It’s wonderful to see the Spenser and Hawk story continue. Sassy, irreverent dialogue, you can’t help but like Spenser’s one liners.

Robert B Parker’s Bye Bye Baby is the most fun I’ve had in a while with a smart and witty thriller. Ace Atkins writes a charming protagonist in Spenser with hilarious comebacks and badass lines that made me fall in love with him instantly. With this being my first Spenser story, I wasn’t sure what to expect going into the book but it’s safe to say my expectations were blown sky-high.
The latest Spenser adventure finds the renowned Boston PI working a timely political case where a young congresswoman advocating for immigrant rights is targeted by a white supremacist group. Not one for sharp political leanings, Spenser’s only concern with the case is the well-being of the congresswoman matched in intensity only by his dislike for bullies. With double crosses and shaky alliances in store for Spenser, he depends on his sparkling personality, ingenious sleuthing skills, and his dependable partner, Hawk, to put an end to the Neo-Nazis plaguing his town.
Right off the bat, there’s a distinctive aura reverberating from the easy-going narrative style that feels natural to read and get immersed in. The characters and settings convey a blissful union of the old school detective tales and the fast-paced modern-day setting. The calm familiarity exuding from Ace Atkins’s writing style create an impression of a colorful universe with a rich history that made me want to pick up the previous books in the series as soon as I finished this one.
Spenser walks in the perfect middle ground between being awkwardly glee and depressingly glum. I caught myself laughing out loud countless times as Spenser took care of business with a light demeanor and a mean right cross. At the same time, his uncompromising moral compass is subtly displayed through meaningful peeks underneath his friendly persona when he shares his displeasure at dealing with racists, not only verbally but also physically, building up to intense standoffs and fisticuffs.
The pacing and turn of events in the story feel skillfully grounded with a tinge of dark comedy. Spenser is not shown to be a one-man army, which makes the realistic scale of the narrative all the more exciting and intriguing as the plot unravels at a breakneck pace without rushing the magic of its character-driven storytelling. One thing is for certain, Robert B Parker’s Bye Bye Baby is undoubtedly going to be one of the most memorable thrillers of the upcoming year.

Full Review is posted with blurb image on: https://www.bestthrillerbooks.com/kashif-hussain/bye-bye-baby-by-ace-atkins

Ace Atkinson does a great job continuing this loved series.Smart writing funny moments as well written detective story looking forward to more in this series.#netgalley #penguinputnam

Yes! Although I've read and enjoyed all the Spenser book written by this author after original author Robert B. Parker's passing, there always seemed to be something missing. For one thing, the "voice" of Spenser's pal Hawk never seemed quite right (and too often, he didn't get enough page space for my liking - he's a favorite recurring character). Well, I'm delighted to report that both my complaints went down the drain in this entertaining adventure; both Spenser and Hawk sound very much like they used to, and Hawk appears enough to keep me satisfied (well, almost).

To be sure, the topic is timely as well; asked by her chief of staff to help with protection, Spenser takes on guardian duties of Carolina Garcia-Ramirez, an incumbent congresswoman of color who's in the middle of a reelection campaign. In the primary, she's trying to hold off one of the "establishment" - meaning an old white man. Problem is, she's been getting death threats that her chief of staff thinks she isn't taking seriously enough. Carolina doesn't believe she needs extra protection and Spenser isn't sold on the job, but his longtime squeeze Susan Silverman is a huge fan of the congresswoman so offers some encouragement.

Just in case (and because he can't be everywhere at once, Spenser brings Hawk into the security detail - and later, another familiar character, Zebulon Sixkill, a brute of a guy who got his training courtesy of Spenser and Hawk. The whole thing turns deadly serious when someone tries to run down Carolina and her boyfriend; Spenser's team, and the FBI (who, needless to say, aren't thrilled that Spenser is on the case) chalk up most of the threats to a group called The Minutemen - white supremacists at their finest led by a Harvard grad turned gun-toting anti-establishment guru.

A few other characters from previous books will be familiar to fans as well, including the late Joe Broz, with whom Spenser had a sort of hold hands to keep from fighting relationship. This time, though, he tangles with the gangster's wayward son, Gerry - whose hand Spenser has no intention of holding. And in the midst of all this, Hawk asks Spenser for a favor that no doubt will make its way to the next book and beyond.

Spenser's usual humorous banter seems even more on target than usual (I hope the line about '50s heartthrob Pat Boone stays in the final version - it's a hoot, so watch for it). The most recent incarnation of Spenser and Susan's dog, Pearl, adds a bit of fun to lighten the story's darker side. All told, this one grabbed and held my attention throughout - so much so that I polished it off in a single day (which, of course, made me sorry the next day that I hadn't tried to make it last). Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for giving me the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy.

Ace Atkins has done a pretty good job continuing Robert B. Parker's Spenser series but I felt this one was
a bit different. Of course it had the expected action and fast paced storyline but it just felt a little too
political. Overall a good read and will look forward to the next. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity.

Ace Atkins has done a great job again continuing the Spenser series. Entertaining and fast-paced, with the usual clever banter between characters.

It's always great to see a new Parker title, even if it's not truly Bob's. Ace Atkins continues to do a masterful job in continuing the series. He's respectful to the characters, has adapted readily to the style of dialogue, and is aware enough of the history to throw in those literary references.

I appreciate that Ace has taken on the subjects involved here. At first I was afraid that I was reading a rehash of Looking for Rachel Wallace, but thankfully I was clearly mistaken. While addressing racism has always been a sidebar to any of the Spenser novels, this book takes a more direct focus. Atkins does a great job of stating his case though not being so cavalier as to try and solve the problem.

It's also nice to see Spenser begin to age, although certainly not to the point where he would actually be. It's always a little odd to think that the original character was a Korean War vet. It's also nice to see the regulars back in action, although I would love to see Paul more fully fleshed in the future, rather than a passing reference.

I have loved Spenser forever and Ace Atkins does a great job with Robert B Parker's character. it would be a close call on who wrote what...please keep them coming

Spenser gets better with age. This is a Spencer book, full of the usual characters, but brought up to date by a plot based on a supposed assassination of a progressive, minority political figure based loosely on AOC. Spenser protects her while going up against a white hate group based in Boston.

As always, the chase is fun. Spenser and Hawk deal with aging and are aware of limitations. Of course, Susan remains as beautiful as ever. There is a perfect setup for the next Spenser/Hawk adventure. I can’t wait!

Thank you Netgalley for this novel. Without a doubt, Spenser remains one of my favorites.