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Sunny Randall #9
Robert B. Parker's Payback
In her latest thrilling adventure, PI Sunny Randall takes on two serpentine cases that converge into one deadly mystery.
PI Sunny Randall has often relied on the help of her best friend Spike in times of need. When Spike's restaurant is taken over under a predatory loan agreement, Sunny has a chance to return the favor. She begins digging into the life of the hedge fund manager who screwed Spike over - surely a guy that smarmy has a skeleton or two in his closet - and soon finds this new enemy may have the backing of even badder criminals.
At the same time, Sunny's cop contact Lee Farrell asks her to intervene with his niece, a college student who reported being the victim of a crime but seems to know more than she's telling police. As the uncooperative young woman becomes outright hostile, Sunny runs up against a wall that she's only more determined to scale.
Then, what appear to be two disparate cases are united by a common factor, and the picture becomes even more muddled. But one thing is clear: Sunny has been poking a hornet's nest from two sides, and all hell is about to break loose.
PI Sunny Randall has often relied on the help of her best friend Spike in times of need. When Spike's restaurant is taken over under a predatory loan agreement, Sunny has a chance to return the favor. She begins digging into the life of the hedge fund manager who screwed Spike over - surely a guy that smarmy has a skeleton or two in his closet - and soon finds this new enemy may have the backing of even badder criminals.
At the same time, Sunny's cop contact Lee Farrell asks her to intervene with his niece, a college student who reported being the victim of a crime but seems to know more than she's telling police. As the uncooperative young woman becomes outright hostile, Sunny runs up against a wall that she's only more determined to scale.
Then, what appear to be two disparate cases are united by a common factor, and the picture becomes even more muddled. But one thing is clear: Sunny has been poking a hornet's nest from two sides, and all hell is about to break loose.
413 pages, Library Binding
First published May 4, 2021
395 people are currently reading
441 people want to read
About the author
Mike Lupica
111 books1,217 followersMichael Lupica is an author and American newspaper columnist, best known for his provocative commentary on sports in the New York Daily News and his appearances on ESPN.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 200 reviews
May 4, 2021
This book is an easy 4 stars. It is an easy, entertaining read following Robert B. Parker's style of short sentences and short chapters. Mike Lupica has done well in incorporating Parker's characters and their personalities.
Familiar characters from the series:
Sunny Randall, Private Investigator
Spike, gay bar owner and Sunny's friend/backup guy
Jesse Stone, Paradise Police Chief and Sonny's lover
Richie , her ex spouse, who still loves her and she reciprocates
Phil Randall, her dad, a retired cop
Dr. Susan Silverman. Sunny's psychiatrist
Rita Fiore, lawyer friend of Sunny and Jesse
Tony Marcus, mob boss who has a past with Sunny
This book has Sunny working on 2 cases for friends:
Spike has lost his restaurant to a predatory lender who loaned Spike money during the Covid crisis as a "friend"
Lee Farrell, Sunny's cop friend asks her to find his missing niece, Emily
These 2 cases come together and put Sunny's life in danger, along with her family and friends.
How she solves these cases made for an entertaining story which I read in 3 days.
One quote on Sunny's fashion sense: "My lock picking set was in the cool new Isabel Marant bag I'd gotten on sale when Jesse and I had made a weekend trip to New York City. I imagined it was the first time a Marant bag had contained a hook, tension wrench, twist free wrench, offset pick, half-diamond short and medium hooks and a bogate rake."
Thanks to Penguin Group Putnam for sending me this eARC through NetGalley.
#RobertBParkersPayback #NetGalley
Familiar characters from the series:
Sunny Randall, Private Investigator
Spike, gay bar owner and Sunny's friend/backup guy
Jesse Stone, Paradise Police Chief and Sonny's lover
Richie , her ex spouse, who still loves her and she reciprocates
Phil Randall, her dad, a retired cop
Dr. Susan Silverman. Sunny's psychiatrist
Rita Fiore, lawyer friend of Sunny and Jesse
Tony Marcus, mob boss who has a past with Sunny
This book has Sunny working on 2 cases for friends:
Spike has lost his restaurant to a predatory lender who loaned Spike money during the Covid crisis as a "friend"
Lee Farrell, Sunny's cop friend asks her to find his missing niece, Emily
These 2 cases come together and put Sunny's life in danger, along with her family and friends.
How she solves these cases made for an entertaining story which I read in 3 days.
One quote on Sunny's fashion sense: "My lock picking set was in the cool new Isabel Marant bag I'd gotten on sale when Jesse and I had made a weekend trip to New York City. I imagined it was the first time a Marant bag had contained a hook, tension wrench, twist free wrench, offset pick, half-diamond short and medium hooks and a bogate rake."
Thanks to Penguin Group Putnam for sending me this eARC through NetGalley.
#RobertBParkersPayback #NetGalley
December 11, 2021
I’m so happy that Mike Lupica decided to continue the Sunny Randall story! Without giving anything away, this book brought some main characters together in a very fun, interesting way. Can’t wait to see what transpires in the next book! 😊
March 19, 2021
I've said this before more than once, but of the late Robert B. Parker's three primary characters - Spenser, Jesse Stone and Sunny Randall - my least favorite was Sunny. But then Mike Lupica happened - and the Sun has risen a notch. By the time I was a quarter of the way through this one, my instinct told me it was destined for a 5-star rating.
And my instinct was spot-on. This is one of Sunny/Mike's best yet, despite my dislike that the private detective still has her eye on the aforementioned Jesse, chief of police in Paradise, Massachusetts. In fact, the on-again, off-again relationship is pretty much full-on here (grump, grump), but that means I get to read about him as well so guess I can't complain much. Many of the other usual suspects are here as well - including Sunny's ex-husband Richie, Dr. Susan Silverman (Sunny's therapist and, I believe unbeknownst to Sunny, Spenser's main squeeze), and some of the cops and robbers who tend to cross over in all of Parker's series.
