Synopses & Reviews
P.I. Spenser, knight-errant of the Back Bay, returns in this stellar addition to the iconic New York Timesbestselling series from author Ace Atkins. What started out as a joke landed seventeen-year-old Dillon Yates in a lockdown juvenile facility in Boston Harbor. When he set up a prank Twitter account for his vice principal, he never dreamed he could be brought up on criminal charges, but thats exactly what happened.
This is Blackburn, Massachusetts, where zero tolerance for minors is a way of life.
Leading the movement is tough-as-nails Judge Joe Scali, who gives speeches about getting tough on todays wild youth. But Dillons mother, who knows other Blackburn kids who are doing hard time for minor infractions, isnt buying Scalis line. She hires Spenser to find the truth behind the draconian sentencing.
From the Harbor Islands to a gated Florida community, Spenser and trusted ally Hawk follow a trail through the Boston underworld with links to a shadowy corporation that runs New Englands private prisons. They eventually uncover a culture of corruption and cover-ups in the old mill town, where hundreds of kids are sent off to for-profit juvie jails.
Review
andnbsp;andldquo;Handpicked by the Parker estate to be the keeper of the flame for the Spenser franchise, award-winning author Ace Atkins rises flawlessly to the occasion.andrdquo; andmdash;Kirkus Reviews
Review
andnbsp;andldquo;Atkins succeeds. He doesnandrsquo;t sound like somebody trying to emulate Parker. He sounds like Parker in a book that hits all the usual Spenser notes. He has the wisecrack-filled dialogue down and Parkerandrsquo;s cadences, too: Spenser, thankfully, sounds like Spenser. You also get the vivid sense of place, flexing of muscles and spare plot that were hallmarks of Parkerandrsquo;s 39 Spenser booksandhellip;.Itandrsquo;s a feat when a writer creates characters who live and breathe on the page and make readers care and keep coming back for more. To manage that with someone elseandrsquo;s characters, let alone with an icon like Spenser, is a minor miracle. Ace Atkins pulls it off.andrdquo; andmdash;Chicago Sun-Times
Review
andnbsp;andldquo;Even the most fanatical Parker fans would be hard pressed to identify any aspect of this Spenser novel that doesnandrsquo;t read as if it were penned by Spenserandrsquo;s late creator.andhellip;Atkins hits all the familiar marks...as he offers familiar pleasures.andrdquo; andmdash;Publishers Weekly
Review
andnbsp;andldquo;A brisk read. Atkins gets the important things right, from Spenserandrsquo;s dark sarcasm to the gritty attitude of Mattie Sullivan, a 14-year-old Southie girl trying to solve her motherandrsquo;s murder.andrdquo; andmdash;Boston Dailyandnbsp;
Review
andquot;Ace Atkins has proven an exceptionally talented writer.... Taking on the challenge of continuing the much-loved Spenser series is a daunting task. Ace Atkins responds with a knock-out punch in round one. Parker would most definitely approve.
