Pale Kings and Princes

Robert B. Parker

4/11/1999

Wheaton, Massachusettes, is the northern capital of cocaine running? This tiny town of 15,000 people with closed fabric mills? Yet a young, idealistic newspaper reporter gets murdered in this town when he goes to investigate that possibility. The editor of the newspaper hires Spenser to investigate Wheaton to discover the truth behind the death.

Once in town Spenser starts sticking his nose into different places trying to find out why somoneone would want to kill the reporter. The police seems to have no interest in the murder. Their story is he was killed by a jealous husband after an affair with one of the town's women. Within a couple days Spenser is attacked by hoodlums in ski masks who want to scare him away from Wheaton.

The chief of police is found dead in his car. He was shot at close range by someone who knew him. Was his death related to the reporter's? Spenser is sure this is the case. He then starts tailing employees of the local "fish market" that is the probable base for cocaine dealing. As he is drawn in further, Spenser finds his life in more danger.

This book is engaging. Spenser is his usual wise cracking self. I often chuckled at his descriptions of himself. While Susan and Hawk are both in this book, they are not involved in the mystery other than to help Spenser. The mystery keeps the reader and Spenser guessing until the end.

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The Godwulf Manuscript
God Save the Child
Mortal Stakes
Promised Land
The Judas Goat
Looking for Rachel Wallace
Early Autumn
A Savage Place
Ceremony
The Widening Gyre
Valediction
A Catskill Eagle
Taming a Sea-Horse
Pale Kings and Princes
Crimson Joy
Playmates
Stardust
Pastime
Double Deuce
Paper Doll
Walking Shadow
Thin Air
Chance
Small Vices
Sudden Mischief
Hush Money
Hugger Mugger
Potshot
Widow's Walk
Back Story
Bad Business
Cold Business
School Days
Hundred-Dollar Baby
Now and Then