Spenser smells corruption in a college town. Taft University's hottest basketball star is shaving points for quick cash. All manner of sleaze -- from corrupt academics to hoods with graduate degrees -- have their fingers in the pot. Spenser's search takes him from lecture halls to blue collar bars and finally into a bloody confrontation with almost certain death. But Spenser saves an arrogant young athlete -- even though it nearly kills him to do it. "Spenser is a tough as they come and spiked with a touch of real class." (Kirkus Reviews)
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"This is one of my most favorite Parker novels. Taft University's basketball is suspected of point shaving. Their star basketball player Dwayne Woodcock is the main suspect. Spenser's task is to get to the bottom of this case. The story has the usual snarky humor, and Woodcock is made out as the typical jock. Spenser discovers much corruption and fixes the problem, as usual. A very entertaining read!"
— Kevin (5 out of 5 stars)
" Spenser, America's favorite iron-pumping, gourmet-cooking private eye, smells corruption in college town. Taft University's hottest basketball star is shaving points for quick cash, and if Spenser doesn't watch his own footwork, the guilty parties will shave a few years off his life "
— Mike, 2/14/2014" Playmates by Robert B. Parker (1990) "
— Julie, 1/28/2014" Very Good; Continuing character: Spenser; a basketball player is shaving points for bad guys; Spenser figures out how to nail the crooks wothout destroying the player. "
— Joe, 1/24/2014" LOVE the humor! Spenser rocks! "
— Marianne, 1/20/2014" The Spenser for Hire books are short and sweet. Love the witty dialogue. The mysteries are not exactly complex, but they are enjoyable books because of the characters. "
— John, 1/19/2014" See my blog for my review: Martin's View: Playmates. "
— Martin, 1/13/2014" Spenser and Susan and Hawk and good lines. "
— Ellen, 1/7/2014" Playmates features a surprise heroine, which is refreshing for a Spenser novel. "
— Robert, 1/2/2014" This is an okay Spenser outing. It bugs a little that he goes after freedom of the press and higher ed. But the second half of the book just oozes cool detective noir. And that is totally cool. "
— Tom, 12/31/2013" Robert B. Parker year continues. Things should reach a crescendo over the Christmas week. Extra star for describing the NY mobster sporting a popped collar 20 years before this round. It's a terrible idea every time. "
— Jonathan, 12/10/2013Robert B. Parker (1932–2010), long acknowledged as the dean of American crime fiction, was the New York Times bestselling author of the Spenser mysteries, as well as the Jesse Stone novels. He was named Grand Master at the 2002 Edgar Awards by the Mystery Writers of America, an honor shared with earlier masters such as Alfred Hitchcock and Ellery Queen. He has more than fifty books to his credit.
Michael Prichard is a Los Angeles-based actor who has played several thousand characters during his career, over one hundred of them in theater and film. He is primarily heard as an audiobook narrator, having recorded well over five hundred full-length books. His numerous awards and accolades include an Audie Award for Tears in the Darkness by Michael Norman and Elizabeth M. Norman and six AudioFile Earphones Awards. He was named a Top Ten Golden Voice by SmartMoney magazine. He holds an MFA in theater from the University of Southern California.