But clearly, Sunny is the star of the show here. Her office in Boston is brand new, and the COVID-19 pandemic is history (as an aside, I've noticed a couple of other authors bypassing the pandemic with story settings before and after. A way to allow greater freedom for character interaction, perhaps? Inquiring minds would love to know). Anyway, Sunny's good friend, Spike, is upset because he lost his bar in a loan shark scam - and Sunny vows to help Spike get even (well, at least get the bar back). Problem is, the guy she wants to take down is powerful, rich, and just may have a legally ironclad "deal" for the bar. Meantime, Sunny's cop friend Lee Farrell tells her his niece Emily, a college student, has been assaulted. But the young woman is less than forthcoming, shall we say, making Sunny wonder what the kid's really up to.
As the chapters move farther from the beginning, the two cases move closer together. Sunny knows there's a connection of some kind, but determining exactly what that is becomes a real challenge as some rather nasty people start challenging her right to stick her nose into their business. In the end, with a little help from a couple of friends including Jesse, everything begins to fall into place. The trick, though, may be for Sunny to keep from falling dead before everything comes together.
In short, this is another super series entry for sure - many thanks once again to the publisher, via NetGalley, for providing me with a pre-release copy to read and review.
And my instinct was spot-on. This is one of Sunny/Mike's best yet, despite my dislike that the private detective still has her eye on the aforementioned Jesse, chief of police in Paradise, Massachusetts. In fact, the on-again, off-again relationship is pretty much full-on here (grump, grump), but that means I get to read about him as well so guess I can't complain much. Many of the other usual suspects are here as well - including Sunny's ex-husband Richie, Dr. Susan Silverman (Sunny's therapist and, I believe unbeknownst to Sunny, Spenser's main squeeze), and some of the cops and robbers who tend to cross over in all of Parker's series.
But clearly, Sunny is the star of the show here. Her office in Boston is brand new, and the COVID-19 pandemic is history (as an aside, I've noticed a couple of other authors bypassing the pandemic with story settings before and after. A way to allow greater freedom for character interaction, perhaps? Inquiring minds would love to know). Anyway, Sunny's good friend, Spike, is upset because he lost his bar in a loan shark scam - and Sunny vows to help Spike get even (well, at least get the bar back). Problem is, the guy she wants to take down is powerful, rich, and just may have a legally ironclad "deal" for the bar. Meantime, Sunny's cop friend Lee Farrell tells her his niece Emily, a college student, has been assaulted. But the young woman is less than forthcoming, shall we say, making Sunny wonder what the kid's really up to.
As the chapters move farther from the beginning, the two cases move closer together. Sunny knows there's a connection of some kind, but determining exactly what that is becomes a real challenge as some rather nasty people start challenging her right to stick her nose into their business. In the end, with a little help from a couple of friends including Jesse, everything begins to fall into place. The trick, though, may be for Sunny to keep from falling dead before everything comes together.
In short, this is another super series entry for sure - many thanks once again to the publisher, via NetGalley, for providing me with a pre-release copy to read and review.
May 13, 2021
Sunny Randall's newest case is not a paying one. She's helping her friend Spike get his restaurant back. A super rich hedge fund guy loaned Spike money to keep the restuarant open during the Covid pandemic and then screwed him around on the contract. The guy claims Spike defaulted on the loan and he takes possession of the restaurant. Sunny won't let that ride.
If that wasn't enough, Sunny's friend Lee Farrell asks her to look into his niece Emily's assault even though Emily doesn't want to talk about it.
Author Mike Lupica is also writing the Jesse Stone series for the Robert B. Parker estate so I guess it's convenient for Jesse Stone and Sunny to be in a romantic relationship. Sunny reminds me of Spenser (another of my long running and favorite characters) even though a different author writes that series. Both have the same type of wit and a never-back-down attitude. I am reminded of Spenser in many scenes because his girlfriend Susan Silverman is Sunny's therapist. I enjoy Sunny's relationship with her dog Rosie.
There's lots of references to the pandemic in this story. I loved the ending.
If that wasn't enough, Sunny's friend Lee Farrell asks her to look into his niece Emily's assault even though Emily doesn't want to talk about it.
Author Mike Lupica is also writing the Jesse Stone series for the Robert B. Parker estate so I guess it's convenient for Jesse Stone and Sunny to be in a romantic relationship. Sunny reminds me of Spenser (another of my long running and favorite characters) even though a different author writes that series. Both have the same type of wit and a never-back-down attitude. I am reminded of Spenser in many scenes because his girlfriend Susan Silverman is Sunny's therapist. I enjoy Sunny's relationship with her dog Rosie.
There's lots of references to the pandemic in this story. I loved the ending.
July 23, 2021
Sigh. I really don't like Sunny Randall.
I want to like her. I started out kind of liking her, years and years ago. I like her name. I like her dad. I like her ex, Richie. I like her friends. I even like her enemies. I just don't like her, and I'm going to place the blame on author Mike Lupica. His dialog has almost every character in love with Sunny and going on ad nauseum about what a fierce, independent, strong, ballsy, bad ass woman Sunny is. But like so many things these days, we get lots of words and talk but when you look behind the curtain there's nothing there.
For example, early in the book, Spike has broken the nose of the man who swindled him, then taken a minor beat down from the man's buddies. Sunny goes to see the man, and after showing a lot of leg to get close and distract him, pinches him hard on the broken nose. Maybe that passes for badass in some circles. Where I come from, a stunt like that, pulled outside of the heat of the moment would just be called immature and cruel.
Example two: Same man again, and in front of a crowd, Sunny slaps him as hard as she can and loudly tells him not to touch her there again. Please note that she knows and lets us know that the man has not actually touched her. Is singlehandedly undermining the #METOO movement ballsy, or is that badass?
Example three: Sunny, badass private detective, has called an Uber. While she's waiting, she's checking her emails on her phone. A car approaches so she switches screens to check the plates and description of her Uber, but is still looking at the screen when she's forced into the car by the bad guys. C'mon! This is a supposedly savvy private detective and former police officer who's father's life has recently been threatened, which you would think would cause her to be operating on high alert! Lost even more respect for her right there.
