Spencer Books

Where did Mr. Winslow learn about surfing? Annette Funicello/Frankie Avalon movies? Disappointing to say the least.

I loved most of his other books (Frankie Machine is excellent), but other than the novelty of reading about the area where I grew up, this was very disappointing. I did enjoy the description of the various towns along the coast. But there were too many convenient coincidences, stock characters, and an obvious, predictable ending. The big wave surfing at the end felt wrong, and the idea of a surfer becoming famous and getting lots of sponsors on the basis of riding one wave is just goofy. I'll read Winslow's next book as soon as it comes out, but I won't be recommending this one.

dawn patrol will give your reading a wakeup call--fun, exhilerating, fast-moving action focused around america's finest city, san diego

As a former private eye himself, author Don Winslow knows how to walk the walk and talk the talk. Apparently from the surfer lingo and expertise scattered throughout THE DAWN PATROL, Winslow also knows how to ride the waves, brah.

I loved his last book, THE WINTER OF FRANKIE MACHINE, and am looking forward to the movie. So I picked up THE DAWN PATROL with a lot of enthusiasm and high expectation regarding character development. Winslow didn't let me down. He hit his marks from the first line and had me frantically turning pages thereafter. Not only was the character development constantly in motion, so was the plot and all the emotional complications - as well as the twisty mystery/crime angle.

Boone Daniels (and yep, that name sparked a lot of commentary throughout the novel, `cause it's like Daniel Boone only backward) is a slacker private investigator in San Diego. But slacker though he is, he's also the guy a lot of lawyers go to when they need to turn up a lowlife or get information from the more dangerous neighborhoods in the city. But although Boone can be a tough guy, being a hardnosed private eye isn't really his way. Usually he nabs the person he's after or the information he's looking for because everyone likes him and because he's brutally clever.

Boone only works when he has to, and since his landlord will let him slide on the rent (Boone once did him a good turn and the old man really likes living on the fringes of Boone's detecting), Boone really doesn't have to work all that often. Mostly he's out on the waves. Generally the cases he does accept don't take him that long. He's connected to all the lowlifes and moves through them like a shark blazing through a calm lagoon.

One of the things I most loved about the book (and the one that is going to compel me to read through it again) is the band of characters that support Boone. They're all colorful and different, almost a full spectrum of the way Boone's life could have and might still go if he chooses a path. I especially loved the way I got to slide into their heads briefly enough to understand the conflicts that fired them into doing the different things they did throughout the novel.

Petra, the lady lawyer that insists on accompanying Boone on his search for a missing witness, is well done. If this book makes it to the movie studios (and it definitely has my vote), it's going to take a great actress to pull it all off. She's strong and sexy, and a complete pain in the butt when she wants to be - which is exactly the kind of character to pit Boone against as he tries to grind out what should be an investigation cakewalk that turns ugly and dangerous. Her appearance and subsequent interest in Boone causes problems with Boone's main squeeze, Sunny Day.

There's enough action, betrayal, and mystery to keep fans of the private eye genre devouring the book. Even if you figure out what's actually taking place, you're still in for a great ride while Winslow ties up every plot thread he's dangled out there in a satisfactory conclusion.

THE DAWN PATROL is the first novel I've read by Don Winslow, and it doesn't disappoint. Many critics have proclaimed this book one of the best crime novels of the year so far; I pretty much concur with this judgment.

While THE DAWN PATROL deals with some serious subject matter, it is essentially a comic novel written in the spirit of such authors like Carl Hiassen and Gregory McDonald. This is a very funny book, and much of the humor comes from the diverse, colorful cast of characters that Winslow presents to the reader. Almost all the characters are surfers, and Winslow does a fine job of explaining the values of the surf culture and how they often clash with the expectations of mainstream society.

This novel entirely takes place in San Diego, and Winslow spends a great deal of time discussing the city's history and geography. I actually grew up in San Diego, and I loved Winslow's descriptions of the region -- they were dead on in almost every way. This may be the most entertaining novel I've ever read that takes place in my home city.

THE DAWN PATROL also offers a pretty decent mystery plot, which contains more than a few surprises. Winslow does a great job of pacing the story and keeping things interesting, although I could have done without the ultra-short chapters, which reminded me too much of James Patterson's staccato style.

While I found THE DAWN PATROL a bit too lightweight to call it a classic, I really enjoyed it, and would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys humorous crime novels.

Enjoy reading books, in general, of people who actually lived. Enjoy reading
of Diana and her life by respectable, intelligent authors who actually know what they are trying to have us know of. Enjoyed it immensely.

I also wrote a research project on Princess Diana, and i used this book. It was so helpful and i really learned a lot. All of the other books i had read, by her butler and things, were more about THEIR life, not Diana's.

If you love Diana, you will love this book. I did a research paper on Diana, and this book was great help. The discriptions of every event in the book is amazing. I could not put the book down.

