Robert B. Parker's "Blue Screen"
Robert B. Parker is one of the best American fiction novelists ever to dwell amongst us. That may be a strong statement, but every word is true.
Notice that I did not say “mystery novelist”. Parker’s more than fifty novels cover the mystery genre more than any other type, but even his mystery novels include romance, psychological thriller, action and other elements.
His books are thoroughly entertaining and I look forward to the two or three books he presents each year. That is why I was disappointed with his latest novel, “Blue Screen”.
To understand why “Blue Screen” was a disappointment, you have to understand the characters Parker has created. Parker developed Spenser, to be best remembered by the portrayal by Robert Urich on the television series during the 1980s. Spenser is a tough former Boston cop who is intelligent and hangs out with intelligent people. Spenser is funny and ethical and his stories are a joy to read.
In recent years, Parker has broken new ground creating two new characters in separate series. Jesse Stone is a former L.A. cop who has moved to Massachusetts, near Boston, to be a small town police chief. He is a rehabilitating drunk who misses his ex-wife. Tom Selleck has been successful portraying Stone in several recent T.V. movies for CBS. There has even been talk of a weekly series, but Selleck denies wanting to take that step.
Sunny Randall is a female ex-cop turned private detective. She paints and, like Spenser, loves her dog. Like Stone, she has ex-spouse troubles. Her stories have not made the trip to television although Parker has admitted in interviews he created the character for actress Helen Hunt.
In this, the fifth outing for Sunny Randall, the female P.I. meets up with Jesse Stone. Parker’s characters have been bumping into each other for years. This time the police chief and detective are trying to solve a murder together.
Unfortunately, the plotting this time is minimal. If you read the book cover notes, skip the first twenty chapters. Not much more happens than is printed there and it will save you some time. Still, if you read the first twenty chapters, you should have the ending figured out.
What Parker excels in is the writing. He is a master of making a story flow. This book is no different in that sense. My disappointment was in waiting for something surprising or exceptional to happen. It never really happened.
In my view, if you are looking for a summer read with one of the best writers still alive, and you have never read Robert B. Parker, rather than starting with this tepid adventure, leave the best sellers and head back into the stacks. Look for “All Our Yesterdays” from 1994.
“All Our Yesterdays” has none of the aforementioned characters. It is an examination of three generations of Irish northeasterners and their relationships with women. It is entertaining and a true modern masterpiece. You will not regret turning a single page.
Notice that I did not say “mystery novelist”. Parker’s more than fifty novels cover the mystery genre more than any other type, but even his mystery novels include romance, psychological thriller, action and other elements.
His books are thoroughly entertaining and I look forward to the two or three books he presents each year. That is why I was disappointed with his latest novel, “Blue Screen”.
To understand why “Blue Screen” was a disappointment, you have to understand the characters Parker has created. Parker developed Spenser, to be best remembered by the portrayal by Robert Urich on the television series during the 1980s. Spenser is a tough former Boston cop who is intelligent and hangs out with intelligent people. Spenser is funny and ethical and his stories are a joy to read.
In recent years, Parker has broken new ground creating two new characters in separate series. Jesse Stone is a former L.A. cop who has moved to Massachusetts, near Boston, to be a small town police chief. He is a rehabilitating drunk who misses his ex-wife. Tom Selleck has been successful portraying Stone in several recent T.V. movies for CBS. There has even been talk of a weekly series, but Selleck denies wanting to take that step.
Sunny Randall is a female ex-cop turned private detective. She paints and, like Spenser, loves her dog. Like Stone, she has ex-spouse troubles. Her stories have not made the trip to television although Parker has admitted in interviews he created the character for actress Helen Hunt.
In this, the fifth outing for Sunny Randall, the female P.I. meets up with Jesse Stone. Parker’s characters have been bumping into each other for years. This time the police chief and detective are trying to solve a murder together.
Unfortunately, the plotting this time is minimal. If you read the book cover notes, skip the first twenty chapters. Not much more happens than is printed there and it will save you some time. Still, if you read the first twenty chapters, you should have the ending figured out.
What Parker excels in is the writing. He is a master of making a story flow. This book is no different in that sense. My disappointment was in waiting for something surprising or exceptional to happen. It never really happened.
In my view, if you are looking for a summer read with one of the best writers still alive, and you have never read Robert B. Parker, rather than starting with this tepid adventure, leave the best sellers and head back into the stacks. Look for “All Our Yesterdays” from 1994.
“All Our Yesterdays” has none of the aforementioned characters. It is an examination of three generations of Irish northeasterners and their relationships with women. It is entertaining and a true modern masterpiece. You will not regret turning a single page.
Labels: Books
posted by Alexander Dimm | 9:24 PM
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