After I finished all the Jesse Stone and Sunny Randall books, also by Robert Parker (and others after he passed away in 2010), I started the first book in the Spenser series in January of 2024. Flash forward to today, and I have now read all the Spenser books that were written by Parker. All three are in the same realm so there are returning characters from the Jesse and Sunny series in the Spenser series. I was like, oh awesome, I know that person already. I can see the finish line for the books, and am even excited that a brand new Spenser book is being published next month by Mike Lupica.
I have watched the Robert Ullrich and Joe Mantegna Spenser movies, and I even watched Mark Wahlberg as Spenser on Netflix (out of book order, and I didn’t realize it). I have watched some of the television series with Robert Ullrich. I know there are Hawk television shows, and I would like to watch those. I didn’t like Joe Mantegna as Spenser, but Ullrich and Wahlberg easily pull it off. As I read the books, I picture Robert Ullrich!
Don’t laugh, but I have the Spenser Wiki site saved, so I can know what book is next!
I do read them while I am waiting for my 8-year-old son to fall asleep, and he sometimes reads over my shoulder and asks me what’s happening. So, I tell him (unless it’s a part where it’s too mature for him).
Besides Spenser, my favorite characters in no particular order are: Hawk, Vinnie Morris, Susan, Detective Quirk, Detective Belson, Detective Farrell, and Pearl the wonder dog. I like how Spenser and Susan discuss the cases and often times, she helps him out with her Harvard PHD thoughts!
The books are written in first person, and of course, the narrator is Spenser. I like the detail Robert Parker provides us and you can tell that Spenser notices everything.
I also like that I have been able to read most of the them for free through the library and I can finish them in a few days. I have only reviewed a few of them, but have given all of them 5 out of 5 stars!
Don’t spoil anything for me in the books I haven’t read!