I'm currently enrolled in a course on writing biographies, taught by Anne Edwards at the UCLA Extension Program. On the first day of the course the author brought an assorted copies of some of the 24 books that she's written over the years and we were each asked to choose one to read during the ten-week course. I read a lot of biographies but I had never yet read one of Anne's. Though I am a bit of a self-confessed Anglophile, "Ever After, Diana and the Life she Led" wouldn't have naturally been my first choice. Most of the others were already taken however, and Anne suggested that I might enjoy reading this one.

The tragic death of Princess Diana is one of those moments in one's life where were one knows exactly the instant that one heard the heartbreaking news.

I'm quite pleased indeed that this was the one she suggested. I found Edwards writing style very engaging and though cliché or not, I found the book very difficult to put down. I enjoyed it immensely. Edwards has a way of recreating the feeling of the moment exactly as when it occurred. She has a talent of bringing in all of the senses so that you really feel that you are there, standing in the moment. "Park House, Diana's home, was a ten-bedroom Victorian country house with staff cottages, stables and a tennis court. Although it was four miles inland, easterly winds brought the scent of salt to remind the occupants of the area's seafaring history."

I found it thoroughly enjoyable, so much so, that I've decided to order a number of Edwards other books from here on Amazon.

Anne Edwards does an exquisite job at portraying the life of Princess Diana. This novel takes the reader through Diana's rough childhood, family background, marriage to Prince Charles, public work, divorce and her death in 1997. The book takes the reader by surprise because many people saw Diana's life as a fairytale, but learn through the novel that Diana's life was not as perfect as it seemed to be. Readers will learn a great deal about the life story of Princess Diana. This novel is appropriate for young adults to grownup.

I've read most of the Spenser novels, and I find them great entertainment. The problem, however, is that most of the later ones pretty much follow the same formula, and ultimately end up being quite predictable. Still, Robert Parker is a good enough writer that I enjoy nearly all of his books, even though I find them pretty much by-the-numbers at this point.

PAPER DOLL is a murder mystery that has a couple of decent twists, and I was genuinely surprised by the identity of the culprit. Some of the characters, such as the corrupt U.S. Senator, are on the cartoonish side, but that's a minor complaint. The dialogue and descriptions are top notch, and you can finish this novel in one or two sittings.

In short, PAPER DOLL is a fun diversion, although not a spectacular effort. If you want a great Spenser book, you may want to try one of Parker's earlier novels, such as GOD SAVE THE CHILD, EARLY AUTUMN, or THE JUDAS GOAT.

For the most part I liked this detective novel from the Spenser series very much. It has a good plot, which both Amazon and other reviewers have hashed and rehashed. The characters are good, as is the atmosphere. Perhaps the best element is the dialogue. Parker writes good dialogue, in the line of Westlake or Block.

What I didn't like was the fact that Parker feels compelled to stop all action dead to lay in what every character was wearing, even though most of the details have nothing to do with the action. Some of this is necessary, I suppose, but it should be part of the flow. Ditto for house furnishings and paintings on the wall. Ditto for drinks and food. I should add that too many writers have this same flaw. Prune, Ernest, prune, as Gertrude Stein advised Hemingway upon reading one of his early stories.

Mystery writers would do well to study the prose of Agatha Christie, Rex Stout and a few other masters of the genre. The reason we read mysteries is the plot, the puzzle, the atmosphere, not to know what color necktie a man is wearing, or what brand of scotch he drinks, or what furniture company made the couch in a room where nothing of significance happens.

The answers to Boston murders aren't always in Boston. When Spenser identifies an Emerson quotation, Loudon Tripp decides that he would be an appropriate investigator. Tripp's wife, Olivia Nelson, had been murdered at Louisburg Square, not an ordinary address for a crime scene. Grief causes a kind of denial to set in. Tripp claims that everything in the family's life was perfect. Having no leads, Spenser decides to go to the victim's hometown. He learns that her father is still alive. The private investigator's relationship to the police officer assigned to the murder case is complex and interesting.

Spenser's travels, his way of putting together clues are of substantial interest to the reader. Parker's description of the actors is apt. The change of scene is fun. This is more intricately plotted than many Parker books and the care taken is all to the good.

When a prominent member of the community is murdered, Spenser is hired by her husband when he feels the police are not making headway quickly enough. Spenser quickly discovers that there is very little to discover (the police are leaning toward the "random psycho" theory), so he begins to do research into her past, finding there a tangled web of lies. He grabs an end of the web and starts to pull.

Like usual, this does not earn him any friends.

What he finds out is by turns shocking and tragic. This was a great book with a terrific twist to it that I just did not see coming at all and I can't even begin to give any more details about the plot without spoiling it. A strong recommend from me.

Push a Pin into the perfection balloon. What is marriage ... what are styles of domesticity ... to a wealthy WASP, to a liberated couple like Spenser and Susan, to a good-guy gay cop, to a State Senator, to an aging wealthy southerner.

