BOOK DETAIL/INFORMATION:
This is the sixth Spenser novel written by Robert B. Parker. It was originally published in 1980. The book’s title character Rachel Wallace would go on to be a recurring character in the Spenser universe.
Preceded By: The Judas Goat Followed By: Early Autumn
PLOT SUMMARY: Rachel Wallace is a lesbian feminist author who hires Spenser for a security detail. She’s completely biased against him and his macho ways and eventually fires him. Afterward, she is kidnapped and “The Code” kicks in and Spenser takes it upon himself to rescue her.
COMMENTARY: This is a pretty straight forward… Continue reading
BOOK DETAILS/INFORMATION:
This is the thirty-eighth (38) Spenser novel written by Robert B. Parker. It was originally published in 2009. Recurring characters include Susan Silverman, Vinnie Morris, Hawk, Tony Marcus, & Ty Bop.
NOTE: This review will contain spoilers.
Preceded By: Rough Weather
PLOT SUMMARY:
Spenser is hired by a lawyer named Elizabeth Shaw to get to the bottom of her client’s problem – blackmail. Shaw’s clients, wives of rich older men, have a mutual connection: they’ve all had an affair with a man named Gary Eisenhower— and now that he’s done doing the dirty with them, he’s getting dirtier…… Continue reading
As I sit down to write this review I’m still not sure what I think about this movie. It’s either kind of brilliant or kind of terrible. Hopefully by the time I get to the end of this post I’ll figure it out. I can say that of the 4 of us that watched it together, 1 hated it and 1 fell asleep. I can also say that whether it was good or bad, it was LONG (2 hours and 20 minutes).
WARNING: Spoilers
Judd Apatow directs Adam Sandler, Seth Rogan, Leslie Mann, Eric Bana & Jonah Hill in what… Continue reading
The wife and I had an opportunity recently to actually sit down and watch a movie! It doesn’t happen often where the stars align, we put the kids down AND we’ve got a movie on hand that we BOTH are interested in watching. I’d like to say that this was an awesome movie and it was time well spent… unfortunately that’s not quite the case. In fact, we had to watch this one in two sittings cause the first time we started watching it I fell asleep.
Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn play a couple who’ve been dating for quite… Continue reading
BOOK DETAILS/INFORMATION:
This is the thirty-sixth (36) Spenser novel written by Robert B. Parker. It was originally published in 2008. Returning once again (for his third appearance) is Rugar (The Gray Man).
NOTE: This review will contain spoilers.
Preceded By: Now And Then
PLOT SUMMARY:
Spenser is hired to accompany professional gold digger Heidi Bradshaw to the wedding of her daughter. The wedding takes place at the incredibly posh (and secluded – wink wink nudge nudge) Tashtego Island which is only accessible via boat or helicopter. This is obviously a plot point that is flushed out rather quickly. Spenser… Continue reading
BOOK DETAILS/INFORMATION:
This is the fifth Spenser novel written by Robert B. Parker. It was originally published in 1978.
Preceded By: Promised Land Followed By: Looking For Rachel Wallace
PLOT SUMMARY:
A recluse millionaire in a wheelchair (think Mason Verger from Hannibal without the facial deformity), Hugh Dixon, hires Spenser to find the members of a terrorist group (Liberty) that killed his family. Spenser does what he does and stirs the pot to the point where he needs to call in backup in the form of Hawk.
Spenser finds a member of the group known as “Katherine” and tracks her… Continue reading
The fact that this movie didn’t even get nominated for ANY Oscars just goes to show how messed up the Academy is. From the very beginning this picture grabs you and doesn’t let go. The dialogue here is absolutely incredible and makes what could be a slow movie absolutely incredible.
Clint Eastwood plays Walt Kowalksi, a Korean War vet who has recently lost his wife. He’s an old school grumpy old man who quite frankly doesn’t like the way the world is going. He’s been living in “the neighborhood” for his entire life and he’s seen the landscape change right… Continue reading
BOOK DETAILS/INFORMATION:
This is the first Spenser novel written by Robert B. Parker. It was originally published in 1973. Many know this character from the Spenser: For Hire television series in the 80′s where Spenser was played by Robert Urich.
Followed by: God Save The Child
PLOT SUMMARY:
Set in the early 1970s, this novel serves as the introduction to Spenser, a private investigator in Boston. Spenser is hired by a university to recover a stolen manuscript, a medieval document of great historical and literary importance. At first, the case doesn’t involve any violence. But eventually, someone ends up dead… Continue reading
BOOK DETAILS/INFORMATION:
This is the 5th Jesse Stone novel and was published in 2006. There was a made for TV version of this story starring Tom Selleck that aired on May 22, 2007. Selleck was given an Emmy nomination (Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie) for his performance.
PLOT SUMMARY:
In Paradise, Massachusetts, the body of serial divorcee Florence Horvarth washes up on the local shore. As Stone investigates her death, he uncovers a shady world of sexual degeneracy involving incest, pedophilia, statutory rape and voyeurism. Stone also finds himself perturbed by the perceived complacency of Florence’s… Continue reading
Robert B. Parker – R.I.P.
The world lost a great author yesterday when Robert B. Parker died at his home in Massachusetts. Dr. Parker was the author of over 50 novels. He was 77 years old and is survived by his wife and two sons. Ever the working man, Dr. Parker died sitting at his desk.
Even if you weren’t a fan of Parker’s work you may very well know one of his characters – Spenser of Spenser For Hire fame brought to life by Robert Urich. Spenser was subsequently played by Joe Mantegna in several made for TV movies. Spenser is a wise cracking… Continue reading →