Example four. Let's just say, after making another bone headed move at the end, our fierce badass wouldn't be with us right now if it weren't for her adoring calvary.
I don't know. I like the plots. I like the pacing. I like just about every other character in the book but I just don't like Sunny. Don't know if I've got it in me to pick up another Sunny Randall book. Maybe I'll stick with Spenser and Jesse Stone, where if I do have to be subjected to what I see as unwarranted Sunny love fests, at least they'll be in smaller doses.
I want to like her. I started out kind of liking her, years and years ago. I like her name. I like her dad. I like her ex, Richie. I like her friends. I even like her enemies. I just don't like her, and I'm going to place the blame on author Mike Lupica. His dialog has almost every character in love with Sunny and going on ad nauseum about what a fierce, independent, strong, ballsy, bad ass woman Sunny is. But like so many things these days, we get lots of words and talk but when you look behind the curtain there's nothing there.
For example, early in the book, Spike has broken the nose of the man who swindled him, then taken a minor beat down from the man's buddies. Sunny goes to see the man, and after showing a lot of leg to get close and distract him, pinches him hard on the broken nose. Maybe that passes for badass in some circles. Where I come from, a stunt like that, pulled outside of the heat of the moment would just be called immature and cruel.
Example two: Same man again, and in front of a crowd, Sunny slaps him as hard as she can and loudly tells him not to touch her there again. Please note that she knows and lets us know that the man has not actually touched her. Is singlehandedly undermining the #METOO movement ballsy, or is that badass?
Example three: Sunny, badass private detective, has called an Uber. While she's waiting, she's checking her emails on her phone. A car approaches so she switches screens to check the plates and description of her Uber, but is still looking at the screen when she's forced into the car by the bad guys. C'mon! This is a supposedly savvy private detective and former police officer who's father's life has recently been threatened, which you would think would cause her to be operating on high alert! Lost even more respect for her right there.
Example four. Let's just say, after making another bone headed move at the end, our fierce badass wouldn't be with us right now if it weren't for her adoring calvary.
I don't know. I like the plots. I like the pacing. I like just about every other character in the book but I just don't like Sunny. Don't know if I've got it in me to pick up another Sunny Randall book. Maybe I'll stick with Spenser and Jesse Stone, where if I do have to be subjected to what I see as unwarranted Sunny love fests, at least they'll be in smaller doses.
April 2, 2021
I love the fact that Robert B. Parkers great creations live on, even better when they meet up in books. Payback by Mike Lupica is one of those. It's about Boston investigator Sunny Randall but Jesse Stone is a big part of her life now. The bad guys from jesse Stone and Spenser also makes appearances as well as the cops. I love it when characters from different series interact. This book is set in the aftermath of a pandemic and Sunnys friend Spike has lost his bar. How? Why? Well read the book yourself to find out. I must thank @this_is_edelweiss #GPPutnamsSons and @penguinbooks for giving me this great advance copy by @mlupicabooks
May 4, 2021
I started out really liking this book but as I got further in I lost interest. I liked it enough to finish the book but it wasn’t a book I couldn’t put down. You had to pay close attention because there were a lot of characters to keep track of. There were also a lot of twists in the story, I didn’t see the ending coming. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.
June 1, 2021
I have been reading Robert B. Parker’s “Spenser” mystery series since the 1980’s when my English professor introduced the first book in the series “The Godwulf Manuscript” to me and invited me to write a paper comparing and contrasting Spenser with some classic character that I can no longer remember.
I never forgot Spenser, who became the PI role model that I compared all fiction detectives and investigators to. I grew to love him over the years and looked forward every spring to a new outing with my private investigator hero. Then Parker introduced the “Jesse Stone” followed by “Sunny Randall”, which was the result of a request from the actress, Helen Hunt, a fan of “Spenser” and friend of Parker’s who was trying to create a serious role which could be built into a franchise, and she wanted him to write it. Parker agreed but struggled with writing a script, and instead produced “Family Honor”, the first Sunny Randall novel. Parker hoped that if he wrote the books, Hollywood could use them as a resource to create scripts. However, that never came to fruition, and with Parker’s passing. Sunny Randall was left on the sidelines while other writers continued the stories of “Spenser” and “Jesse Stone”.
Finally, it was announced in 2019 that the PI adventures of Sunny Randall would continue. The Parker estate put her in the hands of Mike Lupica, a well established and proven sports writer, columnist, and commentator, as well as a longtime personal friend of Parker. Lupica debuted his first outing with resurrecting Sunny in “Blood Feud” and then followed-up last year with “Grudge Match”.
Our hero, Sunny, is a former cop in her late thirties with definite authority issues, and at the someone a little less certain of herself. She has a very complicated relationship with her ex-husband Richie Burke, who is Mafia connected. She’s never stopped loving him nor really ever let him go emotionally. She also has a current on and off relationship with Jesse Stone, Police Chief of the small town of Paradise, located outside of Boston.
When “Payback” starts off, Sunny’s best friend, Spike, is calling for help. During COVID, Spike tried hard to save his Boston restaurant, and in order to keep it going he took on a loan from one of his regular customers, a hedge fund manager named Alex Drysdale. However, when Spike went to pay back the loan, he found out the agreement had fine print that he should’ve read more closely. It turned out to be predatory and due to lack of sales, Drysdale is now the new owner.
Now it’s up to Sunny to investigate Drysdale and where he is getting his money and support. Within one day of digging into him, a thug in an expensive black suit shows up in her new office and threatens her to back off from bothering Drysdale. The following day, an envelope is left on her doorstep. Inside it is a picture of Sunny’s father with a red dot superimposed on his forehead. Evidently, Drysdale and his protectors don’t know how stubborn Sunny can be.
To make matters worse, Sunny has another personal request. This one from her cop contact, Lee Ferrell, who needs help with his niece, Emily. She’s a college student at Taft University who’s been a victim of physical attack and she seems to be holding back on what really happened. However, when Sunny tries to help her, Emily is combative and flees. Nothing is ever easy for Sunny as she tries to track her down in hiding.
