Walking Shadow

A Spenser Novel

By: Robert B. Parker

Narrated by: Daniel Parker

Length: 5 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

Spenser is investigating the Port City Theater Company, where the director claims he's being stalked. When an actor is shot dead during a performance, all clues lead to the local Chinese Mafia, whose roots run deep in this drab waterfront city. With Hawk and ex mobster Vinnie assisting, Spenser eventually triumphs in one of his most compelling adventures.

Crack another case with Spenser.

©1995 Robert B. Parker (P)2009 Phoenix

Critic reviews

"In fine form here, Parker's sardonic Boston PI Spenser, last seen in Paper Dolls , encounters danger, venality and plenty of comic material in this brisk tale spanning the worlds of experimental theater and illegal immigration." ( Publishers Weekly)
"This is a tough, cleverly plotted novel in which each character's essence is revealed as Spenser sorts through the tangle of apparent motives." ( Booklist)
"An irresistible new crime novel that will captivate both longtime and soon-to-be-devoted Spenser lovers." ( Kirkus Reviews)

Wrong narrator

I always enjoy Parker’s stories, especially his dialogue. I was bothered throughout this book by the narrator. He has a very good voice and did a good job in a way. But his voice is young and lacks gravitas. He is not Spencer.

Worst narrator ever

Who was the idiot who picked a guy who sounded like a 12 year old with a lisp to read for a private eye novel about a large ex boxer? This guy would be best for a young adult novel. Not a hard boiled detective novel. He was so bad.

love the Spenser series!

The stories are really fun. A quick read. The reader is horrible though unfortunately. I would recommend the author!

narrator was terrible

when I get audible books, I expected to be riveted and taken into the story like when I read a book. some of these narrators are boring, voice dont match the story, monotone. this the 8th parker book I bought and I love his books but the narration sucks.

Great Story Meh Narrator

Excellent Bob Parker story. Not the right voice for the characters. Spenser and Hawk were terrible. Susan was passable.

This narrator makes this title unlistenable

My goal is to purchase and listen to every single Spenser book in the series. This one makes that goal impossible. The narrator is a kid. There is no attempt at differentiating the characters and it all just blends together in one big monotone mess. Looks like I’ll be requesting a refund and reading this one the old fashioned way. Disappointing.

Good book, terrible reading

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

I have always loved Parker's Spencer novels. Sadly, this is read in a light, flat, inappropriate tone. Dialog can't be told from description, and it flows like a necessity, not with feeling. The story is, of course, good.

Good story, bad reader

What did you like best about Walking Shadow? What did you like least?

The best thing about "Walking Shadow", about any of the Spenser novels, is Spenser. He is, far and away, one of the best written characters in modern fiction. I have read (and to large extent, enjoyed) all of the Spenser novels, many of them more than once. Even if the story is sometimes lacking, Spenser carries the book on his broad shoulders and cuts through any drabness w/ his razor wit.

What didn’t you like about Daniel Parker’s performance?

Daniel Parker sounds like a 20 year old with a lisp, not a middle-age Boston thug. So far, I've listened to Spenser novels performed by Parker, Mantegna, and Dukes. Mantegna hams it up a little more than necessary, but he, at least, has actually played Spenser in various TV movies. Dukes does the most even-handed job (though his Hawk sounds more like a Chris Rock type rather than an ominous mercenary/thug/assassin). Parker is terrible. He constantly takes me out of the story as I try to match his voice to the picture I have of Spenser from the books.

Narrator is NOT Spenser!

The narrator does not give a performance--though few do. But the worst part (not his fault) is that I can in no way picture Spenser in the personality of the narrator's once.

Really good story; TERRIBLE nnarrator

I love Robert Parket's Spender Novels, and this is a really good one BUT the narrator was just awful! This guy ruined a great Parker mystery for me. I wish Joe Montegna would record this and bring it to life!