Playmates

Boston private eye Spenser returns to investigate rumored cheating by Taft University's star basketball team in Parker's 19th novel, reported PW . Although enjoyable as Spenser tales always are, this resembles a long short story rather than a fully developed, substantive novel. (Mar.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

With characteristic acerbic wit and impudent independence, Spenser tackles a case of alleged point shaving by Dwayne Woodcock, a famed black forward on the Taft University basketball team. Spenser discovers the truth of the allegation and ties to a New York mobster, but, because of Woodcock's illiteracy and sensible girlfriend, decides to save Woodcock's career if he can. The solution works itself out all too easily, even for Spenser; however, Parker's compressed prose, recognizable regulars, and no-nonsense action will satisfy his followers.-- REK (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Which came first--the ""Spenser"" TV series or the Spenser novels that read like run-of-the-mill television scripts? In any case, this 16th outing for the Boston shamus is easy-reading, low-level fare, with virtually no mystery and very little suspense. Hired by Taft U. to check out nasty rumors about the university's ace basketball team, Spenser is soon convinced that team star Dwayne Woodcock has indeed been ""point shaving."" Moreover, Dwayne--from a Brooklyn ghetto--is an illiterate who's been faking his way through college, with tacit cooperation (or worse) from the faculty. So Spenser wants to help the kid learn how to read, and how to get free from his gambler-cronies. But Dwayne resists all such noble efforts--even after he's been benched, even after his girlfriend aligns herself with Spenser. And there'll be some violent encounters between the bad guys (a gambler-thug and his moll) and the good guys (Spenser, girlfriend Susan, sidekick Hawk) before the vaguely upbeat fade-out. Thinly plotted, including one highly extraneous murder--but fast, breezy, and with enough of the usual trimmings (fancy cooking, smart one-liners, tough-guy preening) to please undemanding fans. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

With characteristic acerbic wit and impudent independence, Spenser tackles a case of alleged point shaving by Dwayne Woodcock, a famed black forward on the Taft University basketball team. Spenser discovers the truth of the allegation and ties to a New York mobster, but, because of Woodcock's illiteracy and sensible girlfriend, decides to save Woodcock's career if he can. The solution works itself out all too easily, even for Spenser; however, Parker's compressed prose, recognizable regulars, and no-nonsense action will satisfy his followers.-- REK Copyright 1989 Cahners Business Information.

Boston private eye Spenser returns to investigate rumored cheating by Taft University's star basketball team in Parker's 19th novel, reported PW . Although enjoyable as Spenser tales always are, this resembles a long short story rather than a fully developed, substantive novel. (Mar.) Copyright 1990 Cahners Business Information.

Boston private eye Spenser returns to investigate rumored cheating by Taft University's star basketball team in Parker's 19th novel. The challenges of the case at first seem straightforward: when Bobby Deegan, representing mob gangsters, strongly advises the detective to stop snooping, Spenser and his equally intrepid sidekick, Hawk, simply do in Deegan's hired guns. But a trickier moral dilemma then presents itself, and Spenser asks his lover, psychiatrist Susan Silverman, to help him resolve it. Evidence of point-shaving by Dwayne Woodcock, Taft's power forward, threatens the fragile future of this talented black student trying to rise from the slums. Finding that Woodcock has been passed all the way to senior grade, without ever learning to read, Spenser redoubles his efforts to serve justice and mercy both. 150,000 first printing; $150,000 ad/promo; Literary Guild, Mystery Guild and Doubleday Book Club. (May) Copyright 1989 Cahners Business Information.