Chance (Spenser Book 23)

“You staying around?” — Hawk“Another day or so maybe, make sure I haven’t missed anything.” — Spenser“Missed anything. We missed every *@#* thing there was to miss out here.” — HawkBy the time Chance came around in the Spenser canon, which was just before Small Vices, readers’ expectations for the series had permanently shifted toward fast-flowing, enjoyable entertainment with some sparkling exchanges between Spenser and Hawk. Occasional echoes of earlier, more resonating books in the series still peppered some of the entries. Chance is one of the better books during that period, and a pretty fun read.Like most Spenser novels, it begins swiftly. Well known Boston bad guy Julius Ventura walks into Spenser’s office with his pouty daughter Shirley. He doesn’t like Spenser, and doesn’t want to be there, but Shirley’s husband has run off — according to Ventura, but not his daughter. Shirley has Julius wrapped around her finger, though, so he wants Spenser to find Anthony and bring back his son-in-law. Since Julius is the kind of guy who has people of his own for that sort of thing, Spenser smells a rat. Learning Julius approached Hawk first, who said he’d only do it if Spenser would, there is no doubt something is up — or Hawk’s just amusing himself.It proves to be both. Gino Fish had something going with Julius, because his close associate, Marty Anaheim, is having Spenser tailed. Figuring money is involved, it stands to reason Anthony might have skipped with someone’s, but whose? Finding out isn’t going to be easy, for two reasons. Vinnie, sans Joe Broz, is now working for Gino. And Marty Anaheim? Hawk sums him up:“Marty Anaheim is the meanest man I ever knew. He lost his hands, he’d bite you to death.” Anthony was fooling around on Shirley too, which doesn’t surprise Spenser in the least, once he has lunch with her. But Dixie does, and later on provides a sad and poignant moment in the narrative. It seems Anthony not only liked to gamble, but had a “system” he planned on using to break the bank — don’t they all? So suddenly we get Viva Las Vegas, Parker style, with Spenser, Hawk, and Susan — who should have been left at home — in Sin City. Actually, Susan isn’t quite as annoying in this one, but there’s still too much of her and not enough detection.This one introduces the tough little Panama hat-wearing Bernard, who is tailing them around town while they look for Anthony and enjoy being is Vegas. Well, mostly it’s Susan enjoying it, until she has to bug out, and let the story get going. Spenser does find Anthony, but then what? Marty Anaheim shows up, and Anthony is scared to death. It gets a bit confusing from there on out, with one glaringly exception. When Shirley’s body shows up in Vegas, naked and beaten and raped, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out it doesn’t fit Anthony’s profile, though he certainly had motive. It does, however, fit someone else, and for the life of me, every time I’ve read this over the years I’ve always wondered why it takes so long for Spenser to decide it was that person.It’s so easy to connect the dots I’m not even going to mark it as a spoiler that Anthony has run off not only with someone’s money, but someone’s wife. Bibi and Dixie are in fact the two best characters in the book, and provide some touching moments. Spenser is Spenser, and even though he and Hawk have solved diddly, he keeps poking around, dissatisfied with not knowing what happened. Someone takes a run at Spenser, and he puts two of them down. So much for poking around where you aren’t wanted.Eddie Lee from Port City — an earlier entry in the series — gives Spenser a hint at what’s really going on, and it turns out our boy Spenser may be to blame, because when Tony Marcus got put away, it left a vacuum, and some Russians want to move in. That leads Spenser to Joe Broz, a shadow of his former self but still in business. And Jackie the chauffeur for Julius has clued Spenser in on another angle. That confuses matters, though.Chance is a quick, entertaining read, as every Spenser novel is, but it’s a little disjointed at times. Still, it has some nice exchanges between Hawk and Spenser, Susan isn’t overly irritating here, and there’s a really nice ending which makes the opening prolog all the more poignant. All in all, Chance is well worth your time if you’re looking for a fun read in this genre which will keep you turning pages. For a Spenser from this period in the series, a solid four stars.

Classic Spenser novel, all the strengths of the series here: Likeable, funny characters, the best of which stick to their own codes in spite of the surrounding violence and and corruption. The action rings true, at least more true than movies. Spenser lives the myth of a knight without armor facing colorful, often witty, evil or simply not very good people causing misery for others. Parker manages to write dialogue that sounds authentic, conversations that can convey threats, sad observations or affection in spare, often droll language using a surprisingly wide vocabulary and literary references. He has compassion for his well-drawn characters and the dialogue between Spense and others makes the encounters with the most vile characters fun. Parker and Hawk's direct first encounter with gangster Marty Anaheim is dangerous and funny, but it is the initial encounter, at the beginning of the book, with not very self-aware, dangerous gang boss Julius Ventura and his nitwit daughter that will sell the reader on reading the entire work.

It arrived quickly and was in excellent condition.

Get out your note pad to keep track of all the characters in this book. Spenser and Hawk fly to Las Vegas in search of the missing son-in-law of a Boston mobster. Anthony has a gambling problem, especially when he is using money stolen from skimming money. There are others looking for him as well, to kill him. The book's plot also involves territorial wars among several Boston gangs as well as a Russian gang moving into Boston territory. All of this comes together neatly in the end . I enjoyed this book, one of the better Spenser stories.

This book is another Spencer novel. I have read it several times. Although this starts in Boston, Spencer and Hawk go to Las Vegas because Boston hoods want to hire an outsider and it tuirns oul that the principal action is found there. There is murder, double crossing, gambling, . . I am delighted by the entire Spencer series. This books is fully up to the standard set. Therefore I believe it fully warrants purchasing and reading any interested in Spencer. Morover, I would also recommend it to anyone interested in murder mysteries. .

Although I am a Robert Parker devotee, I didn't enjoy this book as much as some I have read.The story line centred on a lot of underworld characters who were less than pleasant or entertaining, and although one must applaud Spenser's determination to see justice done and women, especially those who are victims of domestic violence, however unappealing they might be, protected, I found it difficult to identify with any of them or to care about the outcome.The book was not even leavened with the usual chit chat between Spenser and his side-kick Hawk, which was disappointing.I am not sorry to have read this book, but more because I hope to read all Parker's writings than because the book itself was gripping.

Hard to keep track of all the characters. I like it when it's simpler and I don't have to keep looking the characters up.

I would have returned this item, but apparently it is too late to do so. I was only about and hour or so into the book and finally just stopped because the narrator (Burt Reynolds) was hard to understand half of the time. Guess I should try a sample before buying!

Without the dust settling- I'll say this is one of the two best. It's length-isn't is in two parts. The author quotes Frost in appropriateness and others. Susan sees a doughnut shop and has a happy to-do with Spence in the Gym. There are funny moments in (Las) Vegas about its raison d'etre. Is this a good novel?: Does the Pope drive a Piaggio?

Although long and complex this part of the Spenser series using a mix of old and new characters is one of the best without too much of the lover's chitchat with Susan that overloads many of the earlier tales.Well worth buying.

Thoroughly enjoyable. Amazon should pay a fair rate of UK taxes. We are not Americans and our culture regarding local taxes is different. We want to use Amazon but we object to tax dodgers. If you want to stay...

the Spencer series has it all - strong funny never looses PI with even stronger enigmatic side kick and kooky girlfriend - other players run to form - unusual and entertaining! very easy but enjoyable reads

Readable doesn't stretch your imagination too much,still prefer Jesse Stone novels though but I have another Spencer to read so so here goes