Painted Ladies

Spenser #38

by Robert B. Parker

Spenser had a simple job-protect an art scholar during a ransom exchange for a stolen painting. No one was supposed to die. But the scholar had secrets no one knew, and uncovering them will endanger Spenser as well.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Detective, Thriller, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller

291 pages, Hardcover

First published October 5, 2010

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database named Robert B. Parker.
Robert Brown Parker was an American writer, primarily of fiction within the mystery/detective genre. His most famous works were the 40 novels written about the fictional private detective Spenser. ABC television network developed the television series Spenser: For Hire based on the character in the mid-1980s; a series of TV movies was also produced based on the character. His works incorporate encyclopedic knowledge of the Boston metropolitan area. The Spenser novels have been cited as reviving and changing the detective genre by critics and bestselling authors including Robert Crais, Harlan Coben, and Dennis Lehane.
Parker also wrote nine novels featuring the fictional character Jesse Stone, a Los Angeles police officer who moves to a small New England town; six novels with the fictional character Sunny Randall, a female private investigator; and four Westerns starring the duo Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch. The first was Appaloosa, made into a film starring Ed Harris and Viggo Mortensen.

Reviews

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hey kids, you can write a Spenser novel just like Robert B. Parker. Here’s how. Just stick to the plot points below and in no time at all you’ll be on your way to being a big time mystery writer.

A. Spenser sits in office drinking coffee, looking out window
B. Introduce client
C. Spenser cracks wise and dazzles with literary allusions only a PH.D would recognize
D. Spenser takes the case
E. Spenser confers with girlfriend, Susan Silverman. She went to Harvard.
F. Spenser’s dog does cute stuff
G. Adorable/Nauseating sex talk
H. Spenser cooks something fabulous. They eat. With Susan, that’s optional.
I. Something goes terribly wrong (Whoops, client gets killed) and it’s Spenser ‘s fault.
J. Spenser recites the “man code” and vows to bring ‘em in. It’s his job.
K. Spenser talks to State Police/FBI/CIA/hot lawyer Rita Fiore
L. Repeat E through H
M. Spenser interviews people. He dazzles women with his wit and charm.
N. Bad guys come after Spenser.
O. Spenser beats up a couple of thugs
P. Spenser interviews more people. He dazzles more women. He makes someone angry.
Q. More bad guys come after Spenser
R. Spenser kills a guy (or two) and/or finds dead body (or two)
S. Spenser talks to Quirk and Belson (or is it Belson and Quirk?)
T. Repeat E through H
U. Spenser gets help from Hawk. If Hawk is not available, Spenser enlists a minority friend of choice: Chollo-Hispanic, Teddy-Gay, Sixkill-Native American, Vinnie-Moron. Insert non-PC banter. Sometimes Spenser works alone.
V. Repeat E through H
W. Spenser kills more guys
X. Repeat S and E through H
Y. Spenser has epic shootout with bad guys.
Z. Repeat E through H

[Bill Kerwin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A better-than-average later Spenser featuring--for a change!--an interesting plot, involving art theft, Auschwitz, a secret, sinister "foundation," and just enough (as opposed to the usual too much) of lady-love Susan and child-surrogate doggie Pearl.

This posthumously published novel makes an honorable penultimate entry to an admirable series. I will miss our intrepid hero, and look forward to whatever is waiting in the Parker archives.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this 38th book in the series, Spenser investigates the murder of an art expert. The mystery can be read as a standalone.



*****

When a painting called 'Lady With a Finch' by 17th century Dutch artist Franz Hermenszoon is stolen from Boston's Hammond Museum, the thieves offer to return it for a ransom.



The museum asks art professor Ashton Prince, PhD - a renowned expert on Renaissance low-country art - to make the exchange. Prince is wary of dealing with the crooks, so he hires private investigator/bodyguard Spencer to protect him.



Spenser accompanies Prince to the exchange, and as the professor is returning to the car after the swap, the rolled canvas in his hand explodes - killing Prince and (presumably) destroying the artwork.



Spencer is chagrined at his failure to safeguard the art expert, and is determined to find the miscreants who killed him.



