Robert B. Parker's Old Black Magic (The Spenser Series)

I had a terrible time reading this Spenser novel. Ace Atkins just didn’t seem to have his heart in it. It was a roundup of all the old criminals in previous titles. There were simply too many people to track. I have generally like how Ace has handled the detective but this was a disaster. I’m hoping the series will continue.

Love the Spenser series and thrilled that Atkins has been able to continue it in a style so close to Parker 's. However Hawk has all but disappeared from the series with simply an occasional mention that he is out of the country. Is Atkins afraid or unable to write him well? I really miss Hawk and the flavor and fun he adds. Please bring him back.

Ace Atkins has been the voice of the much beloved "Spenser" series that has delighted loyal readers for decades now after the passing of Robert B. Parker, who created this series and Spenser, a real wise ass investigator who isn't afraid to get his hands a little grimy by often consorting with some, shall we say, unsavory characters to solve the mysteries and murders he's hired for. It is testament to his own writing capabilities that he seamlessly carries on the vibe and essence of Robert B. Parker, a feat that probably would fail in lesser hands. Atkins also has many books on his own, including his own popular Quinn Colson series, which are must reads and allows us to check out his style when he's not carrying on the tradition of Parker.
Although the premise here may seem a bit prissy at first, where Spenser is hired to try to recover an extremely valuable painting stolen from a Boston art gallery. It doesn't stay that way long, because the immense value of the painting gets the attention of some pretty nasty dudes, including old nemesis Jackie DeMarco. Also along for the ride are other favorite characters in the series - Henry Cimola, the owner of the health club Spenser works out in, his girlfriend Susan Silverman, Vinnie Morris, the fastest and deadliest gun in Boston who is once again enlisted to help out, and of course cops Martin Quirk and Frank Belson, long time friends of Spenser's.
Like all Spenser books, the action is fast and intriguing. But what is missing is Hawk. I don't know what Atkins' thinking here is. Perhaps he wanted to have a book with Spenser flying basically solo. But many readers are commenting on the lack of Hawk in the last couple installments, and that's pretty considerable, as Hawk is the most popular and best support character in the series. I miss his always extremely chic and dapper appearance, which disguises the fact he is deadly as a cobra in your bed when the need arises. His interplay with Spenser is worth the price alone, and has been absent for too long.
Otherwise "Old Black Magic" is a worthy installment for all "Spencer" fans. Spenser is aging well, and of course Pearl III, the wonder dog is around for her obligatory role as companion, and impeccable timing for interfering with Spenser's and Susan's romantic interludes by plopping herself down squarely between them on the sofa.
So Ace, if you are reading this, I love your books, all of them, and can't wait for the new Colson novel. But bring Hawk back from South America. We really miss this guy.

Generally I like Ace Atkins' working of Spenser. But I would like to know why he changed the name of the stolen painting. It is not "The Gentleman in Black" by El Greco. Was Ace afraid of some legal bullcrap? This may be a small point . . . but it seriously bothers the heck out of me overtime I read the wrong title for the painting in this book.

I read most of Parker's books and Atkins' continuation of the Spenser series, but I'm done. Atkins did a creditable job early on, but his latest effort almost reads like a parody--mechanical, smart-ass dialogue; overly complex plot; stereotyped but flat characters (with a few exceptions), often with nearly comical gangster names. I don't know what has happened. Maybe he had his intern do most of the work?

I enjoy the series, have read Spenser for years and though RBP's voice is greatly missed - this was a good, not great, installment in Spenser's escapades. I must take exception, though, with the dig at MA's own Godsmack. I happen to love Godsmack. Broaden those horizons past the Rat Pack (I'm also a fan of Dino and Sinatra... lol). Might be a nice kick in the head ;)

The only resemblance to the original Spencer is the name-Spencer. The author does not capture Spencer’s personality at all. It lacks his relationship to Susan and just casually mentioning Hawk doesn’t cut it. Very disappointing.

Quite frankly I do not like Ace Atkins' writing style and would have been much happier had the estate picked a different ghost writer. Ace Atkins seemed to be determined to show he is a better writer than Robert Parker. He writes as if he has the ghost writer function so he can improve on Robert Parker, not write like Parker wrote.. He is too wordy. His dialogue fails to live up to Robert Parker, it is stilted and trite.. His determination to place more emphasis on his new favorite characters, rather than the old standbys is annoying. Where is Hawk when Spenser needs him. He would never had gone to Brazil in the old days, and if he did, he would have returned.to Spenser's side..