And then the impossible happens, Sunny spots Drysdale, his thug, and Emily exiting a brownstone together, and what seemed liked to two different cases, now collide into an even worse situation with some really bad folks…
I found this to be a very enjoyable read. Just like Atkins has brought new life to Spenser and Coleman has reenergized Jesse Stone, Lupica’s getting into a groove with reimagining Sunny Randall, her supporting cast, and the beloved historical city of Boston. Lupica brings in a great supporting cast of characters, including Sunny’s ex-husband, Richie, Tony Marcus and his crew, Rita Fiore, and the as-close-to-perfect-as perfect-can-be Dr. Susan Silverman. They bring a sense of conflict and contrast to Sunny that provides enjoyable moments for the reader.
Lupica has captured the short rhythmic chapters, plot movement, and strong conversations that Robert B. parker established for his literary world. It has edge, intrigue, and interesting conflict. The two plots work well together, running parallel, then intersecting, while creating tension and conflict on several layers. Lupica uses longtime established Parker characters like police detectives Lee Farrell and Frank Belson, as well as mobster history from Spenser to bring Boston noir to life in creative and nostalgic ways that are also new and fresh. For me, Lupica is confidently building momentum for future development and growth for our strong-willed (Spenser wannabe) Sunny Randall and her supporting cast.
My only concern is what he’ll do with the ongoing Sunny and Jesse storyline. With both characters leading their own series, it will be hard to sustain their relationship and crossover appearances, while continuing to develop their own adventures. It seems like it will be a challenge for Lupica that will most likely end up in their being more off then on again, but we will wait to see how things will develop.
Overall, there are several things to like, especially seeing the life of another Robert B. Parker character given new life. Lupica’s plotting and use of classic Parker characters and Boston locations was a plus. To be fair, taking over another award-wining writer’s series is never easy. It takes time to find the right rhythm of an established character. However, Lupica is hitting a pretty good stride in his third outing, a worthwhile and enjoyable read, and I look forward to Sunny’s next outing.
I never forgot Spenser, who became the PI role model that I compared all fiction detectives and investigators to. I grew to love him over the years and looked forward every spring to a new outing with my private investigator hero. Then Parker introduced the “Jesse Stone” followed by “Sunny Randall”, which was the result of a request from the actress, Helen Hunt, a fan of “Spenser” and friend of Parker’s who was trying to create a serious role which could be built into a franchise, and she wanted him to write it. Parker agreed but struggled with writing a script, and instead produced “Family Honor”, the first Sunny Randall novel. Parker hoped that if he wrote the books, Hollywood could use them as a resource to create scripts. However, that never came to fruition, and with Parker’s passing. Sunny Randall was left on the sidelines while other writers continued the stories of “Spenser” and “Jesse Stone”.
Finally, it was announced in 2019 that the PI adventures of Sunny Randall would continue. The Parker estate put her in the hands of Mike Lupica, a well established and proven sports writer, columnist, and commentator, as well as a longtime personal friend of Parker. Lupica debuted his first outing with resurrecting Sunny in “Blood Feud” and then followed-up last year with “Grudge Match”.
Our hero, Sunny, is a former cop in her late thirties with definite authority issues, and at the someone a little less certain of herself. She has a very complicated relationship with her ex-husband Richie Burke, who is Mafia connected. She’s never stopped loving him nor really ever let him go emotionally. She also has a current on and off relationship with Jesse Stone, Police Chief of the small town of Paradise, located outside of Boston.
When “Payback” starts off, Sunny’s best friend, Spike, is calling for help. During COVID, Spike tried hard to save his Boston restaurant, and in order to keep it going he took on a loan from one of his regular customers, a hedge fund manager named Alex Drysdale. However, when Spike went to pay back the loan, he found out the agreement had fine print that he should’ve read more closely. It turned out to be predatory and due to lack of sales, Drysdale is now the new owner.
Now it’s up to Sunny to investigate Drysdale and where he is getting his money and support. Within one day of digging into him, a thug in an expensive black suit shows up in her new office and threatens her to back off from bothering Drysdale. The following day, an envelope is left on her doorstep. Inside it is a picture of Sunny’s father with a red dot superimposed on his forehead. Evidently, Drysdale and his protectors don’t know how stubborn Sunny can be.
To make matters worse, Sunny has another personal request. This one from her cop contact, Lee Ferrell, who needs help with his niece, Emily. She’s a college student at Taft University who’s been a victim of physical attack and she seems to be holding back on what really happened. However, when Sunny tries to help her, Emily is combative and flees. Nothing is ever easy for Sunny as she tries to track her down in hiding.
And then the impossible happens, Sunny spots Drysdale, his thug, and Emily exiting a brownstone together, and what seemed liked to two different cases, now collide into an even worse situation with some really bad folks…
I found this to be a very enjoyable read. Just like Atkins has brought new life to Spenser and Coleman has reenergized Jesse Stone, Lupica’s getting into a groove with reimagining Sunny Randall, her supporting cast, and the beloved historical city of Boston. Lupica brings in a great supporting cast of characters, including Sunny’s ex-husband, Richie, Tony Marcus and his crew, Rita Fiore, and the as-close-to-perfect-as perfect-can-be Dr. Susan Silverman. They bring a sense of conflict and contrast to Sunny that provides enjoyable moments for the reader.
Lupica has captured the short rhythmic chapters, plot movement, and strong conversations that Robert B. parker established for his literary world. It has edge, intrigue, and interesting conflict. The two plots work well together, running parallel, then intersecting, while creating tension and conflict on several layers. Lupica uses longtime established Parker characters like police detectives Lee Farrell and Frank Belson, as well as mobster history from Spenser to bring Boston noir to life in creative and nostalgic ways that are also new and fresh. For me, Lupica is confidently building momentum for future development and growth for our strong-willed (Spenser wannabe) Sunny Randall and her supporting cast.
My only concern is what he’ll do with the ongoing Sunny and Jesse storyline. With both characters leading their own series, it will be hard to sustain their relationship and crossover appearances, while continuing to develop their own adventures. It seems like it will be a challenge for Lupica that will most likely end up in their being more off then on again, but we will wait to see how things will develop.
