Robert B. Parker's Angel Eyes (Spenser Book 47)

Let me get into the one part of the story… that is bad… before getting to the excellent core of the book. The most irritating female in fictional detective writing history… Susan… who’s…. (Don’t want to shock you here…) a Ph.D. from Harvard. In case you didn’t know that… she and “Spens” continue to tell you that… over… and… over… and… over… for decade upon decade. A NONAGENARIAN that constantly talks in sexual double entendres… is not cute or sexy… it’s downright creepy. If the author wants a top ten list of ways to “permanently” write her out of the series… I’d be more than willing to provide it! Now… on to a great story…As like perhaps a million other Robert B. Parker fans who had read all his books… I originally… through blind loyalty to a personal… partying… rough and tumble (imaginary) bosom buddy (Parker/Spenser)… I didn’t want to fully accept the torch and memories being passed to Ace Atkins. Ace’s prior Spenser episodes were OK… but this one (other than not having the literary cajones to “off” the despised Susan)… is not only a classic… but worthy of being side by side… with the renowned Parker himself. He takes Spenser’s “SNAPPY-DIALOGUE-REPARTEE” to a new and glorious… expanded… non-stop level. Analogies that range from ancient Hollywood Stars… and old songs… to the present… are not only witty… but seem to be more prevalent… in an almost non-stop machine gun like patter… than even the original.And just like the master himself… he always finds ways to seamlessly bring in old criminal… and law enforcement friends and foes. In this case… as Spens leaves his normal playground in Boston… for a trip to LA-LA-Land… he “dusts-off” old compadres… Zebulan Sixkill (Z)…Chollo… Bobby Horse… Victor Del Rio… LAPD antagonist Samuelson… and a few other lesser known historical connections. What makes this episode a little different is that Spenser’s stories usually start with how the case came to him… this one starts where Spenser is already in action in Los Angeles on a case and then fills you in and takes you along for an entertaining ride doused with liquor… food… fights… gunshots… and enough wisecracks to fill five tents for Barnum and Bailey. Spens took a case from a Mother in Boston whose daughter Gabby Leggett… a sexy… conniving… mysteriously hooked up with a strange self-improvement off the grid group… has disappeared for a couple of weeks while leaving a trail linked to many loose ends including a Harvey Weinstein “type” movie mogul… throw in Armenian gangs… and jilted boyfriends… and free spirits in an acting class… and you have the heart of this wonderful romp with Boston’s raining “King of Witticisms” our one and only Spenser! (There is also an extra-ordinary new character that I hope will become a staple in future episodes… Z’s associate… Jem Yoon… a young attractive woman… who hacks technology… like Ritz makes crackers… and throws back shots of whiskey… like a sailor on his first leave after a year at sea.)There is special thanks from the author in the back of the book to four people “for their hospitality and guidance in Los Angeles.”… And one of them is Robert Crais. If you’re also a fan of Crais’ Joe Pike and Elvis Cole series like I am… you’ll get an ENORMOUS kick out of Ace slipping in… an almost Alfred Hitchcock-like… move… where Hitchcock used to always slip himself in a cameo role in his movies… when (this is not a spoiler)… Atkins… in homage to Crais slips the following in a scene where Spenser is jogging on a hill in Los Angeles and people are passing by him on the trail…“A MUSCULAR MAN CARRYING A GREEN RUCKSACK JOGGED DOWN THE WINDING TRAIL. THE SLEEVES HAD BEEN CUT FROM HIS SWEATY GRAY T-SHIRT, SHOWING RED ARROW TATTOOS ON HIS DELTS. I NODDED AT HIM AND HE NODDED BACK, MY REFLECTION IN HIS MIRRORED SUNGLASSES.”Haaa! That is such a cool move Ace! Please feel free to contact me for my ideas on how to get rid of Susan in your next episode. My ideas don’t take a Harvard Ph.D. to put into action. Great book!

