In Pursuit of Spenser: Mystery Writers on Robert B. Parker and the Creation of an American Hero, by Otto Penzler

My main thought as I was reading this was that I can now claim that I've read a festschrift, and for an author I had come to adore well before he died a couple of years ago.

This was a collection of essays on Parker, Spenser, some of the other characters and series Parker wrote, and even the TV show and movies based on his work. Fun. Not difficult reading. If you love the series(es), you'd enjoy the book.

Running Scared, by Lisa Jackson (on CD ... and paper)

I bailed on this CD near the end simply because I couldn't stand listening to it anymore. But I had to find out how the plot tied up. A little too neatly for my liking. Reminded me why I don't read romantic suspense novels very often. Ugh.

The Professional, by Robert B. Parker

Typical Spenser, in that he gets the job done, although in this case his employers try to call him off and he actually ends up liking the 'bad guy' a little more than the people who hired him. The case centers on a con man who really enjoys sleeping with women who are married to wealthy older men. After setting the hook, he then blackmails them but somehow still manages to charm them into thinking he really loves them. And then...things go badly wrong. And Spenser fixes it. Sort of.

School Days, by Robert Parker (on CD)

I *heart* Spenser! He is hired to find a way to prove innocent a teen who, along with another kid, entered a school and shot several people, holed up in the library, and later turned himself in. He has admitted doing it, but won't speak otherwise about the day. It becomes obvious quickly that he actually isn't innocent of the crime, but Spenser bulldogs through to find out why the shooting happened.

Despite similarities, this is not about Columbine. Thank you, Robert Parker. Seriously.