When Spenser's closet ally, Hawk, is brutally injured and left for dead while protecting bookie Luther Gillespie, Spenser embarks on an epic journey to rehabilitate his friend in body and soul. Hawk, always proud, has never been dependent on anyone. Now he is forced to make connections: to the medical technology that will ensure his physical recovery, and to reinforce the tenuous emotional ties he has to those around him.
Spenser quickly learns that the Ukrainian mob is responsible for the hit, but finding a way into their tightly knit circle is not nearly so simple. Their total control of the town of Marshport, from the bodegas to the police force to the mayor's office, isn't just a sign of rampant corruption - it's a form of arrogance that only serves to ignite Hawk's desire to get even. As the body count rises, Spenser is forced to employ some questionable techniques and even more questionable hired guns while redefining his friendship with Hawk in the name of vengeance.
While Spenser is the hero of many of Parker's novels, the focus of this one is his sidekick and close friend, Hawk. At the opening, Hawk lies badly wounded, the result of an ambush by a gang of Ukranians who run the Boston suburb of Marshport and are aiming to expand their control. While Hawk heals, he and Spenser plot revenge. Joe Mantegna IS Spenser, cultured but violent when necessary. However, he morphs nicely into the African-American Hawk; Spenser's brainy girlfriend, Susan; and Ukranians with unpronounceable names. The plot is heavy on dialogue; the constant "he said/she said" can grate on the ears. There are many good scenes, nonetheless, and Parker fans will not be disappointed. J.B.G. (c) AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine
