bookhawk's review against another edition
3.0
God Save the Child is a high 3 star book and definitely worthy of heading to book 3 in the series. Parker seems to have influenced quite a few good mystery writers. Spenser is a good character as a cultured, intelligent tough guy private detective. I can see his influence in great characters like Elvis Cole, Harry Bosch, Walt Longmire, Lucas Davenport among others. Really enjoyed the ending of this book.
brentolie's review against another edition
3.0
I’m just gonna rank these as I go.
This one is not as good as Godwulf.
This one is not as good as Godwulf.
tobyyy's review against another edition
3.0
Work from home 2020: book 29.
Clearly an early book in the Spenser series, just based on Parker’s writing in this one as compared to later books in the series. A lot of time was spent describing clothing and food, which I didn’t mind — though it seemed very “feminine” (in that I’m used to female protagonists/authors including more of these details as compared to male protagonists/authors). But not in a bad way.
Though I will say, the clothing DEFINITELY dated this book! Platform shoes, gold lamé suits, flared pants and frilly shirts for the men, lots of plaid, etc... but again, given that this was written in 1987 (and takes place a little earlier I think, maybe anyway), it makes sense.
But Spenser’s sass and attitude were loud and clear and that’s honestly probably one of the things I enjoy the most in his series. That really saved the day; I didn’t really like any of the characters although they were all quite well-written. They had to be, to evoke so much emotion in me!
Clearly an early book in the Spenser series, just based on Parker’s writing in this one as compared to later books in the series. A lot of time was spent describing clothing and food, which I didn’t mind — though it seemed very “feminine” (in that I’m used to female protagonists/authors including more of these details as compared to male protagonists/authors). But not in a bad way.
Though I will say, the clothing DEFINITELY dated this book! Platform shoes, gold lamé suits, flared pants and frilly shirts for the men, lots of plaid, etc... but again, given that this was written in 1987 (and takes place a little earlier I think, maybe anyway), it makes sense.
But Spenser’s sass and attitude were loud and clear and that’s honestly probably one of the things I enjoy the most in his series. That really saved the day; I didn’t really like any of the characters although they were all quite well-written. They had to be, to evoke so much emotion in me!
lastidealist's review against another edition
4.0
Strong neo-noir that exposes the rotten core of suburbia.
Thrillers can have aspects which age poorly and this is, regrettably, no exception, yet the overall quality of the work compensates for that flaw.
Strengthened enormously by an outstanding lead character in the mould of Chandler’s Marlowe.
Thrillers can have aspects which age poorly and this is, regrettably, no exception, yet the overall quality of the work compensates for that flaw.
Strengthened enormously by an outstanding lead character in the mould of Chandler’s Marlowe.
drock's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
2.0
I wanted this series to be as good as Parker's Hitch Cole series, but it is not. Very dated views. He treated homosexuality as a plot twist and romance as a booze soaked one night stand -- oops! Two-night stand. It was fun to read for the nostalgia, but I won't be reading any more of this series.
slapshottechnology's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Your typical Robert B. Parker Spenser novel. Actually was cool to see how him and Susan hooked up.
robotswithpersonality's review
This may change in later novels in the series, but for the earlier volumes, I feel they are as interesting as cultural artifacts as they are as mysteries.
A formula emerges: all women involved in the case will be irresistibly drawn to Spenser, comment on his physique without fail, and he will sleep with at least one. All architecture, ensembles and meals will be described in detail, which personally, in the case of the outfits, is fascinating.
Normative views and proposed psychology on gender and sexuality land somewhere between ignorant and backwards, and the first glance racialized and sexualized description introducing characters is off putting to modern sensibilities.
Perhaps showing my lack of sophistication but the people all seem to drink A LOT.
Strange dichotomy, where the hypermasculine protagonist appears to be completely laid back/understanding of friend/acquaintance/informant and bar full of strangers being gay, but happy to diagnose it as a psychological condition in a teenager. Ah, the 70s.
Why do I keep reading? Because the series is also peppered with laconic self-effacing wit, sometimes surprisingly sensitive (especially for the times it was written in), and it turns out I love a tightly written detective-led mystery! 🤷🏼♂️
⚠️ Sexual harrassment, sexism, homophobia, pedophilia
A formula emerges: all women involved in the case will be irresistibly drawn to Spenser, comment on his physique without fail, and he will sleep with at least one. All architecture, ensembles and meals will be described in detail, which personally, in the case of the outfits, is fascinating.
Normative views and proposed psychology on gender and sexuality land somewhere between ignorant and backwards, and the first glance racialized and sexualized description introducing characters is off putting to modern sensibilities.
Perhaps showing my lack of sophistication but the people all seem to drink A LOT.
Strange dichotomy, where the hypermasculine protagonist appears to be completely laid back/understanding of friend/acquaintance/informant and bar full of strangers being gay, but happy to diagnose it as a psychological condition in a teenager. Ah, the 70s.
Why do I keep reading? Because the series is also peppered with laconic self-effacing wit, sometimes surprisingly sensitive (especially for the times it was written in), and it turns out I love a tightly written detective-led mystery! 🤷🏼♂️
⚠️ Sexual harrassment, sexism, homophobia, pedophilia
somanytictoc's review against another edition
3.0
I expected this detective novel to be more plot-driven, but it ended up being a pretty in-depth character study. I'm not sure whether I liked that. It would have been better IMO if there was a bigger payoff with those characters at the end, but they kind of sit on the sidelines.
The very end was also clearly designed to draw the reader into the next book, even at the expense of cleanly tying up the current case. It felt much like a season finale of a TV show, which makes sense given that the Spenser series was turned into such a show later on.
I think I'm going to try another book in this series, but I won't be surprised if that does it for me. I was looking for even more of a noir vibe than I got, and I think I'll stick with the classics.
The very end was also clearly designed to draw the reader into the next book, even at the expense of cleanly tying up the current case. It felt much like a season finale of a TV show, which makes sense given that the Spenser series was turned into such a show later on.
I think I'm going to try another book in this series, but I won't be surprised if that does it for me. I was looking for even more of a noir vibe than I got, and I think I'll stick with the classics.
jasonfurman's review against another edition
4.0
My second Spenser audiobook and I loved it. Short, satisfying, dripping with Boston, a type of hard-boiled that you could not write anymore (for mostly good reasons), enough plot twists to keep you interested but not too many to make it overly confusing, a not-so-guilty pleasure.