Valediction, by Robert Parker

Title: Valediction 

Author: Robert Parker 

Borrowed from Queen Anne County Public Library Kindle edition 

Started: 12/30/2024

Finished: 12/31/2024

This is one of my favorites from the Susan dumps Spenser timeline that I generally don't like.  But this is a good one,with Spenser dating someone else, still semi-suicidal, and completely missing the real villain in the overall mystery.  A rare miss for Spenser makes this an entertaining and different read.  

All These Worlds, by Dennis E Taylor

Title: All These Worlds 

Author: Dennis E Taylor 

Borrowed from Audible via Amazon Music 

Started: 12/22/2024

Finished: 12/28/2024

Third in the Bobiverse series, decent.  

A Catskill Eagle, by Robert Parker

Title: A Catskill Eagle 

Author: Robert Parker 

Borrowed from Queen Anne County Public Library Kindle edition 

Started: 12/21/2024

Finished: 12/25/2024

Backtracking a bit in the Spenser series reread.  Not a huge fan of the Susan focused books. 

Created, the Destroyer, by Richard Sapir and Warren Murphy

Title: Created, the Destroyer 

Author: Richard Sapir and Warren Murphy 

Purchased from Amazon Kindle edition 

Started: 12/18/2024

Finished: 12/21/2024

First in the Remo Williams series, pulpy and fun, but probably not enough to carry on with the rest.  

The Decagon House Murders, by Yuki to Ayatsuji

Title: The Decagon House Murders 

Author: Yuki Ayatsuji 

Borrowed from Queen Anne County Public Library Audiobook 

Started: 11/1/2024

Finished: 12/20/2024

A twist/turn murder mystery in the "And then there were none" tradition.  Wanted to like it more than I did.  

Paper Doll, by Robert Parker

Title: Paper Doll

Author: Robert Parker 

Paperback from Free Library 

Started: 12/15/2024

Finished: 12/16/2024

Decent mid-series Spenser novel.  

Pale Kings and Princes, by Robert Parker

Title: Pale Kings and Princes 

Author: Robert Parker 

Paperback from Free Library 

Started: 12/15/2024

Finished: 12/15/2024

Decent mid-series Spense  novel.  

Taming a Sea-Horse, by Robert Parker

Title: Taming a Sea-Horse 

Author: Robert Parker 

Pap ER back from Free Library 

Started: 12/13/2024

Finished: 15/15/2024

Jumper ahead several books in the Spenser series because I happened upon three of them at a take one leave one library last week.   In some ways that's good, I skipped the books where Susan runs off, Spenser is down, the. The the rescue.  I probably will read those again because I may like them more than I remember. 

Anyway, this one isn't one of my favorites.  I've never enjoyed the April storyline and this is one of those.  But there are two great sections. The "toughest guys in [rural city] Maine" part is a standout chapter.  And the very end with April's release is legit touching (look Im not a monster, even if I don't like the April storyline this ending is uplifting).  

A Savage Place, by Robert Parker

Title: A Savage Place 

Author: Robert Parker 

Borrowed from Queen Anne County Public Library Kindle edition 

Started: 12/9/2024

Finished: 12/12/2024

One of the worst of the earlier Spenser books.  The LA setting isn't bad, but the mystery is terrible and Spenser's banter isn't up to usual standards.  

Cold Moon Over Babylon, by Michael McDowell

Title: Cold Moon Over Babylon

Author: Michael McDowell

Borrowed from Audible

Started: 12/6/2024

Finished: 12/10/2024

Bought a new Chromebook which for some reason gave me three months free of Amazon Music, and that service recently added a "one Audible book a month" loan so I was finally able to read this one by McDowell that I'd had on my list for a while.

It was decent, but not great.  Bad guy gets his comeuppance, but only after he has murdered an entire family (three generations of family) over a 20 year period.  

Early Autumn, by Robert Parker

Title: Early Autumn 

Author: Robert Parker 

Borrowed from Queen Anne County Public Library Kindle edition 

Started: 12/6/2024

Finished: 12/8/2024

This is one of the best Spensers.  The mystery is t amazing, but the life lessons for the 15 year old kid -- I never tire of reading this one.  

Gunman's Rhapsody, by Robert Parker

Title: Gunman's Rhapsody 

Author: Robert Parker 

Borrowed from Queen Anne County Public Library Audiobook 

Started: 12/3/2024

Finished: 12/4/2024

I think I would have loved this book in print, butt he Audiobook narrated by Ed Begley Jr wasnt for me.  If I ever find a print version I'll try it again.  

Mortal Stakes, by Robert Parker

Title: Mortal Stakes 

Author: Robert Parker 

Borrowed from DC Public Library Kindle edition 

Started: 12/2/2024

Finished: 12/3/2024

Well I'm giving up all pretense and just admitting to myself that I'll be re-reading much of the Spenser series.  This is a decent early Spenser.  

The More the Terrier, by David Rosenfelt

Title: The More the Terrier 

Author: David Rosenfelt 

Borrowed from Queen Anne County Public Library Audiobook 

Started: 12/1/2024

Finished: 12/2/2024

Another Andy Carpenter book, not a great plot but still funny and enjoyable. 

The Promised Land, by Robert Parker

Title: The Promised Land

Author: Robert Parker 

Borrowed from DC Public Library Kindle edition 

Started: 12/1/2024

Finished; 12/2/2024

An early Spenser, but not a great one.  The next few in the series though are some of the best, including The Judas Goat that I just read a day ago.  

The Judas Goat, by Robert Parker

Title: The Judas Goat

Author: Robert Parker 

Picked up paperback from Free Library 

Started: 11/30/2024

Finished: 11/30/2024

These early Parker books are the best.  This one is great.  Could reread it regularly.