Helpful Score: 4
This is a Spenser novel. Back in Boston. Back with Hawk and with the lovely Susan. You either love Spenser, his compatriots and all his baggage, or you do not. I do. He is one of a kind - give Spenser a chance; you might grow to love him too (warts and all).
Helpful Score: 1
Really good Robert Parker book. Funny and witty like his other books. Enjoyed this book a lot.
Helpful Score: 1
"When Marlene Rowley hires Spenser to follow her cheating husband, Spenser finds not only a two-timing spouse, but another detective hired to shadow the wayward Marlene. Not the most trusting couple in town--but, as in Spenser's about to learn, certainly one of the most dangerous..." worldcat.org
I enjoyed this novel as Spencer and the detective for the other spouse share information on each of their assignments, without any conflict of interest.
I enjoyed this novel as Spencer and the detective for the other spouse share information on each of their assignments, without any conflict of interest.
When Marlene Rowley hires Spenser to follow her cheating husband, Spenser finds not only a two-timing spouse, but another detective hired to shadow the wayward Marlene. Not the most trusting couple in town--but, as Spenser's about to learn, certainly one of the most dangerous....
Spenser does it again!
If you enjoyed the tv program Spencer for Hire. You will enjoy this book as the show was based on the books. I enjoyed it very much.
Classic Parker and an enjoyable read. My only beef about this one is that there are too many characters with similar sounding yuppie names that I kept losing track of who and what. Kind of like an Agatha Christie but not nearly as boring.
Another good Spenser book.
Bad Business (Spenser, Bk 31)
Bad Business - Spenser, Bk 31
Author: Robert B. Parker
When Marlene Rowley hires Spenser to follow her cheating husband, Spenser finds not only a two-timing spouse, but another detective hired to shadow the wayward Marlene. Not the most trusting couple in town--but, as Spenser's about to learn, certainly one of the most dangerous...
Bad Business - Spenser, Bk 31
Author: Robert B. Parker
When Marlene Rowley hires Spenser to follow her cheating husband, Spenser finds not only a two-timing spouse, but another detective hired to shadow the wayward Marlene. Not the most trusting couple in town--but, as Spenser's about to learn, certainly one of the most dangerous...
Spencer is hired to get the goods on a cheating husband, but quickly discovers a round-robin of cheaters connected to a major corporation, most of whom have hired PIs of their own. The whole thing gets nastier -- and deadlier -- as financial hanky-panky and corporate pandering crop up. Hawk does a great turn here as he introduces a new lady friend to the mix.
When an author is as prolific as Robert B. Parker, some books are going to be better than others. Bad Business, the 31st book in his Spenser series, is better than many of his later efforts.
Marlene Rowley hires Spenser to tail her husband, who she suspects of having an affair. Husband, Trent, is a big executive at an energy company called Kinergy (think Enron). It quickly becomes apparent that Spenser isn't the only PI following people around, and when Trent ends up murdered (in his Kinergy office no less), Marlene then engages Spenser to find the killer. Marlene is totally obnoxious and self-centered, and is not an easy person to work for. Spenser encountered lots of twists and turns, and not only is there the business angle, but there are also sex seminars, wife-swapping, an escort service, missing PI's, another murder and a host of other possible motives.
But what makes Parker so much fun to read is his witty, snappy, first-rate dialogue. Spenser interviewing possible suspects is a hoot. The conversation between Spenser and Hawk is even better. So even though this book could have been a bit longer, it was definitely worth reading. Too bad they stopped filming the Spenser television series, as Bad Business would have made one dandy episode.
AMAZON.COM READER'S REVIEW
Marlene Rowley hires Spenser to tail her husband, who she suspects of having an affair. Husband, Trent, is a big executive at an energy company called Kinergy (think Enron). It quickly becomes apparent that Spenser isn't the only PI following people around, and when Trent ends up murdered (in his Kinergy office no less), Marlene then engages Spenser to find the killer. Marlene is totally obnoxious and self-centered, and is not an easy person to work for. Spenser encountered lots of twists and turns, and not only is there the business angle, but there are also sex seminars, wife-swapping, an escort service, missing PI's, another murder and a host of other possible motives.
But what makes Parker so much fun to read is his witty, snappy, first-rate dialogue. Spenser interviewing possible suspects is a hoot. The conversation between Spenser and Hawk is even better. So even though this book could have been a bit longer, it was definitely worth reading. Too bad they stopped filming the Spenser television series, as Bad Business would have made one dandy episode.
AMAZON.COM READER'S REVIEW
A cheating husband and a wayward wife provide Spenser with an unconventional and dangerous surveillance job.
A 2004 Spenser novel.
