The Professional by Robert B. Parker

The Professional

By: Robert B. Parker

2009

G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 289 pages

Book 37 in the Spenser Series

Time Period – Unstated, probable late 90s /early 2000s.

Synopsis – Boston P.I. Spenser is approached by Elizabeth Shaw an attorney whose specialty is wills and trusts. Her line of work has led her to become acquainted with, and befriend, some of Boston’s wealthiest citizens. Four of Shaw’s clients have a problem that they hope can be dealt with discretely. Abigail Larson, Beth Jackson, Regina Hartley and Nancy Sinclair have all been seduced and had affairs with a man named Gary Eisenhower. This blackmailing Romeo is now threatening to reveal evidence of their trysts to their rich older husbands unless they pay substantial sums of money.

Spenser’s efforts to track down Gary Eisenhower are successful but he is not the only person interested in Gary. Beth Jackson’s husband Chester also has placed together some of the pieces of the puzzle regarding his wife and is also looking for her lover. When Spenser does locate Gary he is initially flummoxed by the fact that Gary won’t stop, even with threats of violence, and Spencer’s clients will not press charges because their husbands would find out about their affairs. Spencer must creatively use alternative means to make Gary stop his blackmail attempts. Interestingly, this doesn’t necessarily involve ending the affairs, just the blackmail.

The ending of the blackmail does not disentangle Spencer for long because soon after Chester Jackson is found assassinated. Now a complicated blackmail investigation has turned to murder. Spencer now must use his contacts within the police and underworld to solve what ends up being a series of murders. Throughout the work, Spencer predominantly keeps his own council but seeks the advice of his longtime lover Susan Silverman who makes interesting observations about the interplay of love, lust, and fidelity in human relations.

Title Characteristics

Genre – Hardboiled Fiction, Mystery

Sub-Genre – Private investigators

Pacing – Fast-Paced

Frame / Setting – As with all Spencer Novels this book is centered around Boston, Massachusetts.

Character– Snarky. Spenser’s wit makes for laugh-out-loud moments.

Tone/Mood – Atmospheric, Darkly Humorous, Suspenseful

Style/Language – Banter-filled, Compelling, Gritty, Spare, Witty.

Personal Observation – Careful readers who have a good understanding of human nature will be able to predict the conclusion. Yet because of the wonderful dialog and tension caused by moral ambiguity, this takes little away from the reader’s enjoyment. It is comparable to a train wreck; you see it coming but you can’t look away.

Read-alikes (Novelist Plus)

1.      The black-eyed blonde by Benjamin Black

2.      They dying trade by Peter Corris

3.      Storm front by Jim Butcher

4.      The monkey’s raincoat by Robert Crais

5.      Jhereg by Steven Brust

Sources

Novelist Plus. (2019). Read-alikes for The professional.

Saricks, J. G. (2009) The Readers Advisory Guide to Genre Fiction (2nd Edition). Chicago, IL. American Library Association.