Plot summary

Set in the early 1970s, this novel serves as the introduction to Spenser, a private investigator

Private investigator

A private investigator , private detective or inquiry agent, is a person who can be hired by individuals or groups to undertake investigatory law services. Private detectives/investigators often work for attorneys in civil cases. Many work for insurance companies to investigate suspicious claims...

 in Boston

Boston

Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...

. Spenser is hired by Brandon W. Forbes, the president

President

A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...

 of an unnamed university

University

A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...

 to recover a stolen illuminated manuscript

Illuminated manuscript

An illuminated manuscript is a manuscript in which the text is supplemented by the addition of decoration, such as decorated initials, borders and miniature illustrations...

, a medieval document of great historical and literary importance. At first, the case doesn't involve any violence. But eventually, someone ends up murdered. Even after being "fired" from finding the manuscript, Spenser continues to unravel a series of seemingly unrelated clues to discover the murderer.

Head of campus security Carl Towers recommends investigation of SCACE (Student Committee Against Capitalist Exploitation) and their secretary, Terry Orchard. After talking to her and boyfriend Dennis Powell, Spenser receives a call from Terry in the middle of the night requesting help. Spenser arrives to find Dennis murdered and Terry under the influence of an unknown drug. He determines that the murder is an attempt to frame Terry and from that point is determined to clear her name.

Spenser's investigation soon leads him to Lowell Hayden, a professor

Professor

A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...

 at the university. Forbes forbids Spenser from involving any university personnel. Spenser naturally ignores this and is fired. This does not deter him.

Spenser is summoned to meet with Joe Broz, a local crime lord, shortly after talking to Hayden. Broz warns Spenser to stop his investigation and hints that the manuscript will be returned if he does. This does not deter him.

Spenser begins working unofficially with Lieutenant

Lieutenant

A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...

 Martin Quirk and Sergeant

Sergeant

Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....

 Frank Belson. This is the first of many such collaborations that continue throughout the Spenser series. It is a mutually beneficial relationship. Quirk is able to use Spenser to gather information that he could not obtain through strictly legal channels and Spenser is able to use police resources to which he would not normally have access.

Eventually Spenser is able to tie the involvement of Joe Broz to Hayden, leading to their arrests. Hayden is a despicable character who ends up being responsible for the murder of four people, including his wife and girlfriend.

Characters

Spenser

Spenser (fictional detective)

Spenser is a fictional character in a series of detective novels initially by the American mystery writer Robert B. Parker and later by Ace Atkins...

: Boston private investigator
Terry Orchard: Murder suspect, love interest
Lt. Martin Quirk: Boston Police Department
Sgt Belson: Boston Police Department
Vince Haller: Attorney
Joe Broz: Crime boss
Brenda Loring: Love interest

Release details

• 1973
  1973 in literature
  The year 1973 in literature involved several significant events and the writing of many notable books.-Events:*September 25 - The funeral of Chilean poet Pablo Neruda becomes a focus for protests against the new government of Augusto Pinochet...
  
  , USA, Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, ISBN 0-395-18011-2

External links

• Parker's page on the book