money is returned if at all possible, and almost immediately suspects Welles to be a con man who is making claims to education, military service, and CIA involvement that none of which can be verified. Connie unfortunately seems to trust Welles in spite of the overwhelming evidence that he is not who or what he claims to be, and makes things more difficult for Spenser in trying to work on her behalf.
Ace Atkins has done a phenomenal job of taking over the Robert B. Parker Spenser series and has restored many of the qualities that faded in many of RBP's later books in the series, while successfully making it possible for Spenser to age but not seem dated and to build upon characters already present. One particular aspect that he has improved on is with the character Susan Silverman allowing the novels to not become saturated with psychoanalysis and drama. LITTLE WHITE LIES is a little heavier on the psychological focus being that the client Connie is Susan's patient. Hawk and Spenser also fill in some blanks on their past together and individually that fits perfectly, very well done by an author working with characters developed by another author over a lengthy period of time.
Solid action takes place in the second half of the book which includes not only Hawk, but friend Tedy Sapp, who has really developed into a character that fits very well in the series bringing a different aspect as an individual, and can be trusted and relied upon in all situations. I have to say the first part of the book seemed a little slow in going, but moved along nicely at around the midway point.
Honestly it's difficult for me to objectively rate and review an Ace Atkins novel as he's one of my favorite authors, both of the Spenser series as well as the Quinn Colson books. Rating the first part would be a 3, and between 4-5 for the rest of the book, so I'll try to average it out a bit.
4 stars.
LITTLE WHITE LIES by Ace Atkins follows Spenser as he takes on a case from a patient of his girlfriend and psychiatrist Susan Silverman named Connie Kelly, who comes into his office after having been taken for almost three hundred thousand dollars by her older boyfriend named M. Brooks Welles who has disappeared. Spenser is hired to locate him and see that the money is returned if at all possible, and almost immediately suspects Welles to be a con man who is making claims to education, military service, and CIA involvement that none of which can be verified. Connie unfortunately seems to trust Welles in spite of the overwhelming evidence that he is not who or what he claims to be, and makes things more difficult for Spenser in trying to work on her behalf.
Ace Atkins has done a phenomenal job of taking over the Robert B. Parker Spenser series and has restored many of the qualities that faded in many of RBP's later books in the series, while successfully making it possible for Spenser to age but not seem dated and to build upon characters already present. One particular aspect that he has improved on is with the character Susan Silverman allowing the novels to not become saturated with psychoanalysis and drama. LITTLE WHITE LIES is a little heavier on the psychological focus being that the client Connie is Susan's patient. Hawk and Spenser also fill in some blanks on their past together and individually that fits perfectly, very well done by an author working with characters developed by another author over a lengthy period of time.
Solid action takes place in the second half of the book which includes not only Hawk, but friend Tedy Sapp, who has really developed into a character that fits very well in the series bringing a different aspect as an individual, and can be trusted and relied upon in all situations. I have to say the first part of the book seemed a little slow in going, but moved along nicely at around the midway point.
Honestly it's difficult for me to objectively rate and review an Ace Atkins novel as he's one of my favorite authors, both of the Spenser series as well as the Quinn Colson books. Rating the first part would be a 3, and between 4-5 for the rest of the book, so I'll try to average it out a bit.
4 stars.
July 3, 2024
Akins perfectly captures what made Parker’s Spenser novels great. The witty banter, interesting characters, vicious bad guys and intriguing mysteries, but most importantly a standup lead character that doesn’t bend on his morals and ethics. Spenser does the right thing because it’s the right thing to do.
March 30, 2017
★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2 (rounded up)
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
Actually, that's true of the other quotation I almost used, too:
This is Atkins sixth Spenser novel, and you'd think he's got enough of a track record that I could stop comparing him to Parker. Well, you'd be wrong -- I can't stop. This, like most of Atkins' work on this series, is so reminiscent of early Parker novels that it makes some of the latter Parkers look more like they were written by a hired gun. Still, I'm going to try to keep it to a minimum because it doesn't seem fair to keep doing.
Susan has sent one of her clients to Spenser for some help that she can't provide. Connie Kelly had been dating someone she met online, invested in one of his real estate deals -- and he vanished, taking the money with him. Could Spenser track him down and get her cash back? Sure, he says. It doesn't take long for the investigation to show that he owes plenty of people money -- a couple of months rent here, hundreds of thousands of dollar there.
Here's the fun part: M. Brooks Welles, the deadbeat in question, is a silver-haired, silver-tongued mainstay on cable news. He's former CIA, and an expert on military and national security issues -- one of those that producers call on regularly when they need a talking head. Why's a guy like that flaking out on real estate deals? Spenser knows something fishier than expected is going on -- which takes him into a world of mercenaries, gun deals, and the ATF.
