Chasing the Bear

Way back in 2009 I read Robert B. Parker’s new Spenser novel The Professional and wrote up a review bitching about how he fell into bad habits late in his career. Then he died a few months later, and I felt slightly guilty about bashing a series I once loved so I started re-reading them from the beg......more

I was eagerly anticipating my reading of Chasing the Bear, for it was the only Spenser adventure written by Robert B. Parker that—probably because it was classified as a YA—I have not chosen to read before. Now—alas!—I have read it. I do not think it is a success. It could have been a fine book. It w......more

This story is a prequel to all the Spenser books written by Robert B. Parker. Beautiful coming of age story featuring young Spenser, and the life lessons he will forever take with him - being raised in a home with a loving father and 2 adoring uncles (his mom died). A story of family respect, loyalt......more

This is one of those books that helps explain how your parents grew up. The elements of time travel come in the form of flashback sequences as Spenser details growing up with no mother and living with three fathers (his father and his mother's two brothers). The youth of today have never been through......more

Actually a 4 1/2 star rating. The writing is vintage Parker, and though it is considered a young adult book, I found the writing style to be almost the same as his normal Spenser novels. It's a quick read, with a message, but not preachy. Spenser fans will love the background into his childhood and......more