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Robert B. Parker's Cheap Shot (The Spenser Series Book 42) Kindle Edition

by Ace Atkins (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.3 3,520 ratings

Book 43 of 52: Spenser

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“Atkins gives Robert B. Parker’s long-running series one of its best installments to date” (Bookreporter.com) as Spenser investigates the kidnapping of a football player’s son.

Kinjo Heywood is one of the New England Patriots’ marquee players—a hard-nosed linebacker who’s earned his standing as one of the toughest guys in the league. He may be worth millions but his connection to a nightclub shooting two years before is still putting a dangerous spin on his life, and his career.

When Heywood’s nine-year-old son, Akira, is kidnapped, and a winding trail through Boston’s underworld begins, Spenser puts together his own all-star team of toughs. It will take both Hawk and Spenser’s protégé, Zebulon Sixkill, to watch Spenser’s back. Because Heywood’s next unpredictable move puts everyone in jeopardy as the clock winds down on Akira’s future.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Kinjo Heywood is a ferocious middle linebacker for the New England Patriots, but he has a penchant for off-the field violence as well. When he thinks he’s being followed, his agent hires Boston private investigator Spenser to find and discourage the followers. If a confrontation between Kinjo and his shadows occurs, Spenser will handle any rough stuff. But Spenser’s simple bodyguard duty turns serious when Kinjo’s 10-year-old son is kidnapped. Perhaps it was masterminded by the boy’s mother, Kinjo’s ex-wife. Nope. She has an alibi and is every bit as invested in the boy’s return as Kinjo. How about the current trophy wife? Nope again; Spenser eliminates her fairly quickly. Perhaps the kidnapping goes back to Kinjo’s possible involvement in a shooting death at a New York dance club. The three thugsters—Spenser, longtime running buddy Hawk, and Spenser’s protégé Z—employ their usual investigative techniques of intimidation and smart-ass repartee in the service of solving the case. Atkins’ third shot at the Spenser caseload shows steady improvement over the first two. Spenser is as tough and funny as ever, and Atkins has become a worthy successor. --Wes Lukowsky

Review

Praise for Robert B. Parker’s Cheap Shot

“Robert B. Parker’s Cheap Shot shows why [Ace Atkins] was a perfect choice to continue the Spenser novels.”—West Orlando News

“A stupendous addition to the series.”—MysteryPeople.com

“Atkins is bringing his own energy and strengths to Parker's series. Cheap Shot is Spenser, by the book.”—Tampa Bay Times

“Atkins’s gift...could lead to a long run, to the delight of Spenser devotees.”—Publishers Weekly

Praise for Ace Atkins and the Spenser Series

“Handpicked by the Parker estate to be the keeper of the flame for the Spenser franchise, award-winning author Ace Atkins rises flawlessly to the occasion. In addition to the signature dialogue, all the familiars are fully resurrected: Susan, the sexy shrink; Pearl, the wonder dog; Hawk, the wonder sidekick; good cop Quirk, and, of course, Spenser himself, that consummate knight errant for the twenty-first century.”—Kirkus Reviews

“It’s a feat when a writer creates characters who live and breathe on the page and make readers care and keep coming back for more. To manage that with someone else’s characters, let alone with an icon like Spenser, is a minor miracle. Ace Atkins pulls it off.”—Chicago Sun-Times

“Atkins does a wonderful job with the characters created by Parker.”—Booklist

“Classic Spenser—the Spenser of wry wit, tasty food and drinks, hard workouts and lethal confrontations...Once again, Atkins has delivered a thriller that evokes the best of Parker’s Spenser series, not least the punchy back-and-forth of the dialogue.”—Associated Press

“Atkins has done a splendid job of capturing the voice of the late Robert B. Parker.”—Publishers Weekly

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00G3L11PI
Publisher ‏ : ‎ G.P. Putnam's Sons (May 6, 2014)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 6, 2014
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 1387 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 314 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #82,249 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #411 in Hard-Boiled Mysteries (Kindle Store)
- #822 in Private Investigator Mysteries (Kindle Store)
- #1,269 in Kidnapping Thrillers

Customer Reviews:
4.3 3,520 ratings

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Ace Atkins

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One of the best crime writers working today, Ace Atkins has been nominated for every major award in crime fiction, including the Edgar three times, twice for novels about former U.S. Army Ranger Quinn Colson. He's written eleven books in the Colson series, with many more to come. He continued Robert B. Parker's iconic Spenser character after Parker's death in 2010, and has added ten best-selling novels in that series.

A former newspaper reporter and SEC football player, Ace also writes essays and investigative pieces for several national magazines including Time, Outside, and Garden & Gun.

He lives in Oxford, Mississippi with his family, where he’s friend to many dogs and several bartenders.

Find out more about Ace and his novels on his official website: aceatkins.com, on Facebook Ace Atkins, and on Twitter @aceatkins.

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3,520 global ratings

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Amazon Customer

I loved it! I have been following Spenser and Hawk ...

Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2014

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I loved it! I have been following Spenser and Hawk and all for over 30 years. I think Ace Atkins does Parker's characters proud ... and then some. They are all just a little better dressed, a little more human, quite measurably articulate, and all together more interesting. The plot of Cheap Shot is the same as two old movies both titled Ransom staring first Glen Ford in 1956 and later, Mel Gibson in 1996. I don't remember how each wealthy father made his money but I'm fairly sure neither was a prominent sports figure. Perhaps that was a deliberate variation on the theme... with all the attendant yet totally uncontrollable fame, fortune and opportunities to self destruct which are the perks of achieving sports notoriety.

I have read two other novels by Ace Atkins. Both were well developed and interesting. I can't say that Mr. Atkins is a better writer than Robert B. Parker was in his prime, but certainly better than Parker was for the last 15 years or so. Spenser is in good hands with Atkins.

Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2023

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Feels like having my friends around when I read Spenser series books because I've been reading them for so long. I know it's a new writer now and I truly do miss Robert B. Parkers style more, but Ace Atkins is close enough. This one is a good mystery with lots of heart, and very enjoyable.

Helpful

Greggorio!

MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU, MR ATKINS!!!

Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2014

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It takes only a few sentences of this new age classic for the reader to forget where they are, who they are and what they are doing and find themselves lost and completely absorbed into the leafy surrounds, the good guys and the bad guys of beautiful downtown Boston. This is the third Spenser novel written by Ace Atkins and it stands head and shoulders with the best Mr Parker ever wrote.

Big name NFL super star Kinjo Heywood hires Spenser to help him with the small problem of anonymous harassment that has the potential to turn nasty. Shots have already been fired by Heywood in defence of his family, and following legal advice, Spenser is brought in to find out who the baddies are and find out what they want. And to get rid of them.

It turns out in the past that Heywood liked the ladies and a nightclub shooting in New York which turned fatal all adds interest to the tale. But its the quality of writing by Mr Atkins which will turn heads and make the reader stop and re-read whole paragraphs just to make sure they don't miss something special. For example, taken from page twelve of this glorious hardcover:

' ... The child looked at us through the binoculars. When I smiled directly at him, he ran away. A strong wind rustled tree branches overhead. A bright sun shone across the tree fort, creating small pockets and insignificant shadows. Leaves fell and fluttered to the ground ... Crystal made another drink. I finished my coffee and said my good-byes ... I would start tomorrow. "

Reading this phrase for the first time, I have to ask myself what exactly is an insignificant shadow. I pause in mid-thought and decide to keep reading. I wonder at quote's end, therefore, if Heywood's enemies know deep-down that the clock is ticking and Spenser is on their trail. Be afraid, guys. Be very afraid.

Anyway, a summary: This tale is a wonderfully exciting addition to the beloved Spenser legend. CHEAP SHOT is a must read for long term fans of the series as well as a good starting point for newbies. But one wonders if long term veterans of the Spenser series will enjoy it more than most. They will read this and saviour every word, absorbing every last drop of atmosphere, tension, irony and implicit violence that underwrites just about every sentence. By book's end the reader's emotions will be through the roof but look carefully early on for the reference to (of all things!) a legendary Star Wars point of reference from Mr Atkins!

The new fans are most welcome, of course. Come in and the party. But don't take the series for granted. There is something seriously special about the Spenser novels and if you read them too quickly, you might just miss the point. Lets just be grateful Ace Atkins is around to give us such a fine addition to the legend.

BFN Greggorio!

10 people found this helpful

Helpful

Bob Connely

I Thought He Had It (SPOILER)

Reviewed in the United States on May 22, 2014

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When Ace first took over the Spenser series, I expressed great disappointment in what he was doing to the characters. He simply couldn't stand to follow Parker's famous, stylized chatter between Hawk and Spenser, and instead put into the mouths of the two characters words they'd never had said if Parker were still cranking these out.

Then, along came "Cheap Shot," and after a little less than half the book, I thought to myself, "Ace finally got it! This is Parker-prose and it's good to read!"

Then, I got my reins yanked: Ace didn't have an original plot-line. He didn't have a story that was first concocted in his imagination. Nope - good ol' Ace, who seemed to inherit the Parker family fortune, simply trotted out a movie plot that involved a millionaire, a little boy and some kidnappers; and once trotted out, Good Ol' tried to put enough spin on it, so readers would close the last page of the book and think, "Wow - Ace got it!"

Well, NO. Ace didn't "Git it." And mores the shame because the good name of Parker has again been besmirched. Not that anyone cares: the Parker estate rakes in the dough, the Publishers rake in the dough, Ace rakes in the dough, and folks like a number of us readers get whatever milled-over crumbs are left. Damn shame, that.

3 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Loren

As good as a true Parker

Reviewed in France on August 20, 2020

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Written by Ace Atkins after Robert Parker died, this novel is just about as good as the "real thing." Based around the kidnapping of a football star's son, the story is gripping with a large cast of characters. Excellent!

Marcie G.

Could Ace Atkins outdo Robert Parker?!

Reviewed in Canada on December 20, 2016

Verified Purchase

You know, I have a feeling I'm not alone when I say Ace Atkins does Robert Parker so very well, I'm starting to think Mr. Atkins is an even better writer. (Yes, I'm going to get the bar of soap now...).

Brian Rogers

True to form

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 21, 2015

Verified Purchase

Atkins has captured Robert B Parker's style perfectly in a well-crafted novel. The plot is vintage Spenser, with a very satisfying finish.