Then someone tries to kill him. A couple of times. And the book stops feeling like a semi-light adventure, poking fun at the blowhards on cable TV and the state of American Journalism, and how we shouldn't trust as many people who have cameras pointed at them as we do. Things take on a different tone, bodies start piling up, and a darkness slips in to the book. This also brings in Belson and his new boss -- who's still not a fan of Spenser. About the same time, Connie starts to waver in her conviction that she wants her money back and Welles punished. Spenser, naturally, doesn't care and plows ahead. Hawk is able to connect Spenser with some mercenaries that travel in the same circles as Welles and the chase is on. Eventually, the action moves from Boston and its environs to Georgia. Which means that Teddy Sapp is going to make an appearance.
All the characters were great -- I would've liked some more time with some of Welles' co-conspirators in Boston, I think it'd have helped round out our picture of his crimes. But it's a minor complaint. We also got plenty of interaction with his Georgia-based colleagues. Even the characters that show up for a page or two as witnesses to the crimes were interesting -- it's the little things like those that add so much. It was nice to see Teddy Sapp again, too. He was the best part of Hugger Mugger (faint praise, I realize). The Hawk material was very good -- maybe Atkins' best use of the character yet.
I fully expect that people are going to spend a lot of time talking about the ending -- it didn't feel like a Parker ending. That said, it felt like an ending that pre-A Catskill Eagle Parker might have tried. It was satisfying, don't misunderstand, it's just not the kind of ending that Parker employed. Honestly, there were two other perfectly acceptable places to end the book -- and if not for the progress bar at the bottom of my screen, I might have believed that thee ending was earlier and equally strong.
Now, because Atkins and the Parker estate aren't stupid, there are certain characters that you just know are safe, no matter what shenanigans that they've let Atkins and Coleman get away with when it comes to killing off long-term supporting characters. But there was a definite feeling of peril when it comes to [name redacted] and [name redacted]. Sure I knew they'd live to be read about another day, but I wondered how healthy they'd be in the meantime.
This is sharply written, as usual. Atkins knows what he's doing (in this series or anything else) -- a great mix of character moments and plot. Spenser's voice is strong -- as are the voices of the other regulars. It was just a pleasure to read through and through. Let me leave you with one more snippet that is could've come from an early-80's Spenser just as easily today's, a voice like this is enough reason to read the book -- the rest is just gravy (and there's plenty of gravy):
Disclaimer: I received this eARC from Putnam Books via NetGalley in exchange for this post -- thanks to both for this.
N.B.: As this was an ARC, any quotations above may be changed in the published work -- I will endeavor to verify them as soon as possible.
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
Pearl and I were off to Central Square . Her long brown ears blew in the wind as we drove along Memorial Drive against the Charles. Rowers rowed, joggers jogged, and bench sitters sat. It was midSeptember and air had turned crisp. The leaves had already started to turn red and gold, shining in Technicolor upon the still water.I debated about what quotation I'd open with -- I went with this Parker-esque (and Atkins-esque) description. Little White Lies is one of the better of Atkins run on this series, because (like here) he did something that feels like something Parker would've written, but not quite what he'd have said (the more I think about it, the less I think that Parker'd have said "bench sitters sat").
Actually, that's true of the other quotation I almost used, too:
I nodded , adding water to the new coffeemaker sitting atop my file cabinet. I’d recently upgraded from Mr. Coffee to one of those machines that used pre-measured plastic cups. I placed my mug under the filter, clamped down the lid, and returned to my desk. Demonic hissing sounds echoed in my office. Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio?
This is Atkins sixth Spenser novel, and you'd think he's got enough of a track record that I could stop comparing him to Parker. Well, you'd be wrong -- I can't stop. This, like most of Atkins' work on this series, is so reminiscent of early Parker novels that it makes some of the latter Parkers look more like they were written by a hired gun. Still, I'm going to try to keep it to a minimum because it doesn't seem fair to keep doing.
Susan has sent one of her clients to Spenser for some help that she can't provide. Connie Kelly had been dating someone she met online, invested in one of his real estate deals -- and he vanished, taking the money with him. Could Spenser track him down and get her cash back? Sure, he says. It doesn't take long for the investigation to show that he owes plenty of people money -- a couple of months rent here, hundreds of thousands of dollar there.
Here's the fun part: M. Brooks Welles, the deadbeat in question, is a silver-haired, silver-tongued mainstay on cable news. He's former CIA, and an expert on military and national security issues -- one of those that producers call on regularly when they need a talking head. Why's a guy like that flaking out on real estate deals? Spenser knows something fishier than expected is going on -- which takes him into a world of mercenaries, gun deals, and the ATF.
Then someone tries to kill him. A couple of times. And the book stops feeling like a semi-light adventure, poking fun at the blowhards on cable TV and the state of American Journalism, and how we shouldn't trust as many people who have cameras pointed at them as we do. Things take on a different tone, bodies start piling up, and a darkness slips in to the book. This also brings in Belson and his new boss -- who's still not a fan of Spenser. About the same time, Connie starts to waver in her conviction that she wants her money back and Welles punished. Spenser, naturally, doesn't care and plows ahead. Hawk is able to connect Spenser with some mercenaries that travel in the same circles as Welles and the chase is on. Eventually, the action moves from Boston and its environs to Georgia. Which means that Teddy Sapp is going to make an appearance.
