Helpful Score: 1
I love Spenser's offhand remarks and his sense of adventure. He always wins, but not without a struggle.
Helpful Score: 1
"Parker's specialties are action, humor, and atmosphere and in Pale Kings and Princes, all three are ladled out in generous doses."
-NY Times
-NY Times
Spenser digs for evidence after the murder of a reporter who was prying into the cocaine trade in a Massachusetts town. Of course there will be more than one suspect - and more than one murder!
The 14th Spenser. In this one, Spenser (& Hawk, of course) go on the road to Wheaton, Massachusetts to solve a murder & break up a cocaine importing ring.
Each Spenser book leaves you looking forward to the next one!
Each Spenser book leaves you looking forward to the next one!
From Publisher's Weekly:
The murder of newspaper reporter Eric Valdez takes Spenser to Wheaton, Mass., where Valdez was investigating a Colombian cocaine operation. After a meeting with the police chief, Bailey Rogers, the detective is waylaid by thugs whom he beats handily. Spenser confirms his suspicions that a grocery wholesaler, Felipe Esteva, is dealing the drug and paying off the police. The next murder victim, however, is Rogers, whose young son drives a truck for Esteva. Spenser daringly hijacks a fortune in cocaine and offers to sell it to Esteva, as dangerous a ploy as the macho detective has ever attempted. When his only ally, a state trooper, is "reassigned," Spenser brings his lover Susan to help with psychological warfare and his sidekick Hawk to face Esteva's mob. Parker keeps the reader's adrenalin pumping overtime until Spenser and company claim the victory.
The murder of newspaper reporter Eric Valdez takes Spenser to Wheaton, Mass., where Valdez was investigating a Colombian cocaine operation. After a meeting with the police chief, Bailey Rogers, the detective is waylaid by thugs whom he beats handily. Spenser confirms his suspicions that a grocery wholesaler, Felipe Esteva, is dealing the drug and paying off the police. The next murder victim, however, is Rogers, whose young son drives a truck for Esteva. Spenser daringly hijacks a fortune in cocaine and offers to sell it to Esteva, as dangerous a ploy as the macho detective has ever attempted. When his only ally, a state trooper, is "reassigned," Spenser brings his lover Susan to help with psychological warfare and his sidekick Hawk to face Esteva's mob. Parker keeps the reader's adrenalin pumping overtime until Spenser and company claim the victory.
Spenser with the help of Hawk tangles with cocaine dealers. I like these characters and this book did not disappoint me.
Richard M. (algernon99) -
Excellent book in the Spenser series.
A suspense novel... 10 weeks on the NY Times bestseller list, and now I know why.
Lynda C. (Readnmachine) reviewed Pale Kings and Princes (Spenser, Bk 14) on + 1440 more book reviews
There are just some things you know you can count on. You know your driver's license photo will make you look like an axe-murderer. You know a dropped piece of toast will land jelly-side down. And you know that a Robert B. Parker Spenser novel will give you a solid read.
âPale Kings and Princes' is no different. Sent off to a small Massachusetts town to investigate the murder of a young reporter, Spenser quickly finds himself up to his neck in cocaine dealers, crooked cops, and people who aren't quite telling the truth. How he gets past the not quite part and deals out his own particular kind of justice forms the backbone of the story. The usual cast of characters is on hand, the usual wry dialogue is spoken, and satisfaction happens all around.
âPale Kings and Princes' is no different. Sent off to a small Massachusetts town to investigate the murder of a young reporter, Spenser quickly finds himself up to his neck in cocaine dealers, crooked cops, and people who aren't quite telling the truth. How he gets past the not quite part and deals out his own particular kind of justice forms the backbone of the story. The usual cast of characters is on hand, the usual wry dialogue is spoken, and satisfaction happens all around.
Maryann M. (maryannwrites) reviewed Pale Kings and Princes (Spenser, Bk 14) on + 50 more book reviews
Parker always creates a great story around his character Spenser, and puts intereting people around him.
This book helped me figure out why I read the Spenser series books. It isn't plots like this where our hero risks his life insulting a ring of cocaine distribtors and crooked cops. It isn't the interaction with colorful characters, clever deductions of motives, or his strength, toughness, or shooting skills.
What I enjoy is Spencer's glibness, sense of humor, literary knowledge and the repartee between him and his main squeeze, Susan, and his VBF, Hawk. They are at their best in this book. Always fresh and entertaining, often subtle and hysterical, and consistently able to liven up a plodding story line. Give it a read.
What I enjoy is Spencer's glibness, sense of humor, literary knowledge and the repartee between him and his main squeeze, Susan, and his VBF, Hawk. They are at their best in this book. Always fresh and entertaining, often subtle and hysterical, and consistently able to liven up a plodding story line. Give it a read.
The fourteenth Spenser novel. Spenser, Susan, Hawk, back for another adventure. It doesn't get any better!
A hotshot reporter is dead. He'd gone to take a look-see at "Miami North" -- little Wheaton, Massachusetts -- the biggest cocaine distribution center above the Mason-Dixon line.
Did the kid die for getting too close to the truth . . . or to a sweet lady with a jealous husband?
Spenser will stop at nothing to find out.
Did the kid die for getting too close to the truth . . . or to a sweet lady with a jealous husband?
Spenser will stop at nothing to find out.
Typical Parker novel. Good, easy summer read. Lots of twists and turns.
Part of the Spencer for Hire series. Spencer is called upon to investigate the murder of a reporter who went to Wheaton to do a story about cocaine being distributed through this small town. Spencer goes to Wheaton and starts asking questions, only to find out that even the police there might not be on his side. Spencer then calls in his back up, Hawk and girlfriend Susan to help him, along with a state trooper.
