The Godwulf Manuscript
Robert B. ParkerPublished 1973
Reviewed and Researched by Lisa Shea
Synopsis
This was the first book in the Spenser series, written in 1973. Robert Parker had obviously done his homework well - he wrote his doctoral thesis on the Private Eye genre of writing! An English Professor living in the Boston area, Parker was sure to write a story near and dear to his heart.
The plot: an illuminated manuscript is stolen. A student is killed, his girlfriend framed, and a tie to left-wing politics, drugs, and all the rest is involved. The story brings our first look at Joe Broz, but Spenser kills off his only two "muscle men" we meet. We also meet Spenser's two favorite cops - Lt. Quirk and Frank Belson.
The story is in "a university" which is studiously unnamed, in Boston by Roxbury. We get the girl's parents on the hill in West Newton, the English Professor on the beach at Marblehead. Lots of talk about the drives between these places. A double murder at Jamaica Pond, a stay at the Boston City Hospital. The final scene takes place at the Copley Plaza hotel.
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Lisa's Notes Wow, what a different "Spenser" from the most recent books! Spenser has gone through a DRAMATIC transformation since this first rough-and-dirty portrayal. In many ways, Spenser is just beginning to develop his personality in this story. There's no Susan, no Hawk, no self-assured steadfastness. Spenser drinks a lot, puts himself down, wisecracks a bit too much, and (this is the best part) sleeps with a mother AND her daughter within 24 hours. It was just too much! Oh, quite enjoyable, of course. All the basic Spenser components are there, in a sort of rough form. The plot was good, the people excellent, the descriptive scenery as always lovely. Spenser meets Brenda Loring, his first real girlfriend in the series. You do learn that Spenser is 37, that he's 6'1", 195 pounds. He talks about wanting a dog = "Maybe I should buy a dog, I thought. He'd be glad to see me when I came home." He says he had a dog when he was younger. Those who follow Spenser through the series will note that Parker introduced a few ideas here which he later abandoned. Spenser talks about going to games in Boston with his dad as a kid. He actually only came to Boston as a teenager, having grown up in Laramy, Wyoming. He talks about going to the Braves Field with his dad, to see Dixie Walker, Clint Hartung, Sibby Sisti and Tommy Holmes. If Spenser was 37 in mid-November 1973, he was born in 1936. Dixie Walker ended his career in 1949, Clint in 1952, Sibby in 1954 and Tommy in 1952. So this says Spense and his dad were in Boston by 1949, when Spenser was 13. Spenser talks about not growing up on a farm. even though he pretty much did. Strangest of all, when he's alone in the house with the sleeping girl, he talks about feeling like his dad did when "all the rest of us" were asleep. The rest of us??? He's an only child! Still, those are minor points in an overall enjoyable beginning to what develops to be a fantastic series. You don't know what sort of gun he uses, tho he does stand 'sideways like at a firing range' to shoot the bad guys. He gets shot in the ribs while taking them out. General notes, they talk about the couple 'living in sin' which I suppose was normal in the early 70s but sounds a bit silly now. The cops pick on fags as being unreliable perverts, but it's not done in a way that condones it. |
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Traveling in Spenser's Footprints * Small urban college, quadrangle w/MBTA on one side. * Nearby pub * Living Marlborough St, 2 blocks from Public Garden * Terry Apt - 80 Hemenway St #3, 10 min away, near university * Police HQ - H to Boylston to Clarendon to Stanhope * Terry's family - West Newton Hill * Fenway to Westland Ave 3117 1/2way to Mass Ave - Mark Tabor * Boston YMCA to work out * Office Stuart St 1/2 block from Tremont, 2nd floor front * Lower end State St - Joe Broz * North Cambridge, brown and gray 3 deckers for Ceremony of Moloch * Fenway apt buildings - Catherine Connelly * Marblehead apt in warehouse by harbor - Dr. Hayden * Jamaica Pond * Boston City Hospital * Boston Copley Plaza Hotel for final scene |
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Spenser's Menu and Drinks * Draft beer at pub with students * Brandy at family house from decanter * Beer at home * Bottle of Pouilly Fuisse * Bourbon with water and bitters with Joe Broz * Bourbon in his desk drawer * Newton - has bourbon soda and bitters again * His apt with girl - bourbon on ice * 2 bottles of Rhine Wine in the fridge * Applejack * "Drinks" in restaurant on top of Insurance Building * Bourbon from paper cups with Quirk (twice) * Pint of Wild Turkey $9 bourbon while tailing Hayden * Pint of Old Overholt at hospital * Bourbon at end at home * Drinks lots of coffee |
Lisa's Review Summary
This was the first book in the Spenser series. Robert Parker had obviously done his homework well - he wrote his doctoral thesis on the Private Eye genre of writing! An English Professor living in the Boston area, Parker was sure to write a story near and dear to his heart. The plot: an illuminated manuscript is stolen. A student is killed, his girlfriend framed, and a tie to left-wing politics, drugs, and all the rest is involved. The story brings our first look at Joe Broz, but Spenser kills off his only two "muscle men" we meet. We also meet Spenser's two favorite cops - Lt. Quirk and Frank Belson.
The story is in "a university" which is studiously unnamed, in Boston by Roxbury. We get the girl's parents on the hill in West Newton, the English Professor on the beach at Marblehead. Lots of talk about the drives between these places. A double murder at Jamaica Pond, a stay at the Boston City Hospital. The final scene takes place at the Copley Plaza hotel.
Wow, what a different "Spenser" from the most recent books! Spenser has gone through a DRAMATIC transformation since this first rough-and-dirty portrayal. In many ways, Spenser is just beginning to develop his personality in this story. There's no Susan, no Hawk, no self-assured steadfastness. Spenser drinks a lot, puts himself down, wisecracks a bit too much, and (this is the best part) sleeps with a mother AND her daughter within 24 hours. It was just too much! Oh, quite enjoyable, of course. All the basic Spenser components are there, in a sort of rough form. The plot was good, the people excellent, the descriptive scenery as always lovely.
Those who follow Spenser through the series will note that Parker introduced a few ideas here which he later abandoned. Spenser talks about going to games in Boston with his dad as a kid. He actually only came to Boston as a teenager, having grown up in Laramy, Wyoming. Spenser talks about not growing up on a farm. even though he pretty much did. Strangest of all, when he's alone in the house with the sleeping girl, he talks about feeling like his dad did when "all the rest of us" were asleep. The rest of us??? He's an only child! Still, those are minor points in an overall enjoyable beginning to what develops to be a fantastic series.
Rating: 5 Stars
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