All the characters were great -- I would've liked some more time with some of Welles' co-conspirators in Boston, I think it'd have helped round out our picture of his crimes. But it's a minor complaint. We also got plenty of interaction with his Georgia-based colleagues. Even the characters that show up for a page or two as witnesses to the crimes were interesting -- it's the little things like those that add so much. It was nice to see Teddy Sapp again, too. He was the best part of Hugger Mugger (faint praise, I realize). The Hawk material was very good -- maybe Atkins' best use of the character yet.
I fully expect that people are going to spend a lot of time talking about the ending -- it didn't feel like a Parker ending. That said, it felt like an ending that pre-A Catskill Eagle Parker might have tried. It was satisfying, don't misunderstand, it's just not the kind of ending that Parker employed. Honestly, there were two other perfectly acceptable places to end the book -- and if not for the progress bar at the bottom of my screen, I might have believed that thee ending was earlier and equally strong.
Now, because Atkins and the Parker estate aren't stupid, there are certain characters that you just know are safe, no matter what shenanigans that they've let Atkins and Coleman get away with when it comes to killing off long-term supporting characters. But there was a definite feeling of peril when it comes to [name redacted] and [name redacted]. Sure I knew they'd live to be read about another day, but I wondered how healthy they'd be in the meantime.
This is sharply written, as usual. Atkins knows what he's doing (in this series or anything else) -- a great mix of character moments and plot. Spenser's voice is strong -- as are the voices of the other regulars. It was just a pleasure to read through and through. Let me leave you with one more snippet that is could've come from an early-80's Spenser just as easily today's, a voice like this is enough reason to read the book -- the rest is just gravy (and there's plenty of gravy):
I returned with sore legs back to my seat on the steps. I spent the next fifteen minutes watching women of all ages, sizes, and colors walk past me. I liked the way most women walked. I liked the way they dressed. And talked and smelled. I was pretty damn sure I was a fan of women in general. Did this make me a sexist or a feminist? Or somewhere in between.
Disclaimer: I received this eARC from Putnam Books via NetGalley in exchange for this post -- thanks to both for this.
N.B.: As this was an ARC, any quotations above may be changed in the published work -- I will endeavor to verify them as soon as possible.
July 29, 2017
I suppose I should envy those who can read this slop and think it was well done. It wasn't. In actual fact, Spenser joins Parker with this and is now dead as well. Atkins was obviously writing for a contract, wanted to get done and just strung enough words together to get to the end. The real Spenser is gone. This one is an arrogant blowhard who loves to bloviate, whether or not what he's babbling about has anything to do with the topic at hand. The Parker Spenser is likable and perceptive; this one is neither. Never before in any Parker novel was I in a rush to just finish but this one I finished just to get it over. I did finish though so a bit more than a one star rating.
The Parker estate, if not in it entirely for the money, and I know how likely that is, ought to get rid of Atkins post haste and either let Spenser die or find an author with real interest, something Atkins had but lost. VERY disappointing.
The Parker estate, if not in it entirely for the money, and I know how likely that is, ought to get rid of Atkins post haste and either let Spenser die or find an author with real interest, something Atkins had but lost. VERY disappointing.
July 30, 2018
Unlike a lot of reviewers, I thought Atkins did his best job yet of evoking the original spirit of Spenser. A woman is victimized by a flim-flam man and Spenser tries to get her money back. Of course, there is much more than that involved, but Spenser gets to the bottom of it. Recommended.
June 23, 2017
Well, hello Spenser....It's been a while...
How you doin'?
He's doing well. Probably missed me as much as I missed him. ;)
Once again Spenser takes a case, is fired, but finds himself too deep into it and too honourable to just walk away and let the bad guys win.
He's awesome that way.
How you doin'?
He's doing well. Probably missed me as much as I missed him. ;)
Once again Spenser takes a case, is fired, but finds himself too deep into it and too honourable to just walk away and let the bad guys win.
He's awesome that way.
January 30, 2020
When Connie Kelly’s husband left her two years ago she lost much of her confidence and began seeing Susan Silverman in an effort to pick up the pieces and turn her life around. She also met M. Brooke Wells on an internet dating site and quickly fell in love with the man who said he was a Harvard graduate, had fought in Vietnam, spent time as a navy seal and worked for the CIA. She had seen him several times on cable TV where he was interviewed about terrorism, military affairs and world events. Life began looking good again. But she is once again a woman is distress. Welles convinced Connie to invest in a real estate scheme, what he called a foolproof investment in land up near Walden Pond. But now he has disappeared with almost three hundred thousand dollars of her money. When she spoke to Susan about what had happened, Susan gave her Spenser’s business card and suggested he might be able to help her.
Connie tells Spenser she really wants to know who this man is. He had convinced her about his past which she never questioned given she saw him on TV talking about his adventurous past and publicizing the huge book deal he had signed. The soon to be published volume “American Patriot” was all about his time in the Vietnam jungle, his sorties into El Salvador and his work on the front lines fighting terrorists in the Middle East. Now she wonders who he really is apart from a liar and a phony. She wants her money back and she wants him hung out to dry.
It is not long before Spenser discovers that everything he has heard about this man is false. He is not Harvard graduate, was never in Vietnam and never worked for the CIA. There is absolutely no evidence to back up any of his claims. Spenser knows that people who have been part of CIA operations work don’t talk about it. But Welles seems to relish in it, making vague comments about missions in South American and work battling communism. Spenser tracks down EDGE, the company Welles used as his base to pull in potential investors and found it has been bankrupt for months.
Everyone Spenser talks to describes Welles as a man with lots of personality and charm who easily makes friends with everyone he meets. But Spenser learns he has relationships with some pretty scary characters including a man named John Gredoni who owns a huge gun shop and runs a gun range. His conversations lead him to others besides Connie Kelly who have been dealt a bad hand and are also looking for Welles, among them angry investors, cops that were misled and a group of scary paramilitary contractors looking for some lost equipment. Spenser believes there are probably even more people out there that still do not realize they have been conned.
He begins to untangle the complex and elaborate scheme with Welles at its center, but his search is complicated by Connie’s constant wavering about her “on again off again” relationship with Welles and at one point she even fires Spenser. But Spenser carries on, now aware of the many other victims Welles has taken advantage of and are victims of his lies. Spenser hates liars and always supports the vulnerable underdog but at one point he wonders whether all this is worth the effort he is putting into it. But then bodies begin to fall and as things get tense and he is out maneuvered and outnumbered, he brings in Hawk and his old friend Tedy Sapp from Georgia to give him a hand.
Spenser is sorting out his personal life and has relocated to new digs in the Charleston Navy Yard after losing his office in a fire. He and Susan have revisited the issue of moving in together but it was a short conversation. Their first effort did not pan out and it seems foolish to mess with something that is working well. His knee is healing after his surgery and he no longer favors it, although Henry Cimoli keeps reminding him that he moves like Henry’s sister who has been dead for ten years now! It is scenes like this where Atkins shows his ability to capture the great dialogue that was so important in the series when Parker created it years ago.
At one point Atkins notes Spenser writing things down in a little black notebook, something that would have been unheard of years ago. But since Atkins took over the series he has been dropping small details like this, marking the passage of time and perhaps preparing readers for anther stage in Spenser’s life.
I found this plot scattered all over the map, both geographically and story-wise starting out as one thing and ending up as something quite different. There were so many tangents and side stories that it lacked some critical cohesion to keep it all together. It was no wonder Spenser went through a period where he bailed on the case. As he has aged, he realizes he has a limited amount of time and with this case going in so many different directions and with so many different people and groups involved, he can leave it in good hands. The entire mess brought in everyone from Rachel Wallace, Brian Lundquist to Belson, Glass and the ATF. Readers may also find Connie’s continual flip flopping on her affair with Welles not really credible, but when dealing with a sociopath, nothing necessarily follows the rules of logic.
This not one of my favourite installments in the series with a plot all over the map (literally) but it still gives readers a good run for their money.
Connie tells Spenser she really wants to know who this man is. He had convinced her about his past which she never questioned given she saw him on TV talking about his adventurous past and publicizing the huge book deal he had signed. The soon to be published volume “American Patriot” was all about his time in the Vietnam jungle, his sorties into El Salvador and his work on the front lines fighting terrorists in the Middle East. Now she wonders who he really is apart from a liar and a phony. She wants her money back and she wants him hung out to dry.
It is not long before Spenser discovers that everything he has heard about this man is false. He is not Harvard graduate, was never in Vietnam and never worked for the CIA. There is absolutely no evidence to back up any of his claims. Spenser knows that people who have been part of CIA operations work don’t talk about it. But Welles seems to relish in it, making vague comments about missions in South American and work battling communism. Spenser tracks down EDGE, the company Welles used as his base to pull in potential investors and found it has been bankrupt for months.
Everyone Spenser talks to describes Welles as a man with lots of personality and charm who easily makes friends with everyone he meets. But Spenser learns he has relationships with some pretty scary characters including a man named John Gredoni who owns a huge gun shop and runs a gun range. His conversations lead him to others besides Connie Kelly who have been dealt a bad hand and are also looking for Welles, among them angry investors, cops that were misled and a group of scary paramilitary contractors looking for some lost equipment. Spenser believes there are probably even more people out there that still do not realize they have been conned.
He begins to untangle the complex and elaborate scheme with Welles at its center, but his search is complicated by Connie’s constant wavering about her “on again off again” relationship with Welles and at one point she even fires Spenser. But Spenser carries on, now aware of the many other victims Welles has taken advantage of and are victims of his lies. Spenser hates liars and always supports the vulnerable underdog but at one point he wonders whether all this is worth the effort he is putting into it. But then bodies begin to fall and as things get tense and he is out maneuvered and outnumbered, he brings in Hawk and his old friend Tedy Sapp from Georgia to give him a hand.