Spenser starts his inquiries by speaking to the director of the Hammond Museum and the investigator at the museum's insurance company - both of whom seem reluctant to talk to him. Meanwhile, the police are looking for the bombers and Spencer cooperates with Captain Quirk and Sergeant Belson from the Boston Police Department and Captain Healy from the Massachusetts State Police.



Spencer also asks his friend - sexy, well-connected attorney Rita Fiore - to wheedle information out of the museum's attorney.



Spenser learns that Prince was a married skirt-chaser who harbored secrets about his past, and that Nazi art thefts during World War II may be related to the Hammond Museum burglary. The Nazi angle is especially troubling because killers with replicas of concentration camp tattoos make numerous attempts on Spencer's life.



Moreover, Hawk - who normally watches Spenser's back- is out of the country.

During Spenser's downtime, he hangs out with his girlfriend Susan Silverman and their dog Pearl. Spenser and Susan spend a lot of time chatting, flirting, dining, and warming the sheets - and readers irritated by their excessive banter will roll their eyes. 🙄



Less annoyingly, Pearl romps with her canine boyfriend Otto - whom she met in the dog park. 🐶💕



As always, Spencer's conversations are laced with witty repartee and clever barbed comments, which has always been a fun aspect of the series. 😊

I enjoyed the novel's engaging plot and diverse characters, and recommend the book to mystery readers, especially Spenser fans.

'Painted Ladies' is Parker's penultimate Spenser novel, written a year before his death in 2010. The series has continued, however, with other authors.

You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....

[John Culuris · Rating 4 out of 5]

[Read Nov 2018; Reviewed Sept 2023]

Robert B Parker had no use for critics. Near the end of his life, though, I wonder if maybe he started paying attention to at least some of them. Sales were down. To be fair, sales were down for everybody. The world was continuing to change and people who read for pleasure were becoming fewer and fewer. But there was a time when his name alone could keep a series going, and yet he decided to close out Sunny Randall and turned his attention to more profitable characters. It helped. But it didn't solve the problem. Which is why I wonder if perhaps he--reluctantly--looked to critics for answers. Two of the major flaws peppering his work over the last couple of decades disappeared with the final four books he produced, at least in the series I followed.

I was not there to see it. I had been with him for over thirty years but at some point I grew tired of paying for a lack of substance. So I moved on. For a while, it turned out. I found I missed the characters. So one day to complete an order I threw in a used copy of one the four remaining unread books. When I finally got around to it, I found myself surprised. Corrections had been implemented in my absence. I had given up too soon.

I admit that only the foolish or the deluded believe everybody agrees with his opinion without impartial data. Still, I have to wonder. My two biggest complaints, often combined into one sentence and repeated ad nauseam are: cases that solve themselves, and the villain walking away unpunished because the author did not know how to end the book. And neither to be found.

Painted Ladies begins as most Spencer novels do: a client in his office with a routine case. Ashton Prince needs a bodyguard as he pays the ransom for a stolen painting. In novels bodyguard jobs never go well. There wouldn't be a story if they did. This one involves a bomb. Spencer does not like failing. And if his client dies, failure weighs so heavily that giving up is not possible. Someone has to answer for Prince’s death.

Things expand into something greater, as they would have to. And the familiar cast work their way into the story. Including the biggest complaint everybody else seems to have about the series, Spencer’s self-absorbed psychiatrist girlfriend Susan Silverman. I don’t dislike her to the degree that most do. Her main role in these stories, at least to me, is to explain the emotional conflicts and deeper motivations of the characters Spencer encounters. So I endure their sickly-sweet “Aren’t we so great together” scenes with less consternation.

All the elements Parker had become known for are present: interesting characters, snappy dialogue, violent confrontations, and psychological insight. And, to my relief and satisfaction, a villain revealed directly through the efforts of Spencer and said villain paying a price for his crimes.

I’m glad I came back to Robert B. Parker. I’m glad to be reunited with some old friends in the city of Boston (and the town of Paradise). Most of all, I’m glad not to be disappointed when the visit comes to an end.

