Robert B. Parker's Little White Lies (Spenser) Hardcover – May 2, 2017

Its almost like this guy refuses to go back and read a couple of Parkers actual novels. He gets some characters ok but is so far off on Spenser you gotta wonder why he doesn't even try. And the overdone liberal bias is so blatant and hateful that you wonder why the publishers let him continue to pretend to be someone who was subtle in his liberal bias and even sometimes even handed. you want to read books about hate against whites and southerners and christians this is your guy. This story is about those things much more than the plot or the characters. There must be someone who can do better and be less hateful.

I usually read original parker novels in a day...this offering by Atkins took me about 5 days to work through...I feel Atkins rushed through this latest novel...In a couple places he has Spenser explain his joke...Spenser would never do that...the snappy dialog is just not there...it seems forced to me...plus he has Spenser and Susan swearing a lot...at least for them Parker and Spenser and Susan were much more refined...and Hawk as well...Ace had a couple Spenser copycats that were acceptable...I would stay away from this one if you like your Spenser...old school...but as for a mystery...it is just ok...but it is readable...just not as smooth as the master...and really it does not read like Parker...and ending is disappointing

I've read every Spenser novel and loved every one until Little White Lies. All of a sudden there is a PC political agenda permeating the story that was infuriating and unnecessary. Along with Mr. Atkins obvious ignorance of firearms it made the story unbearable. I really don't know the author that took over this series from the legendary Mr. Parker but my suspicions are he's a progressive numb nuts. If you love the Spenser mystic of the Robert Parker era, stay away from Ace.

I really enjoyed the book. He's not Robert Parker but his writing is pretty close. Except the endings. Somehow for me at least the ending just kind of dribble away to nothing. There is no climax, tension, surprise. Still good and who knows eventually the gripping endings may develop over time.

Great story - Ace Atkins has followed Robert Parker's lead perfectly.Spenser's voice is seamless with the original novels - although I wish there was more snarky observations and commentary. That is what makes the Spenser novels great is the humor. He is undoubtedly an iconoclast but his disposition and verbal interactions are phenomenal. He is a guy's guy and someone a lot of males wished they could be - fearless, a bit reckless, and tenacious.The story evolved in an interesting and captivating manner and the characters were well developed.All in all an easy and great read - just wish they were more frequent!!

This volume brings us back into the familiar comfortable world of Spenser, Hawk,... not to mention Pearl; the Wonder Dog - Ace Atkins keeps the franchise going with professional skill. For those who like this sort of thing (and there are many of us), this is just the sort of thing you will like.

This is trapped in labels syndrome, with the recurring angry radical feminist shoving it to the man! character rebecca, and descriptors like H---phobe, I was wondering what comes next, is hawk going to require a "safe space"? perhaps spenser beating up people for "microaggressing"? and of course tedy letting us all know how aggressively gay he is...again...I didnt quite hear some character babble about the "patriarchy", but maybe that will be the next book. This could have been written by one of the mid 20s mid upperclass w female huffpost "journalists". Pass.

The characters just didn't have the same feel as when Robert Parker was writing them; there was dialog where I just found myself thinking "this isn't Spenser and Hawk". The story was ok. better than not having the series at all, I guess.

