The Professional (Spenser Series #37) [NOOK Book]

R.I.P. Robert B. Parker

I was so sad to learn of his sudden passing. I understand there are a few books still to be released. I loved his writing, some better than others, but always an enjoyable way to spend a relaxing afternoon. I will miss him and Jesse Stone, Spencer, Sunny Randall, Hawk and Susan. My condolences to his family.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

A Fitting End

A few days after I finished reading "The Professional", Robert Parker passed away. I was shocked and felt like a lost many close friends. As soon as I closed the book, I was ready for the next one, but sady this may have been the last of the series. So, I was glad that this was a really good Spenser mystery. It was especially interesting because it makes a comment on the times. Four women who are married to older, wealthy, powerful men hire Spenser to investigate a man who they all have sex with because he is trying to blackmail them. But, the catch is they all continue to have sex with this man; they all like him; they just don't want their husbands to find out about him or pay him. Sounds like something out of the headlines in politics or professional sports. This is a novel about marrying money, overindulgence, lack of common sense, and not wanting to deal with reality. The scenes between Spencer and Susan are particularly good because they reveal answers to a lot of questions about their relationship. Spenser and Susan explore the subjects of love and sex as Spenser investigates the man who services all four women with sex. Spenser finds the man both likeable and strangely interesting, and there is no animosity between them. In fact, the man co-operates with Spenser and tries to help him. The Man likes all four women but needs their money to continue his unusual business. So it is a very odd mystery indeed. As Spenser searches for answers the dialogue sparkles like it does in all the Spenser novels. I have read and collected almost every Robert Parker book. For decades, I have looked forward to reading a new one to read every few months. I will really miss Spenser, Hawk, Susan, Vinnie, Sunny Randall, Jesse Stone, and all the rest of Robert Parker's fictional friends. I found them all to be tough, likeable, and fun. I will also miss their canine friends who are every bit as interesting as their owners. Thanks to Robert Parker for writing so many interesting adventures filled with some of the greatest characters in mystery fiction.
He will be missed.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Keep you driving around the block to hear the finish

I've always been a huge fan of the Spenser books and of any book with Boston in the background. This is an unusual book with 4 women hiring Spenser to stop a blackmailer from revealing their sexual indiscretions with him. What I liked about the book was the uncertainty of the true villain's identity. It kept me wondering about how this book was going to turn out. Of course, Joe Mantegna has the perfect tone for Spenser's somewhat sarcastic retorts!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Interesting, kept you reading, always the romantic and tough guy

As any Robert Parker story this Spenser novel is likely the last one I will read because Robert Parker has since passed away. I am an avid reader of Spenser novels and I feel like part of my life died with Robert Parker. Its amazing how an author can have such an effect on a person, but its hard to think I will no longer be reading about Spenser and the love of his life, Susan and all the other thugs that hang around Spenser that I have been reading about for many many years.
I bought the CD this time so I could listen on my 5 CD radio in my truck driving back & forth to work. Takes about an hour each way, so every day for about 3 1/2 days I had an enjoyable ride to and from Boston. Sometimes I would be laughing and wonder if anyone in cars next to me was watching as I was listening to Spenser and his escapades.
I will miss Robert Parker and Spenser. He has been a part of my fantasy life for a very long time. Good Bye Mr Parker.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Another Great Spenser Novel

As always, I thoroughly enjoyed this latest Spenser novel. An interesting concept and I can't say more than that without spoiling the fun!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Robert B. Parker delivers again.

As usual, Parker's muscular writing style kept me immersed in the story from start to finish. I love his characters, love their banter, love the devotion of Spencer and Susan for each other, the respect and loyalty of Hawk and the recurring characters like Vinnie and Quirk. Parker can say more in fewer words than any author I can think of. I know this is about Spenser, but he and Jesse Stone are my heroes. Also Sunny Randall. I look forward to each new release. Keep 'em coming, Parker!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A Nice Read