[Kemper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Robert B. Parker died almost a year ago, but from what I’ve read Painted Ladies is the first of two unpublished Spenser novels that he had completed. Plus, considering Parker’s output, who knows how many books from his other three series may come out? It seems like Parker’s literary ghost will be with us for some time to come. Considering how much bitching I’ve done about his later work, I was a bit conflicted over whether this is a good thing or a bad thing. However, I was pleasantly surprised that Painted Ladies is one of the better Spenser novels to come out in years.

Ashton Prince is an art expert who has been hired by a museum to help arrange the return of a priceless painting that was stolen. Prince has set up a ransom exchange to get the painting back and hires Spenser for protection during the meeting. As with most of his clients, Spenser doesn’t like Prince much and thinks something smells rotten about the whole set-up, but he takes the job. When the exchange goes badly, Spenser feels responsible and tries to untangle a mystery that involves stolen art that goes back to World War II.

While I long ago accepted that Parker would never match his earlier books in the Spenser series in terms of quality, this one marks a vast improvement over the later books that had gotten repetitive and bogged down with the dreaded S+S=S (Spenser+Susan=Smug) factor that had dominated the stories for years.

Parker had shown signs of trying to mix things up with the last couple of Spenser books, but hadn’t entirely gotten free of his bad habits. In this one, with an interesting mystery and worthy adversaries that take the tension level up a notch, Spenser breaks out of the rut he’d been stuck in .

There’s still a bit too much of the cutsie-pie Susan stuff, but this finally felt like Spenser was really engaged in a case instead of just going through the motions until he could meet her for dinner. Sadly, Hawk doesn’t make an appearance in this one since he’s up to some kind of mischief in Central Asia, but his absence doesn’t hurt the overall story at all.

Hopefully, Parker kept this trend going for the final book and fans will get to end the series on a high note.

Next up: Robert B. Parker writes his last Spenser story in Sixkill.

[James Thane · Rating 3 out of 5]

For many years, I've been a fan of Robert B. Parker's Spenser series, and even though many of the later books in the series do not measure up to the standards that Parker set earlier, I've still enjoyed most of them. Parker died a couple of years ago, and I've been reluctant to read Painted Ladies and Sixkill, which are the last two book in the series, because it's like saying goodbye to an old friend. But I finally pulled Painted Ladies off the shelf and read it this week.

Like many of the later entries in the series, the plot is fairly thin and serves mostly as a framework for a lot of witty banter between Spenser and the other characters. Sadly, Spenser's long-time sidekick, Hawk, is again MIA. Even more sadly, Spenser's long-time lover, Susan Silverman is not.

The story opens when an art historian with the improbable name of Ashton Prince approaches Spenser asking for protection. Prince has been selected as the go-between in the return of a priceless painting that has been stolen and is being ransomed back by the museum to which it belongs. Prince wants Spenser to accompany him to the exchange.

Things do not go well and, through no fault of Spenser's, his client is killed. Though Spenser has fulfilled his end of the bargain and no longer has a client, the PI's code demands that he avenge Prince's death and bring the bad guys to justice. His investigation leads him into a world of art theft and fraud, and it quickly becomes apparent that Spenser's client might not have been quite what he claimed, which of course the reader knew well would be the case when Prince first walked through Spenser's door.

As things progress, Spenser's own life is threatened--something that has happened pretty routinely in each of the thirty-eight books that preceded this one. As always, Spenser is unfazed by this and will deal with the bad guys as they come. In and around the investigation, Spenser will cook a good number of meals and share way too many tender, icky moments with Susan, a woman only Spenser could love.

All it's a quick, fun read and those who have followed this series from the beginning will know exactly what to expect. Those who have not and who are thinking about dipping into this series for the first time, would be much better advised to read one of the earlier books like The Godwulf Manuscript or Early Autumn.

[fleurette · Rating 3 out of 5]

The whole charm of this book is that it doesn't try to be anything more than it is. It doesn't go all-out to be an ambitious story full of twists and turns or profound depth and wisdom. It stays with simplicity, both in content and in a very specific way of writing.

