Parker's Small Vices Not His Best
Small Vices by Robert B. Parker
Robert B. Parker, America's greatest living detective novel writer, continues to churn out stories at a remarkable clip. Explaining to one interviewer that he writes for a living, Parker publishes several books a year. Most contain snappy dialogue and serve to shine the well-defined characters that have lasted through several decades of constant publishing.In 1997's Small Vices, he again has Spenser, his main hero, wrestle with a tangled mystery, rehabilitation from an injury and relationship issues. Unfortunately for Parker and those reading this book, Small Vices sometimes seems more like Rocky 3.1 With A Gun than the crisp detective stories that made this an incredibly lucrative franchise.
Hail, Hail, The Gang's All Here
The action around any Spenser novel not only revolves around Spenser, but the character has developed the annoying habit of presuming the entire fictional universe revolves around him. The self-absorbed character constantly gives in to his id, although he will sporadically check his impulses when the gain to do so places him in a better life. Having read every Spenser novel, I must admit that the character seems stale.Hawk and Susan are well represented again, of course, but this time Hawk plays Apollo Creed to Spenser's Rocky while Susan forces relationship issues that should have happened ten books ago. There is also a lovely small appearance by Rita Fiore, but the sexual energy between her and Spenser now seems contrived and forced, as though two people are simply going through the motions.
Spenser's Boston, as much a character in his stories as any person, is also well represented here and written with fine detail. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of the blah New York setting and non-descript California.
The Plot in Exactly One Hundred Words
Spenser is approached by Rita Fiore to clear a young black man for the murder of a white coed from a well-to-do family. Rita, now at an upper crust law firm, uses the firm's resources to hire Spenser to establish "the truth". But while Spenser is investigating, he is also fending off Susan's attempts to adopt a child. During the investigation, Spenser is shot by a mysterious adversary and is forced to spend months rehabilitating in Santa Barbara. After working out with Hawk, who serves as confessor, trainer and bodyguard, Spenser returns to find his assailant and solve the mystery.What Works Well
Robert Parker brings the issue of race relations up a notch in Small Vices. Beyond the obvious issues of a black man with a history of sexual assault purportedly killing a white woman, Parker also manages to move the relationship between Spenser and Hawk a little away from the Lone Ranger/Tonto repartee featured in most stories.And although the plot is formula through-and-through, Parker's ear for dialogue remains as strong as ever. Readers, especially long-time readers, may find themselves occasionally laughing, smiling or grimacing. Turn the page, reader, because there is another zinger coming soon.
What Doesn't Work As Well
I keep coming back to the plot as the weakest link. Even for the genre, this story seemed pasted in, almost as if Parker thought, "Okay, Spenser and Susan have troubles and Spenser and Hawk need to get closer. I need some conflict and .." And away we go. That's not to say that Parker's writing is poor. In fact, the opposite is true. But this is well-trampled ground that has been covered by everyone in the genre, including Parker himself in the earlier Spenser novel Valediction.Spenser always plays by his own rules, but I found the ending was also unsatisfying. Without spoilers, I will simply say that Spenser does what he considers The Right Thing with typical disregard for society's mores.
The Bottom Line, Dog Earred Pages and All
This is an above average detective novel, but only an average Spenser book. Unfortunately, Robert B. Parker has spent many years raising the bar in this genre, and Small Vices just doesn't measure up in the long run. If, like me, you've read them all, you should probably give a gander. If you're unfamiliar or don't typically read detective stories, you might want to consider starting earlier in Parker's catalog and working forward.Five Things To Remember From This Review
1. Not the best or even of the best Spenser novels, but an okay read.2. Parker recreates a lot of the plot elements from Valediction so don't look for a lot of new ground.
3. Susan takes her relationship to a new level, but Parker doesn't capitalize on the power of this sub-plot.
4. Spenser and Hawk also undergo a change in their relationship - for the better.
5. There is some good social commentary regarding race relations tucked neatly into the story.
