Paper Doll (Spenser Series #20) Book

I like Paper Doll more than most later Spenser books, because of what it has, and because of what it doesn't have.

Let's start with the "doesn't have" part. Paper Doll doesn't have some former kid'April Kyle, say, or Paul Giacomin'wandering in from some old Spenser book with a new problem. Paper Doll doesn't have have a little problem that leads to a major (or minor) crime syndicate, that then threatens Spenser's life, which in turn threatens Susan's life, which means not only must her autonomy be once again discussed but also that Hawk must be called upon once again to guard her. In fact, there is little of Susan in this book (good!) even less of doggie Pearl (even better!), no extended discussion of the meaning of the Susan/Spenser relationship (hooray! hooray!)

What Paper Doll does have is a mystery, a real honest-to-goodness mystery, with a corpse and at least one good clue. And Spenser solves it, not just by blundering around, but by brainpower, and the identity of the murderer, when disclosed, is surprising (though satisfying).

I think, though, what I like best about Paper Doll is the two distinct atmospheres--colorless suburban Northern and colorful small town Southern--that Parker creates in the book. Spenser is looking for clues in the apparently random murder of wealthy wife and mother Olivia Nelson Tripp but disturbs him'as he questions her family and walks through the flawless, antiseptic rooms of her home'is the complete lack of any personality, any hint that there may once have been an actual person behind the perfect image of Mrs. Olivia Tripp. Then later, when he visits the sleepy little South Carolina town where Olivia went to school'among the riding stables, hunting dogs, and wary black servants that know more than they are willing to say'Spenser begins to discover the real story of the woman known as Olivia Nelson.

Recommended to anyone who likes a good mystery.