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lwalker77's review
4.0
Rober B Parker knew how to write a story. He was able to move the pace and keep the intrigue. I really enjoyed this book.
johnny92m's review against another edition
4.0
Spenser books are typically easy, breezy affairs. The writing of the time was to the point, to a fault. There’s a sense of certainty, that everything will work itself out and quickly. The page count doesn’t allow for many deep dives into characters, but Parker always manages to flesh out Spenser in such a way to make you engage, even if the ancillary characters can feel at times hollow. No exceptions for this entry found here!
fictionaddictions_amanda's review against another edition
4.0
One Sentence Review: This whole series is just one fun detective book after another fun detective book.
Check out my Feb Wrap Up Video for a review: https://youtu.be/2Sm-5XxcYDI?si=KHjIkeCKMTi6-ouc
Check out my Feb Wrap Up Video for a review: https://youtu.be/2Sm-5XxcYDI?si=KHjIkeCKMTi6-ouc
stevem0214's review against another edition
4.0
Not my favorite. Good, but not great...this is the one where Spenser goes up against Joe Broz.
sandin954's review against another edition
3.0
Not one of my favorites in the Spencer series. The audio only ran for a little over four hours, though the narration by Michael Prichard was as good as usual, and it seemed like Parker was fixated on the Spencer/Susan relationship and the main plot about blackmail, politics, and organized crime was an afterthought.
dantastic's review against another edition
3.0
When a state representative is getting blackmailed with a film of his wife having sex with another man, he hires Spenser to get to the bottom of things for him. But when Spenser learns the man's identity, he's bitten off more than he can chew, especially with him preoccupied with Susan Silverman being out of town.
I was needing a quick read before taking on another fantasy read and The Widening Gyre fit the bill. It got the job done.
The book started slow, with Spenser moping because Susan Silverman was out of town. Even when Susan's not around, she manages to suck the life out of things. Anyway, Spenser gets on a security detail for a state representative with an alcoholic wife and things spin out from there.
Spenser did some great detective work when he wasn't pining for Susan in this one, gradually piecing together the identity of the blackmailer and then stirring up a hornet's nest when he finds out who the man's father is. There isn't a whole lot of action in this one but when it comes, Parker makes it count.
So yeah, I only gave this a three despite enjoying the shit out of parts of it. Firstly, there was very little Hawk. Secondly, there was way too much of Spenser and Susan discussing their relationship when they finally crossed paths again halfway through the book. Are there people out there who actually enjoy Susan Silverman having such a large role in the books?
Despite the abundance of Susan and lack of Hawk, I still enjoyed this book for the most part. 3.5 out of 5.
I was needing a quick read before taking on another fantasy read and The Widening Gyre fit the bill. It got the job done.
The book started slow, with Spenser moping because Susan Silverman was out of town. Even when Susan's not around, she manages to suck the life out of things. Anyway, Spenser gets on a security detail for a state representative with an alcoholic wife and things spin out from there.
Spenser did some great detective work when he wasn't pining for Susan in this one, gradually piecing together the identity of the blackmailer and then stirring up a hornet's nest when he finds out who the man's father is. There isn't a whole lot of action in this one but when it comes, Parker makes it count.
So yeah, I only gave this a three despite enjoying the shit out of parts of it. Firstly, there was very little Hawk. Secondly, there was way too much of Spenser and Susan discussing their relationship when they finally crossed paths again halfway through the book. Are there people out there who actually enjoy Susan Silverman having such a large role in the books?
Despite the abundance of Susan and lack of Hawk, I still enjoyed this book for the most part. 3.5 out of 5.
gsatori's review against another edition
4.0
Spencer is hired to find a video of a politicians wife and stop the blackmail. To do this he must bump heads with a top crime figure in Boston named Joe Broz.
This is a solid entry into the series. Spenser is dealing with his own loneliness and age, and his love is out of town growing away from him. The writing is efficient and the tone darker than the earlier books.
This is a solid entry into the series. Spenser is dealing with his own loneliness and age, and his love is out of town growing away from him. The writing is efficient and the tone darker than the earlier books.
jakewritesbooks's review against another edition
4.0
The only Spenser book I thought was worth much, mostly because there's not as much Spenser smarminess and he shows a humane side to dealing with this case in a way I found endearing.
writermattphillips's review against another edition
3.0
Pretty good PI novel...Set in Boston and DC. Political thriller...
bookhawk's review against another edition
4.0
Great private detective series that continue to mix intellectual philosophy with action. Parker was very good. Recommended for fans of Connelly’s Harry Bosch or Robert Crais’ Elvis Cole series.