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A review by brianlokker
Stardust by Robert B. Parker
4.0
Stardust, the seventeenth book in the Spenser series, is one of the strongest entries among the first seventeen.
Spenser is hired by a TV production company to protect its most valuable star, the beautiful and sexy Jill Joyce, who is filming her series in Boston. Jill claims she is being harassed by a man, but she can't or won't provide any details. Jill drinks too much and apparently comes on to any man she meets, with Spenser being no exception. Although Spenser finds her difficult to deal with, he recognizes that her fear is real, and he is determined to help her. Ultimately he enlists Hawk's help to guard Jill while he tries to find out who is harassing her. His investigation leads him to uncover secrets from Jill's past that she has long tried to bury.
Stardust features lots of philosophizing and sardonic self-reflection by Spenser, along with the requisite tough-guy banter between Spenser and the cops, the clients, and some other tough guys. Spenser also reveals his sensitive side when dealing with a man to whom life hasn't been kind. There's some of the usual romance with Susan, but thankfully it's not quite as cloying as it often is. Hawk isn't involved quite as much as I'd like, but his scenes are stellar, as they always are.
Spenser excels when his task is to rescue or protect someone who's a lost soul. Jill Joyce doesn't initially seem to fit the bill, but as Spenser learns more about her, his—and the reader's—sympathy for her is fully engaged. In the end, Spenser's plan to save Jill connects this book with Early Autumn, the seventh book in the series. It's probably no coincidence that that is one of my favorites too.
Spenser is hired by a TV production company to protect its most valuable star, the beautiful and sexy Jill Joyce, who is filming her series in Boston. Jill claims she is being harassed by a man, but she can't or won't provide any details. Jill drinks too much and apparently comes on to any man she meets, with Spenser being no exception. Although Spenser finds her difficult to deal with, he recognizes that her fear is real, and he is determined to help her. Ultimately he enlists Hawk's help to guard Jill while he tries to find out who is harassing her. His investigation leads him to uncover secrets from Jill's past that she has long tried to bury.
Stardust features lots of philosophizing and sardonic self-reflection by Spenser, along with the requisite tough-guy banter between Spenser and the cops, the clients, and some other tough guys. Spenser also reveals his sensitive side when dealing with a man to whom life hasn't been kind. There's some of the usual romance with Susan, but thankfully it's not quite as cloying as it often is. Hawk isn't involved quite as much as I'd like, but his scenes are stellar, as they always are.
Spenser excels when his task is to rescue or protect someone who's a lost soul. Jill Joyce doesn't initially seem to fit the bill, but as Spenser learns more about her, his—and the reader's—sympathy for her is fully engaged. In the end, Spenser's plan to save Jill connects this book with Early Autumn, the seventh book in the series. It's probably no coincidence that that is one of my favorites too.