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    Sixkill
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    Sixkill
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    Sixkill
    Audiobook5 hours

    Sixkill

    Written by Robert B. Parker

    Narrated by Joe Mantegna

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    The last Spenser novel completed by Robert B. Parker.

    On location in Boston, bad-boy actor Jumbo Nelson is accused of the rape and murder of a young woman. From the start the case seems fishy, so the Boston PD calls on Spenser to investigate. Things don't look so good for Jumbo, whose appetites for food, booze, and sex are as outsized as his name. He was the studio's biggest star, but he's become its biggest liability.

    In the course of the investigation, Spenser encounters Jumbo's bodyguard: a young former football-playing Native American named Zebulon Sixkill. He acts tough, but Spenser sees something more within the young man. Despite the odd circumstances, the two forge an unlikely alliance, with Spenser serving as mentor. As the case grows darker and secrets about both Jumbo and the dead woman come to light, it's Spenser-with Sixkill at his side-who must put things right.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateMay 3, 2011
    ISBN9780739384886
    Unavailable
    Sixkill
    Author

    Robert B. Parker

    Robert B Parker was the best-selling author of over 60 books, including Small Vices, Sudden Mischief, Hush Money, Hugger Mugger, Potshot, Widows Walk, Night Passage, Trouble in Paradise, Death in Paradise, Family Honor, Perish Twice, Shrink Rap, Stone Cold, Melancholy Baby, Back Story, Double Play, Bad Business, Cold Service, Sea Change, School Days and Blue Screen. He died in 2010 at the age of 77.

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    Reviews for Sixkill

    4/5

    207 ratings23 reviews

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    • 4/5
      Over 20 years and 39 books later, I have finished with Spenser. This is not Parker's best and it's kinda hard to tell where he was going by introducing a new Hawk-a-like character this late in the series, but Spenser was never not entertaining. Not a bad eulogy for a series of novels written over three decades - never not entertaining.
    • 4/5
      Parker's last completed novel---a good one. It is sad to finish my reading and rereading of all of his detective novels.

      But quoting from the book:

      "Ain't a lot of happy endings here," he said.

      "There often aren't," I said.

      And then the last words of the novel seem appropriate to Parker's life, he being also a writer of and lover of the Western:

      "After the rain lifted, the world would probably seem as freshly washed as I was. The cleanliness was almost certainly illusory, or at best short-lasting. But life is mostly metaphor, anyway.

      "I got in my car and drove west."

      Thank you Robert Parker for creating some characters who live long after you.
    • 3/5
      I give it a three because it is the last one (but it is more in the 2 1/2 range) and I liked Sixkill. Not the best Spencer book. I wish Parker had stepped away from the series years ago. Might have to go reread earlier ones.
    • 3/5
      I'll miss you, Spencer. :(
    • 3/5
      The last Spenser novel completed before Parker's death, Spenser is hired by defense attorney Rita Fiore to look into the death of Dawn Lopata, a young girl who mysteriously dies after having sex with an obnoxious Hollywood star, Jumbo Nelson. Typical Spenser novel with typical Spenser dialogue - no Hawk in this story because the story focuses on the redemption of Zebuton Sixkill, Cree Indian who bodyguarded for Jumbo until he fired him after Spenser disabled him in a fight. Clearly, had Robert Parker lived, we would've been seeing more of Z in the future - interesting character who would've returned in other stories, no doubt. How I missed reading this novel when it first came out, I have no idea as I've read all 38 of the previous Spenser novels. I miss Robert B. Parker's style.
    • 4/5
      My first read in a long standing series (this is entry 39 in the Spenser series). Laconic, sparse prose. Not much backstory, actually none at all. Really just sketches of the characters playing a part in the history and yet fully believable. A bit annoyed at the invincibility of Spenser. Yet I'm drawn into the story and very much liked the main characters. Liked it very much.
    • 2/5
      A dissapointment. I haven't read Parker in a good 20 years, and frankly, this was far more lightweight and far less interesting than I expected it to be. "Fast-paced" shouldn't be a euphemism for "thin".I understand it was published posthumously, though, so who knows if he would have approved the final product. I'll have to take a look at some of his earlier work again to see if he changed or my tastes changed.
    • 4/5
      This is the 39th novel by Parker featuring Spenser (no first name ever given), a fearless and witty Boston private detective.293 pages. One afternoon. These things are addictive. The ostensible plot of the novel is the investigation into the guilt or innocence of Jumbo Nelson, a disgusting Fatty Arbuckle-like actor accused of raping and murdering a young Boston non-virgin suburbanite. Rita Fiore, the best defense counsel in Boston, hires Spenser to find out what actually happened in the girl’s death.The plot we actually care about, however, is whether Spenser is a tough as the sinister assassin, Stephano, from Los Angeles, who is sent by even more sinister Hollywood moguls to kill Spenser. Of course he is, but he uses (needs) the assistance of Zebulon Sixkill, a Cree Indian, in the final showdown. Jumbo was using Sixkill as a bodyguard but thought him too inept and fired him. Spenser noticed that the kid had potential, but was just unskilled in the violent arts. We learn that Sixkill was once a promising (240 pound; fast) running back at a West Coast football power that seems a lot like USC. Alas, Sixkill got involved with drugs and booze and frittered away a promising career in football. Spenser takes a shine to him and begins to teach him some of the techniques used by super-tough fictional private eyes. Sixkill picks up much of Spenser’s wry sense of humor. Parker has a chance to (and uses) every opportunity to exploit Sixkill’s ethnicity to produce some very funny dialog. In the end, justice (of a sort) prevails, and at least some of the bad guys are condignly punished. As always in these novels, Spenser has wonderful sex with his beautiful-Jewish-Harvard Ph.D.-psychologist girlfriend, at least when they can avoid Spenser’s dog, Pearl, while all the time avoiding the advances of sexy red-haired Rita Fiore, the best defense counsel in the Northeast. And if you were wondering what happened to Hawk, the baddest man on the planet (who usually looks after Spenser), he (Hawk) was on vacation in central Asia. Evaluation: Unfortunately, this was the last of the Spenser novels by Parker since the author died shortly after completing it. (However, his Estate hired someone else, Ace Atkins, to continue the Spenser books.) As always, a fun read. (JAB)
    • 4/5
      Parker's last book in the Spenser series before his death. As usual, a great story with great characters written in Parker's masterful style. My only quibble was a little bit too much Susan in this one. Those critical of the plot would do better to realize that the plot isn't everything when it comes to reading Parker, it's the damn fine dialog that moves the story; and how many other authors are there who could maintain a character and make him interesting for such a long string of books.
    • 3/5
      As a fan of the early Spenser novels, I read this because it was one of the last (if not the last) written by Parker.