This is my very first book by Robert B. Parker. I had heard of him before, but I didn't know what to expect. And I was quite surprised with what I got. I admit that I had to get used to his unique writing style at first. Deprived of all possible decorations, spartan, poor even. There is no unnecessary word here, descriptions are limited to the absolutely needed minimum. The dialogues are as laconic as possible. Only completely essential scenes are included. But I quickly got used to this sparing style. The magic is that when you read this book you don't feel like you are missing something. Everything is in place.

The plot for such a short book is interesting and properly developed. The whole idea is not particularly innovative, I have already read something like that in several other books. However, it is well constructed. Due to the limited form, you focus on the story and action.

Spenser is an interesting hero who is quite easy to like. I read one of the books in the Harry Dresden series at the same time and Spencer reminds me very much of Harry. He is relentless, has his own moral code, he is not afraid to get dirty, but his heart is on the right side. And above all, he wants to bring matters to their end. Will I remember him? I do not know. But I certainly don't mind meeting him in the next book.

This is not the best detective story I've read recently. But it is certainly very easy and quick read that I truly enjoyed. If you don't mind the Spartan style of writing, this story is not a bad pastime. Uncomplicated and simple. I plan to read other books by this author somewhen in the future.

[Barb H · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had previously thought I had read Parker's last book, but now I really think this is it. I shall miss having his books there for me when I need his fiction and humor! It's like eating a bowl of chocolate ice cream- you know it's not really good for you, but so comforting!

************************
Again Robert Parker has provided me with the perfect medium for a snowy day!One cannot compare him to authors such as Ruth Rendell, Agatha Christie and others whose writing shines through mystery novels, but his style and characters have provided his followers with plots which rarely fail to please. Despite the occurrence of murders and the challenges presented to his popular character, Spenser, the novel contained his clever repartee,terse conversations and unforeseen events.

This was Parker's last offering prior to his death and one of his recent best. The major thrusts are art theft and coincident involvement of Israelis to retrieve stolen articles during the Holocaust. Parker offered a chilling view of the frustrations and terror of Jewish victims at that time.

One of the enjoyable aspects of reading Parker's books has been his focus on the geographical area where I live. It is a pleasure to visualize places and landmarks in his stories as I read.

"We were standing near the George Washington statue that faced Arlington Street. It was March. There was still snow in the Public Garden, but it was diminishing. Of course, in Boston March is not necessarily blizzard-free, but the odds are better, and so far the odds were holding." p.288

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

A satisfyingly complex book, with a wide range of mostly well-drawn characters, although I thought Windimere's role in the book could have been expanded, as well as the murky Herzog Foundation players. The pacing is good, and the action sequences are a bit better than in recent books.

(The word "maroon" appears only once in this book)

As usual lately, the banter between Spenser and the police is far superior to his banter with Susan. I do feel that "banter" is the key to Parker's happiness in life, and he and Joan provide each other with exactly what they need. I am pleased that Parker and Joan did find true happiness in their one-time difficult marriage, even though the sometimes saccharin nature of it spilled over a bit too-often into the Spenser fictions.

The dog-as-substitute-baby has a new playmate, filling page space, but you can just skip over this stuff easily.

[Suzy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a quick listen that I enjoyed for two reasons: I used to live in Boston, not too far from where Spenser lives and the great Joe Montegna narrated. Oh, I used to watch the tv series Spenser for Hire back in the day. Parker wrote the first of these 39 books in 1973 and still wrote this last one with old-school sensibilities. So much sex, ogling women, talking about their bodies, the sex he's having with his long-time girlfriend Susan, etc., etc., etc. So much mayhem, violence, shootings and blowing things up. In such a short book. Oh, did I mention there was a crime related to returning stolen art owned by Jews from WWII? Kept my interest if only as a crime-writing artifact and that it was just 5 hours long!

Why I'm reading this: Shiny object syndrome! My husband just finished listening and loved the reading by Joe Mantegna and since it was available on Libby, I bit!

