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A review by brianlokker
Pastime by Robert B. Parker
3.0
The primary value that Pastime brings to the Spenser canon lies in the revelations it provides about Spenser's background. We learn new things about his childhood, his teenage years, and the origin of his friendship with Hawk. Why and how did Spenser learn to cook? Now we know. Why does Hawk respect Spenser and why is he willing to go to the wall for him? Now we know that too. We even get an answer to the basic question of why Spenser lives in Boston.
A central focus of the book is the deepening of Spenser's quasi-father-son relationship with Paul Giacomin, the teenager whom he rescued from neglectful parents in Early Autumn. It's now 10 years later. Paul is thinking about getting married, but he wants to see his mother before he commits himself. The problem is, she's gone missing without a word to Paul or anyone else. Naturally, Spenser agrees to help, but tracking her down turns out to be pretty difficult. Along the way, Spenser has to deal with mobster Joe Broz and his son Gerry.
The book scores points with me for several good scenes with Hawk, complete with some classic repartee between the two friends. And there's some interesting character development for another familiar face, Vinnie Morris.
But Pastime loses at least one star from me because there's too much Susan. The book starts off with an especially treacly scene between Spenser and Susan in the first chapter, and some of their subsequent interactions aren't much easier to take. I'm not thrilled, either, with the introduction of Pearl, the dog whom Susan has inherited from her ex-husband. Just as Susan is the quintessential archetype of the smart and sexy woman, apparently Pearl is the quintessential archetype of the loyal and lovable dog. Sorry, but we need more Hawk, less Pearl, and a whole lot less Susan.
A central focus of the book is the deepening of Spenser's quasi-father-son relationship with Paul Giacomin, the teenager whom he rescued from neglectful parents in Early Autumn. It's now 10 years later. Paul is thinking about getting married, but he wants to see his mother before he commits himself. The problem is, she's gone missing without a word to Paul or anyone else. Naturally, Spenser agrees to help, but tracking her down turns out to be pretty difficult. Along the way, Spenser has to deal with mobster Joe Broz and his son Gerry.
The book scores points with me for several good scenes with Hawk, complete with some classic repartee between the two friends. And there's some interesting character development for another familiar face, Vinnie Morris.
But Pastime loses at least one star from me because there's too much Susan. The book starts off with an especially treacly scene between Spenser and Susan in the first chapter, and some of their subsequent interactions aren't much easier to take. I'm not thrilled, either, with the introduction of Pearl, the dog whom Susan has inherited from her ex-husband. Just as Susan is the quintessential archetype of the smart and sexy woman, apparently Pearl is the quintessential archetype of the loyal and lovable dog. Sorry, but we need more Hawk, less Pearl, and a whole lot less Susan.