      The later Spenser novels had a perfunctory feel to them, and this -- which bears some resemblance to Early Autumn in that Spenser mentors someone -- doesn't really escape that assessment.

      Parker's plotting is good, but you read a Spenser novel for the characters and dialogue, which hasn't changed much.

      I found Sixkill interesting, but it lacks depth; the "Z" character seems to step almost fully formed, and Spenser's big showdown with a master killer fizzles a little.

      Spenser remains a seminal figure in American crime fiction, but I'm glad Parker was branching out. While I liked Sixkill just fine -- and I'm glad I read what may be the final Parker-written novel in the series -- as a standalone book it's tautly written but unremarkable.
    • 4/5
      I am so sad that this is the final Spenser novel, though was thrilled when I found out that this novel was in the publishing pipeline, when Robert B Parker died. He maintained my interest in his characters through something like 38 books in this series, and several other series and stand-alones as well. I'll miss Spenser, Susan, Pearl, Hawk and the rest of the gang (even though Hawk didn't make an appearance in this book, since he was supposedly over in China or somewhere during the story. Presumably, had not RBP died, Hawk would have come home and thrilled us all some more.) The introduction of Zebulon Sixkill into the story line was nice -- I like to think that had the author not died, Spenser would have kept mentoring him and he would become a new "regular" in the series.The story itself was pretty much the usual Spenser, complete with bad bad-guys, good dialogue and just enough Pearl to keep me happy. Love that the relationship between Spenser and Susan hasn't grown stale to them or to the reader through 38 stories. I just wish I had the story arc from here out. Farewell, my friends. I'll miss you all.
    • 3/5
      A little too much Spenser and Susan. Liked the Sixkill character. Would love to see him again with Spenser's other counterparts.
    • 4/5
      A fitting finale to a great series
    • 4/5
      usual Robert Parker fare -- fun brain candy. this is probably the last Spenser novel ever, and I felt it had some improvements on other recent ones, as if he had recovered a bit of originality
    • 5/5
      Okay granted this novel does not dererve a five but I did really enjoy the sixkill cree indian character. This five is for the many years that Parker has entertained me with his Spenser, Hawk and Susan, Jesse Stone and Sunny Randall novels. His witty dialogue and short one liners still always managed to tell a story and there is no one else who writes quite like he did. One of the last lines in sixkill is Life is a metaphor.
    • 4/5
      A quick read; fairly standard Robert Parker. Jumbo Nelson, a rather loathsome movie star/comedian, is suspected in the suspicious death of a young Boston-area woman. Quirk suspects he's being railroaded, so has Spenser look into matters.Lots of interplay between Spenser and Susan. No Hawk, but the introduction of Zebulon Sixkill makes Hawk's absence a little less painful.Oh, Parker and Spenser...I will miss you.
    • 4/5
      Jumbo Nelson, fat and famous movie actor, is accused of killing a young girl, Dawn Lopato, who was enamored with him and had sex with him. Martin Quirk isn't quite sure that he's guilty, disgusting pig that he is. He asks Spenser to look into it, with Rita Fiore, Nelson's lawyer and Spenser's friend.In place of Hawk, Spenser has Zebulan Sixkill, Nelson's bodyguard until Spenser bested him. All one can say about Sixkill is that it's typical Parker and typical Spenser, a lot of philosophizing about life, Susan, the type of people they are, etc. There's little action. There's a quick ending. There's a lot of Susan and Spenser, Spenser and Susan, etc. The book highlights Spenser's quick wit, self deprecating manner and mentions most of his friends from previous books. It is a fitting final Spenser novel...yes I know someone else is going to keep the Spenser name alive, but it ain't Robert Parker, so it's not authentic.A good way to say goodbye to Parker.
    • 4/5