The concluding scene in DOUBLE DEUCE, # 19 in the Spenser series, catered a surprising twist to Susan and Spenser's attempts at traditional homemaking. That close was as refreshing to the double S as a storm-brought rainbow. The choice carried in DD's final chapter surfaced in silent style into the thematic structure of PAPER DOLL, # 20 in the Spenser series.

To Loudon Tripp seeking the private eye to find his wife's killer, Spenser answered the "small problem" of his having been dismissed from the police force:

"I am trustworthy, loyal, and helpful, but I struggle with obedient."

Who was Olivia Nelson?

She was Loudon Tripp's murdered wife. Was she Harriet to Ozzie, or did she have a small problem.

Spenser's gum shoe stuck in southern muck as he researched the past of a double identity with no indemnity. While thus stuck, the P.I. endured a dual whap to his knee caps by a fake constable. The gum was seared off by BAD-knight-Quirk to the rescue (YEA!), in a scene to write about to a homemaker or a troubleshooter, maybe even a troublemaker, whichever would apply, or lie right.

In the early 90's what did we cook, what did we say, what did we wear, what books did we read. See here. Hear ye. (...)

Readers have commented that they feel this series is anti-gay. One might not hold that opinion after reading PAPER DOLL, in which Lee Ferrell was introduced and featured with compassionate clarity, as a young gay cop working for Quirk. As would be expected, the repartee scenes between Ferrell and Spenser popped. The corn, no pron, was light, fresh, sensitive and free (relatively).

In Alton, South Carolina, 1948 a child was born, bearing a tale and a trail of a "sister" of doom. Was there room at the Inn? Spenser stayed there, and learned the song, "one way ... or the other."

The opening scene of chapter sixteen provided a collection of guffaws from the way Spenser dealt with an auto paused to tail his travels. If that passage doesn't do that, it's possible you've lost your Proof of Existence Papers. Would you then be a paper doll? I'd rather be me. Since the breakout of loveable dogs in DOUBLE DEUCE, Parker had been warmly elevating the dog's life, and I relish it that introduction to the series, but don't know if I'm ready to be one, if I have a choice!

In addition to dogs, another Spenser "signature" was continued and repeated from DOUBLE DEUCE, that of how a character holds a whiskey glass. Note an example of that on page 237 of the mass market paperback. Might this signature be a continued tribute to Erin Macklin (who held her whiskey glass "with both hands")? Also note how Lee Ferrell held his glass in a few spots in this one. That, possibly more than Spenser's "adoption" of the gay cop, was telling of Ferrel's status, as it developed through an amber-filled glass.

The conclusion of the murder in this one was a switch. For me, it worked, stretching contemplation space in the part of my brain which ruminates Parker's tweaking of what makes a good guy/gal good and a bad guy/gal bad.

Parker gave a perfect clue to the murderer, but I didn't get it until the plot told me.

"The words hung in the room, drifting like the dust of ruination."

That wasn't the clue, nor was it the preface to comeuppance for the killer. It was just a line I quite liked. As always, there were several.

Holding books with both hands,
Linda Shelnutt

I chanced across this book one day and bought it for my (now 19-year-old) son, and it was so fun to read. We lost the book, but for years afterwards I always remembered the both the opening and closing lines: "Born at sea in the teeth of a gale, the sailor was a dog." "And here he is where he wants to be, a sailor sailing the deep green sea." It's just a darling story.

Now I have a 3-year-old son again and I just had to buy him his own copy. It's one of the best bedtime stories ever :-)

I remembered this being read to/with me when I was a pre-schooler in the early fifties. I have strong memories of the art work as warm and secure images. Seeing them again fifty plus years later showed me why, they are outstanding! I had forgotten the plot, which is silly and fun to read aloud. More positive than most nursery plots, and with an independent well anthropomorphized canine hero.

I am so happy to have found "The Sailor Dog". I loved it as child so many,many years ago.It never left my mind.I loved the optimistic way of Scruffy and his adventures.The illustrations are still vivid in my memory.
Simply, I fell in love with him and his ways.

I loved this story as a child, and purchased it for a books for children drive.

It is about a dog who becomes a sailor and builds a new life. It is a book about adventure for the very young. Perfect for ages 3-6.

The Sailor Dog was my favorite book growing up. I remember it fondly as I looked at the pictures imagining a world where dogs sailed the ocean or flew planes and went on grand adventures. I have ordered the orginal in the past from Amazon for a local book drive and got what I expected. On this recent order which was for our 2 year old who loves both books and dogs I got the Little Golden Book edition. Remember those wonderful small books with the gold spine? This edition, however, was not the same Sailor Dog of my childhood. It is an edited version without some of the pages. If you are looking for the original, keep looking. Otherwise this is a fun book.

This book has one of the worst endings I've ever read. It was my first Edna Buchanan book & after a few chapters I intended to read her other books. After reading the ending I won' be doing that! I finished this book with the impression that the author was either having a bad day when she was writing the ending or her editor insisted on the "surprise." The author does a great job develping the characters throughout the book and then has two of them, her current husband & her son, behave in a manner that is compledtely counter to the personalities she has created. I have given the book two stars because it was a great read until the final chapters.