If there is to be a ghost writer he/she should remember that those buying these books are Robert Parker fans, not the fans of someone who is trying to prove he/she is better than Robert Parker

My first Spenser book was MORTAL STAKES. It was the third in what has now become an iconic series, so it was easy to catch up. Once I did, I was duty-bound to keep up. I mention this because time marches on. Robert B. Parker is no longer with us, but master scribe Ace Atkins picked up the baton and, with the publication of OLD BLACK MAGIC, has favored us with his seventh novel in the continuation of the series.

I will pay my highest compliment here and note that I often forget it is Atkins, not Parker, who has been behind the keyboard in recent years. This doesn’t mean that Atkins is slavishly imitating Parker and his style. No, there are some subtle changes here and there, some of which are portentous. This is not unexpected, given that the series is well into its fifth decade, and Spenser has to age at least a bit. More on that in a minute.

As for OLD BLACK MAGIC, one of the joys of having Atkins at the wheel of the franchise is the ability to take minor characters from earlier novels and elevate their stature, however temporarily. He does this to great effect here when Spenser, as a favor to a colleague with a terminal illness, becomes involved in the hunt for a trio of paintings that were stolen from a Boston museum two decades previously. The museum has started to receive letters indicating that a deal could be made for their return. Hawk, Spenser’s very capable friend and associate, is in South America on a frolic of his own, and Z, Spenser’s recently minted protégé, is in California.

Given the nature of the heist and the people who may have been responsible for it, Spenser recruits Vinnie Morris, an underworld associate with whom he has a long and tortuous history. Their relationship has been a bit more prickly of late, which provides a subtle undercurrent to the proceedings, as does the fact that the lynchpin of OLD BLACK MAGIC is a real-world art heist that occurred in Boston almost 30 years ago and remains unsolved to this day. The plot is a bit complex, what with the series of lies, double-crosses and dirty dealing that occurs not only among the principals involved on the wrong side of the law but also within the museum itself.

Spenser follows what is the coldest of trails with an unscrupulous British investigator right behind him. To his credit, Atkins makes it just difficult enough for Spenser to make his success --- depending on how you define “success” --- seem plausible. What ultimately propels the story, though, is Spenser’s inexorable forward movement when saddled with a difficult client, his motivation being to do the right thing on behalf of a longtime friend.

That said, the charm of OLD BLACK MAGIC is double-pronged and unrelated to the plot. The first element is that Atkins continues to elevate Henry Cimoli, the longtime crusty owner-operator of the Harbor Health Club, where Spenser hangs and bangs. Cimoli, who had been all but off the page before Atkins took the series wheel, says quite a bit in a few words. He doesn’t approve of Spenser’s dietary style, and I wonder if perhaps Atkins is hinting at a potential plot down the road where Spenser is brought down by a donut rather than a bullet.

The other is Atkins’ continuation and exacerbation of Parker’s display of Spenser’s classical education. Atkins goes deep and long with this, as Spenser tosses off pithy and always appropriate quotations from a couple of Shakespeare’s better- and lesser-known plays, as well as from such gone but not forgotten luminaries as Henry David Thoreau. It’s especially terrific when those at whom the remarks are directed are unable to even understand what he is talking about, let alone identify the source material.

OLD BLACK MAGIC is pure Spenser, and pure Atkins, which means it doesn’t get any better than that.

Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub

Robert B Parker’s Old Black Magic: A Spenser Novel is the seventh since Ace Atkins took over the franchise and is another good one. Mr. Atkins continues to stay true to the series while also his own little changes to bring some new life into the characters. At the same time he also acknowledges the passing of time and how none of us are going to get out alive. Contrary to what happened before in much of the series, folks are now aging and Spenser is frequently contemplating the mortality of both man and animal. That concept was present in the previous novels written by Mr. Akins, but makes its presence here in multiple ways almost to the level of a character in the tale.

It is early summer, a light rain is falling, and Locke has come to Spenser’s office with one last request. Locke has terminal cancer and wants the case that he has chased for almost twenty years solved. Three paintings were stolen from the Winthrop Art Museum almost twenty years ago in what remains the biggest heist ever. While some would consider the works priceless, others place the value in the tens of millions. Locke has chased the paintings ever since with little to go on over the years.

With the twenty year anniversary of the theft coming up a person or persons unknown has started sending letters to the museum’s director, Marjorie Ward Phillips. The letters don’t seem to be a ransom demand. The letters do communicate details of the theft that only those directly involved would know. Locke has put in a word with the director and has made it clear that he wants Spenser to finish what he started. Take over the case, find the paintings, and bring them back where they belong. Locke thinks the letters will lead to a real chance to recover the paintings and wants Spenser, as a favor to a dying man and friend, to take the case.

How do you say no to a dying man?

You don’t. Spenser certainly can’t. From the start at least some of the museum’s board absolutely does not want Spenser involved. There are those among the criminal element at Boston who don’t want him involved. Local law enforcement also would prefer him to stay out of things. Still, a promise was made to a dying man, so Spenser isn’t about to go away. Nor are many others who only care about getting a piece of the five million dollar reward.

Robert B Parker’s Old Black Magic: A Spenser Novel is a solidly good read. Ace Atkins does a nice job of weaving the old and new in terms of characters and settings while also crafting a mystery with plenty of misdirection. People and places evolve over time and those changes provide a nice background nuance to the highly entertaining read.

Material supplied by the good folks of the Dallas Public Library.

Kevin R. Tipple ©2018

Spencer is approached by a dying gentleman, Mr. Locke who is also a Private Investigator who was hired twenty years ago by The Winthrop museum to recover three pieces of art that seem to have vanished off the face of the earth. This heist wasn’t a professional hit by any means, it was sloppy and one of the pieces were torn. Mr. Locke has been all over the world and back looking for these three pieces, one is a small Picasso, Goya but the prize is an El Greco, “The Gentleman in Black”. The El Greco had a bit of a shady history behind it as well, but it was Winthrop’s main concern. Mr. Locke’s dying wish is that these pieces would be recovered to the museum before he passes on.
Spencer agrees to meet with the board of Winthrop, it seems they are getting a lot of activity regarding these pieces since the statute of limitations has run out on the theft itself, plus there is still is a hefty award awaiting anyone who recovers these pieces Spencer, of course, clashes with the board immediately, they are a snobby lot, but he does help them up to a point, but there is only so much pretentiousness he’ll take. They are not too impressed with him either, but he’s used to being underestimated. After one failed attempt, where he takes all the blame and deserves none, he’s fired off the case.
This is where the fun begins, he’s flying solo on this caper no Hawk or Z for back up, but he can always count on Vinnie Morris.
I love what Ace Atkins has done with this series, he’s done a great job and they are still a pleasure to read. Spencer hasn’t lost his acerbic wit and he’s still a force to reckoned with. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for my honest opinion expressed above.

From the publisher: Iconic, tough-but-tender Boston PI Spenser delves into the black market art scene to investigate a decades-long unsolved crime of dangerous proportions. The heist was legendary, still talked about twenty years after the priceless paintings disappeared from one of Boston’s premier art museums. Most thought the art was lost forever, buried deep, sold off overseas, or, worse, destroyed as incriminating evidence. But when the museum begins receiving detailed letters about the theft from someone claiming to have knowledge of the whereabouts of the paintings, the board enlists Spenser’s help to navigate the delicate situation. Their particular hope is to regain the most valuable piece stolen, The Gentleman in Black, a renowned painting by a Spanish master and the former jewel of the collection. Soon the cold art case thrusts Spenser into the shady world of black market art dealers, aged Mafia bosses, and old vendettas. A five-million-dollar-reward sets Spenser and pal Vinnie Morris onto a trail of hidden secrets, jailhouse confessions, murder, and double-crosses.

For some reason I had allowed myself to fall behind in reading the “new” books in this wonderful series, just as wonderful when authored by Ace Atkins, of which this is the newest. The preceding entry in the series was “Little White Lies,” which I finally caught up to in the last few weeks. With apologies for redundancies, as I said in my review of that book, “the author has captured many of the expected patterns of Robert B. Parker’s writing. But Mr. Atkins, besides giving us a very absorbing tale, has retained some of the most typical Parker patterns, e.g., nearly every character’s choice of clothing and headgear is noted, particularly caps declaring the owner’s love for a particular local sports team, whether Braves or Red Sox. (In fact, very near the end of the book we find Spenser escaping a close call and thinking “I’d hoped these guys didn’t plan ambushes like Branch Rickey planned ballgames.”) One character appears dressed in a “light blue guayabera, his white hair loose and scattered as always, with some black reading glasses down on his nose.’ There is also a lot about food. When he prepares a Cobb salad for himself and Susan, and she hands him a vodka martini, he thinks “You couldn’t eat a Cobb salad without [it]. It was a law in California.” Then there are the nicknames, e.g., “Fat Freddy,” “Famous Ray.” The terrific plotting and action are always present, as Spenser goes about solving “the biggest theft in Boston history,” a painting worth sixty or seventy million.

