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Robert B. Parker's Wonderland: Spenser    by Ace Atkins Amazon.com order for
Robert B. Parker's Wonderland
by Ace Atkins
Order:  USA  Can
Berkley, 2014 (2013)
Hardcover, Paperback, CD, e-Book
* *   Reviewed by Mary Ann Smyth

The world of mysteries lost a fine writer in Robert B. Parker (author of over 70 novels!) when he died in 2010. To keep Parker's very popular series, the Spenser mysteries, available to fans, Ace Atkins has taken up the banner and continues writing them. I'm sure Parker would be pleased.

Spenser and Henry Cimoli have been friends for years. Cimoli, a boxing promoter has never asked private eye Spenser for a favor – but the need is there now. Cimolo lives in a condo that a developer is trying to buy – using thugs to coax the other owners to sell. Cimolo doesn't care to move and objects to the developer using strong-arm methods to clear the building of tenants.

Spenser and his side-kick apprentice, Zebulon Sixkill (don't you love the name?) are soon involved and on the trail of a mysterious woman, and a Las Vegas kingpin who is planning to turn the land Cimoli's condo sits on into a sprawling casino.

The plot of Wonderland is right on, and the characters are ones you would find in any Spenser novel. One-liners abound. Susan, of course, is always on Spenser's mind. As is Pearl, the wonder dog. Even Hawk makes a late entrance.

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