I definately enjoyed this novel by Edna Buchanan and can't wait to read another.

The beginning of the novel opens with the discovery of an unidentified woman on the beach. As the story evolves, the woman is identified as Kaithlin Jordan, who was murdered supposedly by her husband 10 years ago. Surprisingly, Kaithlin's death will exonerate her husband RJ, who was now on Death Row for her murder. What ace reporter Britt Montero would like to find out is "Why" has Kaithlin returned years later...was it to save RJ (whose execution was only weeks away) or for some other reason? Regardless, Britt is on the trail and coming closer to the truth than investigators. Overall the story is fast paced and very entertaining. We follow the tale as we learn more about "where" Kaithlin has been for the past few years,"why" she left and "who & why" someone killed her. I don't think that you will be surprised who the killer, but it is interesting to see how Buchanan develops the plot and characters to the point that you do second guess yourself.

The only two criticisms that I have about the story are simple: (1)I think that the "romance" elements in the story were weak, and (2) the one secret left intact should have been revealed. Issue #1..the romance...in the beginning of the story Britt appears to be in a relationship with a police officer, but by the end, she is in a semi-relationship with Fitzgerald, or is she. Because Buchanan does not give a lot of information about either of them, you simply don't care. And I guess that because it is not a romance novel but a suspense novel, she did not see a need to build or expound on it. My argument then would be to "leave it out". Issue #2...the secret..since the whole death and subsequent investigation was related to the secret..why not tell the person involved. I thought that that was a little "cheap" and seemed to chip at the integrity of the whole story, but I lived with it. Overall, with those criticisms aside, I still felt comfortable with giving it a 5 and plan to read another Buchanan novel soon.

This book is a thrill ride -- a great mystery with some terrific plot twists. But, like the more recent ICE MAIDEN, it's also about more than murder. It starts with a murder victim who has a complicated relationship with her mother. Then there's the convicted killer whose relationship with HIS mother can only be described as tortured. Our heroine, Britt, finds that her mother, with whom she has a tense relationship at best, can offer insight into the case. There's another pivotal mother-child relationship that I won't go into because I don't want to spoil the plot twist. Read this book and you'll get more than a great mystery.

I can't believe that I have been reading as often and as many books that I have and never ran across her books before. I just finished "You Only Die Twice" in one day's time. I had purchased "Act Of Betrayal" from a library closeout and I liked it enough to buy this book. Now, I am searching for any and all of her books. I realize that there are a lot of Britt Montero, the reporter and that I will now be out of sequence, but that will not deter me. I intend to find them all.

This is my first Britt Montero Mystery by Edna Buchanan, and I'm hooked! The story involves a beautiful woman (naked at that) who washes onto a Miami beach, and for a while can't be identified. The police, and resourceful and beautiful reporter Britt Montero, know from the expensive jewelry, and finely tanned skin, and perfect nails this is no regular Jane Doe. Turns out she has already been reported murdered ten years ago, by her rich playboy husband who now sits on death row, and is two weeks away from the needle. Twists and turns in every chapter keep you turning the pages, and I couldn't help but be drawn in by Britt's first person narrative. I found myself finishing this book in two days, and staying awake late into the night to get to the final startling chapter! If you like fast reads, fun characters, and lots of twists this book is for you. I've already bought two more Britt Montero mysteries, and can't wait to read them!

Good book if you just need a pick-me-up, but I've seen time and time again the effects of brain chemistry and just the way you think isn't going to necessarily heal it. It scares me when a book will put too much faith in mind-over-matter.

Enjoyed reading this book. Had allot of facts to think and get my mind uplifted.

I read this book about 15 years ago. It changed my life. Before reading it I thought happiness was something that happened TO me. Knowing that I had a choice opened me to other choices I never would have made if I had not read the book.

Simple to read, yet full of powerful ideas, this is one of the best books by Barry Neil Kaufman. I keep my copy nearby, so I can dip back into it, and re-read sections often.

This book teaches ways to defuse stress and thrive with all of life's challenges. I wish I would have had this book years ago! That said, it's not like someone reads a book and
"Poof!" they're magically happy. The individual needs to internalize the information and think "How does this apply to my life? How do I react to things? And how can I use these tools in my daily life?" It just takes practice and the knowledge that if you slip out of the mode for a while, you did not fail..you're doing the best you can and you just get back into practice of making the most of a given situation. This attitude approach is not so much about coping, but thriving regardless of what life brings your way.

I Shall Not Want: A Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne Mystery (Clare Fergusson and Russ Van Alstyne Mysteries)My understanding is that this is the penultimate book in the series. I hope that is not the case. I do enjoy reading about the adventures of The Reverend Clare Fergusson (her title should never be just "Reverend") and Russ Van Alstyne. My favorite mysteries are located in small towns with a cast of regular characters as well as new ones for each, particular crime. Ms. Spencer-Fleming writes well and I have thoroughly enjoyed each book.

