Paper Doll

A Spenser Novel

By: Robert B. Parker

Narrated by: David Dukes

Hired by an aggrieved Boston aristocrat who believes his wife's brutal slaying to be something other than random violence, Spenser immediately senses that his client's picture-perfect portrayal of his family life is false. For starters, the victim's reputation is too saintly, her house is as lived-in as stage set, and her troubled children don't appear to be products of a happy home. Spenser plungers into a world of grand illusion, peopled with cardboard cutouts, including a distinguished public servant with plenty to hide, a wealthy executive whose checks bounce, a sleepy Southern town seething with scandal, and a victim who may or may not be really dead.

Crack another case with Spenser.©2005 Robert B. Parker (P)2005 Phoenix Books, Inc.

A little dated

Details in the story are clearly 40 or so years out of date. Still it has the true ring of the Spenser series, which is a good one. The narrator handles the text well except that the black and southern characters might be a bit stereotypical. Maybe that’s unavoidable. It’s a pleasant,beady listen, and I enjoyed it

Dark & Deep Story

This story was great because it just kept taking turns, and the plot kept getting thicker and thicker. It is a very dark story with multiple tragic situations. Definitely kept me listening to see what would happen. I agree with many readers who have commented that this narrator isn't the best, but I have to say, he really did shine here. All of the characters on the Boston police force really came alive in a new way. The scene where Martin Quirk breaks bad is fantastic.

Great story, lousy narrator

Please, please, please! Will somebody convince Joe Mantegna or Michael Prichard to do new recordings of the mid list Spenser novels? The guy who read this book gives Susan and Hawk the most bizarre voices you can imagine. It’s just awful to listen to a good story being mangled by bad narration.

Suspected city

Unsuspecting suspected a variety characters that keep the plot moving right up to the end

Very good narration and story

This is a typical Spenser novel by Parker. It is very entertaining with great characters and suspense. The narration is very good, though Susan's voice wasn't great.