Sixkill

By: Robert B. Parker

Narrated by: Joe Mantegna

Length: 5 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

The last Spenser novel completed by Robert B. Parker.

On location in Boston, bad-boy actor Jumbo Nelson is accused of the rape and murder of a young woman. From the start the case seems fishy, so the Boston PD calls on Spenser to investigate. Things don't look so good for Jumbo, whose appetites for food, booze, and sex are as outsized as his name. He was the studio's biggest star, but he's become its biggest liability.

In the course of the investigation, Spenser encounters Jumbo's bodyguard: a young former football-playing Native American named Zebulon Sixkill. He acts tough, but Spenser sees something more within the young man. Despite the odd circumstances, the two forge an unlikely alliance, with Spenser serving as mentor. As the case grows darker and secrets about both Jumbo and the dead woman come to light, it's Spenser--with Sixkill at his side--who must put things right.

©2011 Robert B. Parker (P)2011 Random House Audio

narator

the story line was quite unique. the narrator was as usual the greatest. I always look for books with Joe Montana as the narator/reader

Not bad . . .worth a listen.

This is the only Spencer story I have listened to . . .I don't think I was as excited about it as some of the others who wrote reviews . . .but, in all, it was an enjoyable story. The dialogue loses some of it's punch with all the "I said . . .she said" - which is too bad because the banter between characters is really the best part of the story. The Spencer character is very endearing - for me, mostly because of his cynical Beantown attitude, tempered by his hard-working, hard-edged sense of values. We KNOW where Spencer stands. His girlfriend, Susan exposes his vulnerable side and I like the way his conversations with her advance the story line as he "mulls over" the details of the crime. Although this was my first "Spencer listen" it won't be my last!

SixKill

So sad this is the last Parker novel and it looks like he was introducing a new character Z. SixKill a Native American from the Cree Nation. Enjoy his tongue-in-cheek dialog with people particularly Susan. The "he said, she said" I am getting use to in his novels. The past of the story is fast. Mantegna does great job with the narration.

Dated and Offensive

The name of the story is the name of a main character in the story. A Native American who has a problem with alcohol. It's very difficult not to groan and eye roll over the repeated offensive cliches and references to outdated names, Tonto? Kemosabe? Injun lore? Nauseating and offensive and seemingly neverending. It was hard to follow the actual storyline, he said, she said, I said. The reader did what he could with this dreadful story. I guess I'll just stick with Jack Reacher and Elvis Cole, more believable stories if that tells you anything.

Mantegna is simply the best!

First I do like all the Spenser books. Probably read or listened to 20+ This is another good one.
What I have recently decided is I am going to listen to every on that is narrated by Joe Mantegna first. He is that good.
I actually have narrated around 30 books myself and just listening to him is like taking a masters course in narrating.

A fun listen...

What made the experience of listening to Sixkill the most enjoyable?

Joe Mantegna's delivery. He has an "easy" voice and doesn't sound as if he is reading.

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

Yes... right up there with his other work. He is a "class act".

Any additional comments?

The author over-uses "He said, I said, he said" etc. Once he gets past that virtually every time a character speaks, the book is easier to listen to. I do like his repartee. I miss watching "Spencer for Hire."

Annoying dialogue!

I got REALLY tired of ???, ???he said??? and ???, ???she said???. The dialogue is very stiff, annoying, and one-dimensional. The story was interesting, but I had to force myself to keep listening due to the dialogue.

Unlistenable because of all the ~ I saids

I have tried 4 times to listen to this and I can't get past the first chapter... There is so much "I said" - "Kirk said" I said... it's annoying... and I was told it was a really good book, guess I'll have to buy it in paperback - so I can skip all the "I said"

Joe Montagna

Joe is a great stage actor, but a terrible reader. Parker deserved better. Don't use him any more.

Is it really so difficult to work out who is talking.

If you can put up with he said, she said, he said, she said, and on and on for hours then it’s ok. For me I gave up, I just could stop waiting for every sentence to be explained and ended by “said “.