I'm not sure what the person who rated this meant with the explicit passages. All of the series books deal with any intimate situations with class.
This is another in a good series leaving the reader wanting to know more. They should make this into a TV series, I can't wait for the next one!

After the last book, I was disappointed in the plotting. It seemed too much over-the-edge and melodramatic, leaving Russ and Clare both emotional basket cases. This has been a good comeback with careful plotting, good pacing, no loose ends, and strong secondary characters. The romance issues between Kevin Flynn and Hadley Knox are a foil for the problems of Russ and Clare as they try to sort out their relationships. The deputy chief turns out to be a better man than we at first thought. All in all, this is a good mystery, and one of the best series available. The real reason is, I believe, the strong characters that carry the story. We look forward to the next one.

This book was awesome, though I was a little disappointed with the ending. I hope that that is not the last book of the series. There was so much brought up, and left unsaid that I hope there is another book to tie up the loose ends.

I love this series! The last 2 books have been my favorites. If you are new to the series, I would start at the begining and work my way up to this one. The books are well crafted, very smart, have funny moments, and characters that you truly come to love. I don't know why these books are not more widely known.

As for the review that complained of "very explict sex" and gave it a XXX rating? Not sure what in the world they are talking about.

This is an enjoyable read, and it's great to read a book where the characters have a sense of morality. The bottom line is that they "did the right thing" in spite of how it might have hurt them emotionally at the time. It is, as the write-up says, a book about fidelity, and it is fidelity on many levels, causing the reader to think things through, along with the characters in the book.
The book also inspired me to do some research and learn more about Wales. So now it is another corner of the world that I feel familiar with, even though I have never visited there.
Thanks Will North, whoever you are, for a good book.
Priscilla Bouic

This novel gives a sense of being in Northern Wales. Wonderful
descriptions. Sweet love story. Good "escape" novel for summer.

I bought this book based on the cover along with a brief description. It was so much better than described. I did not want the book to end. It was a mystry and love story all in one. The love scenes were described so beautifully and romatically I was surprised that they were written by a man. I could visulize his walk up the mountain in the cold weather..and the green pastures of the farm, birthing the lambs. It was if I was right there with all of the characters.I certainly hope Wiil North writes more novels..this one was WONDERFUL!

Even if I hadn't known before reading this book, I'd have known it was written by a man. Only a man would make the male protagonist (hero, if you will) so wonderful. Only a man could romanticize a situation so much. And only a man could get away with writing all the flowery descriptions, unnecessary details about every single piece of clothing worn by Fiona and/or Alec, and totally unrealistic dialogue (especially out of Alec's mouth). If a woman had written this book it probably would not have been published, but if it had, it would have been slammed by all the critics. It certainly would never have been called "lyrical" in reviews. I skipped great chunks of this book because (1) I was bored and (2) I couldn't believe in these characters. And yes, I read where this book is semi-autobiographical. If that's true, I know why it's not labeled as such -- I mean, come on. What kind of ego do you have to have to depict yourself as Superman Of All Things? If you want satisfying books about people you can really root for, people who are totally human and flawed, yet redeemable, books with great love stories, read Kristin Hannah, read Diane Chamberlain, read Jo-Ann Mapson, read Marcia Willette, read Eileen Goudge, read Susan Wiggs. RECOMMENDATION: DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY.

This is a spectacular book! The cover of the book is what brought me to purchase the book and it did not let me down. I thought Will North did a wonderful job writing his first novel. You would never know that it was his first! Everything was so well decribed it took me to another place. I felt every emotion reading this book and was quite moved by all the characters. The connection between Alec and Fiona was powerful and you could feel it with every word. Reading this was a true joy and a chance to escape into reading bliss! This is one of my favorites.
Thank you Will North for such a wonderful book. I can't wait to read more from you!
Michelle Tooke

While the book was very enjoyable it did not keep my attention as the other books in the series have. Chet and Biff, mistakenly identified as Joe and Frank Hardy, have been abducted. The Hardy Boys spend the book searching for them, but their searches are very repetitive. They begin in Northport, then to Shantytown, then home to Bayport, back to Shantytown, another clue leads them to Northport, they run back to talk to the sheriff in Bayport who in turn sends them looking for more clues in Shantytown, not to mention a couple of runs out to "hermit island." The mysteries they solve along the way are minimal and the supporting cast of friends, including their relatives, take on a very minor role compared to previous novels.

Thus far each of the first three books in the Hardy Boys series has increased the drama and complexity of the stories. The fourth book raises the ante once again by having at least four, apparently different, mysteries.

At the beginning of the book the boys take their new boat, the Sleuth, out on the bay. While they are cruising on the bay another boat nearly rams them. They would have chased the boat but the steering on the Sleuth broke, and the boys ended up going around in circles. It turns out that the boat that nearly rammed them had a purpose for doing so, that we do not discover until the end of the book.

