Parker's writing was influenced by Raymond Chandler whom he admired. Parker completed Poodle Springs one of Chandler's unfinished manuscripts. Parker, in turn, has inspired contemporary detective writers. The reader, for instance, can see some similarity between Spenser (first name unknown), a Boston private investigator and Chandler's Philip Marlowe. (Spenser was adapted into the popular TV series: Spenser: For Hire starring Robert Urich as Spenser.) Spenser's friendship with Hawk, his best friend and side kick, in turn, is mirrored in mystery writer Robert Crais' detective buddies, Elvis Cole and Joe Pike. Boston is the locale for the Spenser series just as Dennis Lehane's mystery stories (Gone, Baby, Gone) is set in Boston suburb, Dorchester, portraying a city not just as a setting but a major character in the plot. Parker also wrote the Jesse Stone series which has been adapted into television starring Tom Selleck. Jesse Stone is a flawed sheriff battling his own demons while solving nefarious goings on in the town of Paradise.
Robert Parker novels are entertaining to read although some are better than others, not surprising considering the sheer number of books he has written. His stories were also commentaries on relationships- father-son, love and marriage, and friendships. Sadly we say good-bye to such a prolific writer of the mystery genre and realize that soon, there will no longer be Spenser or Jesse Stone stories. Just as Raymond Chandler inspired Parker, we hope his style will continue to live on in younger mystery writers' craft.
Robert B. Parker
1932-2010
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