Craig Zablo

CHASING THE BEAR: A YOUNG SPENSER NOVEL by Robert B. Parker

First sentence…

I was sitting with the girl of my dreams on a bench in Boston Public Garden watching the swan boats circle the little lagoon.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

As Spenser relaxes with Susan in the park on a summer afternoon, their talk drifts to Spenser’s formative years.  After his mother died, Spenser was raised by his father and his two maternal uncles.  They were blue collar men’s men who did their best to give Spenser a well-rounded upbringing.  So Spenser learned to fish, hunt and fight as well as read, write and think critically.

As Susan asks questions, Spenser remembers a pivotal point in his life.  He was 14.  Jeannie Haden was his best friend.  Jeannie had a rough home life.  Her dad was an alcoholic and a mean drunk.  Usually his abuse was verbal, but he thought nothing of smacking Jeannie when she needed it.

Spenser wanted to help, but how?

Then one afternoon Spenser sees Jeannie in the back of her father’s car.  The car is slowly moving through traffic in their small town.  As the car pulls away, Spenser sees Jeannie mouthing “HELP!”.  The car is headed towards the river, so Spenser follows.  He arrives in time to see Jeannie and her dad headed down river in a small boat.

With no time to go for help, Spenser jumps in a row boat and heads downstream.  Spenser has no plan but knows that Jeannie’s life depends on his next moves.

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CHASING THE BEAR: A YOUNG SPENSER NOVEL is geared to teenagers and older.  It’s an easy read. Fans of Parker’s long-running novel series should enjoy a look at Spenser’s upbringing and events that helped shape the man he would become.

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