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Farewell Robert B. Parker

January 28th, 2010 Mary K. - Central

Mystery readers were saddened and shocked to hear of Robert B. Parker’s sudden death at age 77 last week.  Parker had a long and prolific career  and a big impact on detective fiction.  As I was researching his life and works, I learned a lot about him.  I was not aware that he had a Ph.D. and wrote his dissertation on the works of Raymond Chandler, Ross MacDonald, and Dashiel Hammett, all early writers of mysteries featuring hardboiled detectives.  Parker’s own works follow in their footsteps, as he developed late twentieth century tough and moralistic characters, who are not afraid to kill when necessary.   His novels may be considered formulaic, but it is a formula that worked for many years because of his entertaining dialogue, fast-paced plots and likeable main characters.

Parker wrote westerns and several mystery series, but he was best known for his Spenser novels (we never know Spenser’s first name).  The decades long series began in 1973 with the Godwulf Manuscript.  Through more than 30 books, Spenser never lost his strong sense of justice, his gourmet cooking ability, and his sharp tongued and wise cracking ways.  He remained devoted to his psychiatrist girlfriend Susan Silverman and also to his loyal sidekick, Hawk.  All of the Spenser books are set in Boston, and the city has a big role.  Spenser drinks in the bar at the Ritz, and navigates and walks past city landmarks.  Perhaps, if we’re lucky, there is one more manscript in waiting that will wrap up the series.

There were several television series that featured Parker’s characters.  Spenser for Hire featured the actor Robert Urich and ran for 3 years in the 1980’s, followed by some made for television movies.  There was also a spin off series featuring Hawk.  His western Appaloosa was made into a movie, starring Ed Harris.  His more recent Jesse Stone series were also made into television movies starring Tom Selleck.  And the rumor was that his Sunny Randall books were written for Helen Hunt to bring to the screen.

Parker is credited with bringing the mystery genre into the mainstream and onto the bestseller lists.  And just as he was influenced by earlier writers, he also inspired others during his long and prolific writing career.  It is fitting in many ways, that he died at his desk while writing.  For more information, here is his New York Times obituary.

Entry Filed under: Mystery