Walking Shadow

A Spenser Novel

By: Robert B. Parker

Narrated by: Daniel Parker

Spenser is investigating the Port City Theater Company, where the director claims he's being stalked. When an actor is shot dead during a performance, all clues lead to the local Chinese Mafia, whose roots run deep in this drab waterfront city. With Hawk and ex mobster Vinnie assisting, Spenser eventually triumphs in one of his most compelling adventures.Crack another case with Spenser.©1995 Robert B. Parker (P)2009 Phoenix

Critic reviews

"In fine form here, Parker's sardonic Boston PI Spenser, last seen in Paper Dolls , encounters danger, venality and plenty of comic material in this brisk tale spanning the worlds of experimental theater and illegal immigration." ( Publishers Weekly)
"This is a tough, cleverly plotted novel in which each character's essence is revealed as Spenser sorts through the tangle of apparent motives." ( Booklist)
"An irresistible new crime novel that will captivate both longtime and soon-to-be-devoted Spenser lovers." ( Kirkus Reviews)

The narrator's lisp ruined it for me.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

The plot is solid. Typical Robert Parker.

Would you be willing to try another one of Daniel Parker’s performances?

Absolutely not.

Any additional comments?

The story itself was good. It was amusing, dark, and action oriented. The only problem for me, and it was a huge problem, was the narrator's lisp. Once you have heard Burt Reynolds and Joe Mantegna narrate no one is as good, but this guy had a very, very noticeable lisp that really detracted from the intensely masculine character of Spenser.

Worst reader

Another clever Parker with good characters and hard to figure out plot. This is all nearly ruined by the worst reader I've heard on Audible. The book should be removed and re-recorded.

I hate this narrator!

He is not for this book series! His voice is too young. He sounds about 21 and Spencer must be near 60. it just doesn't work. it may kill the series for me.

horrible reader

having a lispy effeminate narraror for a spenser novel is almost unlistenable. Decent story but hard to get through.

Spenser couldn't save this.

After reading many comments about this book, I was very hesitant about purchasing it, but in the long run I figured, it's a Spenser novel. I have to do it, so I made the purchase.
Because it has been stated so many times by other readers reviews, I will not dwell on the narrator's very effeminate and childlike voice it does take alot away from the reading of this novel.

Only after I had listened to this book did a thought occur to me, this choice in a narrator for this particular story line had to been on purpose, A story where there are many "actors" and one character being gay, why not have a very effeminate voice narrator to have the listener drawed into the story?

Unfortunately it just didn't pan out that way, for myself at least, the voice was just too much of a speed bump to overcome,
The main reason for getting this story even after all the reviews was simply this is a Spenser novel, love it or hated it I just had to have it in my collection.

All Spencers are good!

I won't take the time to leave a review for every Spencer I have ever read or listened to. All are good though the later ones I prefer over the very early ones.

They changed narrator quite a few times in the series and while Daniel Parker is OK, he is probably my least favorite.

Good Plot

Definately one of the better Spenser books from a plot standpoint, but one of the worst readers. Hawk comes off sounding effeminate and Sperser is emasculated. Thank goodness for excellent writing as it saves the day.

Terrible narrator!!!!

The story is classic Spenser, but ruined by the awful narration. I thought David duke was the pits, but this guy is worse.

AUDIBLE! PLEASE!! Re-record the middle books in this series with Joe Mantegna narrating!

Worst Narration Ever

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

I have listened to all the Spenser novels and this is the worst narration of any of the books. The narrator sounded like a woman and it was very difficult to distinguish one character from another.

Terrible reader!

This reader does not give the Spenser persona at all. He sounds like someone who should be reading children's books. No fire and his delivery is better suited to some college professors I have had - asleep in five minutes. The story was great, but the reading was not up to a Parker book standards.