mickeymole's review against another edition
This is my first Spenser novel. It was Parker's first, too. I'm not sure how to rate it, though. I liked it fine, but it didn't really blow my skirt up. Perhaps I've read too many P.I. novels, and a lot of them just blend together into the same old story. Apparently, Spenser is a little different, in that he works out and tries to stay in shape, although he didn't make it to the gym in this one. He did eat a lot of junk food and drank a fair amount of bourbon, which doesn't go all that well with strength and fitness.
I did appreciate his humor.
The police lieutenant says to Spenser, "You're not working for the D.A. now, boy, you're working my side of the street, and if you get in my way, I'll kick your ass right into the gutter. Got that?"
Spencer replies, "Can I feel your muscle?"
"Start up with the lieutenant, Spenser, and you'll end up looking like you went through a pepper mill."
"I won't be able to sleep without a night light," I said.
"A cold McDonald's hamburger is halfway between a jelly doughnut and a hockey puck, but the nine-dollar bourbon helped."
For health reasons, I'd recommend Spenser eat the jelly doughnut and/or the puck.
The story wasn't difficult to figure out, but I enjoyed the ride, and especially the slam-bang ending. I'll certainly try more Spenser novels.
I did appreciate his humor.
The police lieutenant says to Spenser, "You're not working for the D.A. now, boy, you're working my side of the street, and if you get in my way, I'll kick your ass right into the gutter. Got that?"
Spencer replies, "Can I feel your muscle?"
"Start up with the lieutenant, Spenser, and you'll end up looking like you went through a pepper mill."
"I won't be able to sleep without a night light," I said.
"A cold McDonald's hamburger is halfway between a jelly doughnut and a hockey puck, but the nine-dollar bourbon helped."
For health reasons, I'd recommend Spenser eat the jelly doughnut and/or the puck.
The story wasn't difficult to figure out, but I enjoyed the ride, and especially the slam-bang ending. I'll certainly try more Spenser novels.
robint1981's review against another edition
5.0
Loved the book as much as I enjoyed the tv series. Need to go back and continue reading the rest of the books. Too many good books so little time (sigh).
jogin1's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
bookhawk's review against another edition
4.0
A very good first book in a detective series and a great friend book recommendation. A little dated but enjoyable nonetheless.
shadowcas's review against another edition
3.0
This was a recommendation from a friend that is a huge fan of mystery/thriller novels. I, on the other hand, am not particularly drawn to mysteries. I enjoy a bit of mystery as a subplot to another genre but it isn’t my first choice. The Godwulf Manuscript read as a typical 1970′s detective novel. The ‘voice’ that Robert Parker pours into the pages is the gritty, hard-nosed voice that you would expect out of a 70s private investigator. Spenser is sarcastic, smart, and a bit of a stud. You can’t help but enjoy the story and the characters that Parker has created.
This is a short review from me. I just can’t really say much about it. The story is good if at times it does seem to drag and Spenser is such a great character that he kept me interested enough to finish a book that otherwise would not have interested me.
3 out of 5 stars for me. It was good but I don’t think it was good enough for me to continue the series.
This is a short review from me. I just can’t really say much about it. The story is good if at times it does seem to drag and Spenser is such a great character that he kept me interested enough to finish a book that otherwise would not have interested me.
3 out of 5 stars for me. It was good but I don’t think it was good enough for me to continue the series.
tobyyy's review against another edition
3.0
Unread shelf project 2022: book 26.
Pretty obviously an early book by Parker (if not the first). It was a decent story but also very dated — understandably so. I also never get used to Parker’s fixation on describing clothing and food. I enjoy it — those things seem to be something male authors don’t write about often — and I like the added details. But the clothing also dates the novel quite significantly! Clearly published in the 1970s.
Pretty obviously an early book by Parker (if not the first). It was a decent story but also very dated — understandably so. I also never get used to Parker’s fixation on describing clothing and food. I enjoy it — those things seem to be something male authors don’t write about often — and I like the added details. But the clothing also dates the novel quite significantly! Clearly published in the 1970s.
glenmowrer's review against another edition
3.0
Picked up a copy at a local Little Free Library. Only when reading did I recognize the character from the day. Of course the dialogue and social interactions are dated even when the author was trying hard to have sensitive white male protagonist he get things a bit awkwardly wrong. All in all though one can understand how this obviously manufactured substitute for the 30's and 40's noir detectives was appealing enough to spawn many more books and television as well. I read it with a bit of distant appreciation and enjoyed the experience. No big lessons here of course. By the way, my copy is an original "book club" edition which appears to have been signed by the author. Sort of neat.