Reviews

Robert B. Parker's Wonderland by Ace Atkins

duparker's review against another edition

3.0

The plus is that you can't tell that this was not written by Robert Parker. The con is that is the same tried and true later day Spenser. If you like the series, you'll like this book.

stevem0214's review against another edition

4.0

Ace Atkins does a good job of continuing on the Spenser series. In this novel, Spenser is in trouble with the mob...or so it seems. Hawk is out of town on another job. Spenser's new apprentice, Zebulan Sixkill, steps in to help out. Good book, but I always like Hawk and the exchanges between Spenser and Hawk, so it draws away just a little.

papidoc's review against another edition

4.0

Atkins is the closest to the original Parker style of any of the fill-in authors I've read. Still, the style isn't the same, and is occasionally disappointing. Harsher language, misdirection of some of the ancillary characters, etc. It seems to me that he has tried to make the series his "own" in some small ways, but the departures are a bit disappointing. Those are relatively small things, though, and overall the storyline kept me interested.

Spenser is on his own turf with his newest "project" Zeb Sixkill. It's a bit reminiscent of Spenser's own struggles early in the series. Hawk is off in Florida, and doesn't make an appearance, and Susan is in NC lecturing, but offers advice by phone. Henry Cimoli brings Spenser in on what seems to be little more than some protection while his condo association works out a buyout deal, but of course it turns into more. Its a convoluted mystery that kept me going until near the end.

jakewritesbooks's review against another edition

3.0

I thought Ace Atkins was brought in to class this series up but this particular one wasn’t much better than standard issue fare from Parker.

So since I have nothing else constructive to add on this particular book, let’s get into the concept of an ageless Spenser.

I’ve been fearing death a lot this week due to climate catastrophes near where I live. I fear death enough as it is and though I believe in an afterlife, it’s just that: a belief.

So that said, I just love the idea that I could remain an immortal soul, forever a 40-year old Vietnam vet turned PI, as long as someone keeps writing me that way. If doing private eye work in Boston is an endless purgatory, hey, there are worse fates. Sign me up.

sbelasco40's review against another edition

2.0

This was a very random purchase because I was like, oh, I haven't read a mystery in awhile, and I did not even realize it was part of the whole Robert Parker universe. Questionable depiction of a Cree Indian who is also definitely the person subject to the most violence in the book (aside from people actually murdered), your standard treatment of women mostly as objects (tho Spenser's relationship with his significant other is actually kind of layered). Idk. Sometimes I read stuff just to see what lots of other people are reading I guess?

clairereviews's review against another edition

3.0

I was really pleased to be given this book to review as I'd previously read a few of the Spenser novels by Parker and enjoyed them. Wonderland was written by Ace Atkins following Parker's death in 2010, and as such, I was not expecting this book to have exactly the same kind of witty repartee as the others.

It was a good story; Spenser as good as ever, but there was something really disappointing about this book that I can't quite put my finger on. Something lacking or not quite right.
The characters were interesting, the prose descriptive and gritty, but this one didn't do it for me. 3/5 stars.

Thanks to the Real Readers team for sending me a review copy.

csdaley's review against another edition

4.5

I am astounded at how good Ace Atkins writes Spenser. THis is quite simply my favorite Spenser novel in a long time, this includes Parker's last few. He has the dialogue down pat but he has added a deftness to plotting which Parker simply didn't have towards the end of his life with Spencer.

jonmhansen's review against another edition

4.0

"That's why I always liked you, Spenser," Wayne said. "You are the most sophisticated thug I ever met."

sunny76's review against another edition

5.0

It is amazing that an author can pick up a character from another author and maintain the character in all of his Spenser-eese. I have read a lot of the Spenser novels, but no where near all of them. I did miss Hawk - he was out of town.

nonna7's review against another edition

3.0

Robert B. Parker died nearly four years ago, but his characters live on. In this case, Spenser, carried on by Ace Atkins. (I wish I could say the same for Jesse Stone, but they're not that well done. Nobody has been interested in picking up Sunny which is too bad.) Wonderland has all of the elements that Parker made so famous: Spenser's combination of cynicism and hope, his undying love for Susan, and his relentless drive to find the truth no matter what the cost. The books are a fun, quick read although Atkins seems to have gone back to the earlier Parker books which had a lot more meat to them. It seemed as Parker got older, he tended to write shorter and shorter. His last few books were practically in "large print" and were definitely double spaced. Wonderland offers some insight into the world of legal gambling which is coming to Boston. Spenser's old pal, Henry Cimoli, the ageless former boxer and gym owner, who lives in a condo on Revere Beach. Someone wants to buy the building and raze it. However, they make the mistake of using goons to rough up some of the residents, retirees for the most part, who are resisting the sale. Henry is one of the ones who is threatened. He asks Spenser to look into it. Soon Spenser is enmeshed in a case that involves murder, beheadings and graft.