I'm a Spenser fan. I've been a Spenser fan for longer than I care to admit....I can't really be THAT old. I still love these books, even they are not quite the same as they were 10 years ago. Ace Atkins has done a credible job of keeping Spenser alive while bringing in more characters to keep fresh stories coming. Someone to watch over me is obviously "ripped" from the headlines but it's still a damned good story. In the mystery/thriller genre, Spenser books still rank in the top twenty or higher.

Easy read that will keep you turning pages until the bad guys get caught. Spenser and Hawk always catch the bad guys.

Ace Atkins continues to bring new life into the Spenser series. New characters mix nicely with the traditional cast. His voice for Spenser rings true from book to book. I look forward to each new Spenser annually! #netgalley

Published by G.P. Putnam's Sons on January 12, 2021

Ace Atkins is the best writer in the Robert B. Parker factory. He’s tasked with churning out the Spenser novels. Parker has been dead for ten years and probably does little writing these days. You wouldn’t know of his death from the book cover, which places Atkins’ name in a much smaller font than Parker’s. Technically, the book’s title is Robert B. Parker’s Someone to Watch Over Me but it should be The Estate of Robert B. Parker’s Someone to Watch Over Me.

I imagine there is a blurb somewhere that says the novel is “torn from the headlines.” Don’t you hate that phrase? The villain is Jeffrey Epstein, except his name in the book is Peter Steiner. The girlfriend who is now facing trial for supplying underage girls to Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, is Poppy Palmer in the book.

Steiner befriends politicians and wealthy men, bringing them to his island in the Bahamas where underage girls can give them massages. Sorting out facts from salacious gossip and smear campaigns (no, John Roberts didn’t visit Epstein’s island) is proving to be difficult in the real world. Fortunately, Atkins stays away from the celebrity sideshow. Alan Dershowitz doesn’t even make a cameo and that guy is everywhere.

Mattie Sullivan is Parker’s “occasional secretary, part-time assistant, and sleuthing apprentice.” She learns about an underage girl who was paid a few hundred dollars to massage a man in an exclusive Boston club. The man dropped his trousers and the girl fled at the sight of his trouser snake, leaving her laptop behind. Spenser offers to help Mattie recover the laptop from the club and, in the process, learns that the man — who turns out to be Peter Steiner — has done similar things or worse with a number of minor females. Mattie makes it her mission to track down other victims (and a lawyer to help them) while Parker makes it his mission to help her whenever things might get dangerous. Inevitably, that happens regularly.

Much of the book explores familiar territory. Spenser hangs out with girlfriend Susan and dog Pearl (the third dog to which he’s given that name). Spenser exchanges witty repartee with his buddy Hawk when they aren’t busy killing people. Spenser also has a run-in with a past nemesis called the Gray Man, which seems to be a popular character name in thrillerworld.

Like a lot of “torn from the headlines” novels, this one just isn’t very interesting. Fiction can be more illuminating than fact, but when a novel hews closely to known events, it tends to sacrifice illumination for titillation. The novel has Spenser chasing Steiner and his thugs around Boston and Miami until its inevitable conclusion in the Bahamas. The outcome is predictable and the story offers too little suspense to sustain interest. Bringing Epstein to justice is much too easy, thanks in part to an implausible, out-of-the-blue twist at the end.

Still, Atkins is a craftsman. He knows how to move a plot along and, for what it’s worth, he has captured the tone of Parker’s Spenser novels (I always enjoyed Spenser for the Boston atmosphere more than the stories). Atkins’ own fiction reveals the depth of his characterization, but Spenser was never a deep guy and Atkins is constrained by the character he inherited. While Someone to Watch Over Me might be a good read for Spenser completists, I’d refer readers to Atkins’ Quinn Colson series for better plots and deeper characters.

RECOMMENDED WITH RESERVATIONS

Very well developed characters and an extremely engaging story. Well thought out and very suspenseful story line that keeps the reader guessing until the final twist! This is the book to read this year! Highly recommended!

"Someone To Watch Over Me" by Ace Atkins is another in the series of books about Robert Parker's Spenser that have been written after his death.