Soon after, the boys prepare to go to Callie Shaw's costume party. Frank likes Callie romantically and she is a recurring character in the Hardy Boys stories. They encounter another mystery as it appears that men in Mr. French's costume shop appear to be threatening Mr. French.

Returning home the boys frighten their Aunt Gertrude with their costumes. Aunt Gertrude is yet another recurring character in the series. Soon the boys are off to the costume party on their motor cycles. On the way they realize that the bank is being robbed. They follow the criminals until they lose them at the docks, where they hop into a boat and escape into the fog.

After notifying the Coast Guard, the boys gain permission from Chief Collig to search for the criminals in the Sleuth, but the boys discover the Sleuth has been stolen! The boys search for the bank robbers in Tony Prito's boat, the Napoli, but are unable to find them in the thickening fog. The boys return home, explain to their father everything they saw at the bank and during the chase, and then head out to the costume party.

The next day the boys awaken to learn that Chet Morton and Biff Hooper never made it home from the party. The boys not only have to learn who stole the Sleuth, but where their missing friends went, and who robbed the bank. As the story develops the boys learn that expensive radios that may have been stolen are turning up. Lastly, a hermit on a tiny island with a shotgun threatens the boys.

The Hardy Boys face many mysteries and yet the author managed to clearly explain how the mysteries did or did not relate to each other. Each of the first four Hardy Boys mysteries were quick, enjoyable reads, and I would recommend them for children in the age range of about eight through whatever age the series holds their interest. Though the Hardy Boys series is written in a relatively archaic fashion, as reading material for an increasingly younger audience they are excellent. The stories were once recommended for children ages 10 to 14. As children are exposed to more violence and seem to require greater levels of stimulation, the recommended age range has move to 9 to 12. I think any child capable of reading some of the challenging words in these books will enjoy them, regardless of how tame most of the action may be. Once a child has reached age 12 or so the stories may be of less interest, but given the combination of mystery and action, these books remain good safe choices for parents who want to know what their children are reading.

I liked this book because every page was interesting. I also liked that there was no confusing part in the story. Then I liked how the Hardy Boys help people with there problems. I also liked how every mystery they solve is very interesting

If your friends were named Chet and Biff, two questions:

1. Would you call them "chums?"
2. If they went missing, would you go looking for them?

Frank and Joe decide to do just that, and, as the cover picture hints, they use their dad's wonderful Chris Craft "woody" to do so.

I say again, if your friends were missing and you suspected that they were in the water, would you call them "chums?" I mean, isn't that the stuff they use as shark bait?

Anyway, lest you worry, this story does have a happy ending. And it's the first major platform for Fenton's "sister," Aunt Gertrude, to exercise gestures of discipline and control. Of course, we have only Fenton's word that "Aunt" Gertrude is, in fact, his sister. If Frank and Joe were real detectives, they'd head down to the Bayport Hall of Records as quickly as they could. While widower Fenton has every right to happiness, Frank and Joe are just the boys to insist that pops make an honest woman of Gertrude.

It's the decent thing to do.

Biff and Chet. Chet and Biff. Very, very different young men, but treasured by Frank and Joe. The same trip to the Hall of Records might reveal what their names were before they became Chet and Biff, too....

after Chet goes to a party and disappears, frank and Joe find a costume that looks like a sign to them.

I pick up Robert B. Parker whenever I want a solid plot that comes out of well-developed characters. Pastime is the follow up of "Early Autumn." Ten years after Spenser had rescued Paul from his inept parents, Paul's mother has gone missing, and he wants Spenser's help finding her. Their detecting leads them to believe she might be caught in the crossfire between mob figures who don't care if she gets hurt.

Spenser is a hound for truth, even if he could get killed looking for the answers. My only complaint with Parker's writing (and I'm nit-picking) is "he/she/I said," tags at almost every line. Although you never have to wonder who's speaking, you have to push the tags into the background to enjoy the otherwise seamless storytelling. Parker writes out of the depth of human character, and his stories always come out resonant.

The actual plot of this novel felt more than a little thin, puffed up with a great deal of extraneous information about Paul's and Spenser's childhoods, along with annoying descriptions of what everyone was wearing and what color their garments were. It isn't necessary for a writer to tell every detail about a character or his furniture or his drinks or his food. The story does pick up somewhat in the end, but not enough to save the book completely.

The characters are OK--no better than that. Paul is boring. Hawk is a minor figure in this book. The gangsters are OK, with the exception of Gerry who is quite good. Ditto for the atmosphere. Some of the dialogue is excellent, if not quite attached to the plot. Doing tricks and funny asides with the dialogue doesn't mask the thin nature of the story.

P.S. I did like the dog. She appears in subsequent Spenser novels.

I've read most of Robert B. Parker's books, and this is definitely one of the better ones. This novel is technically a sequel to an earlier novel called EARLY AUTUMN, but you don't have to read that book to enjoy this one.

