Rating: 
Summary: Sunny Redux
Review: Ok. We've established several things from the previous reviews, all of them more-or-less true. Sunny Randall is a younger, female version of Spenser. Robert B. Parker is showing his age a bit (not much, but a bit). His stories are sparingly written, with a great deal of snappy dialog and not a whole lot of description or characterization. So what you get is a *spare* plot, not much action, and a great deal of conversation that illuminates what Parker's interested in illustrating while the story's going on in the background.Parker's been dealing with these issues for at least a decaded now (in the earlier books, he was strictly a detective novelist) and he's settled in several themes which he repeats, with variations. Some readers who have followed him religiously will, I suppose, begin to tire of these themes. Frankly, given that those themes don't produce much surprising any more, I still enjoy the books because I like the characters. In this book, the aforementioned Sunny Randall is hired to bodyguard a female romance novelist with a stalker for a husband. This plot device is somewhat old hat for Parker. Spenser first bodyguarded for a writer in Looking for Rachel Wallace back what must be two decades ago. The results are somewhat different though. Here, Sunny decides to engage in some preemptive detective work after she discovers that the husband, a shrink, has a nasty habit of seducing his female patients (almost all of them are female) and then killing them if they get troublesome. I liked this book, I like the series, I like Parker generally. I would recommend the book.
Rating:
Summary: Sunny Randall is not really in theraphy, but it helps
Review: On one level there is the case: Sunny Randall has been hired to be a body guard for best-selling author Melanie Joan Hall who is being stalked by her ex-husband, a psychiatrist who is clearly used to having his way with every woman he meets, whether they are a patient or not. On another level there is Sunny's relationship with her ex-husband Richie, which is very much of the can't live with him, can't live without him variety. The more she learns about Melanie Joan's relation with her ex-husband the more Sunny finds herself questioning her own relationships with all of the men in her life, from Richie and her father to Tony Gault, the Hollywood agent she meets out in L.A. Of course the only way you can read only of Robert B. Parker's Sunny Randall novels and not see it as a juggling around of the elements of his Spenser for Hire series is that you never read any of the Spenser for Hire novels. Yes, the main character is a female rather than a male, was actually married to their obvious sole mate, and the two of them share a good looking bull terrier that is in much better shape that Pearl the beloved wonder dog. But given how long it took Spencer and Susan to figure out their relationship things do not portend well for Sunny and Richie. However, that remains the secondary consideration in this novel to the case Sunny is working and by now it is clear that whatever the case she is working the climax has to be so her willingness (or rather her unwillingness) to have anybody provide help in the big showdown. In that regard, "Shrink Rap" turns out to be rather different from the previous novels in the series, "Perish Twice" and "Family Honor." Ultimately, the secondary considerations outweigh the case at hand in this novel. The showdown actually ends up being less than fulfilling given everything that sets it up and what becomes more interesting are Sunny's ruminations on her life in the book's several therapy sessions (not that Sunny is in therapy, mind you, just pretending to be in therapy and talking about the pretend therapy). Consequently, her character actually seems to be making some progress with her troubled life. As always, Parker provides a quick read; these are novels where the only real way to avoid reading it in one day is to start it late at night. However, such books are perfect for the commuter lifestyle. The dialogue is typical Parker, where the one-liners are always driven by character and context. At least now we know if there is any chance for Sunny and Richie to end up happily ever after, it is going to happen this century...
Rating:
Summary: A fun, lightning-fast read
Review: Private investigator Sunny Randall is hired by best-selling novelist Melanie Joan to protect her from her psychiatrist ex-husband John Melvin, who has been stalking her throughout her book tour. In her effort to protect herself and her client, Sunny embarks on an investigation of Dr. Melvin and discovers how he has been able to maintain such a psychological hold over Melanie. In the course of her research, Sunny consults with both Dr. Melvin and another counselor, gaining uncomfortable insights into her own relationship with her ex-husband. Among the returning characters are tough, smart, cute Sunny; ambivalent, cute ex-husband Richie; and the very cute bull terrier Rosie. Do you get the idea there is a lot of cute in this book? There is also a surprising depth of character for such a breezy fast read, lots of action, and snappy dialogue presented in brief chapters that will have you turning the pages as fast as you can and looking forward to the next installment in the series.
Rating:
Summary: Time for Spenser to retire?
Review: Probably not. But I really enjoyed Shrink Rap MUCH more than the last Spenser tale, "Widow's Walk." While I agree with some of the other reviewers here that there could've been a bit more tension/suspense, I really enjoyed the story. While there are numerous parallels between Spenser and Sunny, Spenser seems to be running out of steam. I finished this book looking forward to reading more about Sunny.
Rating:
Summary: It's Parker, not Dostoevsky!