Overall, there are several things to like, especially seeing the life of another Robert B. Parker character given new life. Lupica’s plotting and use of classic Parker characters and Boston locations was a plus. To be fair, taking over another award-wining writer’s series is never easy. It takes time to find the right rhythm of an established character. However, Lupica is hitting a pretty good stride in his third outing, a worthwhile and enjoyable read, and I look forward to Sunny’s next outing.
August 27, 2021
Great thriller! Mr. Parker would be proud.
Love the Sunny character.
Love the Sunny character.
June 16, 2021
Being able to continue following Sunny Randall is such a treat. Mike Lupica does a terrific job of capturing her voice and all of the characters, too.
This book is one of those deliciously convoluted stories that eventually resolve themselves!!
This book is one of those deliciously convoluted stories that eventually resolve themselves!!
April 21, 2021
★ ★ ★ 1/2 (rounded up)
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
WHAT'S PAYBACK ABOUT?
Sunny's closest friend, Spike, has got himself in trouble—he needed some financial assistance to keep the doors of his restaurant open (like just about every restaurant in 2020) and let a long-time customer and friend, a hedge fund manager, loan him the money. But when Spike tried to pay off the loan, he learned the hard way that Alex Drysdale wasn't so much a friend as he was an opportunistic toad, and thanks to clever work on the contract, Spike had defaulted on the loan almost immediately.
Spike has already let his fists do the talking (and broken Drysdale's nose), but oddly enough, that didn't help. So, Sunny decides she's going to figure out a way to get Drysdale to release him. Financial crimes aren't really Sunny's forte—much less shady, but not criminal, financial deals—but Spike is family and she figures she can learn as she goes.
She's barely begun digging into Drysdale and his practices when she gets a call from Lee Farrell who needs a favor. His niece, a student at Taft*, was assaulted and she refuses to talk to the police or Lee. Can Sunny help? Sunny tries to talk to her, but Emily keeps saying it was just a misunderstanding and refuses to explain anything. Lee's worried about her, Sunny's concerned and nosy. So while Lee deals with a major homicide investigation, Sunny starts digging into Emily's life.
* Yup, Taft, the Parker-verse's all-purpose university for people who don't go to Harvard.
Before Sunny can really get anywhere with the Drysdale investigation, she's warned off. THat warning quickly becomes direct threats against her, Spike, Richie's son, and her father. You have to admit, that's really not the most clever approach. Sunny warns them all to be careful and works harder to find something. One of the biggest things she finds is a link between the two cases.
AHH, A LITTLE COVID FICTION
Early on, we're told that this starts shortly after the pandemic is over and life has gone back to something akin to normal. But vaguely so, especially when this was written, no one had an idea when exactly this would be, so Lupica left things vague.
Also, Spike's is in trouble because of the impact that COVID has had on restaurants.
I lost count of how many times that Sunny talked about the world falling apart and getting worse. Clearly, this is a product of 2020 (and 2021). I remember hearing and reading authors last year talking about not being sure how to address COVID in their works—if they were even going to. This is probably the best way to do it—acknowledge it happened, look at the changes/difficulties it brought about—and don't get into the details.
POOR LEE FARRELL
This is my biggest beef with the novel—and the more that I think about it, the more it bothers me.
So, Lee's got a big case that he's dealing with and a family member in trouble—and he's still not in the book that much. Belson plays a bigger role than Lee does in the book, which is fine because it's not like Belson gets a lot of use in the Atkins novels, and he shouldn't be put out to pasture. But this was a chance for Lee to get to shine and Lupica let it pass by.
I like Lee, and have since Paper Doll (he was one of the few good things in that novel), but Parker never used him all that much—and Lupica does the same. It's time for Lee Farrell to really get a moment.
SUNNY AND THE MEN IN HER LIFE
There are two other things that Lupica inherited from Parker that he's maintained—but I'd like him to move on. From Family Honor on, there's been this tension between Sunny's independence, being able to make it as a female in a male-dominated world/industry and her being dependent on men like Richie and Spike (and a couple of others) to help out when things get dangerous. I can see revisiting the issue from time to time, but the authors have spent so much time on it, the reader has to wonder—why doesn't Sunny do something about it? Either step up her fitness and martial arts training, or partner up with a female who can handle the shooting and hand-to-hand stuff. They exist.
Similarly is her seemingly everlasting tie to Richie, being unable to let him go—even as it's clear she needs to, for at least his son's sake. Her level of commitment to Jesse Stone could use some definition as well, but that's not going to happen as long as Richie's around (and, I'm not sure Jesse's capable of it). Coleman was able to get Jesse to the point where he was able to let go of Jen (a move that was more overdue than Sunny and Jesse). I'd like to see Sunny do something similar, all that therapy she's received should be enabling her to make some tough choices.
All that said, again, these are inherited themes, ideas, and characteristics. I'm not holding them against Lupica for maintaining it (he can only do so much without getting the fans to rebel). I just think it'd be nice to see.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT PAYBACK?
Lupica is locked-in on this series, he's got a handle on the characters and the stories he wants to tell and gets it done confidently, smoothly, and with just enough flair to keep the reader hooked and turning pages. This was his best yet. I'd describe his first two novels in this series as "good, for a Sunny Randall novel." Payback. is doesn't get the modifier. It's good, period.
* I've got both hardcovers on the shelf next to me, after getting the eARCs from NetGalley. So if that sounds a little more back-handed than I mean that to be, maybe the fact that I shelled out for them takes a bit of the sting out of it.
The prose is crisp. It's engaging and filled with a Parker-esque clarity and wit. The story is compelling and an interesting reaction to things in the zeitgeist, and the characters are as solidly drawn and executed as they were over two decades ago when Sunny debuted. New readers or established Sunny fans alike will find enough to entertain them and will likely come back for more—just like me. I recommend Payback to you.
Disclaimer: I received this eARC from PENGUIN GROUP Putnam via NetGalley in exchange for this post—thanks to both for this.