Spenser is sorting out his personal life and has relocated to new digs in the Charleston Navy Yard after losing his office in a fire. He and Susan have revisited the issue of moving in together but it was a short conversation. Their first effort did not pan out and it seems foolish to mess with something that is working well. His knee is healing after his surgery and he no longer favors it, although Henry Cimoli keeps reminding him that he moves like Henry’s sister who has been dead for ten years now! It is scenes like this where Atkins shows his ability to capture the great dialogue that was so important in the series when Parker created it years ago.
At one point Atkins notes Spenser writing things down in a little black notebook, something that would have been unheard of years ago. But since Atkins took over the series he has been dropping small details like this, marking the passage of time and perhaps preparing readers for anther stage in Spenser’s life.
I found this plot scattered all over the map, both geographically and story-wise starting out as one thing and ending up as something quite different. There were so many tangents and side stories that it lacked some critical cohesion to keep it all together. It was no wonder Spenser went through a period where he bailed on the case. As he has aged, he realizes he has a limited amount of time and with this case going in so many different directions and with so many different people and groups involved, he can leave it in good hands. The entire mess brought in everyone from Rachel Wallace, Brian Lundquist to Belson, Glass and the ATF. Readers may also find Connie’s continual flip flopping on her affair with Welles not really credible, but when dealing with a sociopath, nothing necessarily follows the rules of logic.
This not one of my favourite installments in the series with a plot all over the map (literally) but it still gives readers a good run for their money.
June 15, 2018
(2.5 stars) I really liked the last Spenser book ("Kickback"). This one, however, was a disappointment. It seemed really forced/padded, and too many of Spenser's 'clever' retorts, WAY too many were forced and some simply made no sense at all in response to what was said. The book dragged on and just did not hold my interest -- actually flipped through pages, like the basketball game. And the cooking -- his cooking is getting a bit tiresome. Such a gourmet cook, really? It's getting excessive. I know he learned to cook growing up with his father and uncles, but I doubt they made such things as braised oxtail and lavender marinades. ;-) Being the type of character he portrays, it would be more believable to 'occasionally' whip up some bacon and eggs/ meatloaf, etc. Enough with the cooking lessons!
Also, getting to be too much Susan. She is getting annoying. I could do without her entirely -- might open a whole new avenue/storyline for Spenser! (More Hawk though!)
Some editing problems. A glaring one I remember was entirely the wrong word. He was going to send a bottle to Rachel and said he would sent it "forthright". Uh, no. Wrong word. What he meant was "forthwith" (right away). Should not be making such a glaring mistake, really really goes against just how 'erudite' Spenser is supposed to be. How could he make a mistake like this? ;-)
I will try the next one and hope that he gives it more attention than he seemed to give this one.
Also, getting to be too much Susan. She is getting annoying. I could do without her entirely -- might open a whole new avenue/storyline for Spenser! (More Hawk though!)
Some editing problems. A glaring one I remember was entirely the wrong word. He was going to send a bottle to Rachel and said he would sent it "forthright". Uh, no. Wrong word. What he meant was "forthwith" (right away). Should not be making such a glaring mistake, really really goes against just how 'erudite' Spenser is supposed to be. How could he make a mistake like this? ;-)
I will try the next one and hope that he gives it more attention than he seemed to give this one.
June 20, 2017
After 45 books, I still love this series and look forward to my springtime visit with Spenser and crew. When Parker passed away, I was resigned to that being the end of Spenser. I'm glad his family decided to keep the series going and Atkins was an excellent choice. He's a very good writer and he gets the nuances of this series down pat. In this one, Spenser is hired by one of Susan's patients to track down the con man who cheated her out of a LOT of money. Lots of backstabbing by various people in this one and Spenser & Hawk eventually end up in Georgia. They tangle with a church that's a church in name only, con-man preachers, gun runners, militias and all manner of low-life bad guy. Tedy Sapp returns in this one and that's just one more reason to be happy in my book! Recommend!
August 25, 2018
Robert B. Parker's Little White Lies (Audio CD) by Ace Atkins.
This story was a let down after my last Ace Atkins Spencer story.
The theme of this story is Spencer's hunt for a con man. So many people have been swindle out of their life savings that go unnoticed until finally Connie Kelly informs Spencer of her loss. Spencer digs deep but this con man, Welles, has a long list of victims that goes even deeper. Hawk is with Spencer all the way and their camaraderie enhanced the story at just the right moments.
My problem is with the story itself. Once again a con man is at the head of a swindling organization disguised as a congregation of sorts with himself leading the sermons. Seriously? Has this theme not played itself out years ago? Tiresome and disappointed.
This story was a let down after my last Ace Atkins Spencer story.
The theme of this story is Spencer's hunt for a con man. So many people have been swindle out of their life savings that go unnoticed until finally Connie Kelly informs Spencer of her loss. Spencer digs deep but this con man, Welles, has a long list of victims that goes even deeper. Hawk is with Spencer all the way and their camaraderie enhanced the story at just the right moments.
