Rough weather

If you liked earlier Spenser novels you'll like this one. The dialog is witty and the characters live up to a long-time fan's expectations. A bit of a twist makes the end a little unexpected.

This is an average book by an author who can do much better. The Spencer series has slipped into a very comfortable formula. If you are looking to renew your acquaintance with Spencer and Hawk, then you will enjoy this tale of a twisted kidnapping. If you are looking for a fresh suspense tale or

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private eye novel then you should follow the trail to the next likely suspect

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When a beautiful woman hires Spenser to pose as arm candy at her daughter's wedding, but says he can bring Susan along, where can things go but bad. The Gray Man is back, and before the marriage is minutes old, the groom is dead, the bride is kidnapped, and Susan's in danger. Oh, and there's a

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hurricane.

Parker's been working on his dialogue - I don't remember Susan being quite this entertaining. Hawk is Hawk and I love him, and Spenser's rarely anything but himself. As always, a very fast read, but worth every minute. Even if I did see the ending coming early.

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I began reading this book this morning. I have enjoyed this book and look forward to reading other books by this author.

Of course Rough Weather by the great late Robert B. Parker is an entertaining, well written book. It's Parker, what else could it be. I'm deducting one star because the big reveal at the end was way too easy to figure out way earlier in the book and Spenser should have easily guessed it himself.

Spencer is employed by rich and sexy Heidi Bradshaw as bodyguard and general security person at her daughter's wedding. The wedding service is brought to an abrupt halt by the kidnapping of the bride and the shooting of both the groom and the minister. Although Spencer does his best to foil the

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kidnapping,he finds it impossible and the bride disappears. Spencer is warned off by his old enemy Rugar 'The Gray Man',who is deeply involved.
This is a fast-paced and thrilling mystery with a great ending. The Raymond Chandler smart-alec type dialogue can be irritating at times,but 'so what !'

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The convoluted plot strains believability a bit, but the book delivers the goods in a slightly different way from usual.

Typical Spenser, which is not a bad thing. SPOILER: Perhaps I'm naive, but I found the motive too far-fetched. What I like about Parker's stories is that he often asks an interesting question at the end: Doing what is right is not always simple; sometimes it's a question of which option is the

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least bad.

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Best of his later ones.

I was surprised how much I enjoyed this book

The return of another villain, as often happened during this stretch of Spenser stories. The Gray Man was first introduced eleven years earlier as a professional killer, and he nearly did end Spenser’s life. In his second appearance he acted more as a paid associate. This time he again conflicts

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and contrasts with Spenser: they are moral opposites with a degree of mutual respect. Accordingly, their struggle takes place on multiple levels. Some good character bits and psychological exploration--standard Parker--but also standard with the second half of his career, no clear, satisfying ending. The story sort of peters out.

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An absolutely preposterrous story. And the story knows it.