      Parker's 39th and final "Spencer" series book. Hawk is away in Central Asia and Spenser doesn't have anyone to watch his back. He is still with his Doctor/girlfriend and his dog Pearl frequently joins them in bed. This adventure features a young sixteen year old messed up girl, Dawn Lopata, who is killed while in the company of Jeromy Franklin Nelson, a movie star, A.K.A. Jumbo. Jumbo is the principle suspect in her suspicious death and the Media is screaming for his hide. Jumbo's bodyguard, Zebulon Sixkill, a Cree warrior, "Z" for short, is destroyed by Spencer while trying to throw Spenser off the set at Jumbo's direction. Z is the unfortunate offspring of alcoholic parents who was athletic, quick and a star alumni supported running back until he became romantically involved and lost his enthusiasm for hard workouts.. This also killed his alumni backing and school career when he was benched. Spenser's rescue nature kicked in and he took the humbled big strong but unskilled fighting Indian under his wing and started a rigorous workout regimen with the manager of the gym he and Hawk used to workout. Henry Cimoli as a favor to Spenser, gave Z an object lesson in boxing and agreed to help Spencer to teach Z the fighting skills he needed to be something more than a big strong ex jock. The fact that the mob has money invested in Jumbo makes them want to limit Spencer's investigations. The snappy humorous dialog between Spenser, his woman, Z, L.A. Detective, Cnty Attorny, Mobster's daughter and the protagonists that are killed in clockwork fashion are some of the reasons I've loved the Parker's characters. I'm really going to miss them all even though the publishing consortium is determined for the franchise to continue, I fear it just won't be the same.
    • 4/5
      This is the last Spenser novel "completed by Parker before his death". That's the official description. I assume it's worded that way to cover the likelihood that some of his not-completed Spenser stories may be fleshed out by his estate-sanctioned successor, recently announced to be Ace Atkins. Parker has created an interesting new character, a Spenser protege and potential sidekick, Zebulon Sixkill, a Cree Indian who needs a stable influence in his life. I like "Z" and I'm sure Parker intended to feature him again. I just don't know whether I'll ever decide to read Atkins's contributions. Interestingly, this book ends with Spenser driving west, not into a sunset, but into a lightening sky, toward the love of his life. I'm real happy to leave him there.
    • 4/5
      Parker's final Spenser novel delivers more of the same simple but enjoyable blend of action and wit as previous installments. A dead girl is found in a movie star's hotel room, and Spenser has been hired to learn the truth of the situation.There's a lot the same as previous installments, actually. Susan continues to eat so little it couldn't sustain an infant, while making brief but insightful commentary on Spenser's adventures. Hawk is off somewhere, but Spenser takes a buff Native American fellow under his wing, who cracks terse, sarcastic jokes about his own ethnicity. Basically, he's a Native American Hawk with some insecurity issues. There's little new here, but it's enjoyable enough. Must say I will miss this series; it's great brain candy.
    • 5/5
      Robert B. Parker died in January 2010. This is his thirty-ninth and last novel in which private-eye Spenser appears. It is, like its predecessors, a superb book, with witty dialogue and suspenseful, with good characters and plot. Parker authored over fifty books. Hopefully, other books by this excellent writer will appear in the future. Anyone who hasn’t read all of his books should do so now; they are very good. Parker’s Spenser is a knight in sparklingly shining white armor. Like a bull dog – although he is always calm and cool – he catches hold of his cause and doesn’t let go, even when he, a private eye, is fired from a case. He is, in a sense, a man’s man. He is bold, courageous, intelligent, strong, capable, undaunted; yet he is compassionate and loving. His love affair with Susan – although the two want to remain unmarried – is passionate and caring, and he is able to overcome his feelings about Susan’s abandonment of him and her adultery with another man, mentioned in prior books. He is remarkably faithful to Susan despite her betrayal, even rejecting the repeated attempted seductions by fabulously beautiful and successful women. He attracts friendships with police and murderers, with the murderers willing to sacrifice their lives and go into battle to help him.We are introduced to a new character in this thriller, a likable American Indian, who he saves from drunkenness, who helps him solve the crime of a girl who dies during a sexcapade with a popular oversexed and grossly overweight and despicable actor.
    • 5/5
      Thoroughly enjoyed this book and the new character, Z. Can't even imagine a conversation between Spenser, Hawk and Z but sure hope I get to read it in the near future. For some reason I enjoyed this book more than his others which is not to say I didn't enjoy them. I'm looking forward to the new novels with trepidation and hope. Trepidation because I don't know if they can find anyone to write as if RBP hasn't died, and hope because I hope the novels continue and not die with him.
    • 4/5
      Classic Spenser. Liked the new sidekick. Susan wasn't too annoying. Not an intricate plot but hard - nosed. Will miss Parker.RIP