The novel brings back Mattie Sullivan, who we first met as a 14-year old in "Lullaby" (Ace Atkins' first Spenser novel) when she asked Spenser for help investigating her mother's murder. She's now ten years older, attending college, and working part-time for Spenser as his apprentice. She is approached by a 15-year-old girl in her neighborhood, Chloe Turner. Chloe was offered $500 to go to meet a man at a private club and give him a massage. But when he wanted more from her, she fled, leaving behind her backpack and laptop. When Spenser and Mattie try to get Chloe's stuff back, they discover that she is far from the first young girl to be exploited and that what happened to Chloe is pretty minor compaired to the experiences of many other girls. Mattie, Spenser, and Hawk uncover a sex-trafficking ring that reaches down to Miami and the Carribean. The book obviously draws on the Epstein case but don't assume that you know what will happen in this novel just because you read the news! There are quite a few twists and turns, with both new characters and some old "friends" appearing. The subplot with the newest "Pearl" and the problems Spenser and Susan have with puppy training adds some humor to the story as well.

I was a huge fan of the original Spenser novels by Robert Parker and this book does not disappoint. I think it is one of the best of the Ace Atkins Spenser novels.

Thanks to NetGalley for giving me a free e-copy of this book.

I was a big fan of the early Spenser series by Robert B. Parker, and I read and enjoyed most of the books in the series, although there were some that felt formulaic and tired...but I’m not sure ANY series has a 100% rating. In general, I’ve NOT been a fan of the novels cranked out after a successful author’s death, written by someone or other with the successful author’s name displayed prominently on the cover...so I was not especially eager to read Robert B. Parker’s Someone To Watch Over Me, by Ace Atkins. If I had not read a review that said it captured the essence of the early Spenser novels, complete with beloved characters like Susan Silverman, Hawk, and Pearl (the dog), I would never have picked it up. But, pandemics are perfect times to pick up books you might not have ever read in “normal” times, so I was happy to get a copy of Someone to Watch Over Me from Penguin Group/Putnam/G.P. Putnams’ Sons and NetGalley in exchange for this honest review.

This story picks up with Mattie Sullivan, the teenager who was helped by Spenser to find her mother’s killer, ten years older and working on following in Spenser’s footsteps as an investigator. Mattie is now a college student with a side job working for Spenser, and is taking on her first big case, involving a fifteen-year-old girl assaulted by a much older man at one of Boston's most prestigious private clubs. Sounds very much like a Jeffrey Epstein roman a clef, right? The girl, Chloe Turner, is only looking to get her laptop and backpack (which she abandoned in her flight from the club) returned. But Mattie has already learned a LOT from her mentor and boss, and she has begun her investigation is a very Spenser-ish fashion, asking the right questions of the wrong people.

Spenser and Mattie uncover an eccentric billionaire and his sadistic henchwoman (not named Ghislaine, but might as well be) with a mansion and connections that go far beyond Massachusetts. Spenser and Hawk keep watch over Mattie as she proceeds to unravel a sex-trafficking ring, traveling from Boston to Florida and the Caribbean. S. It’s a fun read, and will be enjoyed by Spenser/Hawk fans. I’m an easy grader...and working to be less so. I would honestly give this more than three but less than four stars...but hate to round down, so I’ll go with four.

Robert B. Parker’s SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME: A Spenser Novel
Ace Atkins
Putnam Books
ISBN-13 : 978-0525536857
Hardcover
Thriller

SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME is an immediate bright spot for the beginning of the new year. Author Ace Atkins was personally tapped by Joan H. Parker to continue the stories of Spenser, the iconic detective created by Robert B. Parker, her late husband. It was a terrific --- make that excellent --- choice, so demonstrated by the ability of Atkins to bring his own fine writing chops to the table while preserving and continuing Parker’s magic. SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME is Atkins’ ninth book in the series, and is one of the best of the series as a whole, regardless of which author is considered.

