Reviews

Ceremony by Robert B. Parker

cmcahill's review

3.0

Spenser and Hawk help Susan Silverman break up a child prostitution ring that involves politicians at the highest level and those responsible for education in the state. The title comes from a Yeats quote
"The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned..."

jurassicreader's review

funny mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

cwebb's review

3.0

Short but fun read. Some things are left open which maybe would have been explored in later Spenser books.

janetval's review

mysterious tense medium-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? No

5.0

penstarling's review

3.0

There's been a rightful uproar in Romancelandia this past week over someone categorizing a book about a 15yo girl and 35yo man in a coerced sexual relationship as Romance. Ceremony is a book that also deals with adult men having sexual relations with 15yo girls. But Ceremony calls the men 'baby rapers' and does what it can to save the girls. Or at least limit their exploitation. I think in this day and age a lot of people would find the conclusion of this story at the very least unsettling if not out right wrong. But I think for a story from 1982 it's somewhat revolutionary in recognizing that family isn't always the place for some kids and that social services can easily fail the same kids. Some times all you can do is try and mitigate the damage to kids who are already fucked over and would run away from home or foster care. It isn't a perfect solution. April Kyle doesn't get the same satisfying ending that Paul got in Parker's Early Autumn. But it is, in my view, a realistic look at life for some teenagers, and does what it can to help one who might otherwise be entirely lost.

michaelrswanson's review

3.0

Another solid entry in the Spenser series. The subject matter and how it is managed may be offensive to today's audiences.

riabi's review

5.0

This is a short book in a series of short novels. But, I think this was good. Sometimes Parker's books get a bit mired down in page-long descriptions of what people are wearing and/or eating. This one had less of that and more of the actual story. And, Spenser was still as snarky as ever! :)

davidpaige's review

3.0

There is a great fight scene near the end of this book.

depreydeprey's review

3.0

April Kyle is not a terribly compelling character but this book probably has the best fight scene of any of the Spenser novels when Spenser and Hawk beat up nearly every participant of a drug fueled orgy over the course of five pages. Next to that the book is a bit of a let down.

northstar's review against another edition

3.0

Standard Spenser novel--nothing remarkable, but a fun and quick read for fans of the series.