[carol. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three stars--about what I expect from a Spenser story, without much that distinguishes it from others. Spencer's out to fix an art ransom gone awry, and has to work with his old friends in the police force to do it. Belson, Quirk and Healy all make appearances, but we don't see of his more unusual outside-the-law friends on this one. Susan, of course, is ever present, but the scenes with her became rather repetitive. He cooks, she pretends to eat, they have sex then refer to it in arch tones the rest of the scene. I thought it also odd that her 'Jewishness' wasn't brought up sooner when they were discussing Holocaust issues, since Spenser and Parker usually make a mention of it at some point, and her ethnic identity has played a role in other books. It's not a large absence, but it's small notes like that that help individual Spenser books rise to the top. The mystery wasn't too surprising--I had actually figured out the situation--but was believable. There's a charming scene with Pearl and a new friend Otto that becomes a reoccurring event, and provides a link to an expert.

Later Spenser books mostly make me miss early Spenser books, which are rich in detail and thought; Painted Ladies, like most recent Spenser stories, sometimes seems more of an outline than a full book.

[Scott Rhee · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was a time when I religiously sought every book by Robert B. Parker. I looked forward to each new book he published (and he seemed to publish one every month, so it was like Christmas every time I went to the bookstore), and I loved the fact that he had written so many books that it would take me several years to catch up to the backlog of other novels. I especially loved the Spenser series. I remember watching the short-lived TV series when I was a kid (it was the reason I became a Parker fan in the first place), and Robert Urich became my mental image of Spenser with each new book I read.

At some point around 10 years ago, I stopped reading Parker. Not because I started disliking Parker for any reason. I just got caught up in other interests. My tastes were developing. I was discovering new authors, some of whom were authors that Parker himself acknowledged as his own inspirations: Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett, Jim Thompson, James Cain, Ross MacDonald. From there I leapfrogged to other writers taking the noir genre into fascinating new directions: Andrew Vachss, James Ellroy, James Lee Burke, Lee Child. I still had a place for Parker in my heart, but he, not to put too fine a point on it, kind of got left behind.

My bad.

The world is short one great writer now ever since Parker died, and I'm ashamed to say that I never went to the funeral. I guess I listened to too many people saying that Parker was old hat. Spenser was too "Old School" among the modern-day detectives. Hell, he wasn't even a drunk. There were rumors that Parker's last few Spenser books weren't that great anyway, that he was "phoning it in". Whatever.

The truth is, Parker left a treasure trove of great detective stories, and Spenser will always be one of my favorites.

"Painted Ladies" is, I think, the thirty-eighth book in the Spenser series, and it was one of the books published shortly before his death. I'm putting to rest the rumors that Parker was "phoning it in" near the end. It's a bullshit rumor.

Everything Parker fans adored about Spenser is still there: wise-cracking, tough-guy antics, sensitive and charming to women but loyally faithful to Susan, the love of his life, smarter than he lets on.

The story: Spenser is hired by Dr. Ashton Prince, a well-known art scholar, to protect him during a meet in which art thieves who have stolen a priceless Dutch painting will exchange it for money. Spenser expects things to go smoothly, and everything does until Prince, with painting in hand, explodes in a fiery mess.

Spenser's pissed. He doesn't like it when the man who hired him for protection ends up dead, even if it wasn't his fault. The meet was a set-up. Prince was marked for death from the beginning, but why? This wasn't just a simple case of a stolen painting, as he soon finds out. When professional assassins try two unsuccessful attempts to kill Spenser, he really gets mad.

Reading "Painted Ladies" was, I have to admit, kind of like coming home again. I missed Parker. I'm glad I've become reunited.