That last sentence is a strong one. No one is more surprised than I am by my opinion, considering that it brings back a character for whom I lack a bit of fondness. That would be Mattie Sullivan, who in SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME is serving as something more than Spenser’s understudy and something less than his partner. It’s a tiny bit awkward but she does fulfill the purpose of bringing Spenser into his latest case. Sullivan has an acquaintance --- a young woman named Chloe Turner --- who has what at first appears to be a minor problem. Turner was employed for what was supposed to be a one-off at a private club for stupid money but which ultimately involved duties beyond what she expected and wanted. She left the premises rather hurriedly, leaving her backpack and laptop behind. Sullivan enlists Spenser to retrieve Turner’s property. This Spenser does in his unique style, but he quickly learns that there is more going on at the club, and elsewhere, than an attempted misappropriation of property. The man and woman who run the place are simply horrible people who offer services that cater to rich and powerful individuals with monstrous desires. Spenser and Sullivan soon become voluntarily involved much more deeply than they originally intended. Spenser brings Hawk into the mix, which is never, ever a bad thing, and the two longtime friends and associates follow an evidentiary trail that leads them away from the familiar environs of Boston to a quite different place. Their targets, of course, do not take the pursuit either well or passively, with the result being that Spenser and those involved with him personally and professionally find themselves in danger at a level unique for all concerned. Spenser handles things with his usual aplomb, and along the way also learns a bit more about his enigmatic partner. Another character from the canon, who is not a friendly one, makes a reappearance, while a new presence is introduced as Spenser and Susan, his longtime significant other, have a quiet but deep difference of opinion which takes them most of the book to work out. It seems like there is a lot going on in SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME, and there is, but the reader never gets lost, thanks to Atkins’ remarkable characterization, pacing, and plot, the latter being drawn from the real world.

SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME is a love letter from Atkins to Parker’s legion of fans as well as an invitation to a generation of new ones to come and join the party. It is both comfortably familiar and newly intriguing, which is a tough balance to achieve, let alone maintain. Atkins does both, and does so amazingly well. I am eagerly awaiting the next installment, and the ones after that. Strongly recommended.

Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
© Copyright 2021, The Book Report, Inc. All rights reserved.

As a child of the 80s, my main exposure to Robert B Parker’s Spenser was through the TV show starring Robert Urich and Avery Brooks. I’ve always meant to read the novels, especially after enjoying several other of Mr Parker’s series, but never had a chance till the latest of Ace Atkins’ take-over of the series. So while I can’t tell you how this book compares to Mr Parker’s originals, I can say that it’s a wildly entertaining novel on its own, featuring a ripped-from-the-headlines story with all the trademark wry humor, Boston shenanigans and juxtaposition of violence and sophistication one associates with this property.

This forty-eighth overall installment of the official Spenser stories sees Mattie Sullivan, Spenser’s apprentice, come to the fore. A college student hoping to become an investigator herself, she’s quick to accept a seemingly routine case brought to her by an old friend. Fifteen year-old Chloe Turner only needs Mattie to retrieve the backpack she left at the exclusive Blackstone Club the other night. But when Mattie is first stonewalled, then harassed by Blackstone thugs unhappy she’s not taking no for an answer, she turns to Spenser for help.

Spenser, of course, wants to know more. Turns out, Chloe was paid a large sum of money to give a guest at the men-only club a massage. When the guy started getting creepy, Chloe bolted out of the building, accidentally leaving her bag behind. Mattie and Spenser are aghast at this exploitation of a minor, and Spenser is ready to start breaking heads and busting doors. But they soon discover that Chloe is only the latest girl to encounter this guy and his circle of enablers, and that other girls from the Boston area have far worse stories.

Mattie and Spenser’s investigations will find them traveling from Boston to Miami and beyond as they track down the Jeffrey Epstein-like figure. Most people are reluctant to speak out against wealthy, powerful Peter Steiner. One of the few who will talk with Spenser, off the record of course, is Cuban immigrant Pepe De Santos, who took over Fighting Fitzpatrick Landscapers Inc. from his now-retired boss, the original Fitzpatrick:

QUOTE
“Was that the first time you saw [Steiner] with kids?” I said.

