In honor of one of my favorite authors, I wish to promote the Spenser series of books by Robert B. Parker for any of you who may be looking for some wise-cracking, hard-hitting, socialogically-delving, private eye mysteries.
Parker's Spenser character was his Boston version of the classic private-eye, specifically paying tribute to Raymond Chandler and his PI, Philip Marlowe. He began writing his first novel in 1971, the same year he completed his PhD, his dissertation being based on the fictional exploits of such characters as created by Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler, and Ross Macdonald.
Robert B. Parker died of a sudden heart attack on Monday afternoon, January 18, at his desk in his home in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He was 77 years old.
To date, there are 37 Spenser novels (and one new Young Spenser novel), full of testosterone, action, love, and angst; 9 Jesse Stone novels (9th one coming in February) full of less action but more human experience; 6 Sunny Randall novels, a female version of Spenser, very enjoyable with less testosterone; and a myriad of other books, including some Westerns (Appaloosa was made into a movie recently).
Whether it's your cup of tea or not, I mourn the loss of an author who was a true master of his craft. R.I.P. Robert...I'll crack a bottle of Iron Horse in your memory tonight!
