Last September I made a decision to read, or re-read all of the Robert Parker books. I've read many of the Robert Parker books before, and he was always one of my favorite authors. My favorite is the Spenser series, although I've never watched the TV show Spenser for Hire. There is just something about reading a familiar series, and getting to know the characters in it. The relationship between Spenser and Hawk, or Spenser and Susan, and the assorted cast of characters that make their appearances throughout the series - Belson, Quirk, and the cast of "thugs" that make their appearance from time to time, Chollo, Vinnie, Sapp.
You basically know what you are going to get when you pick up the book. Not that there is anything wrong with that. Witty dialogue, Spenser's sense of right and wrong, and the good guy always winning in the end, or mostly winning. Unfortunately I didn't read all of them in order, but I think I enjoyed them just the same. Thin Air was the last in the series that I finished.
I didn't stop with the Spenser series though, I basically read everything that Robert Parker put out, which I guess was 70 novels. Some were definitely better than others. I enjoyed the Spenser series, and the Jesse Stone series, and the Sunny Randall series as well. Most of the standalone books were good as well, and I even enjoyed his young adult novels. I didn't like any of the westerns though, they just weren't my thing.
It's hard not to put Parker up there with the list of my all-time favorite writers. It's interesting that two of his most popular series will continue. I've already read Killing the Blues by Brandman, and thought it was a pretty good effort. I'm more anxious to see how Ace Atkins does with the Spenser series though, and I'll be anxious to read Lullaby, which is due out in May.
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