“No,” De Santos said. “But it was the worst. Something I couldn’t ignore. Steiner has many friends. Many who join him in this. I have worked in this country for long enough to know how to keep to myself. Mr. Fitzpatrick worked on the Miami estates of many drug lords and never said a word. But this is different. This man is different. It is a secret world behind his gates. And if you speak out against him or say a word, men will come for you. They have harassed me many times.”
END QUOTE

This, of course, only makes Spenser and Mattie more determined to bring Steiner to justice, hopefully saving some more girls in the process. But the reappearance of an old foe will make even Spenser pause, as memories of mortality will haunt him and his team.

If Someone To Watch Over Me is representative of the Spenser oeuvre, then I have certainly been missing out! Fast-paced and thrilling, with just the right amounts of humor and pathos to make our protagonists feel more like real people than two-dimensional characters on a page, this was far more entertaining than my hazy memories of the TV show had led me to hope. I especially loved the relationship between Spenser and Mattie. Ten years ago, he was helping the teenaged girl find her mother’s killer: now he’s treating her as an equal, if still learning, partner in his investigations. After they follow Steiner’s trail to Miami, he tells her:

QUOTE
“Time to learn the hard facts about sleuthing.”

“What’s that?”

“Not much glitz and glamour,” I said. “First stop is the county courthouse, and then we need to stop by the local newspaper. I’ve learned it’s best to get the lay of the land before storming the castle.”

“Is that what we’re going to do?” Mattie said. “Storm the castle?”

“Probably not,” I said. “But I do hope we get a pretty good view of the drawbridge. And maybe of Steiner, too.”
END QUOTE

Mr Atkins has written a timely, satisfying novel that has certainly made me a Spenser fan! I’m already eager for the next installment in the series, so I can enjoy spending more time with these engaging characters as well as see them embroiled in truly topical issues. In the meantime, I have a rich back catalog to make my way through as I learn more about the terrific Spenser universe.

Ten years ago, Spenser helped a teenage girl named Mattie Sullivan find her mother's killer and take down an infamous Southie crime boss. Now Mattie dreams of being an investigator herself. Her first big case involves a fifteen-year-old girl assaulted by a much older man at one of Boston's most prestigious private clubs. The girl, Chloe Turner, only wants the safe return of her laptop and backpack. But like her mentor and boss, Mattie has a knack for asking the right questions of the wrong people.

Soon Spenser and Mattie find ties between the exploitation of dozens of other girls from working class families to an eccentric billionaire and his sadistic henchwoman with a mansion on Commonwealth Avenue. Spenser and trusted ally Hawk must again watch out for Mattie as she unravels a massive sex-trafficking ring that will take them from Boston to Boca Raton to the Bahamas, crossing paths with local toughs, an unprincipled security company, and an old enemy of Spenser's--the Gray Man--for a final epic showdown.

With obvious references to Epstein and company, Ace Atkins fashions a novel so riveting, the reader cannot help but be swept away. Atkins' talent takes the Robert B. Parker novels to an entirely new level, and fires the flame for a new generation of readers. Highly recommended.

Yet another reliable Spencer mystery courtesy of Ace Atkins. Probably better than average, Someone to Watch Over Me featured not only Spencer but Maddie, his much younger detective intern. She adds an extra character and interest to a reliable series.

Thanks to Netgalley, for an ARC of the latest book in Ace Atkins' Spenser series, in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I enjoyed this. All of the Robert B. Parker series books are good light entertainment, and this is no exception. I believe I've read all of them, Robert B. Parker and Ace Atkins, and this is one of the better ones.

This one is "ripped from the headlines," with the story of a rich pedophile and his complicit girlfriend. Spenser's new student assistant, Mattie Sullivan, is approached by a girl in her neighborhood, concerned about an experience she had - she agreed to go to a rich man's house and give him a massage. When she balked at anything more, she had to run from the house, and she wanted her backpack returned. Sounds simple, right? If they had just returned the backpack, it might all have been over (but then we wouldn't have this book!).

