The adoring wife of a senatorial candidate has a smile as sweet as candy and dots her "i's" with little hearts. A blond beauty, she is the perfect mate for an ambitious politician, but she has a little problem with sex and drugs--a problem someone has managed to put on videotape. The big boys figure a little blackmail will put her husband out of the race. Until Spenser hops on the candidate's bandwagon. But getting back the tape of the lady's X-rated indiscretion is a nonstop express ride to trouble--trouble that is deep, wide and deadly. "A thriller all the way." (Seattle Times)
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"I just love Robert Parker and his Spencer. Early Spencer.I had forgotten the young boy now a man that Spencer had saved. Now a dancer. Don't remember if he show's up in later books. I will miss Parker. Spencer and Hawk and of course Susan. Spencer tough, wisecracking, unafraid,unexpectedly literate."
— Carol (4 out of 5 stars)
" Finally, Susan is working on her Ph.D.! Spenser's a bit put out because she doesn't have as much time for him and he's increasing his alcohol intake. "
— Jane, 2/14/2014" This is great Spenser. The dialogue's awesome, and the conflict between Spenser and himself is great. Parker did a great job in portraying Spenser as a straightforward yet complex man. "
— Tom, 1/24/2014" The Spenser book in which Robert B. Parker shows that he knows Washington D.C. streets as well as he knows Boston and L.A. streets. I got a laugh out of the fact that while he was in D.C. it snowed and "the howling storm had paralyzed Washington as drifts of nearly an inch and a half had piled up along some major arteries." "
— Allison, 1/19/2014" I really like the way Parker has his character Spenser wrestle with emotional and ethical problems. He uses Susan to analyze problems from a woman's perspective. Very satisfying. "
— Ellen, 1/16/2014" A pretty good Spenser story, a little to much of the endless talking about their relationship between Spenser and Susan but that is normal Parker. "
— David, 1/5/2014" Always love a Spenser novel, but this one is not as compelling as his later works. Everything improves with age; well, almost everything. Spenser does. "
— Shirley, 12/22/2013" Well written piece of detective fiction. Parker's hero is sarcastic, romantic, and a real "hard ass", which lends itself to a ton of humor underneath the seriousness of the plot at hand. This novel never failed to keep me interested. "
— Chandler, 12/19/2013" Very Good; Continuing character: Spenser; goes up against mob boss as he tries to help a Senate candidate who is being blackmailed. "
— Joe, 11/3/2013" Spenser looks into his code of honor. "
— Pat, 10/26/2013" A forgettable Spenser which is a bit of a shame as this is one of the few that really looks at the world of politics and feels like a missed opportunity for Parker. Also we get to see Spenser and Susan's relationship take another hit which is not all that much fun to read. "
— Nate, 9/25/2013" Nancy 5 stars; Ron 5 stars "
— Ron, 9/18/2013" Not one of the better Spenser books. Little too much psycho-babble talk with Susan. Rate it about 2.5 stars. "
— Daelith, 9/13/2013" A curious installment in the Spenser story. The main plot is only OK. The real story -- and what makes this novel one of Parker's best -- is the slow but significant recognition by Spenser of some key elements of his personality, and of his relationship with Susan. "
— Steve, 6/27/2013" Not the best, but any early Spenser is good. "
— Mailmanr5, 11/10/2012" My favorite Robert Parker book. "
— Micha, 9/22/2012" "These women were real, with the fine roughening of skin here and there, the tiny sag at the breast, the small folds across the stomach that real women, and men, have. . . . That kind of vulnerability shouldn't be handed around. It was for someone who loved you and was vulnerable too." "
— Robin, 6/28/2012" I read this one several years (decades) ago. Don't remember much about it, but if it is Spenser, I liked it! "
— Frank, 12/19/2011" An okay Spenser, I think I am getting tired "
— Debby, 10/27/2011" The Widening Gyre (Spenser Novels (Dell)) by Robert Parker (1992) "
— Julie, 7/31/2011" One of my personal Spenser favorites. I will read the entire Spenser collection soon. "
— Ron, 6/7/2011" Not the best, but any early Spenser is good. "
— Mailmanr5, 5/13/2011" The mystery was really background to the relationship between Spenser and Susan. This is a statement, not a complaint. "
— Ruth, 4/15/2011" It pains me to give Spenser only two stars. Parker's style and wit are on display but the mystery is lame and the book appears to serve only as a bridge in Spenser and Susan's relationship. "
— Jessica, 8/2/2010" This is great Spenser. The dialogue's awesome, and the conflict between Spenser and himself is great. Parker did a great job in portraying Spenser as a straightforward yet complex man. "
— Tom, 4/26/2010" A forgettable Spenser which is a bit of a shame as this is one of the few that really looks at the world of politics and feels like a missed opportunity for Parker. Also we get to see Spenser and Susan's relationship take another hit which is not all that much fun to read. "
— Nate, 3/17/2010" Very Good; Continuing character: Spenser; goes up against mob boss as he tries to help a Senate candidate who is being blackmailed. <br/> "
— Joe, 9/6/2009" Spenser must help a politican being blackmailed. Susan is in D.C. working on her doctorate and Spenser feels abandoned. Paul visits for the holidays and offers Spenser his perspective-surprisingly mature. "
— Christine, 8/9/2009" Great beach read. You've got to love Spenser—smart, funny, well-read, fit, moral, and sexy. "
— Wendy, 7/31/2009" "These women were real, with the fine roughening of skin here and there, the tiny sag at the breast, the small folds across the stomach that real women, and men, have. . . . That kind of vulnerability shouldn't be handed around. It was for someone who loved you and was vulnerable too." "
— Robin, 6/3/2009" Spenser... I love the endings of Parker's books. <br/>This one involves a senatorial candiddate that neither spenser nor I appreciate politically. <br/>good for us@! <br/>Hawk is a terrific character. <br/> <br/> "
— Steve, 3/16/2009Robert 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.