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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WHAT'S PAYBACK ABOUT?
Sunny's closest friend, Spike, has got himself in trouble—he needed some financial assistance to keep the doors of his restaurant open (like just about every restaurant in 2020) and let a long-time customer and friend, a hedge fund manager, loan him the money. But when Spike tried to pay off the loan, he learned the hard way that Alex Drysdale wasn't so much a friend as he was an opportunistic toad, and thanks to clever work on the contract, Spike had defaulted on the loan almost immediately.
Spike has already let his fists do the talking (and broken Drysdale's nose), but oddly enough, that didn't help. So, Sunny decides she's going to figure out a way to get Drysdale to release him. Financial crimes aren't really Sunny's forte—much less shady, but not criminal, financial deals—but Spike is family and she figures she can learn as she goes.
She's barely begun digging into Drysdale and his practices when she gets a call from Lee Farrell who needs a favor. His niece, a student at Taft*, was assaulted and she refuses to talk to the police or Lee. Can Sunny help? Sunny tries to talk to her, but Emily keeps saying it was just a misunderstanding and refuses to explain anything. Lee's worried about her, Sunny's concerned and nosy. So while Lee deals with a major homicide investigation, Sunny starts digging into Emily's life.
* Yup, Taft, the Parker-verse's all-purpose university for people who don't go to Harvard.
Before Sunny can really get anywhere with the Drysdale investigation, she's warned off. THat warning quickly becomes direct threats against her, Spike, Richie's son, and her father. You have to admit, that's really not the most clever approach. Sunny warns them all to be careful and works harder to find something. One of the biggest things she finds is a link between the two cases.
AHH, A LITTLE COVID FICTION
Early on, we're told that this starts shortly after the pandemic is over and life has gone back to something akin to normal. But vaguely so, especially when this was written, no one had an idea when exactly this would be, so Lupica left things vague.
Also, Spike's is in trouble because of the impact that COVID has had on restaurants.
I lost count of how many times that Sunny talked about the world falling apart and getting worse. Clearly, this is a product of 2020 (and 2021). I remember hearing and reading authors last year talking about not being sure how to address COVID in their works—if they were even going to. This is probably the best way to do it—acknowledge it happened, look at the changes/difficulties it brought about—and don't get into the details.
POOR LEE FARRELL
This is my biggest beef with the novel—and the more that I think about it, the more it bothers me.
So, Lee's got a big case that he's dealing with and a family member in trouble—and he's still not in the book that much. Belson plays a bigger role than Lee does in the book, which is fine because it's not like Belson gets a lot of use in the Atkins novels, and he shouldn't be put out to pasture. But this was a chance for Lee to get to shine and Lupica let it pass by.
I like Lee, and have since Paper Doll (he was one of the few good things in that novel), but Parker never used him all that much—and Lupica does the same. It's time for Lee Farrell to really get a moment.
SUNNY AND THE MEN IN HER LIFE
There are two other things that Lupica inherited from Parker that he's maintained—but I'd like him to move on. From Family Honor on, there's been this tension between Sunny's independence, being able to make it as a female in a male-dominated world/industry and her being dependent on men like Richie and Spike (and a couple of others) to help out when things get dangerous. I can see revisiting the issue from time to time, but the authors have spent so much time on it, the reader has to wonder—why doesn't Sunny do something about it? Either step up her fitness and martial arts training, or partner up with a female who can handle the shooting and hand-to-hand stuff. They exist.
Similarly is her seemingly everlasting tie to Richie, being unable to let him go—even as it's clear she needs to, for at least his son's sake. Her level of commitment to Jesse Stone could use some definition as well, but that's not going to happen as long as Richie's around (and, I'm not sure Jesse's capable of it). Coleman was able to get Jesse to the point where he was able to let go of Jen (a move that was more overdue than Sunny and Jesse). I'd like to see Sunny do something similar, all that therapy she's received should be enabling her to make some tough choices.
All that said, again, these are inherited themes, ideas, and characteristics. I'm not holding them against Lupica for maintaining it (he can only do so much without getting the fans to rebel). I just think it'd be nice to see.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT PAYBACK?
Lupica is locked-in on this series, he's got a handle on the characters and the stories he wants to tell and gets it done confidently, smoothly, and with just enough flair to keep the reader hooked and turning pages. This was his best yet. I'd describe his first two novels in this series as "good, for a Sunny Randall novel." Payback. is doesn't get the modifier. It's good, period.
* I've got both hardcovers on the shelf next to me, after getting the eARCs from NetGalley. So if that sounds a little more back-handed than I mean that to be, maybe the fact that I shelled out for them takes a bit of the sting out of it.
The prose is crisp. It's engaging and filled with a Parker-esque clarity and wit. The story is compelling and an interesting reaction to things in the zeitgeist, and the characters are as solidly drawn and executed as they were over two decades ago when Sunny debuted. New readers or established Sunny fans alike will find enough to entertain them and will likely come back for more—just like me. I recommend Payback to you.
Disclaimer: I received this eARC from PENGUIN GROUP Putnam via NetGalley in exchange for this post—thanks to both for this.
June 28, 2021
Reading Lupica's take on Parker's Sunny Randall is always a good visit with an old friend. I think Lupica actually draws Sunny with more depth than her creator did--she is more than Spenser in a dress and Lupica really does a good job with the fashion details, as well as the food & drink descriptions. Boston is prominently highlighted using all the senses. The PI procedural aspect nicely detailed and paced, and Sunny's relationships from best friend Spike to paramours Richie & Jesse Stone and her father have enough depth for them to be distinct. Dr. Susan Silverman, Frank Belson, and Lee Farrell also add layers to the cast of CHs, as does the panoply of bad guys. The two-pronged plot makes sense as they become one and there is a good pace as suspenseful action and dialogue pushes the plot forward. There is a satisfactory ending. I find the formula of these series rigid enough to soothe me wile also allowing for a surprising twist here and there. Threat and violence is always part of Sunny's world and is integrated into the story well. I'll visit with her again.
