The Godwulf Manuscript

By: Robert B. Parker

Narrated by: Michael Prichard

Length: 5 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's summary

Spenser earned his degree in the school of hard knocks, so he is ready when a Boston university hires him to recover a rare, stolen manuscript. He is hardly surprised that his only clue is a radical student with four bullets in his chest.

The cops are ready to throw the book at the pretty blond coed whose prints are all over the murder weapon but Spenser knows there are no easy answers. He tackles some very heavy homework and knows that if he doesn't finish his assignment soon, he could end up marked "D" -- for dead.

Crack another case with Spenser.

©1992 Robert B. Parker (P)2009 Random House

Critic reviews

>"Spenser is Boston's answer to James Bond - irreverent, witty, worldy. His first-person recital of his detective work makes for fast, amusing reading." ( The Pittsburgh Press)

An Audio Re-do!

Please commission both Joe Montegna and Burt Reynolds to redo/reread the early Spenser Novels for audio. & Walking Shadow also. Someone should redo those audios even if they aren't able.

Slow

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Change the narrator.

If you’ve listened to books by Robert B. Parker before, how does this one compare?

Never have before.

Did Michael Prichard do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

No. To bland.

Do you think The Godwulf Manuscript needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Hope the next would be better.

Any additional comments?

This was hard to get into. Didn't like the narrator and the whole story was slow and from the 60's I think. Enjoyed the Spenser movies and TV show but this was a hard listen. I hope the next one is better.

Always good

A simple procedural- always good for escape listening. Easy to listen to and a good reader. You will enjoy it.

Starting at the beginning

Although I prefer Joe Mantegna's speaking voice for Spenser novels, this performer did an excellent job and I wasn't disappointed at all. I've read or listened to all the Spenser novels except the first 7, so by starting with the first Spenser novel, I thought I'd gain some "insight" into the characters. It's one thing to know Susan is his main squeeze, it's another to figure out how they became a couple. Overall, good listening and a wonderful beginning.

Back to an Old Friend

I read probably 12 Spenser novels back in the 80's. All of them were excellent. Now I'm returning to this one again, and I like Spenser now just as well as I did then. That's a tribute to Robert B. Parker. I'll listen to more of them.

The Godwulf Manuscript

A very entertaining and amusing book. The detective is a nice but tough guy who gives as much punishment as he gets. He suffers no fools and has no patience with "put offs." Once started I could not turn the book off until the end. The action is continuous.

Tight and well-written

This book was such a pleasant surprise. I picked it up based on some good things I'd heard about Parker and because this book was on sale. Had it not been on sale, I probably would never have read it, and would be much the worse for it.

This short book is slightly dated in some of its language regarding women, but there seems no ill-will behind it, and it conveys an anachronistic charm. Aside from this, the novel is fresh and timeless.

Parker has a unique, descriptive style which I found very pleasing. The writing is full of subtle humor.

Although I didn't think his effort was exceptional, I warmed up to the narrator after a while. His uninflected style is well-suited to the material.

I do not consider myself a fan of detective or crime fiction as a rule, but I really enjoyed this. If you ARE a fan of those genres, this is a can't miss.

A historical artifact of Spenser

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Michael Prichard?

Joe Mantegna didn't have the look for Spenser in the TV movies, but he had the character nailed, and a great voice. He'd have been perfect. Titus Welliver also could have done it. Michael Prichard is a little stiff and serious for Spenser.

Any additional comments?

This is not the Spenser you're used to. It's the first book, so the character was still evolving. This Spenser is much more serious...more of a downbeat 1960s hangover of somebody like Travis McGee. I still enjoyed the book, but don't expect the fun, wisecracking smoothie you're used to. This Spenser is still cranky and edgy, and the familiar cast of characters is either nonexistent, or just being introduced. If you're a fan, it's interesting to see the evolution of the character, but it's embryonic here. I enjoyed the book for what it is.

Reminiscent of Chandler and Spillane

Very easy to listen to. As long as you don't expect too much in terms of depth of plot and character. Main character is very likeable and i would listen to more by Parker. I enjoyed this.

OK

It was OK. Kind of predictable but OK. Good character building. Not sure I would go ahead & buy the series