Robert B. Parker's Lullaby

A Spenser Mystery

By: Ace Atkins

Narrated by: Joe Mantegna

Length: 7 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

When 14-year-old Mattie Sullivan asks Spenser to look into her mother’s murder, he’s not completely convinced by her claim that the police investigation four years ago was botched. Mattie is gruff, street-smart, and wise beyond her years, left to care for her younger siblings and an alcoholic grandmother in a dilapidated apartment in South Boston. But her need for closure and her determination to make things right hit Spenser where he lives - they’re the very characteristics he abides by.

Mattie believes the man convicted of the crime is innocent, and points Spenser to the Southie toughs she saw carrying her mother away hours before her murder. Neither the Boston PD nor the neighborhood thugs are keen on his dredging up the past, but as Spenser becomes more involved in the case, he starts to realize that Mattie may be on to something. He will need Hawk’s help to find peace for Mattie - a job that’s more dangerous than Spenser ever thought.

©2012 Ace Atkins (P)2012 Random House

Critic reviews

“Handpicked by the Parker estate to be the keeper of the flame for the Spenser franchise, award-winning author Ace Atkins rises flawlessly to the occasion.” (Kirkus Reviews)

“Atkins succeeds. He doesn’t sound like somebody trying to emulate Parker. He sounds like Parker in a book that hits all the usual Spenser notes. He has the wisecrack-filled dialogue down and Parker’s cadences, too: Spenser, thankfully, sounds like Spenser. You also get the vivid sense of place, flexing of muscles and spare plot that were hallmarks of Parker’s 39 Spenser books….It’s a feat when a writer creates characters who live and breathe on the page and make readers care and keep coming back for more. To manage that with someone else’s characters, let alone with an icon like Spenser, is a minor miracle. Ace Atkins pulls it off.” (Chicago Sun-Times)

“Even the most fanatical Parker fans would be hard pressed to identify any aspect of this Spenser novel that doesn’t read as if it were penned by Spenser’s late creator.…Atkins hits all the familiar marks...as he offers familiar pleasures.” (Publishers Weekly)

Parker's legacy continues.

What made the experience of listening to Robert B. Parker's Lullaby the most enjoyable?

The reader is clearly superior and makes the book come to life. It was a great thrill to see that Parker's legacy will continue. The new author didn't miss a beat. I hope he will continue with more Spenser novels.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Hawk and he should play a greater role.

What does Joe Mantegna bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

No other reader is as good as Mantegna. He makes each of the characters recognizable with their own special voice characteristics.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

no... it was all good.

Any additional comments?

Encourage the new author to continue. His direct stories without too many tangents or too much flowery language makes it a pleasure to listen to.

Always meets my expectations

Would you listen to Robert B. Parker's Lullaby again? Why?

I have yet to listen to a book twice. This is a murder mystery, so it would have to be extremely compelling in terms of writing and story line to bring me back again.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Robert B. Parker's Lullaby?

The character of the young girl, Mattie, who hires Spenser, was fun to hear. It was easy to appreciate her spunk.

Which character – as performed by Joe Mantegna – was your favorite?

I won't offer a favorite. Joe Mantegna is a great performer and brings everyone alive.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Small client, big case--After 10 years, can even Spenser find the truth?

Any additional comments?

Always a great listen.

Welcome back Spenser....Hawk....Susan...Pearl...

The gang's all back and fans can rejoice - we missed you guys!!!! I hadn't heard that Mr. Atkins had taken on the gargantuan task of continuing the Spenser series. I was a little nervous picking up Lullaby but not for long. Sounds like Spenser, acts like Spenser and more importantly interacts with Hawk like Spenser. Hopefully, Ace Atkins has plans to keep up the good work

Spenser lives...........

What made the experience of listening to Robert B. Parker's Lullaby the most enjoyable?

Good Robert B Parker type story. Senser takes case of child no one else will listen too, and determines she knows more than the police regarding the murder of her mother. Didn't know what to expect with new author but happy to report it was a first rate effort. However the dialogue is not quite up to Parker's standard. It's fine with general cast of charaters but those more immediate or intimate exchanges between Spenser and Susan or Spenser with Hawk, there is something missing. But Parker was a master of that type of exchange, so tough shoes to fill.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Just an intersting story.

What about Joe Mantegna’s performance did you like?