Spenser’s love of jazz is always present, from Coltrane playing from speakers in a restaurant, to the final scene where Tony Bennett “reached for the tree of life and picked him a plum,” and Spenser saying “The Best Is Yet to Come,” to which Vinnie replies “You better believe it.” I loved the author’s tip of the hat to another terrific mystery writer, Hank Philippi Ryan, reporting on Boston’s Channel 7 with a live shot from a crime scene. Set against the high-society art scene and the low-life back alleys of Boston, this is classic Spenser doing what he does best. As was “Little White Lies,” “Old Black Magic” is also highly recommended.

Once again Ace Atkins nails it!! Old Black Magic is right up there with the best of Robert B. Parker’s previous books.
But readers better brush up on the history of Boston, as seen through Parker’s eyes, the hoodlums and mobsters over the past twenty years (introduced in the Spenser series) ’cause they all show back up, alive and dead. The biggest heist of millions of dollars in classic art from a museum in Boston and the case was never solved. It finally goes cold for over twenty years. Hired by the museum to find the art, Spenser and Vinnie Morris team up…odd bedfellows to say the least. ….and that’s all I’m giving you of the story line.

I don’t write spoilers in my reviews but I am known for sometimes running off on a tangent that has much or little to do with the book. So I thought it would be fun to see if the story plot had any truth to it…as truth tends to be stranger than fiction. Bingo!! Here’s what I found: El Greco’s Gentleman was stolen and not returned to its rightful owners for decades. But it was not a Boston crime crew who knocked it off but rather the Nazis!

‘In 1920, Mr. Priester began amassing a notable art collection of Old Masters, including the famous El Greco, which he displayed in his Vienna home and office. By 1938, however, Mr. Priester was forced to flee with his wife to Paris to escape the Nazis.
Before leaving, Mr. Priester entrusted his impressive collection to a friend, but the art was ultimately seized by the Gestapo after the Anschluss with Germany. At the end of the war in 1945, Mr. Priester, who had escaped to Mexico City, undertook an internationally publicized recovery effort with the help of the Austrian authorities, but his collection and the El Greco painting could not be located before his death.After WWII, restitution of stolen art work would often take decades. But sometimes it could be accomplished seamlessly if the dealers who purchased the stolen art agreed to cooperate with the claimants, as recently occurred in the case of the stolen El Greco painting, Portrait of a Gentleman.

In a rare deal announced by the Commission for Looted Art in Europe, representing the original owners, and Art Recovery International, representing the art gallery which acquired the looted painting in 2010, Portrait of a Gentleman was returned to the heirs of the collection of Julius Priester. This deal took several months to arrange after seven long decades searching for the masterpiece.’

So I digress a little…sue me! But, am I the only one that finds stuff like this fascinating?
This is a terrific story and Ace Atkins tells it flawlessly in Robert B. Parker’s voice. I highly recommend it. writeratplay.com

4.5 Stars

Three precious works of art were stolen from the Winthrop Museum in Boston and never recovered. It's now 20 years later and the statute of limitations is up. Now, someone wants to sell these works of art. Who has them and what's the mystery behind all of this?

I loved this book. I never read Robert Parker before (I know, my loss), however, this is the second book using his PI Spenser character written by Ace Atkins. I love the nostalgia of these books seeming like an old time PI noir. There was so much nostalgia written in, such as, "Jonathan Winters doing Maude Frickert". I remember the character but not the name. So, a little bit more trivia to add to this brain of mine. HA!!

The strange adages throughout were hilarious. "My new coffeemaker spit out the coffee faster than Usain Bolt in the hundred meter". These were used over and over again and truly added to my reading enjoyment while giving a sense of humor to the book.

Spenser is racing all over the place to try to find these works of art, behind him a trail of death is left, but not by Spenser. Someone is out to kill anyone with any knowledge of these paintings. And Spenser is under a deadline due to the museum hiring some British PI who was certainly most annoying. His biggest part in the finding of anything was following Spenser. (rolling of eyes). Ha!!

An excellent read that I just sped through and enjoyed every minute.

Huge thanks to Penguin Group Putnam and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

4 stars

Locke is an old acquaintance of Spenser’s. He comes to him asking Spenser if he’ll take on a twenty-year old case. It’s a stolen art work. One of the paintings stolen was El Greco’s “The Gentleman in Black.” Deciding whether or not he’ll take the case, he goes to visit the intimidating “Large Marj” and her sidekick, Mr. Topper of the Winthrop Museum. Topper is against hiring Spenser because his fee is too high. Marj overrules him. The museum has been getting cryptic notes about the painting. People mostly feel that the painting is still in the Boston area and that the job was done by local talent.

