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Bob & Lisa's
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Walking Shadow
Robert B. Parker
Published 1994
Susan's on the board of the Port City Theater Company, and asks Spenser to help one of it's employees with a stalking problem. Spenser does, but finds no stalker. Then, during a show, one of the actors is shot. While questioning people, Spenser talks to a board member, which upsets her husband, who controls the Chinese gang in the area. So Spenser has no clues and the Chinese "Death Dragons" after him. To complicate matters, another woman claims to be stalked, and then is kidnapped. The local police chief is no help, as he's in the "employ" of the Chinese.
In the end they find the kidnapped woman, solve that murder, handle two more corpses, and wrap things up neatly. One of the women in this story is really "bothersome" - it's a great plot, so I won't reveal more of the details. But I think you'll know who I mean
Lisa Says: I think Parker was on an
"annoying women" kick. This woman was TRULY annoying, although to make up
for her, the Chinese translator they use is smart, resourceful, and
brave. Port City is very well described - you get a very good sense both
of how it feels to wander it's streets, and also of its history and
people. Most of the story either takes place in Port City, or in Boston
at Spenser's office, his apartment, or Susan's office. There's one scene
at a motel on the Maine border. Also, in this story they have just bought
a house in Concord and are busy pruning and ripping out the innards.
In addition to Susan and Hawk, Spenser calls on the help of Vinnie - a mob friend (ex-main-man of Joe Broz) with amazingly fast gun draw. He has Farrel, the gay police officer help him out, too.
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