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cwebb's review
4.0
By now it's good I read at least some of the books of this series, as there are many small references to previous books. None would make it impossible to understand what's going on, but they would definitely be spoilers.
So, I read this in a single day, and it was fun again, better than the last one I read. Pacing and humor were strong.
So, I read this in a single day, and it was fun again, better than the last one I read. Pacing and humor were strong.
stevem0214's review
5.0
I'd forgotten I'd read this one (if I have). Good solid Spenser story. In this novel, Susan asks Spenser to help out her Ex-husband who is a piece of work. Good story line with Hawk involved from the beginning (always a plus)!
thortoe's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
jurassicreader's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
scott_a_miller's review
5.0
These books just keep getting better. I did think I would, but I like Spenser better than Stone, who I read first by Parker. Stone is damaged. The evolution of Spenser, Hawk and Susan just keeps getting better too. What a great series. I’m going to have to mix in Sunny Randall soon.
brianlokker's review
4.0
Sudden Mischief is a pretty good entry in the Spenser series. Spenser is his usual irreverent and witty self, even in his internal monologues. (“I swiveled my chair around and put my feet up and looked out my window. It was a lovely December day, brisk and sunny. Unfortunately, it was the first week of April.”) And Hawk and Spenser work together a lot, which gives them the opportunity to continue their bromance—one of my favorite aspects of the series.
The plot is entertaining and it moves along well. Spenser is investigating a sexual harassment claim on behalf of the defendant, and he’s having a hard time getting a handle on it. For starters, although he’s “almost sure” he opposes sexual harassment, he’s not sure exactly what sexual harassment is. Second, no one will talk to him about what allegedly happened. Third, his client, the defendant, acts like the case is no big deal and he’s not even slightly concerned about it.
Fourth, and most significantly, his client is Susan Silverman’s ex-husband Brad Sterling (who changed his name from Silverman after their divorce), and Spenser took the case as a favor to Susan. This means, of course, that Spenser and Susan must discuss their relationship and Susan’s past frequently and at great length, which as always raises a red flag for me. However, I will admit that it’s interesting and instructive to learn more about Susan’s past, given the often regrettable but undeniable fact that she is a main character throughout the series. And as she did in Chance, Susan plays an active role in helping Spenser thwart an attack by a couple of thugs.
Spenser takes a few opportunities to poke fun at himself and his skills as a detective. At one point, Spenser and Hawk discuss the case: “‘Do you know what’s going on?’ I said. ‘Almost never,’ Hawk said. ‘Good. I was thinking you could help me not know what’s going on.’ ‘You going good on your own,’ Hawk said.” A bit later, Spenser thinks he may have made some progress: “This might be a clue, though I hadn’t seen one for so long, I wasn’t sure.”
But my favorite of Spenser’s self-deprecating remarks is this allusion to Pirates of Penzance: “Except for the fact that I had absolutely no idea what I was doing, I was the very model of a modern major shamus.” Witty moments like that keep me reading the Spenser series and recommending the books to fans of the detective genre.
The plot is entertaining and it moves along well. Spenser is investigating a sexual harassment claim on behalf of the defendant, and he’s having a hard time getting a handle on it. For starters, although he’s “almost sure” he opposes sexual harassment, he’s not sure exactly what sexual harassment is. Second, no one will talk to him about what allegedly happened. Third, his client, the defendant, acts like the case is no big deal and he’s not even slightly concerned about it.
Fourth, and most significantly, his client is Susan Silverman’s ex-husband Brad Sterling (who changed his name from Silverman after their divorce), and Spenser took the case as a favor to Susan. This means, of course, that Spenser and Susan must discuss their relationship and Susan’s past frequently and at great length, which as always raises a red flag for me. However, I will admit that it’s interesting and instructive to learn more about Susan’s past, given the often regrettable but undeniable fact that she is a main character throughout the series. And as she did in Chance, Susan plays an active role in helping Spenser thwart an attack by a couple of thugs.
Spenser takes a few opportunities to poke fun at himself and his skills as a detective. At one point, Spenser and Hawk discuss the case: “‘Do you know what’s going on?’ I said. ‘Almost never,’ Hawk said. ‘Good. I was thinking you could help me not know what’s going on.’ ‘You going good on your own,’ Hawk said.” A bit later, Spenser thinks he may have made some progress: “This might be a clue, though I hadn’t seen one for so long, I wasn’t sure.”
But my favorite of Spenser’s self-deprecating remarks is this allusion to Pirates of Penzance: “Except for the fact that I had absolutely no idea what I was doing, I was the very model of a modern major shamus.” Witty moments like that keep me reading the Spenser series and recommending the books to fans of the detective genre.
cheriekg's review
3.0
Surprisingly, I didn't hate it as much as I usually hate a Susan-focused Spenser. Am I softening towards the world's most annoying character? Or is Parker managing to make her more than her fussy outfits and disordered eating?
avrbookstuff's review
5.0
I've been having a lot of trouble getting my head into any new reads except trashy crime, including these re-reads. I don't know where all this spare time people keep mentioning is coming from!