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duparker's review
4.0
Much better than this sort of story has to be. The rhythm and flow was on target in the general gist of the plot, while not really original, was enjoyable. It's good to see some older characters get wrapped up. It is curious how long this series can last.
papidoc's review
4.0
IMO, Ace Atkins does the best impersonation of Robert B. Parker of those who have tried. Still not the same, but definitely satisfactory. Nine additions to the Spenser series, and counting.
abibliofob's review
5.0
Sigh, this is the last Spenser! At least by Ace Atkins, this great detective once created by the fantastic Robert B. Parker. I will miss this annual visit to Boston but it's been a good run and I think Spenser deserves to retire. Thankfully Sunny Randall is still active. Atkins has done a great job of keeping this character alive but I prefer his Quinn Colson. As usual this book is well written and we get to meet some of our favorite friends of Spenser. I must thank@this_is_edelweiss #GPPutamsSons and @penguinrandomhouse for giving me this advance copy and of course a big thanks to @aceatkins for writing these books. Highly recommended.
csdaley's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
annieb123's review
5.0
Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
Robert B. Parker's Bye Bye Baby is the 49th Spenser novel, and the 10th (by my count) written by Ace Atkins after Mr. Parker's death. Released 18th Jan 2022 by Penguin Random House on their G.P. Putnam's Sons imprint, it's 320 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats.
I've been in love with this series since book 1 (The Godwulf Manuscript) and I was really sad when the author passed, thinking that I would have to confine myself to re-reads to get my Spenser/Hawk fix. I was nervous about someone else taking over the writing, but have been really impressed and happy with all the newest books in the series. This has been a pillar series for me, especially in the last couple of years of madness with the pandemic and all of the misery and unhappiness and stress in the world, this series has been a treasured escape.
I have been revisiting the original books (by Parker himself) as well as the posthumous books and they keep growing on me. I love the banter and the way the established characters really live and breathe. Yes, they're popular fiction, but I'll stand up in any graduate English lecture class and rebut the sneering label "light popular fiction" with the fact that they're really superbly well written. They go to the same shelf in the internal library in my brain as John D. MacDonald and Rex Stout - popular fiction, yes, but also satisfyingly rendered and worthwhile.
It's a solidly written PI murder mystery with an indelible American flavor. Boston's local atmosphere and settings are a vital part of the book. I love Spenser's relationship with Susan (smart, funny, capable, and real) and the interplay between Spenser and his compatriots. I loved the sarcastic wit and real humor and repartee in the dialogue. I'm obviously a solid fan of this series, and my opinion wasn't dented one tiny bit by this latest adventure. Ace Atkins isn't Robert B. Parker, but he's pretty darned close.
Five stars for fans of the series. Probably four to five for new readers who enjoy gritty American PI adventures. For readers unfamiliar with the series, grab them as you can find them. They all work perfectly well as standalones.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Robert B. Parker's Bye Bye Baby is the 49th Spenser novel, and the 10th (by my count) written by Ace Atkins after Mr. Parker's death. Released 18th Jan 2022 by Penguin Random House on their G.P. Putnam's Sons imprint, it's 320 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats.
I've been in love with this series since book 1 (The Godwulf Manuscript) and I was really sad when the author passed, thinking that I would have to confine myself to re-reads to get my Spenser/Hawk fix. I was nervous about someone else taking over the writing, but have been really impressed and happy with all the newest books in the series. This has been a pillar series for me, especially in the last couple of years of madness with the pandemic and all of the misery and unhappiness and stress in the world, this series has been a treasured escape.
I have been revisiting the original books (by Parker himself) as well as the posthumous books and they keep growing on me. I love the banter and the way the established characters really live and breathe. Yes, they're popular fiction, but I'll stand up in any graduate English lecture class and rebut the sneering label "light popular fiction" with the fact that they're really superbly well written. They go to the same shelf in the internal library in my brain as John D. MacDonald and Rex Stout - popular fiction, yes, but also satisfyingly rendered and worthwhile.
It's a solidly written PI murder mystery with an indelible American flavor. Boston's local atmosphere and settings are a vital part of the book. I love Spenser's relationship with Susan (smart, funny, capable, and real) and the interplay between Spenser and his compatriots. I loved the sarcastic wit and real humor and repartee in the dialogue. I'm obviously a solid fan of this series, and my opinion wasn't dented one tiny bit by this latest adventure. Ace Atkins isn't Robert B. Parker, but he's pretty darned close.
Five stars for fans of the series. Probably four to five for new readers who enjoy gritty American PI adventures. For readers unfamiliar with the series, grab them as you can find them. They all work perfectly well as standalones.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
rdpulfer's review
4.0
Bye Bye Baby is a dependable Ace Atkins yarn, which sees Spenser and company tasked with projecting a candidate from death threats. The plot itself doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it doesn't have to in order to be a enjoyable mystery romp. There's also some interesting developments for Hawk as well, but if there's one complaint, it's that these seem to be pushed to the background (or more likely, saved for a future book). Either way, it's a fun read and a good entry into the Spenser canon.
azrian's review
adventurous
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
njhokie14's review
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
nonna7's review
4.0
In this book Spenser is asked to provide security for a member of congress who is running against a former member of congress in the primary. Carolina is everything that the white male establishment despises: a woman with an agenda who is black AND Hispanic. The congresswoman and her staff thinks the threats are just a scattered group of crazies but they are more organized than she and her staff realize. They are also much more lethal as they make contact with criminals to further their agenda. This book brings back Hawk (with a surprise ending that, hopefully, will become the next Spenser novel) and Zebulon Sixkill, a former protege of Spenser and Hawk now working in LA.
I really enjoyed this one and learned recently that Ace Atkins will no longer be writing the Spenser books. It's too bad because he captures the character well. This is an easy, breezy read which is a good thing because I'm tackling the next Inspector Lynley and it's nearly 700 pages long.
I really enjoyed this one and learned recently that Ace Atkins will no longer be writing the Spenser books. It's too bad because he captures the character well. This is an easy, breezy read which is a good thing because I'm tackling the next Inspector Lynley and it's nearly 700 pages long.