Spenser Confidential (Movie Tie-In)

By: Ace Atkins, Robert B. Parker - creator

Narrated by: Joe Mantegna

Now a Netflix film starring Mark Wahlberg as Spenser!

Old friends. Small favors. Bitter rivals. Stirred together, it all makes for one explosive cocktail in this New York Times best-selling thriller that has Spenser feeling the heat....

Henry Cimoli and Spenser have been friends for years, yet the old boxing trainer has never asked the private eye for a favor. Until now. A developer is trying to buy up Henry's condo on Revere Beach - with a push from local thugs. Soon, Spenser and his apprentice, Zebulon Sixkill, are on the trail of a mysterious woman, a megalomaniacal Las Vegas kingpin, and a shady plan to turn a chunk of land north of Boston into a sprawling casino. As alliances shift and twisted dreams surface, the Boston political machine looks to end Spenser's investigation one way or another - and once and for all.

Previously published as Robert B. Parker's Wonderland

©2013 Ace Atkins (P)2013 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Atkins finds his footing this time, settling into the character and concocting a fairly complex caper with urban development, organized crime, and sex all playing roles.... Quite a good crime novel." (Booklist)

"Solid.... Atkins’s ability to perfectly mimic the originals will please diehard fans hungry for familiar pleasures." (Publishers Weekly)

"An entertaining effort." (Kirkus)

Worth the time!

One of the best Spenser stories!
Strong recommendation!

Lots of twists and turns!

Joe M. Makes it even better. Yes!

Ace aces Robert Parker's Spenser.

Would you listen to Robert B. Parker's Wonderland again? Why?

Yes, It is funny and entertaining throughout.

What did you like best about this story?

It is like listening to a Spenser novel written by Robert Parker...very entertaining.

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

Joe is Spenser and I regard him as the best voice of Spenser ever.

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

I was laughing throughout.

Any additional comments?

Ace Atkins embodies the heart and soul of the lead characters.

Really enjoyable performance.

Nothing was lost in this continuing character driven story. If anything, funnier than originals. Worth the purchase.

In the Spirit of the Original

Ace Atkins does a good job of channeling Parker in his second Spenser novel. Atkins has a bit of a harder than most of Parker's works and his attempts at humor come up a bit short of the master's. Evidently he has decided that Hawk, (the best character in the series) is no longer relevant, expendable, or is just too difficult to write well. Thankfully he has practically dropped the character of Susan Silverman. Atkins' Spenser runs a bit longer than most of the Spenser novels, mostly to no effect. There is a stretch of about 60-90 minutes where the narrative seems to wander aimlessly, and for no apparent reason; still, a slightly less authentic Spenser is still Spenser. Zebulon Sixkill is something of a Wooden Indian, and responds to most of Spenser's Hollywood Indian comments as if he were old enough to remember them, but he provides a further opportunity for Spenser to take on the role of father. Healy and Lundquist serve as decent replacements for Quirk and Belson; Atkins has allowed Spenser to continue on which is good enough for a recommendation.

Good story

This is a good Spenser. The narrator is excellent. Joe Mantegna did a outstanding job.👍

Another great Spenser book

Another wonderful addition to the Spenser series. I actually named my son Spenser with two S's like the English poet and am excited to pass the books to him when he gets older. Robert B Parker would be proud that Spenser is still the best wise cracking PI in the business.

Excellent!

WONDERLAND is everything and more that you love about Spenser novels; this is a story with characters you care about, wrapped up in the core of a very intense plot.
Ace Atkins is doing Robert B. Parker proud! And thankfully it's Joe M. bringing the characters to life, no one does it better than he!

Movie vs book

I saw the movie first. The movie was good. The book was good too. The movie had the gist of the book but the story line was different. I enjoyed both but I think the book was more complex which made for a better story.

Again Spenser!

Thanks to Ace Atkins for channeling RBP's essence and Joe M for making it live. RBP gone too soon.

spenser and Joe Montagna are unbeatable!

I can't get enough of Spencer read by Joe I finished a book a day