andnbsp; andnbsp; andnbsp; andnbsp; andnbsp; andnbsp; andnbsp; andnbsp; andnbsp; andnbsp;andmdash;Shelf Awareness
andldquo;Itandrsquo;s all there: andnbsp;The crisp, rhythmic sentences. The ironic banter. The distinctly Spenserian attitude toward life that Atkins adopted as his own. And yet, those who have read both Parker and Atkins closely may also detect a muted, indefinable quality thatandrsquo;s pure Atkins. And thatandrsquo;s a very good thingandhellip;. Parker lives. Spenser is back.andrdquo;andnbsp; andnbsp; andnbsp; andnbsp; andnbsp; andnbsp; andnbsp; andnbsp; andnbsp; andnbsp; andmdash;Bruce DeSilva, Edgar Award Winning author ofandnbsp;Cliff Walk
andnbsp;andldquo;It's the real deal. Atkins captures Parker's distinctive voice, the sardonic, self-deprecating, sharply observant first-person narration that makes the Spenser books so compelling, and so much fun.andrdquo; andmdash;Tampa Bay Times
andnbsp;andldquo;In Lullaby, Ace Atkins has brought back everything we love about Robert B. Parkerandrsquo;s Boston P.I. Spenser, and he makes it look seamless and easyandhellip;. Atkins takes the reins of the Spenser series with self-assured ease. He also proves heandrsquo;s the right man for the job.andrdquo; andmdash;MysteryPeople.comandnbsp;
Review
and#160;
Praise for ROBERT B. PARKERand#8217;S WONDERLAND and#8220;Atkins finds his footing this time, settling into the character and concocting a fairly complex caper with urban development, organized crime, and sex all playing rolesand#8230;.Quite a good crime novel.and#8221;
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; and#8212;Booklist
and#8220;Solidand#8230; Atkinsand#8217;s ability to perfectly mimic the originals will please diehard fans hungry for familiar pleasures.and#8221;
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; and#8212;Publishers Weekly and#160;
and#8220;An entertaining effort.and#8221; and#8212; Kirkus
and#8220;These books are real gemsand#8230;the old Spenser magic is back.and#8221;
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; and#8212;Aspen Daily News
Praise for ROBERT B. PARKERand#8217;S LULLABY and#160; and#8220;Handpicked by the Parker estate to be the keeper of the flame for the Spenser franchise, award-winning author Ace Atkins rises flawlessly to the occasion. In addition to the signature dialogue, all the familiars are fully resurrected: Susan, the sexy shrink; Pearl, the wonder dog; Hawk, the wonder sidekick; good cop Quirk, and, of course, Spenser himself, that consummate knight errant for the 21st century.and#8221; and#8212;Kirkus Reviews and#160;
and#8220;Even the most fanatical Parker fans would be hard pressed to identify any aspect of this Spenser novel that doesnand#8217;t read as if it were penned by Spenserand#8217;s late creator.and#8230;Atkins hits all the familiar marks and#8211; bantering scenes with Spenserand#8217;s girlfriend, fisticuffs, heavy-duty backup from the dangerous Hawk and#8211; as he offers familiar pleasures.and#8221; and#8212;Publishers Weekly and#160; and#160; and#8220;A brisk read. Atkins gets the important things right, from Spenserand#8217;s dark sarcasm to the gritty attitude of Mattie Sullivan, a 14-year-old Southie girl trying to solve her motherand#8217;s murder.and#8221; and#8212;Boston Magazine
and#8220;Atkins succeeds. He doesnand#8217;t sound like somebody trying to emulate Parkerand#8230;. Spenser, thankfully, sounds like Spenser. You also get the vivid sense of place, flexing of muscles and spare plot that were hallmarks of Parkerand#8217;s 39 Spenser booksand#8230;.Itand#8217;s a feat when a writer creates characters who live and breathe on the page and make readers care and keep coming back for more. To manage that with someone elseand#8217;s characters, let alone with an icon like Spenser, is a minor miracle. Ace Atkins pulls it off.and#8221; and#8212;Chicago Sun-Times
Review
andnbsp;
Praise for ROBERT B. PARKERandrsquo;S LULLABY andldquo;Handpicked by the Parker estate to be the keeper of the flame for the Spenser franchise, award-winning author Ace Atkins rises flawlessly to the occasion. In addition to the signature dialogue, all the familiars are fully resurrected: Susan, the sexy shrink; Pearl, the wonder dog; Hawk, the wonder sidekick; good cop Quirk, and, of course, Spenser himself, that consummate knight errant for the 21st century.andrdquo; andmdash;Kirkus Reviews