Decent story and ordinarily I'd like the plot, but a bit too much politics and not enough examination of the possibilities of how it could go.I did some eye-rolling when the slick con-man was tied in with (but of course) extremist right-wing groups operating out of (but of course) a Southern church group. It's fairly clear in his writing of this series to date that Mr Atkins political views are more to the left, and that's no harm. But as the over-used trope of "Oh noes, conservative Christian types are likely to be racist bigots too!" swung into gear, it left me distinctly underwhelmed. What would have been a lot more interesting would have been to tie in the murkiness of the War On Terror and how it has expanded in both time and space, and how a lot of the "patriotic" types leaping aboard the bandwagon are more interested in making money than anything else, and that it's a prime space for con-men, fantasists, and those straddling the line between criminality and 'just this side of legal' to move in and mingle with intelligence agencies, government agencies, and the grey area of arms dealing, arms trading, and who is a terrorist trying to destabilise a legitimate government (against Us/Western interests) and who is a brave revolutionary fighting to overthrow an unjust regime (for Us/Western interests, or at least willing to make deals with Us/Western interests).John le Carré's "The Tailor of Panama" did this excellently, but it's probably unfair to Mr Atkins to expect him to produce something of this nature in a series detective novel that is not his own original work. However, if he'd also stuck to "con-man and his criminal/dubiously legal associates", that would have been a good, solid novel too. The taking an opportunity to have a swipe at people or groups Mr Atkins thinks are What Is Wrong With America Today was a misstep, and frankly the way he writes religious matters in this and other Spencer novels, I'm not too sure he's ever met a real Christian (or would be convinced that someone not a liberal mainline Protestant willing to be 'religion is a private matter to be kept separate from your ordinary life' is a proper Christian).So mainly I skipped those parts and read this book only for the Spenser and Hawk interactions, which continue to be the best part of the series, even though again I think Atkins is pushing things a bit: he has a conversation between Hawk and Spenser on stakeout where we find out a lot more of Hawk's (alleged) past than Robert Parker ever told us, and I think that also is a mistake - we're not meant to know too much about Hawk.In conclusion: three out of five because the predictable politics bored me; either go deeper into this as a plot or leave it out and concentrate on the slippery con-man. Apart from that, a solid entry into the series and Atkins continues to carefully maneouvre the main characters - Spenser, Hawk, Susan, even Henry - and their relationships back from where Parker left them and hit the re-set button to the 80s/90s state of affairs (Henry's business move into being a spa-type affair is rolled back with the concentration on getting the gym re-established as the core business again, Spenser is starting to sprinkle his conversations or encounters with English literature references once more, and so on). Probably most people's favourite period and not a bad decision.

Have really missed Spenser since I read all the available books. This one is another cracker, brilliantly written, the fact he must be about 70 now yet still running and fighting doesn't bother me one bit. Love the characters, the settings and the dialogue - as good as Parker's earlier ones and a tribute to the great man the way Atkins has taken on the mantle.

Spenser is back to his authentic self, but the character of Welles is intriguing. I have come across a few Welles' and they all have 4 things in common: they are always desperately short of money; they always have people who belive in them implicitly even when shown the actuality; they always use churches, charities and needy children for setting up their scams....... they always know how to manipulate the media

I have read all of Robert B Parker's books. They are hidden gems. He died at 72, a few years ago, sad loss so no more of the excellent books he wrote. I even read, and enjoyed his cowboy books! Probably the best writer I read over the last 20 years. Brilliant, read them all.

Ace Atkins is a worthy successor to Robert B. Parker. This story is well up to Parker's scratch and I take my hat off to Atkins for picking up the Spenser idiom and running with it the way he has done. Anything Atkins does to further Spenser et al, I'll buy it with pleasure (and, of course, hard cash).

Really enjoyed this. Would have been better without the annoying Susan but I guess Ace has no choice but to include her. SHe was equally annoying with RP.

I still enjoy the Spenser books but I think he and his colleagues are getting a bit long in the tooth. I'm afraid tomake a guess at his age.

Liked this one a lot,whould recomend to anyone who likes this type of novel. Will probably stay with the Spenser books by Ace atkins

Too many 'Spencerisms' - you afficionados will know what I mean - and much too complicated a plot. Still, it was Spencer and he continues to live which is all we afficionados want.

For me Ace Atkins has captured the Robert B Parker style so well. Thoroughly enjoyed the book and hope that he will continue to write Spenser novels for many more years

An excellent addition to the series, i really enjoyed it. Loved the references to books and movies. Very witty. Mr Atkins keeps Spenser et al alive and kicking, literally.

Spenser lives on!!!

How can Ace not have Parker's genes . I keep on waiting to be disappointed and am disappointed. Keep up the good work!

Enjoyed book the only reason for four stars rather than five is that the story went a bit flat before the end.

Another for my husband to read and add to his collection.