My problem is with the story itself. Once again a con man is at the head of a swindling organization disguised as a congregation of sorts with himself leading the sermons. Seriously? Has this theme not played itself out years ago? Tiresome and disappointed.
September 10, 2018
It took me a while to get through this book. Yes, the characters are there, but the spark is missing. Atkins does a pretty good job carrying on the Spenser banner, but this one, for me, was a little underwhelming. I like reading about Boston, but the plot was forgettable. However, in tribute to Parker, I will soldier on to the next book, looking to recapture the original flavor.
June 28, 2017
I read a lot, which means I also talk books a lot. I aim for 100 per year, and I've made it every year since the late 90's. Of all those books, the Spenser series remains my favorite, so very narrowly edging out The Dresden Files. Ace Atkins took over when creator Robert B. Parker died. Gotta give Parker credit, he died at his writing desk, which any author would admire.
In this installment, Spenser is hired off a recommendation from his long time love Susan Silverman. Her patient Connie Kelly has been swindled and taken advantage of, so it's Spenser to the rescue... only it's not that simple. Con-man M. Brooks Welles has lied about his background, his military service, his employment at the CIA, and left a chain of lawsuits, heartbreak, and broke people behind him. Welles proves remarkably hard to find, and his past gets murkier as Spenser digs.
The case leads from a gun-range in Lynn to the world of mercenaries to rural Georgia. Not only does Hawk step in to watch Spenser's back, but ace shooter and very openly gay Tedy Sapp returns as well. There are even more complications when the ATF gets involved. The bodies pile up and it looks like even Spenser's determination and never give up attitude might not be enough to close this tangled mess.
I always get uneasy when they mention how much time has gone by in Spenser's career. It always makes me worry about the future of the series. Healy, Spenser's long-time contact with the State Police, is retired, Spenser is using glasses occasionally, and there are other hints about age. That to one side, another great outing of Spenser and his family, because that's what Susan and Hawk are to him. I was a little unclear about a reference to a cabin in Maine, which I don't recall coming up before.
Minor nitpicks to one side, a great action/adventure/detective story. I love this series, and, as with most good ones, recommend you start from the beginning. In this case, The Godwulf Manuscript .
In this installment, Spenser is hired off a recommendation from his long time love Susan Silverman. Her patient Connie Kelly has been swindled and taken advantage of, so it's Spenser to the rescue... only it's not that simple. Con-man M. Brooks Welles has lied about his background, his military service, his employment at the CIA, and left a chain of lawsuits, heartbreak, and broke people behind him. Welles proves remarkably hard to find, and his past gets murkier as Spenser digs.
The case leads from a gun-range in Lynn to the world of mercenaries to rural Georgia. Not only does Hawk step in to watch Spenser's back, but ace shooter and very openly gay Tedy Sapp returns as well. There are even more complications when the ATF gets involved. The bodies pile up and it looks like even Spenser's determination and never give up attitude might not be enough to close this tangled mess.
I always get uneasy when they mention how much time has gone by in Spenser's career. It always makes me worry about the future of the series. Healy, Spenser's long-time contact with the State Police, is retired, Spenser is using glasses occasionally, and there are other hints about age. That to one side, another great outing of Spenser and his family, because that's what Susan and Hawk are to him. I was a little unclear about a reference to a cabin in Maine, which I don't recall coming up before.
Minor nitpicks to one side, a great action/adventure/detective story. I love this series, and, as with most good ones, recommend you start from the beginning. In this case, The Godwulf Manuscript .
January 25, 2018
There's nothing I can say about Little White Lies that I haven't already said about Ace Atkins' other Spenser novels. I am a fan of all of Robert B. Parker's various mystery series, chronicling the adventures of Spenser, Jesse Stone, and Sunny Randall. After Parker's death in 2010, Parker's estate commissioned various mystery writers to continue all three series. I've tried each of the post-Parker series, and in my estimation, the only one that sounds like Parker himself, is Ace Atkins' work. In fact, the last Spenser works from Parker himself struck me as a bit shop-worn--Atkins not only has continued the Spenser stories in a manner that I have to believe Parker himself would approve, but injected new energy and life into an old, venerable, but tired series.
May 12, 2017
4.5 stars, actually. The author has done a commendable job taking over the late, great Robert B. Parker's Spenser series, IMHO. Most of what I've missed is the snappy banter between Spenser and his faithful sidekick Hawk (and to some extent, between Spenser and his main squeeze, Dr. Susan Silverman). That, and the occasional interjections of humor, seem better here. When Spenser visits a service in a Georgia mega-church and listens to the music from a rock band and a gospel choir, for instance, he quips that it "was a bit like Andrew Lloyd Webber meets Three Dog Night."
The adventure begins when Spenser gets a visit from Connie Kelly, a woman not only scorned, but ripped off. Her handsome and much older lover - whom she met online and trusted because he's a "talking head" TV networks - has flown her coop along with the nearly $300,000 she gave him to invest in a "sure thing." Distraught, she discussed her feelings with her shrink - you guessed it, Susan - who in turn recommended that she bring the matter to Spenser's attention.
