Title: Not even close
Review: I couldn't agree more with the reviewer from Orange County. This latest Spenser novel is filled with the same old tired formula -- repeated cliches, predictable dialogue between Spenser and Hawk, Spenser and Susan, etc. I could almost guess what the forthcoming paragraph was going to read before I read it. Parker seems to take the short-cut on this effort, relying solely on his gift with conversational prose, but not delivering on the plot, characters, fresh ideas, and new sequences. Even his settings (i.e. North Shore, MA) are getting quite stale. I hate to say it, as I've been a fan from way back, but Cold Service reads like he wasn't even interested in his own story. It's not even close to his best and will probably be the last time I purchase a Spenser hardcover.
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