Hush Money (Spenser Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

by Robert B. Parker (Author) "Outside my window a mixture of rain and snow was settling into slush on Berkeley Street..." (more)
Key Phrases: department tenure committee, horn rims, Robinson Nevins, Prentice Lamont, Amir Abdullah (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Twenty-five years and 26 books into the Spenser series, Hush Money dishes up another solid installment that is sure to fulfill the cravings of Parker fans new and old. This time Spenser and his buddy Hawk are helping a couple of troubled friends (i.e., they're working without a fee). The first case involves the denial of tenure for Professor Robinson Nevins. While tenure meetings are always closed-door affairs, Nevins assumes that the recent suicide of graduate student Prentice Lamont (who some claim was having an affair with Nevins) ruined his chances for a coveted permanent position. Spenser and Hawk cut a brawl-strewn path through the members of the tenure committee on their way to the surprising truth of the Nevins case. The other investigation pits Spenser against the unknown stalker of K.C. Roth. Spenser's girlfriend, Susan, has known K.C. for a while, and while the PI finds Ms. Roth a bit melodramatic, he's always eager to help a damsel in distress. The only problem is that after he's apparently resolved the case, K.C. begins a little stalking of her own--of Spenser.

The book is driven by the controversies surrounding political correctness that Parker always loves to confront, and it's fun to watch Spenser struggle (a little) to resist K.C.'s advances. It's also a (slightly disturbed) pleasure to see Spenser and Hawk address some academic hypocrisy with their own special brand of reasoning. Not a mystery for the cozy-loving palette, Hush Money's literate, tough-guy dialogue shows why Parker is the rightful heir to the throne of Chandler. --Patrick O'Kelley --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly
Despite his quarter century on Boston's mean streets (he debuted in The Godwulf Manuscript in 1974), Parker's retrograde yet hip PI Spenser can still punch, sleuth and wisecrack with the best of them. This time out, Spenser looks into the case of Robinson Nevins, a conservative African-American professor denied tenure, perhaps for his alleged affair with a male student, Prentice Lamont, who has committed suicide. Spenser's hard-eyed stroll through the cloistered world of academia brings him into contact with Amir Abdullah, a black professor who is theatrically militant about African-American issues despite a long list of sexual conquests that includes the leader of a white supremacist organization. Sexual conquest is also on the mind of K.C. Roth, a pretty woman beset by insecurity and prey to a stalker. When Spenser and his sidekick, Hawk, persuade her sinister admirer to desist, K.C.'s fragile emotions lead her to fall hard for Spenser, and the stalked becomes the stalker. Naturally, Spenser's longtime lover, Susan, is less than amused. Readers who find the Spenser chronicles cute or contrived probably won't change their minds with this entry. Beyond dispute, however, is Parker's reliably gossamer narrative touch and, in this particular instance, his skilled brewing of suspense within the academic setting. Fans will also enjoy unexpected revelations about Hawk's background, Spenser's serving of justice with a vengeance and, as usual, prose that's as clean as a sea breeze.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Berkley (April 10, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425174018
• ISBN-13: 978-0425174012
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 4.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (76 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #139,570 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

• This is item 26 in The Spenser Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly good, January 21, 2000

By	Ray Salemi (Framingham, MA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Hush Money (Hardcover)

I had avoided reading Hush Money for many months because I feel that Parker has been coasting for many years. I have been getting tired of the basic plot of the invincible Spenser and his trusty sidekick Hawk bashing their way through mysteries.

Hush Money reminded me of how much I enjoy Parker's writing. His characters are fun to listen to, and his descriptions are very funny -- I laughed out loud many times.

Overall, I'd recommend the paperback version of this book. It's a quick, enjoyable read.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Wait for paperback, December 27, 1999

By	Strudel Doodle - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hush Money (Hardcover)

In Sudden Mischief, Parker started to erode his historical credibility. Susan's first husband, who a couple of books before had given her Pearl when he left for London, reappears. Unfortunately, now he hasn't seen Susan in 20 years, and his relationship with the dog has been forgotten. Also, Parker changes his mind on whether Giacomin's dad is still sending him money or not. This trend gets worse in Hush Money. Spenser should be about 65, and the same age as Hawk. However, we find out that Hawk is about 3 years older than a forty year old. This would be fine, if Parker decided to just go the Kinsey Mahone or Hercule Poirot route, which he would have to do soon anyway if he wanted Spenser to keep beating people up. But, the inconsistencies are worse; for example, his car blows up, and soon reappears. In addition, there are many awkward plot twists, and several times when credibility becomes an issue. Overall, this reads like a first draft. Parker fans will still want to read it- but at least avoid the hardback costs.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book but could use a little more violence and gun play, May 18, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Hush Money (Hardcover)

"Hush Money" is one of the best "Spenser" novels in years. Not THE best only because it probably could use a little more violence and gun play. SPOILER: Spenser and Hawk beat up only four people. And they don't even shoot anyone!

You think maybe they're getting old? Nah!

But seriously, "Hush Money" is Robert Parker at his finest. Spenser is at his wise-cracking, one-liner best and Hawk is; well, he is Hawk. Audacious, inscruptible, redoubtable Hawk. Plus, we get a glimpse into Hawk's early life, before he met Spenser.

And as another bonus, near the end, we get to see another side of Susan. I never liked her more. But don't skip to the final pages, it will spoil the fun.

If you are a "Spenser" fan, you'll enjoy this book. If, however, you are a politically-correct liberal (or from San Francisco, same thing), you'll probably hate it. As a personal side note, I am a fairly conservative African-American - no Buchanan-lover by any means (pun intended for those who've read the book) but defintely neither liberal nor politically correct - and I can testify to the self-righteous hypocrisy and racism of the liberal White academics to Robinson Nevins. It is almost as if Robert Parker was privy to some of the conversations I've had in academia.

"Hush Money" is an excellent book; on many levels.