Promised Land Audiobook

" Enter Hawk. This is also the first of the series to start focussing on inner-directed thinking and the philosphy of Spenser, as well as in-depth consideration of his relationship with Susan. This is where Spenser starts to truly flesh out as a character and not just a vehicle for solving mysteries. "

" R B Parker writes the classic gumshoe detective novels. I love his books. Easy to follow on long drives, not too complex with too many characters. The reader (speaker) has a great voice and is easy to understand. "

" Earlier Spencer book, was at the lower end of his books. Not all that interesting or entertaining. "

" I first read this Spenser novel about eight years after it first appeared, when the SDS, the Black Panthers, and Patty Hearst were memories, but only recent ones. At that time, author Parker's tale of loan sharks and self-taught women revolutionaries seemed like fiction snatched from the headlines. Revisiting it in 2010, I see the book's limitations: its stereotypes, its overlong conversations about morality and motives and emotion. But I also see how well it was constructed, and how Parker was gradually building up personalities for characters who were all but ciphers in the three earlier books. Promised Land marks the debut of the sinister anti-Spenser figure Hawk. The producers of the Spenser for Hire TV series that ran for several years in the 1980s used it as the basis for the show's pilot. "

" Best one so far! A guilty summer pleasure "

" The best yet. I would have given this a 5 star rating but the ending disappointed a little. I think Spenser is a great character but I am curious to see more of Hawk now that we've met him. "

" Spenser fell in love?? Short novel with a lame plot, missing wife, husband in trouble; Oh, I almost forgot the women movement thing.... Hopefully the next one is better. "

" This book is more an investigation of marriage and relationships than a real mystery, which is what I'd hoped for, so I wasn't too keen on it. I do like the psychological nuances he inserts and his suggestion that a character see a social worker rather than a psychiatrist for therapy--yay for our side! "

" Very good, the interaction between Spenser and Hawk is great. The descriptions of clothing is hilarious. "

" These early Spensers were much better than the later ones. "

" Better than the previous book and introduced the character of Hawk. A very interesting character "

" I think this is the beginning of a beautiful relationship. "

" In this one spencer gets two groups of bad guys to take out each other. The shylock in it is making 3% a week, I think he might work for Visa. "

" Very good Spencer novel. The ending is better than some of Parker's later Spencer novels. A good, pleasant read. "

" Pretty good book...ending was not what I expected...in a good way! "

" Another good story in the Spenser series. I say good because it sort of dragged a bit (at least for me) in the middle but still a good read. And it introduced a staple in the rest of the series: Hawk, Spenser's dangerous but just as honorable friend. "

" typical fast read & enjoyable Spenser book "

" Visit my blog for my full review: Martin's View: Promised Land. "

" Another Spenser classic. Parker enfuses his story with wit, depth, and emotional resonance. Good stuff! "

" This book has the introduction of Hawk, the solidifying of Spenser and Susan's relationship and Spenser gets kicked in the nuts. Great book. "

" Early Spencer. Earlier Hawk. Very Seventies. Fun. "

" I'm torn on this one. Enjoyed the characters but the armed revolutionary feminists made me roll my eyes. A little too much dated politics and 70s-style psyche/self-help to hold my attention like the others in this series but hey, the book was written in 1976 and it is what it is. "

" Hawk shows up--helping the opposition. Susan's a bit of a pain. Lots of women's lib and mini skirts (except for Susan)and leisure suits (Spenser an exception). "

" Very good Spencer novel. The ending is better than some of Parker's later Spencer novels. A good, pleasant read. "

" These early Spensers were much better than the later ones. "

" I liked it. It moved quickly and had a satisfying finish without straining my suspension of disbelief. I think it's held up well to the passage of time. "

" More in the vein of "Red Harvest" than any Marlowe-type mystery, where Spenser plays both sides of the street nicely. Probably a bit too 70's for me, though - I can only handle so much hand-wringing about the way society is changing, or the leisure suits that Hawk wears. "

" Really liked this one, a little more introspective for Spenser. Maybe he is finally growing up. "

" Pretty good book...ending was not what I expected...in a good way! "

" typical fast read & enjoyable Spenser book "

" Liked it. These are light, fun books that last little more than one day. "

" Spenser fell in love?? Short novel with a lame plot, missing wife, husband in trouble; Oh, I almost forgot the women movement thing.... Hopefully the next one is better. "

" What I learned from reading this book is that I love Parker's Spenser novels, even when the plot involves deranged feminists who rob a bank to get money to fund an armed uprising (foiled by Spenser of course). "