Robert Parker's Spenser novels rarely disappoint, but Hush Money is truly a standout! Spenser and Hawk are hired to deal with a dispute over tenure at the local university--not their usual milieu, but Parker handles the insertion of his hard-boiled private eye and the mysterious enforcer, Hawk, into the halls of academe with the sometimes brash, sometimes tongue-in cheek dialogue and action that keep Spenser fans coming back for more. It is a pleasure to watch Parker weave the disparate strands of hidden motives and intentional misdirection into a cohesive, believable, quirky, and satisfying conclusion. Hush Money also gives Spenser's long-time love interest, Susan, an opportunity to show her mettle when her relationship with Spenser is threatened by a woman she thought was a friend. Hush Money is so appealing because Parker has created characters who are likeable and human, yet are able to say the right thing, do the right thing, and throw the right punch every time.



Recommended: Yes