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Spenser is back. This is the 25th book in the Spenser series and, like his ageless hero, Robert B. Parker shows no sign of growing old. But after so many books, one must ask whether a character can remain fresh in the minds of his readers. On the heels of one of the better books in the series, SMALL VICES, one can't help but think that fortunately, yes he can.
Parker continues to write witty, fresh dialogue. There is a comfortable ease in the interplay between Spenser and Hawk. Parker makes this installment even fresher by focusing attention on Spenser's girlfriend, Susan Silverman. A skeleton in the form of an ex-husband, Brad Sterling, crawls out of the closet and a past that Susan would rather forget comes rushing into plain view.
Brad finds himself in a fix --- he's being sued for sexual harrassment --- and he comes to his ex-wife for help. Susan asks Spenser to look into it. But Spenser finds Sterling uncooperative and some unsettling truths begin to emerge in the midst of Spenser's investigation when two bodies show up and Brad disappears.
A charitable fundraiser, unrealized monies, and the none-too-surprising presence of the mob are all part of a plot that plays second-fiddle to what's happening between Spenser and Susan. Parker has always been good at shining a light into the dark recesses and the psychological motivations of his characters. In SUDDEN MISCHIEF, Susan must face some hard truths about her attraction to Spenser, to the other men in her life, and about her relationship with her father.
Although he plays a very minor role, Hawk's presence here is one of the bright spots. Hawk and Spenser, in their rather macho, politically incorrect way, are always a source of entertainment and provide some much needed levity to offset the rest of this dark story.
There can be some danger in shifting the focus of a long-running series. Move too far away and an author can alienate his audience. Fail to play a new card or two and predictability results. What emerges in SUDDEN MISCHIEF is a Spenser book that rates neither with the best or worst of the series. The action here is more cerebral than physical. Parker's agile use of his writer's scalpel to peel back the layers of familiarity exposes a deeper side of his characters. This time out, those little slices hurt so good.
---Reviewed by Vern Wiessner
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