[Giovanni Gelati · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many different emotions went through my mind even before I opened this novel up. I have read all of the novels Parker has written, and to be honest I can’t really say which of his characters I enjoy the most. The odds on favorite for most would be Spenser, but I have to say I enjoy Jesse Stone and Virgil Cole as well. I guess though, a Spenser novel is fitting for the end of the run; it is what started it all, the alpha and now the omega.
I am not a real emotional guy but I am totally bummed trying to write this. I am reading Cannell’s The Prostitutes Ball right now and it is like a double whammy. The thing that drew me to Parker in the first place and what made me devour novel after novel to catch up to the new stuff was the character interplay. The novels aren’t deeply plotted. They are what they are; fun, great dialogue, a code that remains unbroken, and a group of characters that know each other so well that sometimes words are not even needed. The man was a legend in his day, the characters are excellent and I was heartened that this last one was all Spenser. Hawk is away, Benson is poking around, but it is Susan and Spenser all through the novel. I find it to be fitting. Is it the best Spenser novel? I really didn’t care as I savored every page; I am a fan, pure and simple. This gets five stars no matter what for me. The man gave me too many good reads, made me laugh, and I actually put aside the fact that I hate the Red Sox so much (me being raised a Yankees fan).
Painted Ladies is your typical quick Parker read, except you know it is your last. The ride is way too short. The characters are doing their thing with the short, choppy dialogue, Spenser is kicking the hornets’ nest trying to see what comes out at him, Susan analyzes everything, and Pearl is Pearl. What more does one expect from a Robert Parker novel, just maybe a few more. At least I have 50 novels of his I can reread. What is your favorite Parker novel? Who is your favorite character?
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari & Linkedin. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, and the Gelati’s Scoop Facebook Fan Page. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Gelati’s Store Tab on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day. http://www.gelatisscoop.blogspot.com

[Larry · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's sad to read what should have been the last Spenser novel, though the last really good one was "Small Vices" (which this novel connects to) and the last knockout Spenser novel may have been as far back as "A Catskill Eagle." Still, "Painted Ladies" starts nicely and has some good snarky Spenser wisecracking. As one character says, "I was told you have a tendency toward self-amusement." I had hoped that Parker would avoiud the interminable conversations with Susan about the meaning of manhood, and he largely does. Susan does have a nice opening moment herself, more or less in defense of Pearl, and Frank Belson has a nice turn describing why he had yet to take the lieutenant's exam. Martin Quirk actually smiles. Hawk is absent on business, and he's missed, although not as much as early in the series. Vinnie Morris and Cholo and Teddy Sapp are mentioned, but only in passing. Still, it's nice that pretty much the whole Spenser cast gets a mention, though not Henry Cimoli or Spenser's sort of adopted son.

The first Spenser novel had him in pursuit of a medieval manuscript. This one has him in pursuit of a 17th-century painting that was at the center of more than one death. It's not a bad arc for thirty-eight (I think) books. And Spenser is still able to win both a gunfight and a fistfight. The ending is less rushed than some of the late Spenser books, and Spenser does a nice summary of what he does for a living a bit more than midway along (p. 122): "I'd spent most of my life looking around in dark places that were often appalling. But oddly, I was never really appalled. . . ." It's sort of a homage to Raymond Chandler's quip about private detective novels being about about mean streets and a man (the p. i.) who isn't himself mean.

There is one playful (Parker toying with us) moment when someone asks Spenser for his first name. He gives it, though not to us.

[Beth Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the better Spenser novels in my opinion. Many of them are long on characters and short on plot. This still features the witty and sophisticated Spenser at his best, but there is a pretty interesting plot here, centered around the heist of a rare painting by an unknown but brilliant Dutch painter.

Spenser is hired to be the bodyguard of a man who is being extorted for the painting, in the transaction, the man is killed by a bomb planted in the painting. This is an afront to Spenser, who does not like to fail. He takes it personally to track down who killed the professor and why. The perpetrator was known, but not exactly telegraphed to the reader, like some writers do. All the characters are introduced, you just have to figure out which one it is.

Very enjoyable story.

[Jim McCulloch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy the simplicity of language and readability of Mr. Parker's books. This was no exception. it is a quick easy read that keeps your attention. The only reason it's not a 5 star is that Mr. Parker was so unknowledgeable about firearms that he botches most passages involving them. If you know or care little about firearms, you won't catch or be bothered by it.

