thebeardedpoet's review
3.0
I regularly read detective novels out loud to my wife Christi. This was one of those. Looking For Rachel Wallace was a re-read for me, having read it in high school and a least one or maybe two other times, probably while in college. As with many of the things of youth, it didn’t hold up as well as I hoped.
Sure, Parker's narration in the voice of Spenser remains engaging and funny, but Spenser's violent tendencies no longer appeal to me. The fiasco at the insurance company where he beats up the people who want to expel Rachel Wallace just made me shake my head. I completely understood why Rachel fired him as a bodyguard--he stubbornly persisted in using violence or threats of violence in the face of every adversity.
Yeah, Spenser is a tough-guy and this is tough-guy fiction, so what am I complaining about? Mainly I'm saying I'm no longer the young punk who thought Spenser's macho "heroics" were cool back in the day. I prefer options of social discourse and peaceful resistance. Re-reading this showed me how much I have changed over the years.
Yet I have to admit Spenser had no reasonable options other than violence when it came time to rescue Rachel. In that case, I concede. It was a matter of life or death. But if he had considered Rachel's wishes earlier, he would not have been fired and would most likely have prevented the need for the rescue. Talking with his fists indirectly led to the need for the final showdown.
Sure, Parker's narration in the voice of Spenser remains engaging and funny, but Spenser's violent tendencies no longer appeal to me. The fiasco at the insurance company where he beats up the people who want to expel Rachel Wallace just made me shake my head. I completely understood why Rachel fired him as a bodyguard--he stubbornly persisted in using violence or threats of violence in the face of every adversity.
Yeah, Spenser is a tough-guy and this is tough-guy fiction, so what am I complaining about? Mainly I'm saying I'm no longer the young punk who thought Spenser's macho "heroics" were cool back in the day. I prefer options of social discourse and peaceful resistance. Re-reading this showed me how much I have changed over the years.
Yet I have to admit Spenser had no reasonable options other than violence when it came time to rescue Rachel. In that case, I concede. It was a matter of life or death. But if he had considered Rachel's wishes earlier, he would not have been fired and would most likely have prevented the need for the rescue. Talking with his fists indirectly led to the need for the final showdown.
bookhawk's review against another edition
4.0
The Spenser series is a great discovery. Parker does a great job balancing social issues of the day when these were written with the action of a good private detective. Looking forward to more Spenser from Robert B. Parker.
vhzest's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
stinajohanns's review against another edition
3.0
I've never read a Robert B. Parker book before and maybe I'm just coming to this a bit too late. At least it didn't really thrill me, even though I kind of enjoyed the book. But maybe it's simply that I'm not so big on the private eye. For some reason I like the cop-stories better than, even though I grew up on Nancy Drew and the Hardy boys.
boleary30's review against another edition
4.0
RBP does an excellent job of coming up with fresh cases that are interesting
gon8go's review against another edition
4.0
this is one of the best in the series, lots of action and Spenser's wit is sharp as a tack. No Hawk here either and just enough of Susan, this was done well before Parker started churning out potboilers.
capernex's review against another edition
4.5
I never thought that I would pick up a Robert P. Parker novel. I've seen them around before (you can't work in libraries and bookstores without seeing them) but I thought of them as just another old detective series that wouldn't be my thing. My dad recommended this one to me, after he reread it himself. And after having listened to the audiobook, I am quite impressed.
The Rachel Wallace referred to in the title is a no-nonsense lesbian feminist who has gotten threats after the publication of her new book. She hires Spenser to be her bodyguard, but has reservations about him. Too much machismo! They start to get along, but she ultimately fires him for being too aggressive in his attempts to protect her. But then she is kidnapped and Spenser spends the rest of the book trying to find her.
Honestly, the first 40% of this (before Rachel is kidnapped) would be 5 stars from me. Spenser and Rachel's dynamic is witty and very entertaining, but also tactful, especially for the 1980s. I think Rachel, while very no-nonsense and very feminist, is a great portrayal of a lesbian woman for the time. She is unapologetic, out and proud, and the book clearly supports her and derides the many homophobic characters who pop up.
Spenser is also an excellent character. Even though I think his dynamic with Rachel was the best part, he works very well on his own as well and I would consider reading more of this series in the future. His dry wit and sarcastic personality plays very well with with Rachel's blunt personality. I very much enjoyed the conversations they had about feminism and their back and forth repartee. In particular I was very moved by the conversation they had after Rachel had the terrible TV interview, where Spenser told her to not let them make her ashamed and they held hands in the car.
After Rachel was kidnapped, I was a little worried that I would enjoy it much less, but that didn't end up to be the case. Like I said, Spenser still holds the story by himself, and his girlfriend Susan pops in and out to be another female character and someone for Spenser to talk to. They are a little too lovey-dovey, but I like her. Also, what's better than Spenser beating up KKK members and intimidating homophobes?
