A Savage Place

A Spenser Novel

By: Robert B. Parker

Narrated by: Michael Prichard

TV reporter Candy Sloan has eyes the color of cornflowers and legs that stretch all the way to heaven. She also has somebody threatening to rearrange her lovely face if she keeps on snooping into charges of Hollywood racketeering.

Spenser's job is to keep Candy healthy until she breaks the biggest story of her career. But her star witness has just bowed out with three bullets in his chest, two tough guys have doubled up to test Spenser's skill with his fists, and Candy is about to use her own sweet body as live bait in a deadly romantic game--a game that may cost Spenser his life.

Crack another case with Spenser.©1987 Robert B. Parker (P)2009 Random House

Critic reviews

"The best new private eye in fiction since Raymond Chandler." -- Dan Wakefield

"As tough as they come and spiked with a touch of real class." -- Kirkus Reviews

"Tough, wisecracking, unafraid, lonely, unexpectedly literate--an many respects the very examplar of the species." -- The New York Times

Spencer is a great character

I became hooked on Robert Parker's series featuring Spencer after reading the very first book in the series. I have now read them all. It is a great series and well worth your time getting to know Spencer and his fascinating group of friends, especially Hawk.

Knocked it out of the park

A great read. But I am easy to please when it comes to Spenser. I read all of Parker's books from beginning. I am now enjoying them read to me. I forgot how wonderful they were. They keep a smile on my face.

Filler Book.

The interaction between the reporter and detective was interesting. His spin on life and events was peculiar.

Weak 3 stars.

Not as interesting as others in the series. Not as much humor.

Spenser is hired as bodyguard for Candy, a TV news reporter. Some readers will not like Candy because she uses sex to get ahead. That didn’t bother me, it’s a character type. But the author using stupidity to move the plot does bother me. Candy did two stupid things I did not like. And the ending was not as good as I’d like.

Something else bothered me. Spenser and Susan are in a committed long term relationship. So why does Spenser have sex with gorgeous Candy in LA? He says that he will tell Susan he had sex with Candy because they are honest with each other. When he is having sex with Candy, Spenser says “This is what it is. It leads to nothing more than the moment.” That is supposed to be ok? Not with me. He’s supposed to be my hero. I wouldn’t mind his multiple partners if he did not have Susan.

The narrator Michael Prichard was very good.

This is book #8 in the Spenser series.

Genre: PI mystery

A Different Kind of Spencer

This is one of the more complicated Spenser novels. Spenser cheats on Susan; develops feelings for another woman. The climatic scene was the one of the most complicated in the series. The setting is Los Angeles instead of Boston. There's no Hawk, Quirk, or Belsen. Though there is the requisite amount of humor this is one of the more serious Spenser novels. An excellent short book.

Didn't very much care about this story.

Over the years I've read all the books in no particular order. Since I got audible I've decided to start from the beginning and listen to them in sequence. Thus far this book is my least favorite, mostly because I simply didn't care about the plot or Candy or the LA mob shaking down movie people. I am grateful that I get to revisit them though.

Another Good Spenser Novel

I am a avid Spenser Series fan and it seems as if Mr. Parker only gets better with each book. Fans, Hawk is not in this one and neither is Susan. Hopefully these characters will return and build more of a relationship with Spenser.

Makes no sense

Parkers insight into women is terrible. He just can’t decide if they are normal people or something else. If that was the point -well done

Horrible

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

Love Robert B. Parker, but I couldn't stand the narrator.

Would you ever listen to anything by Robert B. Parker again?

Yes, narrated by someone else.

Just so-so for a Spenser novel.

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Not really. Week plotting and characters. First, Michael Prichard is awful as the narrator. Bring back Joe Mantegna.

Would you recommend A Savage Place to your friends? Why or why not?

No. It's far down the list of Parker's books. Not far from dead last.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Michael Prichard?

Joe Mantegna, best Spenser ever.

Could you see A Savage Place being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

Doing anything with this would be a waste of time and money.