The plot of this novel is nothing special, but PASTIME is unique because it reveals a lot of details about Spenser's early life. This novel also marks the first appearance of Pearl the Wonder Dog, who has appeared in many subsequent Spenser books. Parker obviously loves dogs, and the passages of this novel describing Pearl's behavior are very funny.

I'm not a huge fan of most of the Spenser books after 1990, but this is definitely one of the stronger ones. If you like Parker's writing style, you should find this book a lot of fun, and it's short enough to read in one sitting.

In this somewhat haunting note in the Spenser series, Paul Giacomin comes to Spenser asking for help in tracking down his mother, who has gone missing. Never the best of mothers - having often abandoned Paul to his own devices when he was younger, causing Paul to develop as a very neurotic youngster before Spenser took him under his wing in Early Autumn (as Paul says at one point "she used to literally hide under the bed . . . but I would find her") - Patty Giacomin had nonetheless kept in at least loose contact with her son through the years. However, when he had recently left several messages on her machine and then stopped by her house to find no one there, he became concerned. Spenser also suspects that Paul is seeking some resolution of the issues from his childhood, as he is now engaged to his significant other Paige and planning on marrying in the next year or so.

When Spenser begins investigating, he becomes concerned that he will learn something about which Paul would rather not know. Paul nonetheless insists on being involved every step of the way. Because of the nature of the investigation and the strain it puts on Paul, Spenser finds that talking about his own background and history to Paul helps distract the boy. (Up until now, much of this information has been a mystery to not only the characters, but also the reader.) Susan manages to get even more out of him. This makes for fascinating reading.

When Spenser's investigations lead to evidence that Patty's new boyfriend may have been involved with Gerry Broz, things begin to turn ugly.

This is a very revealing book, in many ways. We learn a great deal about Spenser; we learn a few things about Hawk. We see that Paul, despite all his hard work over the years, is inside still very much the insecure young boy yearning for his mother's affection and attention. We see some great interactions with Joe Broz and his son, Gerry - there are several very interesting parallels and contrasts which can be drawn between Joe Broz and Gerry's relationship vs. that of Patty Giacomin and Paul. Although Patty is not around by the end of the book, because of her dysfunctional approach to relationships (and as predicted by both Spenser and Paul in the book), I suspect this is not the last we will be seeing of her.

I have to say that my heart almost literally broke for Vinnie Morris, for the decision he had to make toward the end of the book. Vinnie may be a crook, but he is a crook with honor and I felt bad for him being put into the position he was in. I hope we'll see him again in the future, in a better situation.

A very strong recommend from me for any fans of Spenser, not to mention anyone who is a fan of a well-crafted action/suspense tale. I would also STRONGLY recommend that, if you are new to the series, you NOT start with this book; not that it necessarily would be impossible to follow the plot without having read the earlier books, but it would ruin some of the thrill of reading the earlier books and speculating on why Spenser is the way he is.

The beginning chapters of PASTIME used a dramatically different stye from previous books I've read in the Spenser series. As other reviewers have helpfully described, this one's personal, and as such, to me it felt warm and "homey" (though, after the first chapters, the Spenser/Hawk/mob grit got going with full guts and grandeur... then paused periodically for more cozy "cookie" breaks).

Loved the story opening featuring Pearl's entry into the Spenser/Silverman family. Parker has a knack for drawing dogs to life on paper, in their cuddly, lapping, mysterious ways. I have to admit that I love animals, and any story which realistically captures their caricatures usually has me hopelessly hooked.

In fact, pets work so well to draw me into a book, that I was shocked, yes, to read the concluding statement of a delightfully edgy-eloquent review on this novel. I was so impressed, I was ready to click the "Yes" vote, wishing I could click it repeatedly and have each mouse tap add to the tally. Then, oh my. I read the final statement in the review: "But I still hate that damn dog."

I could not do it. Couldn't click "Yes" on a review which ended with that comment. You have no idea how much conflict I felt, wanting so badly to praise and honor that review. But, to vote against a dog? Could not.

Also could not vote "No." The review was too exquisite, and to love or not to love a dog is not the question; it's a matter of taste and heart, not of reviewing talent, or of a review being helpful or not.

BIG sigh. I almost went into a rash of hives of "does not compute" with that click-or-not conflict.

Maybe this is a good place to note that I'm beyond impressed with the variety of customer review posts on Amazon, including many of the spitting, hissing ones. It's this priceless collection of contrasting opinions (some of them profound, most of them interesting) on products which brought me to Amazon's pages; it's what keeps me here (in addition to Amazon's entertaining, colorful, graphics lush, public-carnival atmosphere, of course).

That out of the way, I'll slip out of my moody reverie mode and continue on with a review.

Laughed out loud at the "Boink Brain" term Spenser used for Susan's ex, and a couple clips describing Pearl antics.