Mattie first appeared in #40 in the series, [book:Lullaby|13269092], as a 14 year old who came to Spenser because she was convinced that her mother's murder had not been properly investigated. She's now 10 years older, and working part time for Spenser while attending college. She's bright, resourceful and VERY stubborn - and she's determined that this is HER case.

While Mattie does have a significant part, things get a little too intense, and Spenser and Hawk need to take the lead. It's fun to have Hawk playing a big role again.

I really like the fact that Atkins is bringing in new characters - I think Mattie will probably play a big role in the series - while continuing the older characters. He also seems to have settled down a bit in the sarcastic comments department - while Spenser always made sarcastic comments, some of the earlier Ace Atkins book got a little over the top, to the point of absurdity. Atkins seems to be achieving the right balance now, and I am looking forward to this continuing.

One last point - don't assume you know how this will end. While you may feel very familiar with this story, this is fiction, after all, not a new report.

Someone to Watch Over Me is the 48th (!!) Spenser novel, and the 9th (by my count) written by Ace Atkins after Mr. Parker's death. Due out 12th Jan 2021 from Penguin Random House on their G.P. Putnam's Sons imprint, it's 400 pages and will be available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats.
I've been in love with this series since book 1 (The Godwulf Manuscript) and I was really sad when the author passed, thinking that I would have to confine myself to re-reads to get my Spenser/Hawk fix. I was nervous about someone else taking over the writing, but have been really impressed and happy with the newest books in the series.

Other reviewers (and the book's blurb) have set up the plot quite well. I'll just add that all of the elements which made us fall in love with Spenser & co. from the start are here also. The characters (trigger warning, exploitation of minors, and sexual exploitation are themes) are ripped from recent news headlines (including a "fantasy island" which hearkens to the relatively recently departed unlamented Jeffry Epstein and his henchpeople). Because the theme is so triggering and horrific, I will say there's no direct graphic sexual content, but there are descriptions of abuse (not graphic) during interviews with victims which were somewhat difficult for me to read. I mostly skimmed over those. They certainly weren't used egregiously, they were integral to the plot, but they were rather difficult to see.

It's a solidly written PI murder mystery with an indelible American flavor. Boston's local atmosphere and settings are a vital part of the book. I love Spenser's relationship with Susan (smart, funny, capable, and real) and the interplay between Spenser and his compatriots. I loved the sarcastic wit and real humor and repartee in the dialogue. I'm obviously a solid fan of this series, and my opinion wasn't dented one tiny bit by this latest adventure. Ace Atkins isn't Robert B. Parker, but he's pretty darned close.

Five stars for fans of the series. Probably four to five for new readers who enjoy gritty American PI adventures.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

This was a really great read. It isn't like a real Robert B. Parker Spenser book, but it's good in its own right. And I love Parker's Spenser so much, I'll take him any way I can get him. The relationship with Hawk changed when this author took over the series, as did the relationship with Susan. But the choices are no more Spenser or roll with the changes, and I choose to roll with it. I love the new Pearl and her affinity for Susan's expensive shoes.

I especially enjoyed Spenser starting to feel his age and wondering how long he could keep doing what he does. I hope it's forever, but he is getting a bit long in the tooth to be able to kick the crap out of the bad guys without any ill effects. He's still got a few more years and a few more crimes in him though.

The subject matter of the crime is horrendous, so white knight Spenser has no alternative but to see it through to the end, especially when his latest protege, twenty-two year old Mattie, is the one who gets him involved in saving her friends and their sisters. The story is excellent, with enough twists, turns and red herrings to keep you guessing.

I thought there was a little bit of a cheat at the end, but it wasn't so bad that it ruined the story, and it enabled Spenser to live and fight another day. So, okay. If this review sounds like I didn't like the book, don't be fooled. I loved it. I just miss the originals.