[Jack Heath · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars. A good one, they're all good, but Parker's been even better. Sadly, he passed away before this Spenser and the one that follows, 'Sixkill,' were published. Ace Atkins authored the titles that follow. A valuable art work has been stolen from the Hammond Museum and our philosophical and erudite, but sometimes lippy, PI is hired to protect the "go-between" art historian Professor, Ashton Prince, who is designated to deliver the ransom demanded to get 'Lady with a Finch' back. Of course things don't go well - after all this is just the start of the novel - as both the art historian and the 'Lady .. ' are blown into the next dimension. Spenser is upset with himself at losing his client. Apparently the painting had belonged to a prominent Jewish family, most of whom were murdered in WW2 at Auschwitz by the Nazis in the Holocaust. Lurking in the background is the Herzog Foundation. You'll find numerous painted ladies for which the title could be applicable. Susan and Pearl and possibly a new continuing character, Otto, take their bows. Indeed watch for Pearl as she saves the series. (Au2018/Oc2024)

[Joe Noir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do not judge this book by its cover. The Berkeley premium paperback cover art shows shell casings/bullets arranged in the shape of a heart, a free standing bullet, and a bullet hole. Given the title, this may tend to give some readers the wrong impression.

I enjoyed this novel. Fast moving, terse dialogue, a few surprises.

This one involves Spenser with a ransom meet (for a stolen painting) gone bad. Spenser failed to protect the person he was hired to protect, and intends to see it through. One way or another.

It’s all tied in with art stolen by the Nazis during World War II, the Holocaust, Dutch mercenaries, Auschwitz tribute tattoos, a foundation supposedly trying to find stolen art and return it to the rightful owners, two attempts on Spenser’s life, a wicked shootout, bombs, a disgraced former FBI agent, and quite a few people with father issues.

There is a lot of fun here.

[Labijose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Otra novela típica de la serie Spencer. Durante una operación de rescate de una obra de arte robada, algo sale mal, y la persona encargada de la recuperación de la obra, a la que Spencer protege, fallece. Sin embargo, Spencer sospecha que le han tendido una trampa. Lo que sigue es, como en el resto de su obra, una sucesión de frases ingeniosas, en una lectura que pasa volando, y que te deja bastante satisfecho, sin buscar mayores pretensiones. En esta novela, por desgracia, no aparece Hawk. Comparado con otras lecturas de este tipo quizás no le daría 4 estrellas, pero por ser de la serie Spencer se las merece.

[Richard Brand · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you read Spenser novels, you simply read them for time filling. They read so quickly. The conversations are so snappy and sappy. Spenser is the best shooter and boxer, lover and investigator.
You have a story with art, holocaust, Jews and greed all mixed up. I give it three because it did what I expected it to be. A fun quick read. There is no sense asking questions about the how the back story of the characters can be explained. Why hasn't other museum and art owners caught the bad guy sooner. Why did all those other people help the main bad guy? You just read Spenser for the quick fun.

[H (trying to keep up with GR friends) Balikov · Rating 3 out of 5]

A middle of the road Spenser story, issued after his death. He is a little bit more mellow in his domesticity. He is without Hawk or anyone else to back him up in his quest to find out why he was unable to protect his client in a ransom gone wrong.

[ML · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another sad ending and beginning tbh.

Spenser is hired to protect an art historian and nothing is as it seems. Hawk is not in this one sadly but we do get appearances by Healy, Belson, Quirk and Rita. Too much Susan though.

Art and WW2. How valuable art was stolen and lost and then recovered. It was very interesting and also super depressing.

This is the penultimate book written by RBP and I’m not ready to read the last one just yet so off to start up the Stuart Woods Stone Barrington series again…

[Mack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Parker has a little suspense here, with bad guys steadily reappearing, but his suspense just bothers me; I like the character stories more. I think that’s where Parker’s heart is.

[Jay Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the last Spenser novel. So the feeling throughout is kinda like an Irish wake -- sad but full of joyful memories. It is disappointing that Hawk only makes an appearance by reference, but all of the other players -- Susan, Quirk, Rita, etc. -- get a pleasant final turn.

Parker was so prolific that I'm not sure he knew that this was his last Spenser excursion. If he did (or even considered it), then Spenser's reflection, starting on page 205, of why he does what he does, how it gives meaning to his life and his professional values and norms could have just as easily been the author talking directly to us.