In Robert B. Parker's latest thriller "The Professional," private detective Spenser is asked to assist four women who cheated on their rich husbands with the same lover who, having recorded their trysts, comes back to blackmail them-Gary Eisenhower. Matters are further complicated by the private situation of each victim: Regina is married to a homosexual politician who's terrified that Gary's revelations will wreak havoc on his career. Nancy's hiding her sex addiction and living in fear that her husband would leave her if he found out. Beth's husband, Chester Jackson, is obsessed with his wife and hires two men called Zell and Boo to spy on Spenser and destroy Gary. Abigail has a drinking problem that ultimately propels her into the arms of Spenser. The mutual bond this women harbor is their shared experience with Gary and their wish to get the whole situation over with. However, things are never what they seem. As Spenser tracks down Eisenhower, he learns that Gary is not operating alone and at least one of his female clients is continuing a relationship with him, despite the blackmail. Along with his beautiful psychologist girlfriend Susan, Spenser then locates a female college associate who previously had an affair with Eisenhower, following which he was briefly in jail, to attempt to understand what exactly attracts these women to him. As events take a terrifying turn, several murders take place in the second part of the book-including the husband of one of Spenser's clients. I found the book to be a quick and entertaining read, with a good sense of conflict and tension towards the end. The writing is straight-to-the point, the characters stand out, and the by the time the story ends everything has been neatly explained-something that isn't always easy to do with a thriller. Overall, I found this book to be an engaging and enjoyable read.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Fresh and sparkling, great book

Spenser has been wooing his sweetie pie Susan and vanquishing the bad guys for 37 books now and in the hands of a master story teller it never gets old.

In fact this is one of the best of the series. A nicely twisting plot with strong characters, crisp dialog and believable situations. If you've never read a Spenser novel you're in for a treat. If you're already a fan, this offering is going to make you want to go back and reread the series.

Excellent work and well worth the money.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Wonderful book

would recommend this book to anyone

Outstanding

The Professional is another one of Parkers masterpieces. Bravo!!

Not bad. Entertaining. Audio book uses to many, "he said," "she said,"

Audio book good. Murder book, but much humor. Very good reader, actor Joe Montagne, but he continues to recites too man, he said, she said. Gets very annoying.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

My Husband and I are really enjoying this read

Parker does it again. Who doesn't like Spenser. Susan and Hawk are as entertaining as always. I good read/listen for everyone.

cannot in good conscience recommend this CD

This is the first R.Parker book I've encountered. I could not endure the
'he said, he said' every time. I did not finish listening. In a book, one is able to skip over the 'he said', 'she said' but impossible in an audio. It was impossible for my husband and me to listen to; even though he has read several of his books. When it came to the CD, he said, 'shut that thing OFF! - I strongly suggest you save your money on this recording. It was easy to tell that even the reader was frustrated with having to read the 'he said' so repetatively. Cannot understand the audio directors allowing this in voiced version. I give this a zero, bottom of the pile.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

What a shame!

I feel guilty giving a negative review because Mr.Parker has left us, BUT, this book is awful. The dialogue is simply sophomoric and neither witty,clever or funny. The "Susan Thing" has jumped the shark, many years ago in fact. All in all, just tedious and boring. About 100 pages in and I junked it for another in the Lucas Davenport series. Much better.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Author's use of "said"

There are dozens of ways to say "he said," but Parker uses "said" every time. It became distracting, then annoying the longer we listened. The story was probably fairly interesting, but c'mon, be a little bit versatile. I haven't read anything else by Robert Parker, and now am unlikely to do so.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

more spenser

to all you spenser fans, there will be at least 2 more spenser books from robert parker. he was working on a new spenser when he died. we sould still see a new spenser novel this fall. I liked the professional but i,m glad it will not be the last spenser book.

Almost the last Parker before he passed.

The 37th in the Spencer series is captivating as always.

My favorite author

I have read every one of Robert B. Parker's books. I love his style. They are quick, easy reads with great characters. I look forward to his next book.

A look back at Spenser,

perfect, except we don't know his first name still

The best "trio" in books

Spenser, Susan and Hawk are the best detective trio in books. This is a lot like the CSI series because the characters click so well together. It's not even the story line that draws you in, believe me, it's those three characters who bring each book to life.