Another underwhelming story that features Mr. Parker's characters in name only. Unimaginative, unlikeable and no more stories by Mr. Atkins for me. 0 of 10 stars

Robert B. Parker's Little White Lies (Audio CD) by Ace Atkins.This story was a let down after my last Ace Atkins Spencer story. The theme of this story is Spencer's hunt for a con man. So many people have been swindle out of their life savings that go unnoticed until finally Connie Kelly informs Spencer of her loss. Spencer digs deep but this con man, Welles, has a long list of victims that goes even deeper. Hawk is with Spencer all the way and their camaraderie enhanced the story at just the ri...

Well, hello Spenser....It's been a while...How you doin'?He's doing well. Probably missed me as much as I missed him. ;)Once again Spenser takes a case, is fired, but finds himself too deep into it and too honourable to just walk away and let the bad guys win. He's awesome that way.

I have over a dozen Robert B. Parker books, yet this is the first one in his series that I've read. I have read Ace Atkins books before that he has written not as Robert B. Parker. I loved the Ace Atkins books and yes, I loved the Robert B. Parker book. I can tell there is a different style of writing. I really like this Spenser character. What a smarta$$ he is. I like that, reminds me of myself. In this particular book, his client has met a man online and she has given him $360,000. Now that ma...

Spenser, Robert B. Parker's iconic Boston P.I., appears here for the forty-fifth time, now in the very capable hands of Ace Atkins who has revived the series and made it fresh again.As the book opens, Spenser's Significant Other, the therapist Susan Silverman, refers one of her clients, Connie Kelly, to Spenser. Kelly has fallen hard for a guy named M. Brooks Welles who claims to be a former high-ranking secret agent for the U. S. government. Welles has impressed not only Kelly, but a number of

★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2 (rounded up)This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.---Pearl and I were off to Central Square . Her long brown ears blew in the wind as we drove along Memorial Drive against the Charles. Rowers rowed, joggers jogged, and bench sitters sat. It was midSeptember and air had turned crisp. The leaves had already started to turn red and gold, shining in Technicolor upon the still water.I debated about what quotation I'd open with -- I went with this Parker-esque (and Atkins-es...

After 45 books, I still love this series and look forward to my springtime visit with Spenser and crew. When Parker passed away, I was resigned to that being the end of Spenser. I'm glad his family decided to keep the series going and Atkins was an excellent choice. He's a very good writer and he gets the nuances of this series down pat. In this one, Spenser is hired by one of Susan's patients to track down the con man who cheated her out of a LOT of money. Lots of backstabbing by various people...

There's nothing I can say about Little White Lies that I haven't already said about Ace Atkins' other Spenser novels. I am a fan of all of Robert B. Parker's various mystery series, chronicling the adventures of Spenser, Jesse Stone, and Sunny Randall. After Parker's death in 2010, Parker's estate commissioned various mystery writers to continue all three series. I've tried each of the post-Parker series, and in my estimation, the only one that sounds like Parker himself, is Ace Atkins' work. In...

I received a free advance copy of this from NetGalley for review.I usually spend some time in my reviews of the new Spenser books from Ace Atkins talking about how well he’s done with the tricky job of taking over the series from the late Robert B. Parker. I’m not going to do that anymore because at this point this is entirely Atkins’ series, and Spenser is as good as he’s ever been.Connie Kelley was swindled out of several hundred thousand dollars by her boyfriend, M. Brooks Welles, who has sin...

Unlike a lot of reviewers, I thought Atkins did his best job yet of evoking the original spirit of Spenser. A woman is victimized by a flim-flam man and Spenser tries to get her money back. Of course, there is much more than that involved, but Spenser gets to the bottom of it. Recommended.

It took me a while to get through this book. Yes, the characters are there, but the spark is missing. Atkins does a pretty good job carrying on the Spenser banner, but this one, for me, was a little underwhelming. I like reading about Boston, but the plot was forgettable. However, in tribute to Parker, I will soldier on to the next book, looking to recapture the original flavor.

4.5 stars, actually. The author has done a commendable job taking over the late, great Robert B. Parker's Spenser series, IMHO. Most of what I've missed is the snappy banter between Spenser and his faithful sidekick Hawk (and to some extent, between Spenser and his main squeeze, Dr. Susan Silverman). That, and the occasional interjections of humor, seem better here. When Spenser visits a service in a Georgia mega-church and listens to the music from a rock band and a gospel choir, for instance,

If there was a way to assign 2 1/2 points, then I'd assign them. Some of the banter between Spenser and Hawk is good to hear, the banter between Spenser and Susan is no longer quite so irritating, and Spenser's exchanges with the chief bad guy start well but are hampered by the villain's implausible and cardboard nature. The main attraction is the place in which the book takes place: Spenser's Boston brings back pleasant memories of stronger books in the series.

I suppose I should envy those who can read this slop and think it was well done. It wasn't. In actual fact, Spenser joins Parker with this and is now dead as well. Atkins was obviously writing for a contract, wanted to get done and just strung enough words together to get to the end. The real Spenser is gone. This one is an arrogant blowhard who loves to bloviate, whether or not what he's babbling about has anything to do with the topic at hand. The Parker Spenser is likable and perceptive; this...

I read a lot, which means I also talk books a lot. I aim for 100 per year, and I've made it every year since the late 90's. Of all those books, the Spenser series remains my favorite, so very narrowly edging out The Dresden Files. Ace Atkins took over when creator Robert B. Parker died. Gotta give Parker credit, he died at his writing desk, which any author would admire. In this installment, Spenser is hired off a recommendation from his long time love Susan Silverman. Her patient Connie Kelly h...

(2.5 stars) I really liked the last Spenser book ("Kickback"). This one, however, was a disappointment. It seemed really forced/padded, and too many of Spenser's 'clever' retorts, WAY too many were forced and some simply made no sense at all in response to what was said. The book dragged on and just did not hold my interest -- actually flipped through pages, like the basketball game. And the cooking -- his cooking is getting a bit tiresome. Such a gourmet cook, really? It's getting excessive. I

Feb 2019 book on tape. I thoroughly enjoy the story as read by Joe Mantegna. This is my current "go to" book on tape for car travel in town: the voices of Joe Mantegna as company in Los Angeles traffic. I recommend this Atkins story, especially if you miss Parker.January 2018 I liked this take on Spenser more than some of the other post Parker stories. Atkins has been more true to the Parker style of Spenser's speech patterns If you liked Parker, I think you'll enjoy this story.

When Connie Kelly’s husband left her two years ago she lost much of her confidence and began seeing Susan Silverman in an effort to pick up the pieces and turn her life around. She also met M. Brooke Wells on an internet dating site and quickly fell in love with the man who said he was a Harvard graduate, had fought in Vietnam, spent time as a navy seal and worked for the CIA. She had seen him several times on cable TV where he was interviewed about terrorism, military affairs and world events.

Spencer's girlfriend, Susan, convinces him to take on the case of one of her patients, a woman who has been swindled out of a large amount of money. Spencer agrees, and meets with the woman. He learns that the man involved is not who he said he was. He digs in to try to find out who he is, and finds out that he is involved in a gun running scheme. He is joined by Hawk to try to find the source. The man is found and talks the client into seeing him again, and she leaves with him. Later, she is fo...