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Pastime  By  cover art

Pastime

By: Robert B. Parker
Narrated by: David Dukes
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Publisher's summary

Ten years ago, Paul Giacomin's corrupt father and loose mother used the boys as a pawn in their violent race: Only Spenser could call them off and straighten out the misled teen—almost getting killed in the process. Paul is now 24 and reconciled to his mother's wanton ways. But when Patty Giacomin vanishes, Paul begs Spenser to help him rescue her from the clutches of her boyfriend, a shady character he's sure coerced his mother into running.

As Spenser—accompanied by Paul, Susan Silverman, and the redoubtable Hawk—follow Patty's trail to its astonishing conclusion, he is led back through Paul's own rites of passage to the lanes of his own memories. The boy Spenser was and the man Paul must become race toward a confrontation that may break their hearts...and threaten their lives.

©2013 Robert B. Parker (P)2013 Phoenix Books, Inc.

What listeners say about Pastime

Average customer ratings
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  • 4 out of 5 stars
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Story
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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Abysmal

David Dukes ruined a book in one of my favorite series' with his monotone narration and his propensity to mispronounce every word more complicated than Hawk. Paul Giacomin was a huge disappointment in this book as well. Parker went way too far to create the juxtaposition in the father son relationships between Spenser and Paul and the Broz's Joe and Gerry. Paul develops a sudden anxiety about his mother that had been absent in previous books including his introduction in Early Autumn. He also reverts to being almost as diffident and whiny as the fifteen year old train wreck he was then. Still this one was a pretty decent book and with Joe Mantegna as the narrator it would have been an enjoyable listening experience; unfortunately it's quite likely that this reader could screw up the best or simplest literary work.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

I love Parker but...

First, the narrator was completely wrong for this. Susan's voice made me cringe every time I heard it. Hawk's voice, forget about it. This sequel compared to Early Autumn, was very weak. It seemed like an experiment by Parker. Overblown description was cringe-worthy too. I liked Paul better when he was ten years younger, and had a real reason to act pathetic. All he did here was whine like a baby about how it hurt, and after Spencer had trained him. I didn't feel it the pain. The pieces didn't add up and it seemed mellow dramatic. The real gift Parker had generally, was how his books didn't seem mellow dramatic when they could easily have, or should have in the hands of another writer. This book showed how Parker was balanced on the razor's for most of his books, and pulled off regularly. This one made me appreciate the fine craft in his other works, and his ear tuned like a master French Horn player.

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4 people found this helpful

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

David Dukes needs to be replaced

This is the first book by Parker that made me want to stop listening.
The narrarator was horrible.
No chapters, phony voices, I thought this book would never end.
I only hope that the next book is better but if Dukes is narrating it will be a total waste of time.

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4 people found this helpful

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

the narrator is terrible

Would you be willing to try another one of David Dukes’s performances?

no

Any additional comments?

I usually like Robert Parker's books but David Duke isn't as good of a narrator as Michael Prichard

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3 people found this helpful

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

Not up to par

What would have made Pastime better?

A more energetic narrator

What could Robert B. Parker have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

It's probably a good book but Mr. Dukes reads it in such a monotone and so slowly that Spenser doesn't even resemble the character he was in previous books.

How could the performance have been better?

Go back to the previous narrator

Any additional comments?

I love the Spenser series but this was just really bizarre. I wasn't able to get into the storyline very easily - I finished it but it was tough

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2 people found this helpful

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

Great story but I disliked the reader

I miss the previous narrator. I may stop listening of this one continues. Great Story.

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1 person found this helpful

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

David Duke blows

He simply doesn’t get it and doesn’t care to.

Someone should take him out back and smack him around.

This audiobook should be re-recorded with someone who does suck.

The only advantage to David Dukes reading this book is now I have to read it again to get the stink of his garbage voices and poor choices out of my head.

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1 person found this helpful

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

Great story, really bad narration.

What would have made Pastime better?

David Dukes overdoes Spenser's voice, and maims Hawks voice. Avoid this audiobooks guys!

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

plot is fine

How could the performance have been better?

see above.

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1 person found this helpful

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

Poor performance

Not as good as Mr. Pritchard. I was disappointed in the performance. Maybe next time.

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

Dukes ruins another Spenser novel

I have listened to all the Spenser novels on Audible. Huge fan of Mr Parker, but Dukes makes me cringe. He is absolutely the worst.

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