Now & Then

By: Robert B. Parker

Narrated by: Joe Mantegna

Length: 5 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

Spenser knows something's amiss the moment Dennis Doherty walks into his office. The guy's aggressive yet wary, in the way men frightened for their marriages always are. So when Doherty asks Spenser to investigate his wife Jordan's abnormal behavior, Spenser agrees. A job's a job, after all.

Not surprisingly, Spenser catches Jordan with another man, tells Dennis what he's found out, and considers the case closed. But a couple of days later, all hell breaks loose, and three people are dead. This isn't just a marital affair gone bad. Spenser is in the middle of hornet's nest of trouble, and he has to get out of it without getting stung.

With Hawk watching his back and gun-for-hire Vinnie Morris providing extra cover, Spenser delves into a complicated and far-reaching operation: Jordan's former lover, Perry Alderson, is the leader of a group that helps sponsor terrorists. The Boston P.I. will use all his connections, both above and below the law, to uncover the truth behind Alderson's anti-government organization. Alderson doesn't like Spenser poking around his business, so he decides to get to him through Susan. But what Alderson doesn't realize is that Spenser will do anything to keep Susan out of harm's way; nothing will keep him from the woman he loves.

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©2007 Robert B. Parker (P)2007 Random House, Inc. Random House Audio, a division of Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

"This briskly paced cat-and-mouse game offers Spenser fans exactly what they've come to expect from the reliable Parker: no-nonsense action and plenty of romantic give-and-take between Susan and Spenser." ( Publishers Weekly)

Story boring, reading was excellent.

If not for Joe Mantegna’s terrific voice and narration i would have stopped the book pages after the second repeating of Spencer’s and Susan’s review remembrance of the affair that Susan had. It was boring, the main story line was good but the rest was just filter to me.

true spenser

this book is true spenser. all the characters and action you come to expect from him

Hawke and all the rest -- action, plot and a bad guy to stop

Now & Then. Robert Parker

The book was good. I was skeptical from reading the reviews because most reader did not like the way the author said who was talking. But, that was one of the aspects I enjoyed because you always knew who was saying what. Plus there when not of character to reference back too.
Enjoyed it. Now on to my second novel.

Not good

I like Joe Mantegna a lot but he reads this book as if he's making fun of it. I do not think Robert Parker writes great literature but I have enjoyed his books in the past as good escapist fare. The thing is you look at his picture on the cover and then you read about all these stunningly beautiful and super smart characters and it's like "poor guy, I guess we all need our fantasies". I appreciate some of the other genre writers who allow their characters a few human failings. I would not buy this book or download it if I had it to do over. Check it out of the library.

It was better then

Once one of my favorite authors, Mr Parker has taken to writing novellas, having them published in large print with huge margins and calling them novels. This is the first Spenser novel I have heard as an audio book and it is obvious that Mr Parker's terse style along with his frequent "he said", "she added", "Pearl growled" doesn't transfer well to the spoken book.

Mr Mantenga is a competent actor but I never saw him as Spenser. When speaking Hawk's parts I was embarrassed for him and the character. When Avery Brooks played Hawk on the first Spenser series he played Hawk as an intelligent, multi-faceted person. It didn't sound that way with this narrator.

Mr Parker's "Early Autumn" was a wonderful book with interesting characters (and to his credit including a guidance counselor) and a very interesting protagonist. Please go back to the source, Mr Parker, even Hawk was boring in this book.

First Parker Novel

I could hardly listen to the whole book because of the I saids. I don't know if all of his books are this way or if you read it the I saids are not disstracting, but don't download this one!!! The I said, he saids may drive you crazy.

Sandra

Waste of money

As another reviewer put it: The "I said, He said, Everyone said," is so over powering that it is painful to listen to it... All concerned should be ashamed of putting this product out! Did anyone in authority even listen to it?
If the book reads likes this, Robert needs to go over to the home and put a blanket over his lap.

I always love Spenser

This is my first time listening to a Spenser novel, although I've read many. I must say that I enjoy reading them more than listening to them. Perhaps it was the narrator? But I had a hard time getting into the story.

WORST book I've ever tried to listen to!

This was the worst $9.95 I've ever spent on a book! The story would be good BUT, all it seems to say is "I said", "He said" and "She said". The sentences are 1-5 words long, followed by "I said, she said or He said." And there seems to be an emphasis on those words which makes that the only thing your hearing! Please, DO NOT waste your money on this one! It's awful!

VERY annoying to listen to!!

I had been looking for a new mystery writer, and thought I had found one in Robert Parker. I always read the reviews on Amazon.com and those were pretty favorable. Obviously those reviews were from people READING the book. I download a LOT of audiobooks, but had to quit this one after 17 minutes. All of the "He said", "She said", "I said" will drive you crazy. Next time I will read the Audible reviews.