Having read just about every Spenser novel Parker ever wrote, I was understandably a bit dubious about Ace Atkins (the estate's selected author to carry on the Spenser series) matching up to Parker's wit and style. Nevertheless, it was a respectable effort and I enjoyed the book. Zebulon Sixkill is very present as Spenser's "apprentice" and Hawk is noticeably absent, ostensibly on a job in Florida. Henry Cimoli, former boxer, coach and now upscale health club owner, has never asked Spenser for a favor, so when he tells Spenser that some thugs are trying to pressure the owners in his condo building into selling, Spenser promises to get to the bottom of it. Along the way, Zebulon, called "Z" by his friends, gets badly beaten and falls back to drinking, although not irretrievably so. Susan shows up periodically from a teaching gig in South Carolina to dispense wisdom and keep Spenser on the straight and narrow. There are big players vying to buy up property and win the gaming license on the outskirts of Boston at the old Wonderland dog racing track. Henry's condo occupies a prime waterfront spot adjacent, hence the heavy muscle that shows up from Vegas. The biggest bidder from Las Vegas loses his head--literally, people are kidnapped, and Spenser eventually wins through in the end. There's nothing new or earth shattering here, but a venerable tradition has been carried on and for that, as a hard core fan, I am grateful.
No comments:
Post a Comment