Wilderness

Aaron Newman, on a run home through the woods one day, witnessed a murder. He immediately went to the police, reported it and picked out the killer, only to find his wife tied up, gagged and naked on the bed when he got home afterward. The next day, he went back to the police and recanted his statement and the man he'd pointed out as the killer. He, his wife and a friend decide to take matters into their own hands.

This was really good. It got off to a quick start and kept up the pace all through the book. I thought the characters, Aaron and his wife, Janet, and their somewhat troubled relationship were done really well. I also quite liked the ending.

Writer witnesses a crime committed by a powerful person who then threatens him and his wife. He, wife and friend decide to take him out. Killing place ends up being an uninhabitated island in Maine. Good read.

Wilderness by Robert B. Parker has suspense and violence but not mystery. Also no Spenser or Jesse Stone or any of Parker's usual characters. Not nearly as good as his later works, certainly not up to the quality of the Spenser mysteries.

Dull, dull book. Plodding, repetitive dialogue. Descriptions just there to fill up the page--information that does nothing to further the very boring plot.

Advanced reading copy fine

First edition very fine