|
The Judas GoatRobert B. ParkerPublished 1978 |
|
Reviewed and Researched by Lisa Shea
We knew it was inevitable that Robert B. Parker's fifth book be called The Judas Goat, since the term came up in the previous story and seemed such a cool term. For those unfamiliar with what a Judas Goat is, it's not directly about the original Judas of the Jesus story. Instead, it's about cattle slaughter. When they are leading cows in to be killed, the cows of course get very antsy about the new and scary surroundings. So the meat-handlers send a goat in to lead the cows down the chute. Trusting the goat, the cows calm down and follow the goat in. The goat gets out the other side and goes back around for more cows.
So, OK, back to the story. You begin in fancy-town Weston, with the manor-home of Hugh Dixon. The beginning of this is VERY much just like the beginning of the Big Sleep, minus the flirtatious daughter. That's because Hugh's family has been blown up by a terrorist group called "Liberty" - collateral damage from a statement-making bomb. Hugh wants Spenser to get the 9 members of Liberty for $25k.
Grabbing dinner with Susan after her Harvard class, he tells her at dinner at the Collonade Hotel, "I need a Judas Goat." Off he goes to London. Dinner at Simpson's-on-the-strand, puts out a reward and sight-sees London for a week. Finally they make a move and he shoots them both. He follows one to her home and after another attempt on his life, he calls Susan and tells her to call the gym to get Hawk.
Hawk comes out, and they start jet-setting. Hawk makes a crude comment about Susan's a%% which he quickly retracts. Spenser gets caught and reveals all, including the "Judas Goat" idea. The guy in charge is a racist who believes Africa belongs to "us". Hawk and Spenser kill 3 thugs but Paul and Kathie escape. On to Amsterdam. Paul finally tires of this and delivers the last 2 guys plus Kathie (alive) to Spenser. As Spenser breaks down and has wine with his snack he says "maybe the people who didn't chill it knew what they were about." A beacon of hope for Spenser!!
In an unlikely plot twist, Kathie remembers Paul had tickets for the Olympics, they're on in Montreal and off they go. Spenser tells Dixon what is up and Dixon keeps paying. Back to Montreal where Kathie has turned into a sex fiend. They go to the Olympics, see Paul there, and it turns out Paul is trying to assassinate someone (probably a black runner). They fight them, Kathie shoots Paul, Spenser and Hawk pound on Paul's friend, and all is well. It ends with Susan and Spenser back in London eating at the Post Office Tower. He has Amstel Beer while she has a Mateus Rose wine. The novel ends with "We can shower in the morning", wink wink.
Buy The Judas Goat from Amazon.com
Spenser for Hire Master Listing
|
Lisa's Notes Susan's just starting Harvard Summer School here for psychology, and stays behind while Spenser goes to England. Which is a relief -grin-. Spenser is going on and on about how he misses her and it's the first time he's missed anybody. But he gets there and his ONLY idea is to put an ad in the paper and wait. Nothing else? How about checking local newspapers for any articles or history they know about the group? Hanging out in pubs or something? Anything? No, Spenser the Master Sleuth just sits there. Bizarre. Of course, it works for him, but it had to, didn't it! Also strange is that the last story had them almost married and then this one hardly mentions Susan. And in the last story Hawk is a casual acquaintance, on the wrong side of the law, but in this story he's a good friend and is the one Spenser turns to, trusting his life to, when he gets into trouble. Susan really doesn't know Hawk well and doesn't know how to contact him. These changes are all a bit abrupt. Plus the fact that it's all "foreign". It seems like Parker had some trips he wanted to take and be able to write them off as book expenses. A pet peeve of mine here is that Spenser is quite happy to slay or take in the GUYS, but the GIRL must be an "innocent victim" here who just happened to blow up people for fun. He lets her go because she's female, not necessarily because she's any more or less involved than the other guys. Spenser says he hates fish a few times in here. And he doesn't know how to get Susan out of her tennis outfit, tho other times it implies he's quite into tennis. As a final comment, the Made-for-TV movie of this story actually has a FAR more interesting plot, with more twists and turns, and doesn't turn Kathie into a sex-crazed nympho. |
|
Traveling in Spenser's Footprints * Big house in Weston (Hugh Dixon's house) * 100 Federal Street office overlooking harbor (Jason Carroll, Atty) * Harvard Yard, Sever Hall (meeting Susan) * Spenser's Apartment * St. Botolph Restaurant at the Collonade Hotel * Heathrow Airport (meets Michael Flemings) * The Mayfair Hotel * Dinner at Simpsons-on-the-Strand * Westminster Bridge, National Gallery, British Museum, Tower of London * London Zoo with terrorists in cat-and-mouse game * Girl's apt by Post Office Tower on Tottenham Street * Dinner at the Post Office Tower * Research at the Reading Room at the British Museum * Copenhagen Sheraton * Apartment on Vester Sagade * Tivoli Park * Amsterdam Marriott * Little Nun restaurant * Walking on Kalverstraat * Dinner at the Bali restaurant * Henri Bourassa Blvd in Montreal * Rte 1 - Karl's Sausage Kitchen * Donovan's Package Store, Smithfiend * Susan's house - little cape, white with silvery-grey shingles * Montreal - Bacco's in old section by Victoria Square * End at Post Office Restaurant in London |
|
Spenser's Menu and Drinks * Several beer on the flight * Coors at the hotel * Draught Beer at Simpson's-on-the-strand * Four beer before sleep * Several bottles of Amstel at the Post Office Tower * Hawk grabs Taittinger Champagne while Spenser has more Amstel * Carlsberg Beer in Copenhagen * More Amstel in Amsterdam * Labatt 50 Ale in Montreal * Beer and wine dinner at Montreal house * 4 bottles of Dom Perignon with Susan * 2 cans Utica Club Cream Ale * Montreal again - O'Keefe Ale and Champagne in fridge * More Labatts 50 Ale * Beer & Hot Dog at stadium, beer & sausage for lunch * Amstel and Mateus Rose (for Susan) in London |
Buy The Judas Goat from Amazon.com
Spenser for Hire Master Listing