The Widening Gyre

By: Robert B. Parker

Narrated by: Michael Prichard

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)©1992 Robert B Parker; (P)2009 Random House

Now my favorite author.

I love Parker‘s writing. He is funny, erudite, and an exceptionally skilled writer. Prichard’s reading is perfect. Parker’s dialogue is superb. Some of his values, in today’s environment, are perhaps far from politically correct, although his characterization of Hawk and his love for Susan belie much criticism. Keep it coming.

Spenser; Politics?

This is a foreshadowing of the next two Spenser novels Valediction and A Catskill Eagle. The politician Meade Alexander will soon be Spenser and Susan will be Ronny; the drunk slutty woman who likes "granny sex" though as far s we know Susan does limit her mistake to one man. As with Spenser; Meade's loyalty to his lady knows no bounds; he'll go to any lengths and compromise any or all of his values to protect her. Though in my less than humble opinion, it's difficult to understand why in either case. Susan is already stretching the boundaries of Spenser's tolerance and it isn't hard to discern that this doesn't bode well for the future of their relationship.
There are some nice touches to this story; the confrontation with the muscle in Springfield; the Globe reporter Cosgrove. Finally the teenager at the granny party "shaking her head at the bogusness of it all" are all nice touches.
In retrospect a great deal of my rating it 4 stars goes back to the mid 80's when I first read it in print form. I was living in Boston at the time and I'd just discovered Spenser; some nice memories there. This is a quick listen and there are some snatches of humor that I enjoyed; if you're new to Robert Parker and want to give Spenser a shot; don't start with this one. Most of the Spenser mysteries up to this point are superior to this one.

Good plot. Good character insight.

Classic Spenser. Hints at character changing. Shows Spenser is volunerable. Good plot. I was wondering how Spenser was going to resolve it.

good

This was a good Spencer book, but not one of the best, in my opinion. I could not get too attached to the politician and his wife. The politician is supposed to be madly in love with her (gallant and sacrificial love), but from what we know about her and her personality, it is not too believable that he could be so madly in love with her. For some reason I found this book a little flat so I could not give it a "5". It may be that I like Joe Montegna's reading skills better than Michael Prichard's. Prichard is good, but Montegna is better.

Parker Has Done It Again

I am reading all of the Spenser Series books in a row and Parker is good again.
This book was not a thrilling as some of his previous books but good just the same.
The narrator is OK but Burt Reynolds and Joe Mantegna are better readers.
Can't wait for the next book in the Spenser series.