andldquo;Even the most fanatical Parker fans would be hard pressed to identify any aspect of this Spenser novel that doesnandrsquo;t read as if it were penned by Spenserandrsquo;s late creator.andhellip;Atkins hits all the familiar marks andndash; bantering scenes with Spenserandrsquo;s girlfriend, fisticuffs, heavy-duty backup from the dangerous Hawk andndash; as he offers familiar pleasures.andrdquo; andmdash;Publishers Weekly
andldquo;A brisk read. Atkins gets the important things right, from Spenserandrsquo;s dark sarcasm to the gritty attitude of Mattie Sullivan, a 14-year-old Southie girl trying to solve her motherandrsquo;s murder.andrdquo; andmdash;Boston Magazine
andldquo;Atkins succeeds. He doesnandrsquo;t sound like somebody trying to emulate Parkerandhellip;. Spenser, thankfully, sounds like Spenser. You also get the vivid sense of place, flexing of muscles and spare plot that were hallmarks of Parkerandrsquo;s 39 Spenser booksandhellip;.Itandrsquo;s a feat when a writer creates characters who live and breathe on the page and make readers care and keep coming back for more. To manage that with someone elseandrsquo;s characters, let alone with an icon like Spenser, is a minor miracle. Ace Atkins pulls it off.andrdquo; andmdash;Chicago Sun-Times
Review
and#160;
Praise for ROBERT B. PARKERand#8217;S WONDERLAND and#8220;Solidand#8230; Atkinsand#8217;s ability to perfectly mimic the originals will please diehard fans hungry for familiar pleasures.and#8221;
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; and#8212;Publishers Weekly
Praise for ROBERT B. PARKERand#8217;S LULLABY and#160; and#8220;Handpicked by the Parker estate to be the keeper of the flame for the Spenser franchise, award-winning author Ace Atkins rises flawlessly to the occasion. In addition to the signature dialogue, all the familiars are fully resurrected: Susan, the sexy shrink; Pearl, the wonder dog; Hawk, the wonder sidekick; good cop Quirk, and, of course, Spenser himself, that consummate knight errant for the 21st century.and#8221; and#8212;Kirkus Reviews and#160;
and#8220;Even the most fanatical Parker fans would be hard pressed to identify any aspect of this Spenser novel that doesnand#8217;t read as if it were penned by Spenserand#8217;s late creator.and#8230;Atkins hits all the familiar marks and#8211; bantering scenes with Spenserand#8217;s girlfriend, fisticuffs, heavy-duty backup from the dangerous Hawk and#8211; as he offers familiar pleasures.and#8221; and#8212;Publishers Weekly and#160; and#160; and#8220;A brisk read. Atkins gets the important things right, from Spenserand#8217;s dark sarcasm to the gritty attitude of Mattie Sullivan, a 14-year-old Southie girl trying to solve her motherand#8217;s murder.and#8221; and#8212;Boston Magazine
and#8220;Atkins succeeds. He doesnand#8217;t sound like somebody trying to emulate Parkerand#8230;. Spenser, thankfully, sounds like Spenser. You also get the vivid sense of place, flexing of muscles and spare plot that were hallmarks of Parkerand#8217;s 39 Spenser booksand#8230;.Itand#8217;s a feat when a writer creates characters who live and breathe on the page and make readers care and keep coming back for more. To manage that with someone elseand#8217;s characters, let alone with an icon like Spenser, is a minor miracle. Ace Atkins pulls it off.and#8221; and#8212;Chicago Sun-Times
Review
Praise for Robert B. Parkerand#8217;s Spenser Novels:
and#8220;A-Grade Parker.and#8221;and#8212;Chicago Sun-Times
and#8220;A must-read.and#8221; and#8212;Boston Herald
and#8220;Superb.and#8221;and#8212;The Associated Press
and#8220;A page-turner.and#8221; and#8212;The Boston Globe
and#8220;One hot mystery.and#8221;and#8212;The Washington Postand#160;
and#8220;A kinky whodunitand#8230;snappyand#8230;sexy.and#8221;and#8212;Entertainment Weekly
and#8220;Delicious fun. Bottom line: A merry Widow.and#8221;and#8212;People
and#8220;Outrageously entertaining.and#8221;and#8212;The New York Times Book Review
and#8220;Spenser can still punch, sleuth, and wisecrack with the best of them.and#8221;and#8212;Publishers Weekly
and#8220;Smooth as silk.and#8221;and#8212;Orlando Sentinel
and#8220;[A] canand#8217;t-put-it-down story.and#8221;and#8212;San Francisco Chronicle