The ending was a little bit disappointing, with Rachel completely reduced to a damsel in distress, being rescued by Spenser and even carried out in his arms. Later, she apologizes to him and tells him she loves him and kisses him, but still reiterates she's a lesbian. Odd choice, and it didn't sit super well with me, but I forgive it as it was written in the 80's, and it's still a great book. (My dislike of it is also purely from a doyalist perspective, showing the lesbian character as being kidnapped after she refused to let a man protect her, and then saying she loved him and was sorry. From a watsonian perspective, I love their friendship.)
All in all, a surprisingly wonderful read. I wish Rachel was a recurring character, as I would gladly read a series of her and Spenser solving crimes and investigating together.
The Rachel Wallace referred to in the title is a no-nonsense lesbian feminist who has gotten threats after the publication of her new book. She hires Spenser to be her bodyguard, but has reservations about him. Too much machismo! They start to get along, but she ultimately fires him for being too aggressive in his attempts to protect her. But then she is kidnapped and Spenser spends the rest of the book trying to find her.
Honestly, the first 40% of this (before Rachel is kidnapped) would be 5 stars from me. Spenser and Rachel's dynamic is witty and very entertaining, but also tactful, especially for the 1980s. I think Rachel, while very no-nonsense and very feminist, is a great portrayal of a lesbian woman for the time. She is unapologetic, out and proud, and the book clearly supports her and derides the many homophobic characters who pop up.
Spenser is also an excellent character. Even though I think his dynamic with Rachel was the best part, he works very well on his own as well and I would consider reading more of this series in the future. His dry wit and sarcastic personality plays very well with with Rachel's blunt personality. I very much enjoyed the conversations they had about feminism and their back and forth repartee. In particular I was very moved by the conversation they had after Rachel had the terrible TV interview, where Spenser told her to not let them make her ashamed and they held hands in the car.
After Rachel was kidnapped, I was a little worried that I would enjoy it much less, but that didn't end up to be the case. Like I said, Spenser still holds the story by himself, and his girlfriend Susan pops in and out to be another female character and someone for Spenser to talk to. They are a little too lovey-dovey, but I like her. Also, what's better than Spenser beating up KKK members and intimidating homophobes?
The ending was a little bit disappointing, with Rachel completely reduced to a damsel in distress, being rescued by Spenser and even carried out in his arms. Later, she apologizes to him and tells him she loves him and kisses him, but still reiterates she's a lesbian. Odd choice, and it didn't sit super well with me, but I forgive it as it was written in the 80's, and it's still a great book. (My dislike of it is also purely from a doyalist perspective, showing the lesbian character as being kidnapped after she refused to let a man protect her, and then saying she loved him and was sorry. From a watsonian perspective, I love their friendship.)
All in all, a surprisingly wonderful read. I wish Rachel was a recurring character, as I would gladly read a series of her and Spenser solving crimes and investigating together.
scott_a_miller's review
5.0
Another excellent Parker book. For the time, the subject matter was something different I think. Spencer is developing, evolving. Truly an incredible character, especially in 1980. Susan becomes a partner in more ways and she’s a great addition over her role in the earlier books. I feel like I’m learning the Boston area thoroughly after reading all of the Stone books and getting this far with Spenser. Finally, who doesn’t love
nikchick's review against another edition
4.0
I wasn't sure I was going to be able to read this one when the militant feminist lesbian client says (on page 9!) "John has warned me that you are a jokester. Well, I am not. If we are to have any kind of successful association you'd best understand right now that I do not enjoy humor." Oh man, I thought the portrayal of the militant women's libbers in Promised Land were bad. Still, I gave it another 20 pages and found Spenser confronting a picket line of bigots trying to bar the lesbian author from her speaking engagement:
"As we approached the group they joined arms in front of us, blocking the entrance. In the center of the line was a large man with a square jaw and thick brown hair. Looked like he'd been a tight end perhaps, at Harvard. He wore a dark suit and a pale gray silk tie. His cheeks were rosy, and his eye was clear. Probably still active in his alumni association. A splendid figure of a man, the rock upon which the picket line was anchored. Surely a foe of atheism, Communism, and faggotry. Almost certainly a perfect asshole."
Ok, I'm in.
"As we approached the group they joined arms in front of us, blocking the entrance. In the center of the line was a large man with a square jaw and thick brown hair. Looked like he'd been a tight end perhaps, at Harvard. He wore a dark suit and a pale gray silk tie. His cheeks were rosy, and his eye was clear. Probably still active in his alumni association. A splendid figure of a man, the rock upon which the picket line was anchored. Surely a foe of atheism, Communism, and faggotry. Almost certainly a perfect asshole."
Ok, I'm in.