Had a difficult time connecting my habitual reading rhythm for a Spenser novel to the first scenes including Paul Giacomin. The mood of those scenes seemed like Spenser might have allowed a somewhat "in process" character, like a son in his late teens, early 20's, to work/write with him on the Paul parts. At first I felt a loss with the seemingly diminished spark, snap, and sizzle of Parker's style, though there were a few perky passages:

>> "I was sixteen," I (Spenser) said. "And she sat in front of me in French class."
"Sixteen," Paul said. "You had a childhood?" <<

Then I began to contemplate the significance of the title using the word "Pastime" which, beyond the obvious allusions to Parker's welcome and interesting inclusions of Spenser's personal history, hinted at how one passes his time (usually meaning personal, leisure, home-life time, a quality of which most P.I.'s do not possess in any card count, and certainly not in Spades). At that point, I almost achieved a consciousness-shift into the home-base of "duh."

What's more, after reading into the scene from which Paul was excluded, between Spenser and Vinnie Morris, I began to see what was happening with the subtled-down-syntax, the artistic demand of it. I enjoyed the warm humor around Vinnie's attempts to understand and reconcile Paul's (e-mo-tion-al) need to find and understand his mother, and Spenser's support of that process.

"She got something he wants?" (Vinnie's question)
"His past," I (Spenser) said.
Vinnie looked at me some more and tossed his foot some more.
"His past." Vinnie said.
I nodded.
"What the f... is that supposed to mean?" <<

In contrast to the ooie-gooie, warm-fuzzy personal parts in this one, the tense bar scene was all the more effectively enthralling, with Spenser, Hawk, Gerry Broze-and-bodyguards being brought up to and down from a sit-u-a-tion of guns-drawn-every-which-way. Vinnie, you done good with your timed entry and smooth actions there!

In fact, all scenes including Vinnie were an effective contrast to the increased personal lives drama in this # 18 Spenser offering. Possibly the most telling of these was Vinnie's difficulty attempting to understand (or NOT to understand?) Paul's need to find his mother (see quote above). Psychobabble not being a part of the gangster-mob-mystique, Vinnie's puzzlement around Spenser's concern for Paul's emotional struggle was comical. What? The kid's not in mortal danger, not playing for mortal stakes, and Spenser has dropped everything to help him find a worthless woman who doesn't want to be found?

As to Spenser's childhood info, I enjoyed all of it, especially the explanations he gave on why/how he became a good cook, and why he continues to cook for himself, which tied in perfectly to his unique but so appropriate childhood.

As to some of the more typical macho male machinations (yet even this one was warmed by Pearl's presence) I became deeply engrossed in the struggle-through-the-wilderness scene, the wet, drippy forest with a leg-wounded Spenser and domesticated Pearl making their slow, heavy, water-logged way away from the stalking, tracker-enhanced bad guys.

PASTIME was a rainy day heaven, raining every-which-way, from peaceful, to harsh-in-a-marsh, almost constantly throughout the plot, ... AFTER the Sunny Scene One with Spenser, Susan, and Paul's variation on Ozzie & Harriet, kid, dog, and picket-fence-in-progress, with the requisite pretty pitcher of iced-tea brewing in the house. Yeah, Susan was doing that! Also, with awkward intensity, she cooked a meal for Paul and Spenser; the concoction was some type of honey-marinated, chopped-up chicken.

Iconic dichotomies of Ideal Vs Real in this plot were prime, posed perfectly:

-- From the impotent face off of Ozzie Dear to Mommie Patty.

-- From Spenser's parenting of Paul paired off with Joe Broze's unsung, unplaced, bio-son, Gerry (contrasted to Joe's "true" son, Vinnie).

-- From the architectural "glory" of The Commons, Formal Gardens, Designer Parks, manmade (from tax-dollar-dues) ponds stocked with loons; to the some-pastimes-never-die, all-night-diner, coffee-and-pie-house, open-24-hours (featuring hard-cooked apples w/core pieces, but good cherries, and thick, heavy, white-porcelain mugs).

-- From the backdrop of a Capitol building glowing through the pinnacle of night, to "fragrant bums" covered in newspaper, shedding rain with cardboard tents:

>> To our left Beacon street went up the hill to the State House, its gold dome lit and visible from everywhere, its Bulfinch front pretending that what went on inside were matters of gravity and import. The wind that had, in the late afternoon, slanted the rain in hard as I left police headquarters, had died with the daylight, and the rain, softer now, came down in near perfect silence. <<

Having finished the book and reflected upon the unique style of PASTIME featuring an Ozzie side of Spenser being exposed to his favorite gangster types, confusing the heck out of them to the point of increasing the normal edges of comedy; I realized that I had enjoyed this book even more than I had thought, as I was skipping through the lighter read of it, even as it took place mostly in the rain (not in Spain; but in and around Boston).

Loved the ending scene with Spenser and Susan. I began marking passages to quote, but the marks wouldn't end until every word in the scene was included. So, I suppose you may have to read the book to get it.

With ongoing ruminations of respect for this fascinating series,
Linda G. Shelnutt