All Connie wants is for Spenser to find the man who done her wrong, M. Brooks Welles, and get her money back. But almost immediately, Spenser learns Welles is far from what he claims to be; his hot-shot military and espionage experience, Harvard degree and even his name are nothing more than hot air. But wait, there's more: it seems he's to in cahoots with some very dangerous characters from the Atlanta area who don't take kindly to a Boston private eye poking around in their territory. What's more, they, too, have set their sights on finding Welles; apparently, Connie isn't the only person he ripped off.
Even after some twists and turns that mean he could turn his back on the whole mess and walk away, Spenser remains determined to carry out Connie's directive and recoup her money. To help, he calls in the super-capable Hawk and even his old pal Teddy Sapp; but will they be able to get to the bottom of things before at least one of them gets seriously wounded or even killed?
Ah, you'll just have to find that out for yourself. It's short, sweet and snappy - what I call perfect summer reading.
The adventure begins when Spenser gets a visit from Connie Kelly, a woman not only scorned, but ripped off. Her handsome and much older lover - whom she met online and trusted because he's a "talking head" TV networks - has flown her coop along with the nearly $300,000 she gave him to invest in a "sure thing." Distraught, she discussed her feelings with her shrink - you guessed it, Susan - who in turn recommended that she bring the matter to Spenser's attention.
All Connie wants is for Spenser to find the man who done her wrong, M. Brooks Welles, and get her money back. But almost immediately, Spenser learns Welles is far from what he claims to be; his hot-shot military and espionage experience, Harvard degree and even his name are nothing more than hot air. But wait, there's more: it seems he's to in cahoots with some very dangerous characters from the Atlanta area who don't take kindly to a Boston private eye poking around in their territory. What's more, they, too, have set their sights on finding Welles; apparently, Connie isn't the only person he ripped off.
Even after some twists and turns that mean he could turn his back on the whole mess and walk away, Spenser remains determined to carry out Connie's directive and recoup her money. To help, he calls in the super-capable Hawk and even his old pal Teddy Sapp; but will they be able to get to the bottom of things before at least one of them gets seriously wounded or even killed?
Ah, you'll just have to find that out for yourself. It's short, sweet and snappy - what I call perfect summer reading.
March 24, 2017
I have over a dozen Robert B. Parker books, yet this is the first one in his series that I've read. I have read Ace Atkins books before that he has written not as Robert B. Parker. I loved the Ace Atkins books and yes, I loved the Robert B. Parker book. I can tell there is a different style of writing.
I really like this Spenser character. What a smarta$$ he is. I like that, reminds me of myself. In this particular book, his client has met a man online and she has given him $360,000. Now that man has left and she wants her $$ back. Spenser soon finds out, she really doesn't care about the $$, she wants the man back. Spenser is determined though, his client is paying for the $$, she's getting the $$. There are several shady characters involved in this mystery and I certainly would not turn my back on them. Getting through the muck of all this and discovering just who this online man really is made for great reading.
I enjoyed this book immensely and was thoroughly entertained. I will certainly be looking forward to reading more in this series. Now, I am going to have to get out my own Robert B. Parker books and see how the real man holds up to his replacement. HA!!
Huge thanks to Penguin Group Putnam for approving my request and to Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest unbiased review.
I really like this Spenser character. What a smarta$$ he is. I like that, reminds me of myself. In this particular book, his client has met a man online and she has given him $360,000. Now that man has left and she wants her $$ back. Spenser soon finds out, she really doesn't care about the $$, she wants the man back. Spenser is determined though, his client is paying for the $$, she's getting the $$. There are several shady characters involved in this mystery and I certainly would not turn my back on them. Getting through the muck of all this and discovering just who this online man really is made for great reading.
I enjoyed this book immensely and was thoroughly entertained. I will certainly be looking forward to reading more in this series. Now, I am going to have to get out my own Robert B. Parker books and see how the real man holds up to his replacement. HA!!
Huge thanks to Penguin Group Putnam for approving my request and to Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest unbiased review.
June 25, 2017
Spencer's girlfriend, Susan, convinces him to take on the case of one of her patients, a woman who has been swindled out of a large amount of money. Spencer agrees, and meets with the woman. He learns that the man involved is not who he said he was. He digs in to try to find out who he is, and finds out that he is involved in a gun running scheme. He is joined by Hawk to try to find the source. The man is found and talks the client into seeing him again, and she leaves with him. Later, she is found dead, and, although she is no longer her client, he feels it his duty to avenge her. He and Hawk follow the money to a "church" that is running guns and stealing money from their parishioners. Hawk goes undercover and Spencer is joined by Tedy, who was in a former book. The boyfriend is also married, and has 3 children. They break the gang, but the boyfriend goes missing, yet again.
February 20, 2019
Feb 2019 book on tape. I thoroughly enjoy the story as read by Joe Mantegna. This is my current "go to" book on tape for car travel in town: the voices of Joe Mantegna as company in Los Angeles traffic. I recommend this Atkins story, especially if you miss Parker.