May 28, 2021
Guess I am in minority here. If I never read another story based on a Russian mob scheme, it will be too soon. Everyone around Sunny is dropping like flies, except Sunny - she is that good or lucky. Really? Bunch of grifters and no characters with any redeeming value. Read all Spenser books, Maybe it’s time to pass on further episode’s of Robert Parker series.
There were also spelling and grammatical errors throughout the book. Doesn’t anyone seriously edit this stuff anymore.
Skip,this one. I am sorry I wasted my time
There were also spelling and grammatical errors throughout the book. Doesn’t anyone seriously edit this stuff anymore.
Skip,this one. I am sorry I wasted my time
May 21, 2021
So-so. But what really brings this down is all the product placement in the book. At times it seems the book is just an excuse for commercials, you know like TV or YouTube is. This seems much more prevalent lately. What’s going on?
October 16, 2021
It started out fine. Sunny was trying to help Spike get his restaurant back from a con-man and help Lee Farrell look for his niece. Somewhere along the way it turned into Russians and Poker. There were too many Russians to keep track of and the ending wasn't the best.
October 23, 2022
Sunny’s best friend Spike calls to tell her how he has been swindled out of his restaurant. Sunny later learns that others in Boston have been swindled out of their businesses. Sunny also gets a call from Lee Farrell, her cop friend, who asks for her help in finding his niece Emily.
Sonny looks into the swindler, a guy named AlexDrysdale, and also breaks into Emily‘s apartment at college to discover that she has a set of playing cards and goggles for cheating at poker. Then she discovers that the two are connected. Then Sunny gets a visit from an old friend of Drysdale, Eddie Ross, who threatens her and her ex and her father and her ex’s young son.
Then Drysdale is murdered in the street, Russian style. Then Emily’s ex-boyfriend is killed as well. She finds Emily who refuses her help.
Then she is kidnapped by a couple of Russians. She gets away and is later pursued by them. Jaylin, a protégé of Desmond Burke, has been asked to help her. Then he gets shot but survives. Drysdale had been at Wharton with Eddie Ross and a guy name Lawton. Lawton does not provide much information to Sunny claiming that he signed an NDA.
Then Sonny learns that Lawton is the executor of Drysdale‘s estate and trustee of his trust fund. She finds him and he warns her off. The next morning she gets a call from Frank Belson letting her know that Lawton ate her gun, the gun they took off of her when she was kidnapped by the Russians.
Then she is kidnapped again and there is a gun fight between Eddie, his goons, and Vlad-a Russian bodyguard--and Richie.
The next morning Jaylin shows up at Rita Fiori‘s law firm to take possession of the trust fund but he is sent packing.
This seems to have been the longest and most complicated of the Sunny Randle stories and very little of it is related to her father or family. Richie and Spike play smaller roles than in earlier novels. She is dating Jesse Stone and he drives down from Paradise several times during the course of the novel.
Lupica is doing a good job with Sunny.
Sonny looks into the swindler, a guy named AlexDrysdale, and also breaks into Emily‘s apartment at college to discover that she has a set of playing cards and goggles for cheating at poker. Then she discovers that the two are connected. Then Sunny gets a visit from an old friend of Drysdale, Eddie Ross, who threatens her and her ex and her father and her ex’s young son.
Then Drysdale is murdered in the street, Russian style. Then Emily’s ex-boyfriend is killed as well. She finds Emily who refuses her help.
Then she is kidnapped by a couple of Russians. She gets away and is later pursued by them. Jaylin, a protégé of Desmond Burke, has been asked to help her. Then he gets shot but survives. Drysdale had been at Wharton with Eddie Ross and a guy name Lawton. Lawton does not provide much information to Sunny claiming that he signed an NDA.
Then Sonny learns that Lawton is the executor of Drysdale‘s estate and trustee of his trust fund. She finds him and he warns her off. The next morning she gets a call from Frank Belson letting her know that Lawton ate her gun, the gun they took off of her when she was kidnapped by the Russians.
Then she is kidnapped again and there is a gun fight between Eddie, his goons, and Vlad-a Russian bodyguard--and Richie.
The next morning Jaylin shows up at Rita Fiori‘s law firm to take possession of the trust fund but he is sent packing.
This seems to have been the longest and most complicated of the Sunny Randle stories and very little of it is related to her father or family. Richie and Spike play smaller roles than in earlier novels. She is dating Jesse Stone and he drives down from Paradise several times during the course of the novel.
Lupica is doing a good job with Sunny.
August 27, 2021
PI Sunny Randall has often relied on the help of her best friend Spike in times of need. When Spike's restaurant is taken over under a predatory loan agreement, Sunny has a chance to return the favor. She begins digging into the life of the hedge fund manager who screwed Spike over - surely a guy that smarmy has a skeleton or two in his closet - and soon finds this new enemy may have the backing of even badder criminals.
At the same time, Sunny's cop contact Lee Farrell asks her to intervene with his niece, a college student who reported being the victim of a crime but seems to know more than she's telling police. As the uncooperative young woman becomes outright hostile, Sunny runs up against a wall that she's only more determined to scale.
Then, what appear to be two disparate cases are united by a common factor, and the picture becomes even more muddled. But one thing is clear: Sunny has been poking a hornet's nest from two sides, and all hell is about to break loose.
At the same time, Sunny's cop contact Lee Farrell asks her to intervene with his niece, a college student who reported being the victim of a crime but seems to know more than she's telling police. As the uncooperative young woman becomes outright hostile, Sunny runs up against a wall that she's only more determined to scale.
Then, what appear to be two disparate cases are united by a common factor, and the picture becomes even more muddled. But one thing is clear: Sunny has been poking a hornet's nest from two sides, and all hell is about to break loose.
March 23, 2024
I’ve stated before that reading the legacy authors of the various Robert B. Parker series is a bit like reading one of those multiple author mystery collections, but I mean it as a compliment…I love the way the various authors seamlessly connect the tone and tenor of the stories and the Parker Estate has done that with his series…This time, it’s Mike Lupica continuing Sunny Randall as she is asked by a BPD friend to look into his niece’s attack which puts her, seemingly, right in the midst of the Russian Mob’s money laundering operation…The usual Parker Universe characters emerge and the pages turn…I just love this stuff!!!
