Hush Money

By: Robert B. Parker

Narrated by: Burt Reynolds

Length: 7 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's Summary

When Robin Nevins, the son of Hawk's boyhood mentor, is denied at an exclusive university, Hawk asks Spenser to investigate. It seems the denial is tied to the suicide of a young gay activist, and as Spenser digs deeper, he is nearly drowned in a multicultural swamp of politics: black, gay, academic, and feminist.

At the same time, Spenser's inamorata, Susan, asks him to come to the aid of an old college friend, K.C. Roth, the victim of a stalker. Spenser solves the problem a bit too effectively when K.C. turns the tables and begins to stalk him.

With Hush Money, Robert B. Parker adds a morally complex tale to this legendary series.

©1999 Robert B. Parker (P)1999, 2016 Dove Audio, Phoenix Books

Critic Reviews

"Reynolds's portrayal of detective Spenser is on target - intelligent, tough, and sensual." ( AudioFile Magazine)

Parker + Spencer + Reynolds = magic I

I wish Burt Reynolds narrated more Spenser novels. Burt brings a star power to a great author - enjoy

2 people found this helpful

Nice Spenser Novel

What did you love best about Hush Money?

Spenser

What other book might you compare Hush Money to and why?

Chance, Now and Then

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

Unlike many other Spenser fans, I like Reynolds as a Spenser narrator. His voice characterizations aren't realistic, but they are entertaining.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This is the stupidest question Audible asks. I realize this review format is intended to dumb things down for the slow witted, but this is too much.

Any additional comments?

This is one of the better Spenser novels. The novels in which Parker takes on the political nonsense of modern academia are entertaining, always containing the proper blend of irony and serious criticism. Susan is as irritating as ever, but that's what you get with Parker. I simply skip the chapters with Susan. Thankfully they are self-contained.

2 people found this helpful

good story, comforting narrator

I hear better in lower registers of human speech than upper. Burt Reynolds purrs his way through this complicated story of two parallel cases, showing 5 different kinds of controlling abusers as Spenser and friends try to save the innocent. Trigger warning for sexual assault and alcohol abuse, plus a strong theme of the antagonists in the A plot being racist homophobes.

As good as I had hoped

Burt Reynolds really brings the story alive. Character voices are unmistakable. Wish it were longer.

Funny and clever

A lot more fun if you know the environs. Burt Reynolds does a great job emulating the wry humor Parker enjoys. His Maine accents are weak but otherwise does a great job.

Burt Reynolds sucks

I love the stories and I'm a huge Robert B Parker Spenser fan. I love every book that Joe Mantegna narrates. This and the other Spenser story that Burt Reynolds narrates are horrible. He's a constant mumbler and makes it very hard to understand. In my dream world, all the previous Spenser books that Mantegna didn't do would be redone.

Worst reading ever of a Spenser book.

Burt Reynolds is terrible as a reader. He is flat. He mumbles. He has no respect for the character. I struggled to put up with the weak Spenser offering and could barely get through the first 1/3 of the book. I am very disappointed. No more Spenser for me unless it's read by Joe Mantegna!

2 people found this helpful

Poor narrator

The book was good, pretty typical Spenser book. I liked it.
The narration of this audio book is poor to the point of distraction.
I won't buy another with this narrator.

The best listen in ages

A big fan of Jesse Stone, man of few words, this was my first experience of Spenser. A combination of witty dialogue and fabulous narration made this the most entertaining listen I've experienced for a while and I am just about to search out my next instalment of this long running series.