Fun, easy read
A Spenser novel. Good as always.
Spenser #31 finds the veteran Boston PI tackling corporate crime in a routine yet absorbing outing. As usual, Spenser enters the case at an angle, this time because he's hired by one Marlene Rowley to prove that her husband Trent, CFO of energy firm Kinergy, is cheating on her. Before long the PI learns that marital cheating is all the rage among Kinergy's players, with the hanky-panky orchestrated by radio personality Darrin O'Mara, who runs popular sex seminars on the side. Maybe all that cheating explains why Spenser keeps running into other PIs hired by Kinergy folk, but it doesn't point to why Trent is found shot dead at Kinergy headquarters. Spenser links Kinergy's slick founder/CEO to the sex ring and blackmails him to gain access to Kinergy's records, unveiling a pattern of accounting deceptions that reveal a company about to go under. There's less violence than usual in this Spenser novel but more detecting, which may explain why there's little of the PI's tough sidekick Hawk but much of his psychologist girlfriend Susan, which may not please the many Spenser fans who grew tired years ago of the love banter between the soul mates. The novel ends with suspects crowded into a room to be questioned by Spenser, a classic yet tired climax that is emblematic of the tale: Parker is treading water here, albeit with some flair and a good deal of humor. One suspects that his heart belongs not to this story but to his other book due out this year, in May, the highly anticipated Jackie Robinson novel Double Play. (Mar. 8) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
One of the weakest Spenser efforts, IMO. Even though I am a huge Parkr fan, I wouldn't waste a credit on his one.
GOOD STORY LINE...NOT MUCH ACTION
This was the first Robert Parker book I read and I really enjoyed it! The main character had such a great sense of humor and well written--and I love a mystery that is unpredictable.
A great book for Spenser lovers. Detectives following wayward spouses.
a spenser novel
Another one of the great Spenser series. Riveting.
Love Spenser Novels! This another quick read... fun, enjoyable and keeps you guessing all the way through it!!! Each story always seems better than the previous one!
I have enjoyed the Spenser novels for years and this is the latest.Fun to read series.
Parker continues to write entertaining fiction. My only complaints: the books are such fast reading; and, he doesn't write fast enough. I look forward to his next one, because I've read all he's written.
Wonderful in the Spenser series tradition.
A mystery inside a mystery!! Spencer ends up investigating other detectives as well!!
Spenser #31 finds the veteran Boston PI tackling corporate crime in a routine yet absorbing outing. As usual, Spenser enters the case at an angle, this time because he's hired by one Marlene Rowley to prove that her husband Trent, CFO of energy firm Kinergy, is cheating on her. Before long the PI learns that marital cheating is all the rage among Kinergy's players, with the hanky-panky orchestrated by radio personality Darrin O'Mara, who runs popular sex seminars on the side. Maybe all that cheating explains why Spenser keeps running into other PIs hired by Kinergy folk, but it doesn't point to why Trent is found shot dead at Kinergy headquarters.
This is a great series and Spenser and his cohorts are part of a well developed series of novels. There is great detail about each character (even the dog) and they become even more meaningful as one continues to read other novels in the series. This detail extends to the location of the novel, usually in Boston or proximity, which also provides continuity to the reader. Great literature, perhaps not, but I can't wait to pick up another novel, that I haven't read, in the series.
Robert B. Parker with Spencer always a good light juicy read
Spencer is one Bad dude, and dont even get me started on Hawk. Parker is smart, funny and...well He's funny.
Spenser - 'nuff said.
A Spencer mystery.
Spenser strikes again!
Spenser is hired to follow a cheating husband but someone is following his client. He must find out what is going on. Very good book
Another winner in the Spenser series. I love the sarcastic wit of Spenser and Susan. Any fan of the long-ended series will love this book.
Hired to follow a cheating husband, Spenser soon finds out he's leading a parade of detectives following half a corporation. Murder, sex and betrayal make a great story.
Spencer the Detective novel
Another good edition of the Spenser series...
You can't go wrong with a book by Parker.
When Marlene Rowley hires Spenser to follow her cheating husband, Spenser finds not only a two timing spouse, but another detective hired to shadow the wayward Marlene. Not the most trusting couple in town--but, as Spenser's about to learn, certainly one of the most dangerous.....
when marlene rowley hires spenser to follow her cheating husband,spenser finds not only a two-timing spouse,but another detective hired to shadow the wayward marlene.not the most trusting couple in town-but,as sopensers about to learn,certainly one of the most dangerous
When Spenser is hired by Marlene Rowley to follow her cheating husband, he finds another detective shadowing Marlene - not the most trusting couple and Spenser finds out one of the most dangerous.
Didn't read.