Spenser visits various people, including old friend Vinnie Morris, but gets little information. The robbery was committed by two men dressed as policemen who overtook three guards. An inside job? And there must have been a driver, too. Spenser then meets with his old pal, Martin Quirk who is the assistant superintendent of the Boston Police.

Spenser travels about town, chasing clues and talking to more people. Large Marj gets a message to meet in a park and for $500,000.00 the thief would turn over the Picasso that was also stolen at the same time as the El Greco. Only it’s a set up. But Spenser had already gotten the claim ticket from the go-between thief – or so he said he was.

Going to the place of business, Spenser recognizes the person who picked up the item on the security tapes. He can’t wait to pay Alan Garner a visit. But he is summoned to the Winthrop Museum, only to get fired. Large Marj denies any part in their plan to secure the Picasso. Topper takes much delight in firing Spenser. He hires instead a British fop called Marston.

But Spenser doesn’t quit. There is still a five million dollar reward for the paintings. As Spenser begins to follow the clues to the whereabouts of “The Gentleman in Black,” he is followed, he is harassed and he gets some help from old friends and acquaintances. He begins to put the pieces together and runs into the Boston mob and other likewise ne’r-do-wells. In usual Spenser style, he is wisecracking all the way.

The book has a surprise in the story for the reader at the end. But, I’m sure we’ll hear more about that at a later date.

This book is well written and plotted. I don’t believe Mr. Atkins’ writing is a hard hitting as Mr. Parker’s was. Or, perhaps Spenser is mellowing with age? The tension in the story began immediately with Locke’s discussion with Spenser about the missing El Greco. It continued throughout the story until the denouement when all heck breaks loose. I enjoyed this book; it read well and was easy to follow.

I want to thank NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam/G.P. Putnam’s Sons for forwarding to me a copy of this good book to read and enjoy.

Seven novels into his run continuing Parker's iconic Boston P.I., having proven he knows Parker's body of work, Ace Atkins has begun to explore territory Parker *didn't* cover. ROBERT B. PARKER'S OLD BLACK MAGIC notably fleshes out underworld stalwart Vinnie Morris, who--out of loyalty to murdered art collector crime boss Gino Fish--helps Spenser on a case inspired by the unsolved 1990 Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum theft.

Ace Atkins does Spenser about as well as Robert B. Parker did, and if anything, gets better at it with each book. That's what kept me reading, even as the plot sometimes confused me and sometimes temporarily lost me (or vice versa). But I did like where the plot ended up, in a rather unexpected place.

Not so bad -- some of the Atkins have been worse. But I have two issues:

1. He has Spenser making a fewer-less error. Spenser would never make a fewer-less error.

2. He credits Myles Connor for assistance. This is like crediting Hitler for helping out on a travelogue to Berlin. Connor is a known murdered, all around vicious killer, who in his dotage has made his way in the world by being the expert on the museum heist he was once accused of doing. We all love a great caper; we don't live sadistic murderers of women.

With this latest installment of Atkin's version of Parker's Spenser novels, I'm thinking it's time to retire our beloved shamus. I have never enjoyed Atkin's take on Spenser as much as the original books and this one just felt really forced. The dialog was often annoying, Spenser has become a quip machine, and the supporting cast have just become tired and boring. The last really new character, Z, was shunted off to L.A. without having ever really contributing much. And, although he wasn't here, even Hawk has become stale. As to this novel, the series of false leads and the final ending had me confused and, ultimately, made me lose interest.

In my opinion it's time to let Spenser ride off into the sunset with Susan and Pearl at his side. Of course, as long as the publisher, author, and Parker's estate continue making money, it won't happen.

I’ve been hot and cold with Mr Atkins’ Spenser, but Mr Parker’s books were a huge part of my life. I remember one particular lonely winter I read the entire series in a row, twice. I’m a fan. These characters are like family.
I liked this book. Hawk isn’t in it, Susan barely (thank god) and Vinnie a few times. You’re basically just with Spenser running around Boston solving a cold case. Other reviewers mentioned boring stretches and over the top language but I didn’t notice. There was a LOT of characters to keep track of but that’s ok. I had to back up a couple times to remember who was who. It wasn’t a nail biter but I wasn’t bored and rushed toward the end. Sure some people will say to skip it and reread some older Spenser novel, but we’re probably going to do that anyway, aren’t we? Enjoy a new adventure with Spenser. I’m glad they’re still coming.

