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Looking for Rachel WallaceRobert B. ParkerPublished 1980 |
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Reviewed and Researched by Lisa Shea
Spenser has a lobster dinner and is contracted to bodyguard a lesbian author, Rachel Wallace. Rachel has received death threats after writing an expose of discrimination in the workplace. You have to remember this is '80 while reading it - Spenser makes several "questionable" comments, and her foes are definitely many and bigoted. Right from the start Spenser has to protect her, although their personalities clash. He tromps all over her while trying to "save her" because of course she can't take care of herself. Rachel fires him, and *poof* she's kidnapped.
Spenser finds a bigoted family with some deep conflicts. He traces through a KKK member, some loansharks, gets beaten up and drives in the snow in his 1968 Chevy Convertible. Lucky he didn't try it in Susan's MG. Spenser drinks Becks, Molsons and Asti Spumanti. Rachel, of course, is rescued in dramatic fashion. The book ends with her curled up in Spenser's apartment, holding his hand as she sleeps.
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Lisa's Notes Well, I suppose even now bigotry exists, maybe I fool myself that it's not as bad as the book makes it out to be. It was pretty nasty for a woman who was just writing books. Spenser, who later has a gay police officer friend, is seriously offensive himself a few times. But I suppose to have him "supporting" a lesbian activist in '80 was a reasonably strong move. He has at various times lobster, shrimp, and oysters, even though he claimed earlier to not like fish. Susan pokes her head in for a scene and *poof* is gone - not much for a woman he swore eternal love to and couldn't live without only a short while ago. As much as Susan can generally be annoying, I like when she and Rachel talk, and Susan is gently helping the Rachel-Spenser interaction go more smoothly. Rachel says "Jeez does Spenser protect you?" and Susan replies "No, we protect each other, sort of how I'm looking out for him now." Rachel grudgingly admits this is true, and healthy. Interestingly, Susan knows how to cook in this one - onions, peppers, mushrooms. She even makes ham sandwiches (with the ham from Millerton NY, hickory smoked, no nitrates). She must have forgotten soon thereafter. Susan's power is growing - in this story it says "Her interest in people was emanating. One could almost feel it." It won't be long before the perennial word, "Palpable" shows up!! Spenser is definitely relaxing into his role in the world - I think (bigotry aside) this is the first book that he's really "comfortable with himself" in. He doesn't question his right to do things, he just does them. He punches the picketer. He jumps in when people try to drag her off. He does his job, period. Susan calls him a "Sir Gawain". This is the first time in the series that I remember reading of "Dick Tracy's Crime Stopper Tips" which figure in many stories (Quirk mentions them). It's interesting to hear Rachel bashing Spenser all the time but admit in the end that she needed him to be what he was to rescue her. I wonder if this is a pre-emptive strike at those reviewers who criticize Spenser for being so "macho" - right in the book you have the arguments both ways. Very entertaining. Sadly, no Hawk at all in this one. Spenser's gun is a Smith & Wesson 4" barrel 38 calibur. I love when Spenser is gaining entrance to Mr. Lawrence's house and calls himself "Joseph E. McCarthy" :) :) There's an interesting exchange about Spenser's drinking at the beginning, S with Heineken in hand: Guy: "You drink only beer, Mr. Spenser? S: "No, I'll drink wine sometimes." Guy: "But no hard liquor?" S: "Not often. I don't like it. I like beer." |
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Traveling in Spenser's Footprints * Locke Ober Restaurant - Winter St by Common * Ritz Cafe * Rosalie's in Marblehead * Belmont Public Library for signing * Harvest in Cambridge for lunch * Channel 4 News Studio * First Mutual Insurance cafeteria * Boston Police HQ at Berkley by Boylston * Raw Bar at Quincy Market * Office - Mass Ave & Boylston, 2nd floor over smokeshop * Tickner's office top floor overlooking common (he parked by state house) * Boston Globe on Morrissey Blvd to see Wayne Cosgrove * Park SQ building to see Manfred Roy, KKK member * Sub stand on St James ave * Friendly's on Trapelo Road to meet Belmont cop * Boston Public Library - across street for Chinese * Commonwealth & Dartmouth - Manfred's apartment * Dorchester Sears warehouse for Mulready & Cody * Watertown 2 family hse - Mungo's House (10 blocks to Eastern Lamjun Bakery) * Eastern Lamjun Bakery on Belmont St, Watertown * "Fancy part of Belmont" for Lawrence Turnbull's 3 story house |
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Spenser's Menu and Drinks * Heineken with Lobster Dinner * Beck's Beer with Veal Giorgio * Beer and Batter-fried shrimp * Oysters and Beer at Quincy Market (Walrus and the Carpenter) * Peking ravioli and mushu pork at Chinese * 2 bottles of Asti Spumanti with Susan * Beck's again and again * Molsen Golden Ale * Dinner - Soave Bolla with Spaghetti * Black coffee with large shot of Irish Whiskey & sugar when beat up * Lambchops and black bread * Bourbon after rescuing Rachel * Red beans, rice, green pepper, scallions, cornbread and beer |
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