Robert B. Parker's Someone to Watch Over Me by Ace Atkins: Review

I’ve been reading detective type /cop fiction for years and years. I cannot remember the last time I read a book by Robert Parker. It has also been years and years.

In fact, it’s been so many years I didn’t realize they were being written by someone else now. But I was still thrilled to be able to review the story because it’s just a type of book that I really enjoy reading.

Due to publish early next year, continue on for my full review.

Robert B. Parker’s Someone to Watch Over Me by Ace Atkins
ISBN-13: 978-0525536857
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons (January 12, 2021)

ABOUT:
Ten years ago, Spenser helped a teenage girl named Mattie Sullivan find her mother’s killer and take down an infamous Southie crime boss. Now Mattie–a college student with a side job working for the tough but tender private eye–dreams of being an investigator herself. Her first big case involves a fifteen-year-old girl assaulted by a much older man at one of Boston’s most prestigious private clubs. The girl, Chloe Turner, only wants the safe return of her laptop and backpack. But like her mentor and boss, Mattie has a knack for asking the right questions of the wrong people.

Soon Spenser and Mattie find ties between the exploitation of dozens of other girls from working class families to an eccentric billionaire and his sadistic henchwoman with a mansion on Commonwealth Avenue. The mystery man’s wealth, power, and connections extend well beyond Massachusetts – maybe even beyond the United States.

Spenser and trusted ally Hawk must again watch out for Mattie as she unravels a massive sex-trafficking ring that will take them from Boston to Boca Raton to the Bahamas, crossing paths with local toughs, a highly-trained security company, and an old enemy of Spenser’s–the Gray Man–for a final epic showdown.

Someone to Watch Over Me by Ace Atkins Review

Since I can’t remember the last time I read a story by Robert Parker, reading this version, even though it’s number 48 in a series, was a brand new experience.

I have to say I was not intimidated in the least to be reading book 48 in the series. I had hoped that it would be a standalone to a degree and in fact, it pretty much was. While I’m sure the majority of the characters were in prior novels, I did not feel lost in the least.

The author completely brought me into the story immediately with his funny, snarky, and dry wit that the main character, Spenser, displayed. Plus I love the fact that this was told in the first person which made it personal and extremely engaging.

The author tells us a story that is extremely familiar because it comes from recently fresh headlines. With some literary license and a few twists, you realize that this is a story that needs to be told and something we need to be reminded of every day in hopes we can find a way to make it stop.

Someone to Watch Over Me is a true to life story that is easy to follow with a delicate balance of personality, mystery, and action for a deeply involved experience.

Engrossing and exciting with a fabulously unexpected twist at the end, we are transported into the land of the ultra-rich where money buys protection and just about anything else – well, except Spenser. This story was the perfect choice to dive back into this series! So glad I found it again!

4 STARS

Disclaimer: Chris has personally reviewed the product listed above. She has not received any monetary compensation for her review but did receive a free ebook so she could evaluate and use it for this post. Her thoughts & opinions in this review are unbiased & honest and your opinions may differ.