January 2018 I liked this take on Spenser more than some of the other post Parker stories. Atkins has been more true to the Parker style of Spenser's speech patterns If you liked Parker, I think you'll enjoy this story.
January 2018 I liked this take on Spenser more than some of the other post Parker stories. Atkins has been more true to the Parker style of Spenser's speech patterns If you liked Parker, I think you'll enjoy this story.
June 2, 2017
Big Change and Not for the Better
I have liked previous Spencer books and those by Ace Adams but this Spencer is not the same. The writing seemed forced to promote politically correct attitudes and outlooks not previously attributed to Spencer. The book had a definite slant against Christianity. I will not be reading any more by Adams.
I have liked previous Spencer books and those by Ace Adams but this Spencer is not the same. The writing seemed forced to promote politically correct attitudes and outlooks not previously attributed to Spencer. The book had a definite slant against Christianity. I will not be reading any more by Adams.
July 21, 2017
Only made it through the first 5 chapters. Unfortunately, I couldn't get into it.
June 6, 2017
If there was a way to assign 2 1/2 points, then I'd assign them. Some of the banter between Spenser and Hawk is good to hear, the banter between Spenser and Susan is no longer quite so irritating, and Spenser's exchanges with the chief bad guy start well but are hampered by the villain's implausible and cardboard nature. The main attraction is the place in which the book takes place: Spenser's Boston brings back pleasant memories of stronger books in the series.
May 25, 2025
This is the first book I've read in this series. It was all right, especially with the humor helping. It was not especially distinctive, to me. I couldn't understand why the PI kept chasing the bad guy, even after the client wanted him to stop.
February 7, 2025
Spenser is hired for a simple job but it gets complicated very quickly. Hawk and Tedy Sap play pivotal roles in getting the bad guys.
April 9, 2019
Getting used to Atkins. Good stories.
July 21, 2017
What makes the Spenser books successful is not the mystery, it's the loyalty. Spenser evokes loyalty in his friends and he has a very rigid code of ethics. It usually doesn't matter that his client wants him to back down or back off. When he sees injustice, he wants to stop it. In this case it is Susan Silverman who puts Spenser in the crosshairs by recommending Spenser to one of her patients. The patient has been swindled out of quite a lot of money and she would like it back. The swindler has a cover story for his cover story and of course they are all lies. Hawk has his back but he still needs to call in some favors from Rachel Wallace and other old friends. I like how Atkins brings in players from Spenser's past and shows those loyalty bonds. I liked how Hawk went "undercover" for the other side. The book had a slow middle as leads kept getting killed but all in all, I was quite satisfied.
August 21, 2019
Before this, I read Margaret Maron's Designated Daughters , a pleasant cozy from a well-regarded series. Unfortunately, I am not a reader who appreciates very cozy cozies, and DD was an extremely cozy cozy. Afterwards, I needed to cleanse my palette.
Little White Lies was a great cleanser. This is not a cozy. This is a rumbler. There are characters with bad intentions. There is violence. There are bullets, brawn, booze and bruising. This was a ribs and bourbon alternative to the cucumber & mayonnaise sandwich and herbal tea luncheon that was Designated Daughters.
It is not among the best of the Spenser series. It's not essential to the Spenser history. But readers who enjoy Spenser will find plenty to like here. Spenser, Hawk, Tedy, cops who help, cops who hinder and bluster, doughnuts and coffee, banter and innuendo.
Dedicated fans of the Deborah Knox series (or any cozy series) probably need to give this as wide a berth as I will now respectfully give to the Knox series.
Little White Lies was a great cleanser. This is not a cozy. This is a rumbler. There are characters with bad intentions. There is violence. There are bullets, brawn, booze and bruising. This was a ribs and bourbon alternative to the cucumber & mayonnaise sandwich and herbal tea luncheon that was Designated Daughters.
It is not among the best of the Spenser series. It's not essential to the Spenser history. But readers who enjoy Spenser will find plenty to like here. Spenser, Hawk, Tedy, cops who help, cops who hinder and bluster, doughnuts and coffee, banter and innuendo.
Dedicated fans of the Deborah Knox series (or any cozy series) probably need to give this as wide a berth as I will now respectfully give to the Knox series.
May 13, 2017
All in all Ace Atkins does a nice job with this installment of the Spenser series. It may, however, be the worst edited Spenser story yet. For the Spenser to say he will deliver a bottle of good bourbon "forthright" rather than "forthwith". Does an injustice to the character. For Hawk to say he ain't "gone" do something, rather than "goin'" does injustice to him. For a reference to be made to a cars "headlines" shining on the snow, rather than "headlights", does the author injustice and takes away from the story. In spite of this the story is good. The Maltese Falcon line is overworked, though. The literary reference are a bit labored. As i say it is a good story and well worth the read. It is not great. Susan does a nice job. Spenser, Hawk, and Spenser's other back-up are well done. For the Spenser loyalists in the crowd, you won't be disappointed. Atkins adds his own touch and it worth it for that as well. Enjoy!
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