Bonus Content
Exclusive Mystery Guild Interview with Robert B. Parker A note from the Author:
"First, the disclaimer: I do not have a plan. I do not know what the next chapter in my current book will be, let alone what I'll do in some future book, so read my answers in that context... I never said I had foresight. Joan has not said that of me, either."
-Robert B. Parker
Q
In your latest book, Spenser and Susan seem to be as strong as ever. You've discussed marriage for them in the past. Do you think they will ever tie the knot?
A
I doubt that they will ever marry. They are the kind of people whom you'd expect it of, but somehow it doesn't seem quite proper, at the moment, anyway. They tried living together in DOUBLE DEUCE, and the conflicting force of their equal and individual autonomy made that arrangement not really workable. They seem to have found a way to love each other and be together with out quite being submerged in each other.
Q
Do you plan on ever having Hawk find a "Susan," someone to lean on? He came close with Cecile in COLD SERVICE, will she return?
A
Hawk doesn't lean on anyone, and is quite unlikely to start. Cecile, aside from her value to the plot of COLD SERVICE, was also a way of assessing whether Hawk was capable of a Susan. He, at least, concluded that he is not. From my perspective, again, it doesn't seem to work.
Q
In THE PROFESSIONAL, we meet a new character, Zell, who seems to fall under the same code of ethics some of Spenser's other acquaintances possess. Will he, like Chollo and Teddy Sapp, appear again?
A
Zell will reappear if there's an occasion for him to do so (see disclaimer above). I never create a character for future use, but if they're around in the future and a use for them develops, I re-employ them. Thus Vinnie, Chollo, Bobby Horse, Teddy Sapp, Tony Marcus, etc. were all created ad hoc (as was Hawk in PROMISED LAND) and come and go as they are needed. Their loyalty to Spenser is, of course, a way of reminding the reader how compelling Spenser is.
Q
Will Spenser ever meet your two other characters, Jesse Stone or Sunny Randall? Speaking of Sunny Randall, will there be a new book in that series?
A
Spenser and Hawk have briefly met Jesse Stone in BACK STORY and Sunny Randall receives ongoing psychotherapy from Susan Silverman. Sunny is now appearing with some regularity in the Jesse Stone novels, as Jesse's main squeeze. I don't know what the future holds. I think it is particularly interesting to see Susan through the eyes of an intelligent and admiring patient. It does for Susan what I think Vinnie and Chollo et al do for Spenser (see #3 above).
Q
You've started exploring Spenser's past with the Young Spenser series-do you think you will ever do a Young Hawk book? His childhood experiences would be fascinating to learn.
A
I don't know enough about Hawk, including his childhood, to do a standalone Hawk book. He works best when seen through Spenser's eyes, as he was in HUSH MONEY, where we do learn something about his early years.
Q
Will Paul Giacomin ever provide Spenser and Susan with a grandchild?
A
I doubt that we will encounter Spenser or Susan as a grandparent. They are ageless and I would prefer to keep them so. Although if I become a grandparent (despite my obvious youth), I may change my mind.
Excerpt from The Professional
I had just finished a job for an interesting woman named Nan Sartin, and was happily making out my bill to her, when a woman came in who promised to be equally interesting.
It was a bright October morning when she walked into my office carrying a briefcase. She was a big woman, not fat, but strong- looking and very graceful. Her hair was silver, and her face was young enough to make me assume that the silver was premature. She was wearing a dark blue suit with a long jacket and a short skirt.
I said, "Hello."
She said, "My name is Elizabeth Shaw. Please call me Elizabeth. I'm an attorney, and I represent a group of women who need your help."
She took a business card from her briefcase and placed it on my desk. It said she was a partner in the law firm Shaw and Cartwright, and that they had offices on Milk Street.
I said, "Okay."
"You are Spenser," she said.
"I am he," I said.
"I specialize in wills and trusts," she said. "I know little about criminal law."
I nodded.
"But I went to law school with Rita Fiore," she said.
So the silver hair was premature.
"Ahh," I said.
She smiled.
"Ahh, indeed," she said. "So I told Rita my story, and she suggested I tell it to you."
"Please do," I said.
Elizabeth Shaw looked at the large picture of Susan that sat on my file drawer near the coffeemaker.
"Is that your wife?" she said.
