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Playmates Audiobook
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(3.02) - 1,679 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
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)
Playmates Listener Reviews
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Codename Eric, 6/19/2020
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" 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, 12/10/2013 -
" Typical Parker -- quick, easy, entertaining. Plus basketball. "
— Priscilla, 12/2/2013 -
" What can I say... It's Robert B. Parker!!!!!!!!!! I love Robert B. Parker books. This was one of my favorites. That Spenser is so witty. I just love to hear how he thinks. I find myself thinking like him often. "
— Pam, 12/1/2013 -
" Spenser, a basketball stud and the mob "
— Pat, 8/30/2013 -
" Another solid Spenser outing--this time getting to the bottom of basketball point-shaving at Taft University. Three and a half stars. "
— Charles, 7/31/2013 -
" I like Spenser and College basketball. I had no choice but to like this book a lot. "
— Nate, 5/27/2013 -
" "Playmates" was the best Spencer's book I've ever read, if you are Robert B. Parker's fan, I do recommend this book. "
— Michelle, 12/27/2012 -
" An all-around solid Spenser novel. "
— Jeff, 10/16/2012 -
" This wasn't my favorite Spenser book, but more because of my political views instead of his writing or the story. "
— Candice, 7/29/2012 -
" This was a little different genre than I have been reading. Enjoyed that this was an easy quick read that I could accomplish when at work. "
— Jill, 12/17/2011 -
" A little softer than most Spensers but still good. "
— Mailmanr5, 6/17/2011 -
" Nancy 5 stars; Ron 5 stars "
— Ron, 6/2/2011 -
" The voice just sounds different to me. It was O.K. but..... "
— Tony, 5/24/2011 -
" I enjoyed this YA novel about the young Spencer and how he came to be. I read the first book in the Spencer series some months ago and was wondering if I could actually read more books that were so old, but this one made me eager to give it a shot. "
— Penny, 5/10/2011 -
" While parts of the book repeat information that true Spenser fans already know, the books is a great addition to the Spenser lore. It's a little like hearing a familiar story that is repeated at family gatherings. "
— Erika, 3/25/2011 -
" this book was not quite up to par with the rest of Parker's books. I still enjoyed it, but it did ramble just a bit. "
— Michael, 3/6/2011 -
" Good, but definitely late Spenser. It wouldn't have been the end of the world to miss this one. On the upside it took just over 2 hours to read. "
— Du, 2/20/2011 -
" Spenser’s formative years spent with his father and two uncles out West<br/>i read it aqnd didn't write notes.<br/>short and charming little spenser.<br/>go for it. "
— Steve, 1/23/2011 -
" As a friend opined, "This is the 'secret origin' of Spenser you've kept us waiting for?" Oh please... "
— David, 1/20/2011 -
" Would that every boy have parents like Spenser has in this book! "
— Mary, 1/16/2011 -
" So long Mr. Robert B. Parker. It was great fun joining younger versions of our beloved Spenser as he developed those unique characteristics. we will sadly miss reading this series develop. "
— Yankey, 1/13/2011 -
" Spenser relates some of the incidents in his life that formed his code of ethics. "
— Gary, 6/22/2010 -
" I enjoyed this little book. Definitely Spenser light. It is also the first book I've read from Parker since his death. I heard he had passed away on his keyboard. Not sure where I read that, but that is definitely how I want to go. "
— J.R., 6/21/2010 -
" A brief look at Spenser's early years, as told to Susan, his current love interest. In the book, Spenser saves a girl (but not a girl friend) from an abusive father, a Hispanic boy from bigoted classmates, and learns life lessons from his father and uncles. "
— Tom, 5/14/2010 -
" As the title says, this YA novel deals with the young Spenser. Find out what made him. Quick read, but enjoyable. "
— Margaret, 4/12/2010 -
" Good story. I've read a Spenser book before and thought it was just OK, but this one tells about him as a boy and was quite good. "
— Daphne, 4/6/2010 -
" In comparison to Parker's "The Boxer and the Spy",this young adult novel is hands down a better read. Tying in Spenser's current relationship with Susan and his past as a young boy, you can see the foundational develop of his character leading to the man he is today. Nicely done! "
— Rena, 3/24/2010 -
" A little disjointed but still pretty great. Spenser's father and uncles are well drawn and do a fine job of showing how Spenser became Spenser without any George Lucas like suckyness. "
— Nate, 3/17/2010
About Robert B. Parker
Robert 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.
About Michael Prichard
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.