Early Autumn

De: Robert B. Parker

Narrado por: Michael Prichard

“[Robert B.] Parker's brilliance is in his simple dialogue, and in Spenser.”—The Philadelphia Inquirer

A bitter divorce is only the beginning. First the father hires thugs to kidnap his son. Then the mother hires Spenser to get the boy back. But as soon as Spenser senses the lay of the land, he decides to do some kidnapping of his own.

With a contract out on his life, he heads for the Maine woods, determined to give a puny 15 year old a crash course in survival and to beat his dangerous opponents at their own brutal game.©1992 Robert B Parker; (P)2009 Random House

As Good As It Gets!

Parker's Spenser novels never disappoint, but this one is better than most. Not only entertaining, but full of wisdom and heart.

My favorite Spenser book.

This isn't my favorite reader of the main character (Joe Montagna holds that place in my heart), but what I really like here is the way he manages to make Paul sound less and less whiny as the book proceeds. He does a good job of portraying the growing up that takes place over the course of the novel.

Spenser as Surrogate Parent

Where does Early Autumn rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is one of my favorite Robert Parker books and Robert Parker is one of my favorite audio book authors. This plot is different, because there isn't a murder mystery to be solved, but a complicated issue of seeing to it that a neglected, young boy is prepared to lead life as an adult---and, then, unraveling the sordid pasts of his parents so that he can live as he wishes with no interference from his miserable, self-absorbed mother and father. I loved this book.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Early Autumn?

The moment when Spenser admonishes Susan and tells her not to be "ordinary: because she's jealous of the time he has spent away from her. I enjoyed the fact that her reaction to Spenser's absorbing attempt to care for Paul (who appears in later books) was selfish and self-absorbed. I enjoyed the fact that Paul understands that she resents him. And I enjoyed the fact that she does "come around" but only with limitations. Parker does not go for the stereotypical "feel good" solutions.

Which scene was your favorite?

My favorite scene occurred when Spenser tells Paul that he was right about his plan for the boy's future and Paul asks, "What..do you want a Nobel Prize?" The "smart" response showed his increase in self-confidence and his adaptation of Spenser's repartee for his own personality.

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

Jog a mile, punch the bag, expand your mind...grow up!

better audio required

The audio was sketchy. I had to turn it up and down all the time

Enjoyed it

Going back and listening to books I read as a kid. The story hold up to time quite well.