As I've said in my previous reviews of the late Robert B. Parker's work, "succinct" doesn't begin to describe how concise/precise Parker's writing is. Here is an excerpt from the NY Times obit from last January: "Mr. Parker wrote the Spenser novels in the first person, employing the blunt, masculine prose style that is often described as Hemingwayesque. But his writing also seems self-aware, even tongue-in-cheek, as though he recognized how well worn such a path was. And his dialogue was especially arch, giving Spenser an air of someone who takes very few things seriously and raises an eyebrow at everything else. Mr. Parker’s regular readers became familiar with the things that provoke Spenser’s suspicion: showy glamour, ostentatious wealth, self-aggrandizement, fern bars, fancy sports clubs and any kind of haughtiness or presumption."

It is that familiarity that brings the catch-in-the-throat reality to the wake: this is the last ride with Spenser. So sad. A thank you in five stars!

[Denise · Rating 1 out of 5]

Seeing that the audio version was read by veteran actor, Joe Mantegna, influenced me to try (one more time) a Spencer book. Unfortunately, I can't decide if Mr Mantegna's reading was more annoying than the characters in the story. Both grated on my nerves so much I couldn't finish. Frankly, I didn't care who did it - only that they all stop talking.

The *clever* banter between Spencer and his Susan was enough to make me shriek. The other characters were so irritating I was surprised more of them weren't murdered - when I found myself plotting their deaths, I knew it was time to hit the *STOP* button.

Having read the Spencer series many years ago, I gave up (probably) for the same reason - too clever by half. However, over the past year I found I did enjoy the Jesse Stone series.

Guess I'm not as clever as the characters and find them pretentious and impressed with themselves as they constantly remind each other (and their dear readers) how clever they are. I have only one thing to say to that: Zzzzzzzzzz.

DD@Phila

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not enjoy this Spenser novel as much as I have his other ones in the past. It seemed very disjointed and I found myself missing key characters who were not included in this story. Although I like the character Susan, I thought that there was too much involving her and not enough of the other people who live in Spensers world.

[Adi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spenser investigates the disappearance (and supposed destruction) of an expensive painting, and as he learns more about the painting itself, he gets involved with art scholars, lawyers, Holocaust survivor descendants and, as usual, women with drinking problems. A few people get murdered as he digs deeper, but we know our Spenser already, he will not give up until he finds all the answers.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I've read this one before I'd forgotten it. Good, but not my favorite. I like the interaction between Spenser and Hawk and Hawk was out of the county for this tale.

[Sunhawk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reliably Parker and read for some reason out of sequence: darn! Hawk is elsewhere, and this time we have a sleazy art professor and a missing masterpiece. Good back-and-forth with Spenser's pals (?) on the Boston PD and the Staties. Also: thick paper, large type, lots of short sentences; the ol' Parker magic for crankin' 'em out quick. And I love it: a stick of chewing gum for the mind, over in less than a reading day.

[Jodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book with great sorrow, knowing it was the last Spenser novel. It was a good way to go out. I missed Hawk but he was there in spirit. We got nearly everyone else. When Spenser is asked to protect a art professor who is paying a ransom for a stolen, no one expected that the professor would be murdered when the painting exploded. In fact, no one things Spenser could have done anything differently. Except Spenser. As he starts to dig into the case, it becomes pretty clear that someone else doesn't want him to. The two attempts on his life being dead, so to speak, giveaways. Spenser is smarter than the average crook and frankly smarter than the average person. Perhaps that's why his books always felt so personal. The dialogue isn't necessarily real, but it's right, it fits the characters, and it has always worked. Being a Bostonian, albeit living in Salt Lake City, the care he takes with places made me long for them. His passing is a great loss to the mystery writing and mystery reading world. Spenser would be the first to admit that love and emotion defined him. He could kill when he had to, but he didn't look forward to it, didn't relish it. But he did his job and did it well and when it was over he had the love of his life to look forward to. I can't help feel as though Susan Silverman was suddenly widowed. Though it's the romance between Pearl and Otto that make this book sing. A good way to leave. Edit: This is not the last Spenser novel. But that doesn't change my review. It's still vintage Spenser.