Robert B. Parker's Kickback

By: Ace Atkins, Robert B. Parker

Narrated by: Joe Mantegna

P.I. Spenser, knight-errant of the Back Bay, returns in this stellar addition to the iconic New York Times–bestselling series from author Ace Atkins.

What started out as a joke landed seventeen-year-old Dillon Yates in a lockdown juvenile facility in Boston Harbor. When he set up a prank Twitter account for his vice principal, he never dreamed he could be brought up on criminal charges, but that’s exactly what happened.

This is Blackburn, Massachusetts, where zero tolerance for minors is a way of life.

Leading the movement is tough-as-nails Judge Joe Scali, who gives speeches about getting tough on today’s wild youth. But Dillon’s mother, who knows other Blackburn kids who are doing hard time for minor infractions, isn’t buying Scali’s line. She hires Spenser to find the truth behind the draconian sentencing.

From the Harbor Islands to a gated Florida community, Spenser and trusted ally Hawk follow a trail through the Boston underworld with links to a shadowy corporation that runs New England’s private prisons. They eventually uncover a culture of corruption and cover-ups in the old mill town, where hundreds of kids are sent off to for-profit juvie jails.

Critic reviews

Praise for Robert B. Parker’s Kickback

“It’s great to see Spenser tackle a social evil with its roots in real life.”—Kirkus Reviews

“A topical plot line propels bestseller Atkins’s engrossing fourth Spenser novel...Once again, Atkins has done a splendid job of capturing the voice of the late Robert B. Parker.” —Publishers Weekly

“Atkins does a wonderful job with the characters created by Parker. To loyalists it may be heresy, but a case can be made for the Atkins novels being better than some of the last Spenser mysteries penned by Parker. A top-notch thriller.”—Booklist

“Classic Spenser—the Spenser of wry wit, tasty food and drinks, hard workouts and lethal confrontations...Once again, Atkins has delivered a thriller that evokes the best of Parker’s Spenser series, not least the punchy back-and-forth of the dialogue.”—Associated Press

“Written in impeccable style by Ace Atkins...Robert B. Parker is smiling down on this brilliant Spenser adventure. It's full of everything we've come to expect from the Boston Private Investigator—action, smart-mouthed sarcasm, the assistance of Hawk and most of all, justice.”—Suspense Magazine

Praise for Ace Atkins and the Spenser Series

“Handpicked by the Parker estate to be the keeper of the flame for the Spenser franchise, award-winning author Ace Atkins rises flawlessly to the occasion. In addition to the signature dialogue, all the familiars are fully resurrected: Susan, the sexy shrink; Pearl, the wonder dog; Hawk, the wonder sidekick; good cop Quirk, and, of course, Spenser himself, that consummate knight errant for the twenty-first century.”—Kirkus Reviews

“It’s a feat when a writer creates characters who live and breathe on the page and make readers care and keep coming back for more. To manage that with someone else’s characters, let alone with an icon like Spenser, is a minor miracle. Ace Atkins pulls it off.”—Chicago Sun-Times

Atkins channels Parker

One of the best Spenser novels, Ace Atkins does a great job writing in the style of Robert Parker.

Great work

Would you consider the audio edition of Robert B. Parker's Kickback to be better than the print version?

Not sure

What was one of the most memorable moments of Robert B. Parker's Kickback?

Getting the kid at the end

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

Mr Mantegna was the reason I continued to listen to this series. He brought this series to life for me.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

very much so

damn kids always in trouble... or are they

another fine Spenser novel. This time he's helping kids.. and there's plenty of action and his classic humor. great book.

Island of corruption

What did you love best about Robert B. Parker's Kickback?

This is my first novel - I enjoyed Ace Atkins other novels. I liked Spencer's character and down to earth investigations. Supporting characters flowed nicely in this novel. We have the corruption of the politicians, mob, the juvenile prisoners, along with the media, Spencer, and other's working to right the wrong. Mini stories tied in nicely...

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

if possible, I would have listened straight through. Liked how Hawk came into story line.

Have you listened to any of Joe Mantegna’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

First time for this narrator. He did a nice job.

Any additional comments?

My opinion, if this is your first Spencer novel, try it, you will not be disappointed. I recommend the other Ace Atkins novels.

Love this

Love the fact that Atkins has Parker's unique voice and style. Love, love, love Joe Mantegna's performance! Great story! Hope to hear more in the future!