Reviews

Bad Business

By Robert B. Parker
G.P. Putnam's Sons
Reviewed by: Kevin Tipple


As his legions of fans know, author Robert B. Parker does not provide novels with deep complicated characters or byzantine plots. What he does provide, especially in the Spenser series novels, are books where good is clearly good, bad is very bad and gray simply, for the most part, does not exist. The characters are shallow, the women are usually attracted to Spenser but he will resist mightily their advances because of his love for Susan, and Hawk will be there with style to provide needed muscle on occasion. In short, it is a formula that has worked for years and his latest novel, Bad Business, follows the formula making it another lightweight though entertaining read.

This time around the initial beautiful woman near tears in Spenser's office is Marlene Cowley. She wants to hire Spenser to investigate her husband, Trent Cowley. She is convinced he is cheating on her and wants proof that will humiliate and destroy him in open court. Spenser reluctantly agrees as he does not care for this type of case and such proof isn't required in the courts of today.

Before long, Spenser discovers that his client has a tail of her own. Apparently Trent shares the same concerns and has hired another investigator to follow her. The two investigators--as a matter of professional courtesy-- acknowledge each other's case, but neither can explain why there soon appears to be yet another investigator involved. Spenser begins looking at that angle and before he can get very far, the deaths begin. The other two investigators soon vanish and Spenser is left working a case that grows stranger by the day.

The reader is left with a shallow but entertaining read as Spenser delves into the world of corporate finance. Hawk is his usual self, Susan is beautiful and as always, offers insightful advice when needed, and Pearl the wonder dog is the subject of many asides. In short, this is the usual Spenser with no surprises and no new ground is covered. At 310 pages, the novel is a fast read and by the end, all is right with the world once again. Who could ask for more?




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