Robert B. Parker's Slow Burn

By: Ace Atkins

Narrated by: Joe Mantegna

Boston PI Spenser faces a hot case and a personal crisis in this adventure in Ace Atkins’ iconic New York Times bestselling series.

The fire at a boarded-up Catholic church raged hot and fast, lighting up Boston’s South End and killing three firefighters who were trapped in the inferno. A year later, as the city prepares to honor their sacrifice, there are still no answers about how the deadly fire started. Most at the department believe it was just a simple accident: faulty wiring in a century-old building. But Boston firefighter Jack McGee, who lost his best friend in the blaze, suspects arson.

McGee is convinced department investigators aren’t sufficiently connected to the city’s lowlifes to get a handle on who's behind the blaze—so he takes the case to Spenser. Spenser quickly learns not only that McGee might be right, but that the fire might be linked to a rash of new arsons, spreading through the city, burning faster and hotter every night. Spenser follows the trail of fires to Boston’s underworld, bringing him, his trusted ally Hawk, and his apprentice Sixkill toe-to-toe with a dangerous new enemy who wants Spenser dead, and doesn’t play by the city’s old rules. Spenser has to find the firebug before he kills again—and stay alive himself.

Critic reviews

Praise for Robert B. Parker’s Slow Burn

“Scene-by-scene, line-by-line pleasures are authentic.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Atkins tosses in a surprising change to his lead’s status quo, and series fans will be eager to see what he does with it in Spenser’s next outing.”—Publishers Weekly

“A 5-alarm thriller...Atkins deftly recreates the Spenser character and his Boston milieu.”—Associated Press

“Sizzling...Slow Burn rises to a blazing finish and leaves Spenser with some major decisions to make. Can’t wait to find out how it goes.”—Tampa Bay Times

Praise for Ace Atkins and the Spenser Series

“Handpicked by the Parker estate to be the keeper of the flame for the Spenser franchise, award-winning author Ace Atkins rises flawlessly to the occasion. In addition to the signature dialogue, all the familiars are fully resurrected: Susan, the sexy shrink; Pearl, the wonder dog; Hawk, the wonder sidekick; good cop Quirk, and, of course, Spenser himself, that consummate knight errant for the twenty-first century.”—Kirkus Reviews

“It’s a feat when a writer creates characters who live and breathe on the page and make readers care and keep coming back for more. To manage that with someone else’s characters, let alone with an icon like Spenser, is a minor miracle. Ace Atkins pulls it off.”—Chicago Sun-Times

“Atkins does a wonderful job with the characters created by Parker.”—Booklist

“Classic Spenser—the Spenser of wry wit, tasty food and drinks, hard workouts and lethal confrontations...Once again, Atkins has delivered a thriller that evokes the best of Parker’s Spenser series, not least the punchy back-and-forth of the dialogue.”—Associated Press

“Atkins has done a splendid job of capturing the voice of the late Robert B. Parker.”—Publishers Weekly

Joe is perfect and Ace is great and awful

Ace Atkins exceeds the late Mr Parker in many ways. Spencer's quips and inner monologue are superb. The villains and most of the main characters are written with a fresh smart gleam. HOWEVER, HIS DIALOGUE BETWEEN SPENSER AND SUSAN IS SO SCHMALTZY AND OUT OF DATE IT IS HORRIFIC TO LISTEN TO. IN REAL LIFE THE CHARACTERS OF SUSAN AND SPENSER WOULD NEVER ACTUALLY HAVE SEX BECAUSE THEY WOULD NEVER STOP THROWING UP. I FEEL BAD FOR THE NARRATOR WHO HAS TO UTTER THIS OBVIOUS, TRYING TO HARD TO BE CUTE DIALOGUE. ISHY AND CREEPY ..YIKES

Spencer is Alive.

Spenser is Still Spenser.

I liked this latest book of Atkins' best of all. The others are good but I was still mourning Bob Parker and resenting Ace for stepping in. Anyway Spenser is alive, he and his besties are coping with their ages and dealing with the technology and changing culture of the 21st Century and they're adapting well.

 Parker typical Story was good characters 

I am thoroughly happy with Robert B Parker, and the characters that are part of his long series

Another Great One

Great story enjoyed it from start to finish. It'
s great that someone is carrying on Parkers legacy.

Great series

I love this series, great characters and wonderful story telling. it's like the characters are good friends.