There is something to be said about leaving a dead author’s body of work alone to speak for itself. Unfortunately, frequently the author’s estate attempts to exploit the dead writer’s “franchise” by engaging aghost writer to continue a series.Ace Atkins has never really captured Spenser. The characters have the same names but their depth is gone. Parker’s famous repartee between characters falls flat here. Atkins fails to capture Parker’s ironic sense of humor. The plot reads as contrived making it difficult to suspend disbelief.I found myself constantly comparing this book with Parker’s canon of work and this novel doesn’t even come close to Parker’s work. If this book had not been labeled a “Spenser” novel, I wouldn’t have picked it up. After I started reading, I had to force myself to finish hoping the old Spenser would reappear. No such luck. This novel ends with a dull thud.

Atkins is a fine writer, but it's evidently a journey to speak in any kind of authorial voice close to Robert B Parker. In Angel Eyes, for the first time since Atkins took over the series, there were moments when I felt he was truly channeling Parker's unique Spenser inner dialog.Spenser returns to Los Angeles and his protege Zebulon Sixkill, working a "ripped from the headlines," case involving a thinly-veiled NXIVM-type cult thought to be responsible for the disappearance of a young actress. The plot moves along nicely, to a reasonably satisfying conclusion. It's a perfectly credible noir detective story, and at times we almost feel as though Parker's back. Other times, most notably in Atkins' attempts to write Susan, the contrast between the past and the present is evident.Good story, well worth the time.

Ace Atkins’ “Angel Eyes” is a story about retrieving a missing girl from a cult group. Spenser is on a stakeout an apartment of Gabby Leggett with Zebulon Sixkill in L.A. Spenser was asked to find a missing future model/actress daughter from Gabby’s mother through Susan. Spenser’s former apprentice now becomes a private eye in L.A. At first he didn’t get any clue of her missing. After dogged pursuit, he found she was won over to a cult group, HELIOS. She was blackmailing a famous movie studio boss, Jimmy Yamashiro, to raise funds for the group. Atkins is well aware of recent METOO movements in Hollywood. Aum Shinrikyo related cases are still fresh in Japanese’s memories. Joe Haldorn, the founder of HELIOS, lived and let live with Vartan Sarkisov, a leader of an Armenian gang. Gabby is depicted as having brighter green eyes. Matt Dennis’ vocal resonates throughout the episode.The pleasure of reading Spenser novels is in his wisecracks together with his vast knowledge about American culture. This episode is no exception. You need to google many words in every seconds to appreciate characters’ conversation catch-ball. Spenser lives in a very small world, but, keeps close relationship with his friends. Samuelson frequently appears in L.A. stories since “A Savage Place.” Spenser left red roses on Candy Sloan’s grave at the end of this episode. Victor del Rio and his body guards, Chollo and Bobby Horse, became semi-regulars since “Stardust.” They all becomes good help to confront with Armenian Power. Owing to Spenser’s incessant pressure to the connection between the cult and the gang, their coexistence and co-prosperity principle broke up from the inside. Atkins prepares no scene for Hawk in this story, but, he hints Pearl appearing on Instagram. The dog keeps up with the times. We miss Hawk.

Excellent to reacquainted ourselves with Z, Chollo and Bobby horse. Spenser out west trying to rescue a damsel in distress. This damsel isn't very likeable but he tries anyway. I miss Boston and I miss Hawk but this nevertheless is a worthy addition to the series . Ace continues to deliver the story we love and long may he continue. It's astonishing how he has kept these characters so like they were meant to be when Mr Parker created them.

Another great addition to the Spenser canon from Ace Atkins, I prefer the Boston set books but soon settled into L.A. Gritty and witty, with a nice tip of the hat to Robert Crais. I really enjoyed it.

It was ok, but not one of the best by a long chalk.

Superb writer standing in for another great writer.

I enjoyed this book..Ace Atkins catches some of the charm of Robert B Parker's Spencer. Happy to be able to look forward to Spencer novels again written in the style of Robert Parker...