For some reason I thought this was another Spencer story, but although it takes place in the same world (i.e., Gino and Vinnie are present), it introduces a new guy, Jesse Stone, who just got a new job as a small-town police chief after getting fired from the LAPD for being a drunk.
Spencer takes on the chore of bodyguard to an art professor who is to fetch the ransom for a painting to the picture-nappers. Said painting explodes, killing the art professor. Spencer returns his fee, and goes after the fiends.
Quote:
"Frees their minds," I said,"to romp with the mind of god." -- (pg. 154)-- Now I have to read The Great Gatsby!
Words I Had To Look Up:
cathexis (pg. 220) -- Concentration of emotional energy on an object or idea. One source suggests a "crush" as an example.
Cathexis (pg. 41) -- From MSN Encarta: the concentration of a great deal of psychological and emotional energy on one particular person, thing, or idea
Ineffable (pb. 188)-- Incapable of being expressed in words. I've used the word, but, as usual, couldn't have put a coherent meaning to it.
Spencer investigates points shaving in college basketball. See the website http://bullets-and-beer.com/ for comments on this and other books by Robert Parker.
Spenser travels to the town of Potshot to investigate the murder of some cute chicks husband by some bullies. Lot's of clever quips, I think I will abandon the Stephenson I'm reading and read all the Spenser titles.
Smoke Quote:
"This is exactly the right moment," I said, "for me to light two cigarettes and hand one to you." "Makes you regret not smoking for a moment," Susan said.
Parker, I mean Spencer, is hired by some guy to find his wife who has run off, possibly to find herself. At the guy's house Spencer runs into Hawk. What has this guy got himself into? Good story, no donut or cigarette quotes I can remember, but there WERE two English muffins consumed. Or at least one, for sure, was.
Parker is hired to "stand by" a rich woman at her daughter's wedding. The gray man shows up.
Words I Had To Look Up:
Neurasthenia (pg. 231) -- A condition that is characterized especially by physical and mental exhaustion usually with accompanying symptoms (as headaches, insomnia, and irritability), is believed to result from psychological factors (as depression or emotional stress or conflict), and is sometimes considered similar to or identical with chronic fatigue syndrome. I think I've got it.
Spenser investigates a possible miscarriage of justice when a young black hoodlum is convicted of the murder of a white college student woman person-type.
Quote:
Several ducks waddled promptly over expecting to be fed. They were brown ducks for the most part except one which had a green head and was probably a male duck, though I wasn't sure. I didn't know a hell of a lot about ducks. (pg. 286)
Spencer signs on to protect wacko television star from unknown threats. Interesting conclusion. Spencer meets Chollo, Bobby Horse, and Mr. del Rio, also acquires three dogs for a short while.
Words I Had To Look Up:
Lisle (pg. 50) -- A fabric made of lisle thread, which is a smooth tightly twisted thread usually ade of long-staple cotton. You didn't know this?
Sere (pg. 102) -- Being dried and withered.
Quote:
The street was lined with eucalyptus trees that sagged heavily, their branches nearly touching the ground in some places. (pg. 104) I can't visualize eucalyptus trees looking like that.
Susan asks Spencer to help out her ex-husband who has been accused of sexually harassing FOUR women!
Donut Quote:
The trip wasn't a total waste. I was able to stop at a Dunkin' Donuts near the Redstone Shopping Center and had two plain donuts and a large coffee. Failing to learn anything is hungry work. (pg. 83)
Quote:
It was a lovely December day, brisk and sunny. Unfortunately it was the first week in April. (pg. 93)
Quote:
"Sometimes your cynicism achieves Shakespearian resonance," I said. "Coming from you," Hawk said, "that a real compliment." (pg. 117)
Quote:
I opened the drawers in Sterling's desk and found some blank disks. I put one in the computer and copied the hard disk onto it. (pg. 121) That must have been a big floppy!
Quote:
I liked the rain. It was interesting to look at, and I enjoyed the feeling of shelter on a rainy day. (pg. 132)
Bonus Donut Quote:
"He going to bring donuts," Hawk said. "I don't think Sean ever ate a donut," I said. "Then how much help he going to be?" (pg. 135)
Spencer rescues April Kyle from the scheming Rambeaux, who had much less presence in the story than I was led to believe from later books in the series.
The first Spenser book. I probably would not have finished it if I hadn't read most of the series, I must say. But, there are a lot of gems in here. Spenser hasn't met Susan yet, and he is bobbing everyone and the mother. Literally.
Words I Had To Look Up:
hire another Hawkshaw (pg.53) -- Slang for detective, probably from the comic strip Hawkshaw The Detective, by Gus Mager.
Quote:
The trouble with being up and at 'em bright and early was once you were up most of the 'em you wanted to be at weren't out yet. (pg. 143)
Spencer searches for the missing wife of Detective Belson. Two donut quotes, see below. Lot's of complaining about decaf coffee. Minor confusion for me: on page 267 the bad guy takes the iron bar he was hit with and leaves the room, on page 278 the hitter has an iron bar. Same one? The other sink leg?
Donut Quote:
"How come it takes you all that time to find the right donut?" I said. "They're all the same."
"No two donuts are alike," Chollo said. "You had Indio blood, you'd understand." -- pg. 192
Bonus Donut Quote:
On the other hand, I couldn't think of anything some donuts wouldn't help. -- pg. 206
Spencer goes to Port City at Susan's request to help out an actor who is being followed by someone.
Words I Had To Look Up:
Quem Quaeritis (pg. 41) --Quem Quaeritis? (literally, "Whom do you seek?") refers to four lines of the medieval Easter liturgy that later formed the kernel of the large body of medieval liturgical drama.
Dramaturge (pg. 41) -- A specialist in the art or technique of dramatic composition and theatrical representation.
Deracinated (pg. 70) -- To remove or separate from a native environment or culture; especially : to remove the racial or ethnic characteristics or influences from. Uprooted.
Chacun à son goût (pg. 191) -- Everyone to his taste.
Smoke Quote:
He got a Zippo lighter out and snapped a flame and lit the cigarette and put the lighter away with one of those efficient little movements smokers have developed over the long ritual of their addiction. -- (pg. 92)
Gun Quote:
Normally, unless I expected to encounter a bear, I carried a comfy little .38. But for office use the .357 was an effective negotiating tool. -- (pg. 71)
Pardon Me?:
On page 195 it is noted that "There was an ancient gas refrigerator", and that it didn't work. I read that gas reefers are used in RVs and no-electricity situations, and I have only seen one in a house, myself. So I wonder why it was here in this apartment? The hassle-factor, gas vs. electric, seems disproportionate to any gain.