Shrink Rap

Another Shabbat, another Parker. I got through the whole thing in one sitting. There was at least one unbelievable plot point where Sunny goes in disguise to get therapy from a man who has tried to kill her twice already. I was pretty sure that there would be a twist where it turns out her cover was blown and she is in peril, but no. I also continue to have issues with Sunny declaring that she wants to be her own woman and then caving every time to get a man to help her. Still, I can't help loving this man.

Shrink Rap features Robert B. Parker’s female private eye, Sunny Randall, who is hired as a body guard to protect bestselling author Melanie Joan Hall from her ex-husband, John Melvin, who happens to be a very intimidating and diabolical psychiatrist. John Melvin not only scares the wits out of Melanie Joan, but it appears that he has been engaged in some highly inappropriate behavior with several of his female patients.

Sunny is going through a difficult time getting used to being divorced, and her ex-husband, Richie, has found a new woman whom he may marry. Sunny ultimately decides to bring Dr. Melvin to justice, but she refuses to rely on Richie’s gangster family or even on her super tough, gay buddy, Spike to provide some show more muscle. This is one case she must resolve on her own for her own sense of self worth.

The book is more about Sunny’s psychological problems than about protecting Melanie Joan or convicting John Melvin. Although Oedipal complexes provide a major plot theme, the author avoids the employment of much psychobabble—instead, his psychiatrists are more inclined to nod knowledgeably or purposefully raise their eyebrows than lecture their patients.

Robert B. Parker’s real life wife was a psychiatrist, and he writes about psychotherapy in many of his crime novels. However, I find him much more entertaining when he sticks to snappy dialog and macho posturing by his other frequent heroes, Spenser (with an “s”) or Jesse Stone. This book does have a suspenseful conclusion, but by and large does not measure up to Parker’s usual quality.

(JAB) show less

While the story about the psyciatrist who is abusing his patients is the mystery of this book. And it's more about proving that he is the abuser than actually finding him. The story is more about being a writer and the crazies that can accompany it and Sunny's own relationships.
Sunny is engaged to bodyguard a writer, Melanie Joan Hall, whose ex-husband is playing mind games with her. It's interesting to see Sunny describing Melanie putting on the writer role for signings etc., I would have to wonder how much Parker based this on experience and watching other writers.
When Sunny investigates, she does it with the help of another psychriatist who starts to break down some of her barriers. Sunny is also racing against time as there are show more bodies accumulating.

I found it interesting, it's not quite a crime novel, more a novel with crime in it that's about the people involved. You get to see some of Sunny's background and character and it makes for a deeper character. The crime is so secondary that it really doesn't matter that the resolution seemed a bit rushed. show less

Romance novelist Melanie Joan Hall hires Sunny Randall to protect her from her stalker ex-husband. Melanie met John Melvin, a psychiatrist, when she started going to him for counseling and he seduced her. As she investigates Melvin, Sunny realizes that Melanie is not the only patient he has seduced. When two of his patients die, Sunny realizes that Melvin needs to be stopped before someone else gets hurt. To catch him, Sunny becomes his patient, but in trying to stop Melvin, Sunny places herself in great danger, danger she may not escape from.

"Shrink Rap" is a quick, but at times tense read. Sunny Randall is a more complex character than Robert Parker's Spenser is, struggling with her feelings for her ex-husband. Melanie Joan is also a show more complex character - a successful writer, beloved by her fans, but haunted by her ex-husband. John Melvin is pure evil, without any redeeming characteristics. As always, the dialogue and the use of Boston itself as a character in the novel drive the story. While much of the novel is intense, especially in the scenes where Melvin stalks Melanie Joan, the ending is especially intense as Sunny takes an incredible risk in trying to catch Melvin.

Nicely done. show less

Fast paced, great characters as usual, hard to put down but much more depth than the usual Robert B. Parker beach read. I really like what he's doing with the development of the characters.

Sunny's back for her third outing, this time working more as a bodyguard than a private detective. Melanie Joan Hall is the author of a profitable series of books, but lately she's been having trouble in the form of a stalker ex-husband; hence, Sunny is hired as protection. Soon Sunny sees Melanie Joan as not just a client, but a friend, and so she begins to investigate the ex-husband, a creepy psychiatrist named Dr. John Melvin. The more Sunny investigates, the more threatening Dr. Melvin becomes, but Sunny can't find the proof that she needs - so she takes a far more dangerous step - disguising herself, she becomes one of Dr. Melvin's patients herself.

As usual Parker is a quick read with lots of dialogue and witty one-liners. show more Previously read a couple years ago. show less

Somebody please shoot me if I ever try to read another Sunny Randall series of Parker's. I'm amazed I actually finished it. Usually, book with slutty and bitchy main characters do not slip by me. I am especially surprised when the character is moronish enough to have an English Bull Terrier for a pet; truly a species God slipped up on. I suspect this story was written for Partker's gay fans. Ugh! Pretty bad, indeed!