Joe does a nice job with the Boston inflection. Needs to work a little bit on Hawk's voice but not a bad effort at all. And I have to admit Hawk to me wshould always sound like Avery Brooks presentation of the character from the TV series.

Any additional comments?

To Parker's Spenser fans, I'd say give it a try. I think you'll be back for more, at least I know i will.

A Valiant Effort

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

As crime stories go, this is pretty good. The problem lies in where the bar is set for this series. Spenser is an American icon and Robert B. Parker was the absolute master of the genre. His use of language was lean and spare, yet packed a punch comparable to Spenser's right cross, and his literary voice was unmistakeable. Asking another writer to pick up his mantle is like asking someone to carry for Hemingway. If you're a casual ran of the genre and aren't overly familiar with Parker, this is a worthy listen. If, like me, you loved Parker's novels and waited for each new Spenser novel the way a child awaits Christmas, then this is a frustrating listen. A Spenser novel is like great jazz. Atkins knows all the notes and he plays them well. But they aren't his notes and it's not his solo he's riffing on. When you listen, you keep telling yourself "That's not Coltrane." With this listen, that same thought kept coming to me: That's not Parker. And I don't mean that as a knock on Ace Atkins. His books, with his own characters, are excellent and I enjoy them -- because he writes them with his own literary voice. Taking over for a master artist is a thankless task, and as efforts to carry on a legend go, this is a worthy effort. But by definition, any such effort is missing that master's touch.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

This didn't have that Parker ending, but it was good.

What about Joe Mantegna’s performance did you like?

Joe Mantegna was my favorite narrator for Parker's novels. It was a great pairing -- equal to the incredible pairing of James Lee Burke's words and Will Patton's narration. You hear echoes of that great Parker-Mantegna chemistry as he reads this book. He does a wonderful job. But it's not Parker.

Did Robert B. Parker's Lullaby inspire you to do anything?

It inspired me to go back and listen to the original Spenser novels again. And it inspired me to go looking for more of Ace Atkins' novels. Not sure it inspired me to buy the next effort in this series. This one reminded me of how much we all lost when Parker passed away, and how much this genre owes to its now past master.

Any additional comments?

I did try making the dish Atkins described early in the book: sweet potatoes, andouille sausage and onions sautéed together with a little real maple syrup and a hint of brown sugar. It was delicious. I added some granny smith apple to mine the second time I made it and it was exceptional.

Resurrection

You CANNOT tell that Robert Parker did not write this. If you love Robert Parker's Spenser series, there is reason to rejoice...halleluia! Lullabye is a typical Parker story but for some reason, his books never get old. It's a nice book to listen to while walking but I busted up at a Bon Jovi crack and got a few odd looks.

If it wasn't for the fact that Parker didn't write this, I'd say it was nothing special as far as Parker novels go...

A+ of course for Mantegna.

Decent story, hate the performance

Would you consider the audio edition of Robert B. Parker's Lullaby to be better than the print version?

I listen to audio books while running/walking and I stick to familiar names and genres - so, for this environment, the audio edition is better than the print one!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Robert B. Parker's Lullaby?

-

How could the performance have been better?

Cut out all the "she said/he said" which represent 30% of all spoken words!

Entertaining.

I may have missed it, but I didn't understand why the victim was killed. The reading by Joe Mantegna was great!

Spenser carries on!

Where does Robert B. Parker's Lullaby rank among all the audiobooks you???ve listened to so far?

Ace Atkins carries on Robert B. Parker's style, humor, and generosity of spirit in the Spenser books. I was really afraid we had lost this approach, but was entertained nontheless with a new author. Some of the humor was not quite as spiked, some of the style was not there (believe it or not, I missed the constant "I said", "she replied", "he asked" after EVERY statement, question or utterance. When I first started reading these books, that had really bothered me, but the more I read, the more I got used to it, and the more I liked it!)

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

The plot was goodl, and although you can always guess the ending, you have fun getting to that point!

Have you listened to any of Joe Mantegna???s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I can't imagine anyone but Joe Mantegna performing the Spenser series. I know others have done it, including Bert Reynolds, but Joe is the best. He takes each character and makes them his own, he knows how to convey the humor, and seems to really enjoy his job!

Any additional comments?

Great to know Spenser is still with us, and will continue. Hopefully Joe Montegna will make these novels his life work!

Can't Beat a Spenser Book

I have never been disappointed in any Spenser book. This is just another great example.