It pains me to do this but this was my least favorite Spenser book ever. I finished it but I was not happy with it. ( )

A valuable painting is stolen and a ransom asked for so Spenser is hired to accompany the art professor who is to deliver the money. As the professor is returning with the painting under his arm, he and the painting are blown up by an explosion. Now Spenser feels he is committed to finding the killers since he failed to protect the art scholar, Dr. Ashton Prince, and the valuable painting, Lady with a Finch.

The usual repartee one expects in a Spenser novel provides the humour plus a fast moving plot with twists and turns to keep you reading and entertained. ( )

I was excited to stumble across a new Spenser novel last week!
This was finished the year before Robert Parker passed away.
It's classic Spenser. I enjoyed it a lot. Hawk was not in it but
everyone else was. Hopefully Hawk will be back in the last Spenser
book (?) which is due out next May. ( )

First edition very fine

Every once in a while I like to read a Spenser book, just because he's such a great character and such fun to read (especially if you love hard-boiled detectives, as I do). This one does not disappoint, although knowing that it's the last one is a bit bittersweet. Definitely recommended if you enjoy this genre. ( )