First off, I liked Slow Burn. I thought Ace Atkins had a solid hold on the Spenser character. The prose flowed like Parker's too. But Old Black Magic felt like a chore to read.  The museum heist plot didn't mesh; Vinnie Morris has gone from mob shooter to white collar crime troubleshooter, and Hawk's mystique of danger and allure have all but disappeared. Instead of pithy witticism, or the occasional literary references, Spenser often sounds like an artless jerk. A lot of fans have given up on the series after reading Ace's stint on the series. In fairness, you can't expect the man to fill the legendary shoes of Robert B. Parker. Heck, Mr. Parker left footprints the size of the grand canyon on the Spenser series and on the mystery landscape. 

Wow, what a lot of nothing. It started out interesting but rapidly got convoluted, confusing and boring. I know it's no easy job to continue an award-winning franchise, and he has had some success, but for me the series has just lost its appeal. I kept turning pages, but in the back of my mind I was just wishing it would be over soon. His little witticisms/repartee (constantly!) still ring false and forced. The scenes with Vinnie were the only highlights in the book. It was just a lot of running around and muddied with too many characters/suspects. Just overall a very weak and uninteresting storyline. While Mr. Atkins had a good start when he picked up this series, for me it is going downhill fast.

This is probably my least favourite Parker book, and I have read them all, including the ones by Ace Atkins. There are a lot of careless grammatical mistakes, for example "Roebuck aid" instead of "Roebuck said" on p. 201. Worse is the poor writing, for example, "As the former head of the BPD burglary squad, I was betting dinero to donuts that Bobby Wright might know something ..." -- which literally says that Spenser, not Bobby Wright, is the former head of the burglary squad. And unforgivable are the mistakes about Boston geography, for example, "Vinnie Morris ran, among other ventures, an aging bowling alley in Cambridge, not far from the Frozen Pond Rotary. ... I drank some coffee and turned to watch the cars race along the Concord Expressway." (p 19 and 20). The body of water is Fresh Pond, and the road is the Concord Turnpike -- the idea of an expressway in Cambridge is idiotic. Some of the runs along the river are also wrong, unless Spenser and Susan were crossing the river a few times.

Parker was not always great, but he was always meticulous about details. Since Atkins openly promotes his position as Parker's successor, it's fair to hold him to the same standards.

Like Parker, Atkins tends not to develop his female characters as fully as the male characters -- "Large Marj" never really comes to life, and her motivations are sometimes difficult to understand given what little we know about her. The banter between Spenser and Susan is more trivial than usual, and the notion of her throwing a towel at him doesn't fit. I also had trouble following some of the dialogue, having to backtrack to figure out who was speaking -- this is just lazy writing.

So will I buy the next one? Of course I will.

Cheap imitation of Robert B. Parker's Spencer. Mr. Atkins misses on capturing the nuances of Spencer's complex character by a mile. The dialogue is wordy and stilted. The humor is lacking. The other characters are very flat. Making changes in the personalities of Vinnie Morris and others just throws off the whole thing. Stop trying to show us that you're a better writer than Robert B. Parker. News flash: you're not. Shelve the ego and just accept that your mission was to continue as close to Parker's style as humanly possible.
Horrible editing - there are several mistakes - Morris putting down an empty glass and then moments later picking it up and draining it to make his exit? Come on! Reliance on auto correct is a real problem - several errors slipped through. Feels like this one was phoned in. Spencer deserves a lot better than what Mr. Atkins is providing. I swore after the last one that I was done with this mangling of the Spencer novels but enough time had passed that I got sucked in by the possibilities with this one. Not making that mistake again.

Good Spenser novel. Not one of the best Spenser novels and I've pretty much read them all - I missed Hawk as he was not featured in this novel. Still, Ace Atkins does a good job taking over for Robert Parker and it was a good book to read.

Excellent entry in the Spenser series. I was worried, two of what must have been the author's political views made it into some of the earlier novels and that tainted them for me but "Kickback" was so good I stuck with it and I'm happy I did. Those of us that read the Spenser novels read them because we know that the important things won't change. Yeah he's in his late 70's or early 80's but we don't care. We need to know he's still there and he is. The only mistake I saw in the book, Vinnie Morris would not check his magazine in the car to make sure the gun was set to go. He's a pro. Other than that, Top Notch.