and#8220;As brisk and clever as always.and#8221;and#8212;Los Angeles Times Book Review
and#8220;Full of action, suspense, and thrills.and#8221;and#8212;Playboy
Review
Praise for Ace Atkins “Spenser is as tough and funny as ever, and Atkins has become a worthy successor.” —Booklist “Even the most fanatical Parker fans would be hard pressed to identify any aspect of this Spenser novel that doesnt read as if it were penned by Spensers late creator.” —Publishers Weekly
Synopsis
When fourteen-year-old Mattie Sullivanand#160;asks Spenser to look into her motherandrsquo;s murder, heandrsquo;s not completely convinced by her claim that the police investigation four years ago was botched. Mattie is gruff, street-smart, and wise beyond her years, left to care for her younger siblings and an alcoholic grandmother in a dilapidated apartment in South Boston. and#160;But her need for closure and her determination to make things right hit Spenser where he lives- theyandrsquo;re the very characteristics he abides by.and#160;
Mattie believes the man convicted of the crime is innocent and points Spenser to the Southie toughs who she saw carrying her mother away hours before her murder. Neither the Boston PD nor the neighborhood thugs are keen on his dredging up the past, but as Spenser becomes more involved in the case, he starts to realize that Mattie may be onto something. Spenser will need Hawkandrsquo;s help to find peace for Mattie andndash; a job thatandrsquo;s more dangerous than he ever thought.
Synopsis
Henry Cimoli and Spenser have been friends for years, yet the old boxing trainer has never asked the private eye for a favor. Until now. A heavy-handed developer is trying to buy up Henry's condo on Revere Beach and sends thugs to move the process along. Soon Spenser and his apprentice, Zebulon Sixkill, find a trail leading to a mysterious and beautiful woman, a megalomaniacal Las Vegas kingpin, and plans to turn to a chunk of land north of Boston into a sprawling casino. Bitter rivals emerge, alliances turn, and the uglier pieces of the Boston political machine look to put an end to Spenser's investigation.
Aspiration, greed, and twisted dreams all focus on the old Wonderland dog track where the famous amusement park once fronted the ocean. For Spenser and Z, this simple favor to Henry will become the fight of their lives.
Synopsis
Old friends. Small favors. Bitter rivals. Stirred together, it all makes for one explosive cocktail. Spenser can feel the heat stretching from Boston to Vegasand#151;and people are about to get burned. Henry Cimoli and Spenser have been friends for years, yet the old boxing trainer has never asked the private eye for a favor. Until now. A developer is trying to buy up Henry's condo on Revere Beachand#151;with a push from local thugs. Soon Spenser and his apprentice, Zebulon Sixkill, are on the trail of a mysterious woman, a megalomaniacal Las Vegas kingpin, and a shady plan to turn a chunk of land north of Boston into a sprawling casino. As alliances shift and twisted dreams surface, the Boston political machine looks to end Spenser's investigation one way or anotherand#151;and once and for all.
and#147;Atkinsand#133;has managed to nudge this venerable series in a new direction while staying true to its core, seemingly channeling its creator at every turn. Itand#8217;s a magnificent accomplishment that is not to be missed.and#8221; and#151;Bookreporter.com
About the Author
Robert B. Parker was the author of seventy books, including the legendary Spenser detective series, the novels featuring Chief Jesse Stone, and the acclaimed Virgil Cole/Everett Hitch westerns, as well as the Sunny Randall novels. Winner of the Mystery Writers of America Grand Master Award and long considered the undisputed dean of American crime fiction, he died in January 2010.
Ace Atkins is the author of thirteen novels, including the New York Times bestsellerand#160;Robert B. Parker's Lullabyand#160;. He was nominated for an Edgar Award for Best Novel in 2012 for The Ranger, the first book in his Quinn Colson series, which also includes The Lost Onesand#160;and The Broken Places. Atkins, whom the bestselling author Michael Connelly has called and#147;one of the best crime writers working today,and#8221; lives on a farm outside Oxford, Mississippi.