Iconic Boston Private Eye: Spenser returns to kick butt across Boston, Miami and the Bahamas with the aid of his best friend and ally, the ever dangerous and stylish Hawk. They are charged with taking down the villainous Peter Steiner and his henchwoman and accomplice, Poppy Palmer. In a gritty hard-boiled fashion, Ace Atkins provides a pitch perfect drama, as they attempt to make order out of chaos and injustice. Mattie Sullivan works for Spenser as a
part-time assistant and sleuth-in-training while attending college. She’s twenty-two, pretty, long-legged, with long red hair kept in a pony tail .. and an obvious Irish face filled with freckles. She has stayed in Spencer’s orbit since as a teenager he helped bring her mother’s killer to justice.
Some of Mattie’s friends have brought to her attention the presence of a potential child molester. It starts out with a friend’s sister, Chloe Turner, (age 14) who was recruited to provide a “massage” to a wealthy gentleman at the Blackstone Club (posh Boston private Men ’s Club) for five-hundred dollars. Tracing back to her recruitment by another teenager, Debbie Delgado…. who received two-hundred for every girl she could recruit. All with the guise of looking for models with fresh faces. And, the massage and “extras” would be given to rich and powerful men, who could “change your life.” Mattie’s involvement has led to the pro-bono investigation with Spencer, Hawk and all of their contacts. Spencer uncovers the common link with the six victims they know about is Steiner and Palmer. Some consider them merely a dynamic Boston power couple. Steiner owns his own investment firm that specializes in working with a select clientele of the rich, famous and politically connected . While the slick, thin and muscular Poppy, with surgically enhanced breasts, looks great in a bikini, but also with a glass of champagne in her hand. Photos abound with her at events to fight illiteracy, poverty, cancer, blindness, hunger, domestic violence, animal abuse and a multitude of other “causes”. She reportedly runs a modeling agency, but actually is Steiner’s recruiter and accomplice. ( Ghislaine Maxwell & Jeffrey Epstein ? )
Steiner not only has an expansive mansion on Comm Ave in Boston, but also on a seclusive peninsula in Miami , Florida. After a day or two in Miami, he hops on his private jet
with his young “guests” to jet over to his privately owned island in the Bahamas. The island appears to be the site of extensive parties, attended by politicians, CEOs, and even foreign dignitaries. Ace Atkins spins a complex and “twisted” narrative as a worthy addition to the ever expanding genre of “modern day” historical fiction. This is Atkins’ ninth contribution to the beloved Spenser ethos with continuation of the smart-mouthed tough guy with a code of honor and astute sense of culture, taste, and humor. Thankfully, we catch his third “Pearl” , a German shorthaired pointer,
during her puppy years of training, chewing shoes and furniture, a leaving presents scattered across the carpeting. His long-time girlfriend, Susan, the Harvard trained psychologist reprises her role as confidant, and counter-point to his thinking and actions. How will Spencer bring this international sex trafficking operation to its knees? Along the way, the situation is complicated by the presence of an old nemesis, The Gray Man. This can be enjoyed and devoured as a standalone, even if the reader has never read a Spencer novel in the past …. Atkins seamlessly provides all the necessary backstory. Thanks to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for providing an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review.

The publisher provided a free electronic version of this novel for review.

A lot has changed for Spenser, but a lot has changed. Old restaurants and bars have been replaced by others. Some of his contacts on the Boston police have moved upstairs (and new ones are working the streets).

Spenser is still with Susan, still boxing, and he's still loyal to a code of honor. As he tells a killer in Ace Atkins's novel, Someone to Watch Over Me, a man without honor is worse than dead.

The biggest change in Spenser's life is that he now has a partner—Mattie Sullivan, 22 years old, someone Spenser rescued years ago, when Mattie's mother died.

Mattie had assimilated some of Spenser's code of honor. She comes to Spenser for help when a friend's backpack was stolen by someone at a private club.

Mattie and Spenser investigate, then learn that young women—barely teenagers—are being groomed for prostitution by a wealthy couple who appear to be untouchable because they know billionaires and powerful politicians. They own an island where no law seems able to touch them.

Besides the pedophiles, the assassin Rugar, who almost killed Spenser once before, is involved with the couple.

It's the job of a private eye to rescue the innocent. I'm glad that Ace Atkins has continued writing these stories of unabashed chivalry in the style of Robert B. Parker.