Review: Robert B. Parker has to rank high among the demigods of Entertainment Fiction. 95% of his works are brilliant brain candy - so much fun to read that they can't be put down, and are read in a couple of hours (thus supporting Poe's claim that a work that can't be read in one sitting isn't worth reading). When you pick up a Parker book, that's all you have a right to expect. There will be no deep characterizations, no exploration of themes that stand the cold light of scrutiny, no meaningful insights into the human condition. Even the plots usually won't withstand much analysis. Oh, sure, Parker likes to pretend he's giving us all that, but we know, and he knows, that it's just a sham. All a Parker book is about is sharp dialogue and crack witticisms. And that's exactly what we get with Shrink Rap. As a novel, it is extremely flawed. As entertainment, it is incredible. Perhaps most entertaining of all is Sunny Randall herself. True, she often seems like Spenser in petticoats - the same wisecracking wit, the same moral code. Yet Sunny is more compelling than Spenser. Not only is she more introspective than Spenser (we find out about Spenser's inner psyche only by other people - Susan, mainly - talking about him as if he weren't there; we're given a direct link to Sunny's feelings), but she's better than Spenser because she cannot fall back on brawn to get her through situations. Spenser ticks people off because he knows he can beat the snot out of them if he has to. Sunny, like the vast majority of us, does not have that option. Which, all told, makes her more real than Spenser and in some ways more enjoyable. All the complaints about Shrink Rap are fair, but misguided. A Parker book is meant to be read quickly, enjoyed, and then put on the shelf for a slow afternoon at the beach. This is network television in print without the commercials; keep your expectations in line with reality and you will not be disappointed.
Rating: 
Summary: A most enjoyable treat.
Review: Robert B. Parker's third Sunny Randall novel is witty, bright, light and full of crisp dialog. A fast-paced plot that makes for a swift read. The plot pitches the reader to the climax thru a succession of increasing danger points that P.I. Sunny Randall, her client, her archangel Spike and ex-husband overcome. The villain is a twisted, creepy psychologist who is stalking and manipulating his former wife (Sunny's client, best selling author Melanie Joan Hall.) Seems he has a history of terrorizing and manipulating his female patients. Mr. Parker does a nifty job of developing the characters by exploring their relationships mainly via dialog with a minimum of narrative passages. Big fun.
Rating:
Summary: Sunny Randall Returns!
Review: Robert B. Parker, creator of the famous Spenser series, writes this third book about wise-cracking, Boston based Sunny Randall. While his portrayal of women tends to get bogged down in stereotypes most of the time, this book is a deep look into the soul of one of his characters, with the return of several of her well-known best friends. In this book, Sunny Randall must help protect an author while investigating exactly what it's like to be in therapy. While it's not exactly fresh, ground-breaking material - it's still a read that will help you laugh till you cry.
Rating: 
Summary: Possibly the most painful book I've ever read/heard
Review: Robert Parker's Shrink Rap is a dog. As a long-time fan of Parker's - I've read 'em all and enjoyed most of them - I found Shrink Rap to be silly, contrived, sexist, and banal - and that's the good parts. This book shows the sign of too much success and not enough effort on the part of the author. After a good start - a successful woman is being stalked by a dangerous ex-husband and hires Sunny Randall to provide security - the novel simply whirls down the drain through some really messy plotting into a totally unsatisfying ending. This thing smacks of the typess of sicko fantasy a demented pre-adolescent might dream up. Go back to what you know, Bob! If Spenser had a problem like this, it would be a subplot in a better novel, because he or Hawk would dispense some street-corner justice and the ex-husband would be on the first bus out of town - as soon as he got out of the hospital. If the next one's this bad, no more Sunny Randall for me!
Rating:
Summary: woof-woof
Review: Robert Parker's Shrink Rap is a dog. As a long-time fan of Parker's - I've read 'em all and enjoyed most of them - I found Shrink Rap to be silly, contrived, sexist, and banal - and that's the good parts. This book shows the sign of too much success and not enough effort on the part of the author. After a good start - a successful woman is being stalked by a dangerous ex-husband and hires Sunny Randall to provide security - the novel simply whirls down the drain through some really messy plotting into a totally unsatisfying ending. This thing smacks of the typess of sicko fantasy a demented pre-adolescent might dream up. Go back to what you know, Bob! If Spenser had a problem like this, it would be a subplot in a better novel, because he or Hawk would dispense some street-corner justice and the ex-husband would be on the first bus out of town - as soon as he got out of the hospital. If the next one's this bad, no more Sunny Randall for me!
Rating:
Summary: Good stuff--sympathetic character damaged but dealing
Review: Romance author Melanie Joan Hall hires Private Investigator Sunny Randall to help guard her against the the author's stalking ex-husband. Sunny wants to do more than guard--but as she begins to investigate the ex-husband, psychiatrist John Melvin, she begins to discover hints that Melvin is doing more than stalking. A psychiatrist whose practice seems to consist solely of beautiful women has plenty of opportunities to do evil. Sunny's investigations soon lead her to trouble--and danger. Sunny's personal problems form a reverse image of Melanie Joan's. Like Melanie Joan, Sunny can't get over her ex-husband and, as she investigates Melvin, she starts to work on her own issues. Author Robert B. Parker delivers an enjoyable mystery. Fans of Parker will be familiar with the issues of being unable to live with, or without, a particular relationship, but here Sunny's problems and their mirror image problems with Melanie Jone add rather than detract from the story. Parker does a good job showing the positive as well as dangers of psychiatry, avoiding a fall into cliche. Sunny's dialogue doesn't pack the impact of Parker's more famous Spenser series but this character remains fresh and interesting. Her mix of toughness and vulnerability makes Sunny sympathetic even when she doesn't make the most logical decisions.
|
