I picked up this book with great anticipation. I loved the Sunny Randall books written by their creator, Robert B. Parker, and surprisingly, equally enjoyed those written by Reed Farrell Coleman who took over the series after Parker's passing.

Unfortunately, Mike Lupica is no Robert B. Parker, And sadly, he is no Reed Farrell Coleman. This book was a disappointment in so many ways. Lupica attempts to mimic Parker's style but too often slips into cliches, without the wit and irony that were trademarks of Parker's best work. The plot is forced and at times unbelievable, and I lost interest long before the conclusion. The interplay between Jessie and Richie, the two men in Sunny's life was forced and didn't have the sense of reality and actual conversations that are Parker hallmarks,

In the three books in the series penned by Reed Farrell Coleman, he did a wonderful job of keeping Sunny Randall up to the high standards set by Robert B. Parker. Based on this latest work by Mike Lupica, my vote is to either give it back to Coleman or, reluctantly, to retire the character.

This installment of the Sunny series is full of intrigue and quick whit.. Lupica does a good job filling the shoes of Parker in giving Sunny a unique voice. Fans will enjoy the novel.

Very well developed characters and an extremely engaging story. Well thought out and very suspenseful story line that keeps the reader guessing until the final twist! This is the book to read this year! Highly recommended!

This is another title in the Sunny Randall series. Two seemingly different cases are ultimately connected in this mystery. Sunny’s friend Spike needs her help after his restaurant is taken over under a loan agreement. Her friend, cop Lee Farrell, has asked her to check on his niece who is victim of an assault. Lots of characters, but a fairly slow moving plot.

I love Sunny Randall and this was one of the best in the series. Sunny is a real badass and I enjoyed having Jesse Stone and Susan Silverman around. If only Spenser would show up.

Another good job continuing the work of the master RObert B. Parker. The characters feel right and the continued intermingling of his worlds is going well. I cannot wait for the next one.

I loved this book. As a big Parker fan, I marvel that those who took over writing these series have managed to capture the voice of the author. This is a fine addition to the Sunny Randell series. This time the detective becomes involved in 2 cases that overlap. She is also involved with 2 men that overlap. Her relationship with Jesse Stone makes this extremely interesting for fans of both books, as well as a nod to Susan Silverman.

So, this is a terrific read that Parker fans will love, I certainly did.

Thank you Netgalley for giving me real joy during these difficult days.