"Sort of," I said.
"How can she be 'sort of'?" Elizabeth said.
"We're not married," I said.
"But?"
"But we've been together a considerable time," I said.
"And you love her," Elizabeth said.
"I do."
"And she loves you."
"She does."
"Then why don't you get married?" Elizabeth said.
"I don't know," I said.
She stared at me. I smiled pleasantly. She frowned a little.
"Was there anything else?" I said.
She smiled suddenly. It was a good look for her.
"I'm sorry," she said. "I guess I was trying to find out a little about your attitude toward women and marriage."
"I try to develop my attitudes on a case- by- case basis," I said.
She nodded, thinking about it.
"Rita says there's no one better if the going gets rough."
"Uh- huh."
"How about if the going isn't rough?" Elizabeth said.
"There's still no one better," I said.
"Rita mentioned that you didn't lack for confidence."
"Would you want someone who did?" I said.
I must have passed some kind of initial screening. She shifted in her chair slightly.
"Everything I tell you," she said, "must, of course, remain entirely confidential."
"Sure."
She looked at Susan's picture again.
"That's a very beautiful woman," she said.
"She is," I said.
She shifted again in her chair.
"I have a client, a woman, married, with a substantial trust fund, given to her by her husband as a wedding present. We manage the trust for her, and over the years she and I have become friendly."
"He gave her a trust fund for a present?"
Elizabeth smiled.
"The rich are very different," she said.
"Yes," I said. "They have more money."
"Well," she said. "A literate detective."
"But self- effacing."
She smiled again.
Copyright is (c) 2009 by Robert B. Parker
The Professional
Abigail Larson, Beth Jackson, Regina Hartley and Nancy Sinclair belong to a very exclusive club: over the years they’ve all been seduced, exploited and abandoned by a man named Gary Eisenhower. Now, claiming he has proof positive of each affair, he’s threatening to expose them to their very wealthy older husbands—and the world—if they don’t pay him off. At the women’s behest, their lawyer hires Spenser to make him stop, without causing a stir.
Looking for a pattern, Spenser finds that all four women met Gary at a health club called Pinnacle Fitness. And that’s when things get interesting. First two goons show up, muscle for their boss, Chet Jackson—Beth’s husband. Then Spenser meets with Gary himself, a real cool character who doesn’t scare easily. Gary brags that he likes a lot of action with a wide variety of women…and it seems not all of them are rich. Susan, Spenser’s longtime love, suspects that Gary’s getting something more out of the deal besides sex and money. And when bodies start turning up, Spenser knows she's on to something....
With lean, muscular prose and sparkling wit, The Professional is further proof that Robert B. Parker is in a crime writer’s class all his own.
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Putnam Pub Group/Member Penguin Putnam ( October 05, 2009 )
Item #: 45-4343
ISBN: 9780399155949
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 8.25 x 0.73 inches
Product Weight: 12.0 ounces
Enjoyable
June 27, 2010
This was my first Parker mystery and based on what I've read about his books in other reviews, I was a bit disappointed. The story was slow moving as a mystery although it held together when the book finally came to an end. However, I liked the writing and enjoyed the characters, especially Spenser. Definitely, I will read more Parker books, as long as there's more action than in this one.
Reviewer: Sara
Not his best
March 22, 2010
I have read all of the Spencer novels and have enjoyed every one of
them. However, sadly, since this is the last one he wrote before he died,
The Professional is not one of the better ones. The humor seemed forced,
and the plotting was somewhat weak. Still, any Spencer book is worth
reading, and I will miss him.
Reviewer: Maria B
Parkers Books
February 21, 2010
Have read Robert B. Parker for long long time, before I realized it because I really enjoy his writings. Quick reads, entertaining & suspensefull, I will miss im. Mr. Parker thanks for all the great readings.
Reviewer: Bev
February 03, 2010
all of parkers books are really quick reads. I have enjoyed all of them. Alot made into movies takes a little away of the story so people dont buy the book. I personnally like the books better. I will miss his writings.
Reviewer: bev
I Love Reading Parker (He Will Be Missed)
January 25, 2010
Sadly, this is the last Spenser book! At least Parker still had it up until the end. I couldn't put the book down - as usual with Parker books. I definitely recommend.
Reviewer: Justin L
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