• Robert B. Parker's Lullaby

  • A Spenser Mystery
  • By: Ace Atkins
  • Narrated by: Joe Mantegna
  • Length: 7 hrs and 32 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (626 ratings)

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Robert B. Parker's Lullaby  By  cover art

Robert B. Parker's Lullaby

By: Ace Atkins
Narrated by: Joe Mantegna
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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)

What listeners say about Robert B. Parker's Lullaby

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A very good Parker.

Any additional comments?

Akins did an excellent job capturing Parker's Spenser. Seemed to try a little too hard with the wisecracks but that wouldn't keep me from reading another. Or should I say listening to another. Joe Mantegna IS Spenser.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Glad Spenser is Back!

If you could sum up Robert B. Parker's Lullaby in three words, what would they be?

True to form!

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

I enjoyed hearing about Spenser, Susan, Hawke, Pearl and all the rest. I always love the way Spenser keeps picking and picking until it all shakes out. The way he respected the young girl and stood up for her was endearing.

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

Joe Mantegna MAKES the Spenser books. He IS Spenser to me.

Any additional comments?

The only detriment was the language. It was kind of embarassing to have that language coming out of my Ipod player. I sure couldn't listen to this book around anyone else. I hope the author will temper it (especially the F bomb) in the next books. The bad language did NOT add anything to the story.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Joe Mantegna is a perfect Spenser

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

I have just started to listen to audiobooks while I walk, but would like to listen to ALL of the books narrated by Joe Mantegna!

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

Joe Mantegna's voice seems to fit perfectly the droll humor of Parker, and the type of voice I would imagine from Spenser ... in the Sam Spade detective type of story.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes! I put it on in my car every time I ran an errand ... even to catch a few more minutes whenever I got the chance.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Light storyline

If you could sum up Robert B. Parker's Lullaby in three words, what would they be?

Easy story to follow.

What does Joe Mantegna bring to the story that you wouldn???t experience if you just read the book?

Like the tone of his voice. Made the character's come to life.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Good story, Great Narrator!

What did you love best about Robert B. Parker's Lullaby?

The story was good as all Spencer stories are but Joe Mantegna brought to it an added greatness.

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

I wouldn"t say on edge, but it was intriging.

What about Joe Mantegna’s performance did you like?

He is a wonderful actor and in his reading that came through. I liked the way he took on each caracter with a difference in voice and speach.

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

A young girls fight to avenge her mothers death.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

This is new Spenser.

What did you love best about Robert B. Parker's Lullaby?

Spenser came back.

What about Joe Mantegna’s performance did you like?

He is always excellent.

Any additional comments?

There is something different from Robert B. Parker's original Spenser, I feel.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

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!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Spenser Lives On

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

Good, solid Spenser novel

What other book might you compare Robert B. Parker's Lullaby to and why?

More like some of the earlier Spenser novels with a few twists.

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

Spenser

Any additional comments?

A little hesitant to listen to a Spenser novel not written by Parker but was pleasantly surprised. Dialogue (Parker's trademark) was vintage Spenser and Hawk. Much better than the Jesse Stone re-do.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

amazing

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

This book is amazingly like the writing, storytelling, and characterizations of RBP. Great job, Mr. Atkins!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

We miss the Original, but this is still good.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

If you liked the "Spenser" series and the characters he met--Hawk, Susan, Pearl the Wonder Dog, and all the others, you will like this book.

What did you like best about this story?

It captures the tenor and the pace of Robert B. Parker's stories.

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

Joe Mantegna brings just the right tone of seriousness and light banter to the exchanges between Hawk and Spenser and the philosophical discussions between Spenser and Susan.

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