Spencer helped Mattie years ago. Now Mattie is a college student and wants to follow in Spencer’s foot steps. A case she is investigating draws the attention of the wrong people. Spencer and Hawk become involved to help and protect Mattie. The plot was fast moving and kept me interested. We also got some new insights into Hawk. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

Below a review from Fantastic Fiction:

Ten years ago, Spenser helped a teenage girl named Mattie Sullivan find her mother's killer and take down an infamous Southie crime boss. Now Mattie-a college student with a side job working for the tough but tender private eye - dreams of being an investigator herself. Her first big case involves a fifteen-year-old girl assaulted by a much older man at one of Boston's most prestigious private clubs. The girl, Chloe Turner, only wants the safe return of her laptop and backpack. But like her mentor and boss, Mattie has a knack for asking the right questions of the wrong people.

Soon Spenser and Mattie find ties between the exploitation of dozens of other girls from working class families to an eccentric billionaire and his sadistic henchwoman with a mansion on Commonwealth Avenue. The mystery man's wealth, power and connections extend well beyond Massachusetts - maybe even beyond the United States. Spenser and trusted ally Hawk must again watch out for Mattie as she unravels a massive sex-trafficking ring that will take them from Boston to Boca Raton to the Bahamas, crossing paths with local toughs, a highly-trained security company, and an old enemy of Spenser - the Gray Man - for a final epic showdown.

Cool PI story - very Epstein-ish.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Since I can’t remember the last time I read a story by Robert Parker, reading this version, even though it’s number 48 in a series, was a brand new experience.

I have to say I was not intimidated in the least to be reading book 48 in the series. I had hoped that it would be a standalone to a degree and in fact, it pretty much was. While I’m sure the majority of the characters were in prior novels, I did not feel lost in the least.

The author completely brought me into the story immediately with his funny, snarky, and dry wit that the main character, Spenser, displayed. Plus I love the fact that this was told in the first person which made it personal and extremely engaging.

The author tells us a story that is extremely familiar because it comes from recently fresh headlines. With some literary license and a few twists, you realize that this is a story that needs to be told and something we need to be reminded of every day in hopes we can find a way to make it stop.

Someone to Watch Over Me is a true to life story that is easy to follow with a delicate balance of personality, mystery, and action for a deeply involved experience.

Engrossing and exciting with a fabulously unexpected twist at the end, we are transported into the land of the ultra-rich where money buys protection and just about anything else – well, except Spenser. This story was the perfect choice to dive back into this series! So glad I found it again!

This was the first time that I have read Ace Atkins, thanks to the advance copy of this book. He picks up where Robert Parker left off, and writes in a very similar style. This story about Mattie and Spenser trying to track down a pedophile was very fast moving and held my attention to the end.
Definitely recommended for an easy and enjoyable read to escape to.

Ace Atkins' ninth Spenser continuation novel was originally scheduled to be published November 17, but printing and distribution issues have delayed it to January 12, 2021. Fortunately, Putnam Books' publicist Nicole Biton sent me an advance ebook to review.

Mattie Sullivan, introduced as the young client in Atkins' 2012 first Spenser (Robert B. Parker's Lullaby), returns as a 22-year-old apprentice, taking the case of 15-year-old Chloe Turner, molested by a much older man at Boston's posh Blackstone gentlemen's club. Mattie's investigation leads to hedge fund billionaire Peter Steiner, his British socialite companion Patricia "Poppy" Palmer, and their perverse, private pleasure island in the Bahamas.

Steiner and Palmer are inspired by notorious sex offenders Jeffrey Epstein and his companion Ghislane Maxwell. Atkins has Mattie drive the investigation knowing she would better empathize with the couple's victims, who in turn would open up more to Mattie than to Spenser.

Reminding me of James Bond adversaries, Steiner and Palmer employ one of the most chilling enemies Parker created for Spenser, Ruger the Gray Man, warranting Hawk's return from two books' absence. Like me, however, Atkins is a true Bond fan, respectfully homaging Doctor No with the case's Caribbean showdown.