Robert B. Parker, Cold Service

Cold Service: A Spenser Novel

Robert B. Parker

Putnam, Mar 2005, $24.95

ISBN: 0399152407

The Ukrainian mob has begun to muscle its way into the Boston rackets with an eye on competing against Luther Gillespie's bookie operations. Luther, fearing the intrusion of this dangerous group from Brooklyn, hires Hawk as his bodyguard. However, as good as Hawk is, the mob proves better at killing and most of Gillespe's family except for his young son are murdered, while Hawk takes three bullets in his back.

Hawk identifies the shooters but the case is botched leaving it to Hawk's code of ethics to take action although the Ukrainian gangsters have sanctuary in nearby Marshport from the mayor and the local mob. Still, taking out five is not the difficult task, especially with Spenser covering his back; it is taking out the quintet without retaliation from the Ukrainians, their handlers, and the Mass-east mob without leaving evidence for the Feds or the police that is the problem.

The Spenser series always is at the stratospheric levels of male in your face boldness, but this time Robert B. Parker takes the machismo gene to the upper area of the atmosphere, the exosphere. The storyline is action-packed as the two friends continue their quest proving why bullets have a certain phallic shape. Series fans will enjoy this thriller filled with Superman levels of testosterone in which even their respective female Docs fail at softening the avenging duo.

Harriet Klausner