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May 31, 2021#9 in the Sunny Randall series, #3 authored by Mike Lupica after the death of series founder Robert B. Parker. This 2021 entry is faithful to the voice of the original, although it perhaps features an overdose of Jesse Stone, which Parker series Mike Lupica is now also authoring. Sunny, a brash Boston P.I. takes on the case of detective friend Lee's assaulted niece as well as getting involved in the financial swindle that is costing friend Spike his bar. Enjoyable, if not the best in the series.
May 22, 2021
This is another excellent installment of the Sunny Randall series written by Mike Lupica. Lupica once again nails the Sunny Randall character in the Parker tradition, making it just a great, fun, and thrilling read. Looking forward to Lupica's next installment in the series.
August 5, 2021
Another excellent Sunny Randall episode by Mike Lupica. As long as he keeps her character alive and cooking, I'll keep reading them.
April 14, 2022
Another great murder mystery by Mike Lupica! Sunny Randall continues her PI career with a crew of loyal friends, lovers and enemies. I can't wait for the next in the series. Meanwhile I need to catch up with Jesse Stone.
May 16, 2021
So loved the time I got to spend with some of my favorite characters in this novel. It will never be the same without Parker but I actually feel like Lupica nailed it by not trying so hard. I have to say that I also love Sunny being with Jesse but just hoping Jesse’s kid doesn’t find his way into the SR series other than a brief mention. I can’t stand children in my books unless there’s a specific and much needed reason for them to be there. Which I felt Lupica did well with Richie’s kid in this story.
Definitely looking forward to the next one and would be thrilled if Vinnie Morris comes back from being out of town and Tony Marcus, Jr, and Ty Bop are needed as well. Not saying I don’t miss Gino Fish still but I don’t notice it as much when some of my other friends show up.
Loved the new characters of Gina and her neighbor Betty.
Definitely looking forward to the next one and would be thrilled if Vinnie Morris comes back from being out of town and Tony Marcus, Jr, and Ty Bop are needed as well. Not saying I don’t miss Gino Fish still but I don’t notice it as much when some of my other friends show up.
Loved the new characters of Gina and her neighbor Betty.
August 30, 2021
I love Sunny Randall, I want her to be my friend. Right up until the very last pages I truly had no idea how this story would play out. With that being said, we maybe could have gotten to the point a little quicker. Looking forward to seeing what kind of trouble Sunny can get herself into in the next installment.
June 15, 2023
Terrible book. Everyone is endlessly running in circles. The book probably ends when the bad guys say, "Hey, the book is supposed to end let's give ourselves up!"
Sunny is at her clueless best. There was an all-round satisfactory ending for everyone (specially a couple of guys who wouldn't have needed to die had she quit halfway into the book. All logical targets had been achieved. Instead, the wonderless woman blunders on while achieving nothing.
Sunny is at her clueless best. There was an all-round satisfactory ending for everyone (specially a couple of guys who wouldn't have needed to die had she quit halfway into the book. All logical targets had been achieved. Instead, the wonderless woman blunders on while achieving nothing.
May 17, 2021
Easy read. More about money laundering the stock market than I would like to know. Why can’t Sunny make up her mind, Jesse or her ex ? She also seems to have a lot of help with her cases, cops, her ex, her ex father-in-law, Spike, gangsters, other gangsters, the list goes on. An okay read.
August 26, 2021
I picked this up thinking it was a Spenser book. It was so-so. There were several things that annoyed me.
1. Sunny is basically the exact same character as Jesse Stone and Spenser.
2. This book talked about Susan Silverman almost as much as a Spenser book does.
3. The constant referrals to the FIVE pounds that Sunny had lost were utterly ridiculous. Who has to buy new pants because they lost five pounds? Whose shirts are looser? Who has people noticing a five pound loss? A lot of women fluctuate five pounds routinely during the course of a month.
The storyline was iffy. I just don't understand a character who has been kidnapped and shot at but still decides it's prudent to walk alone to the pizza place at 11 at night. Hard to cheer for a character who is that foolhardy.
Anyway, I won't be reading any further Sunny Randall books. Since Spenser was the original, I'll stick with him.
1. Sunny is basically the exact same character as Jesse Stone and Spenser.
2. This book talked about Susan Silverman almost as much as a Spenser book does.
3. The constant referrals to the FIVE pounds that Sunny had lost were utterly ridiculous. Who has to buy new pants because they lost five pounds? Whose shirts are looser? Who has people noticing a five pound loss? A lot of women fluctuate five pounds routinely during the course of a month.
The storyline was iffy. I just don't understand a character who has been kidnapped and shot at but still decides it's prudent to walk alone to the pizza place at 11 at night. Hard to cheer for a character who is that foolhardy.
Anyway, I won't be reading any further Sunny Randall books. Since Spenser was the original, I'll stick with him.
January 9, 2024
Typical Mike Lupica.....he has mastered the style and nature of Robert Parker. I always enjoy the familiar references to places within the Boston area....brings back many good memories. This was an easy read, yet was engaging enough to keep me going until it was finished in three days. The plot was thick enough to make me pay attention to the main players, as Sunny Randall detected with all her might. I am anxiously awaiting another in the series of Spencer, Randall, or the Westerns. So far I have completed all of the 80 or so Robert Parker books and will continue to read as they are released.
June 29, 2021
For the first 75 pages I was contemplating not finishing this book but it developed into something somewhat understandable. Still not very enjoyable but ok. There was too much of everything: bad guys, Russians, deaths, helpful people and boyfriends, to name a few. I guess I am not into the choppiness and pace of the action. Sunny is too indecisive for me to care much.
August 7, 2021
It was okay but when the font size for the author who started the series (now deceased) and the author who is continuing the series are larger than the actual title, my hopes weren't very high. And my hopes became reality.
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