PAINTED LADIES

Series narrator Joe Mantegna clearly delivers Robert Parker's uncluttered writing and sharp dialogue. He conveys just the right notes of sarcasm and humor to capture both P.I. Spenser's cockiness and his more introspective side. In this novel Spenser seems more inside himself than usual as he works alone (Hawk is AWOL) to unsnarl a tangle of art thefts and moral challenges that have their roots in the Holocaust. The lovely Susan's frequent appearances offer needed breaks in the violence and help maintain the snappy repartee. Although there is rumor of one more book still to be released in the series, fans lament the loss of Parker and his appealing Boston P.I. M.O.B. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2010]