Stardust

“Still I stared at her. She was trouble, alcoholic, drug addicted, nymphomaniac, egocentric, spoiled brat trouble.”

Everything about the opening of this one would lead you to believe it will end up at the lower echelon of Spenser reads; there’s too much of the pretentious Susan Silverman; Spenser is out of his element with the show biz people; and his potential client, thanks to the starstruck psychobabble-spewing Susan, is even more unlikable than militant/feminist/lesbian Rachel Wallace — a feat all to itself — and nearly as dumb as Mary Smith from Widow’s Walk. And it takes a while to get going anywhere. But once it does, this one has some poignant moments and scenes that easily place it firmly in the upper echelon of show more Spenser entries.

As in Looking for Rachel Wallace, it’s hard to take Jill Joyce, who appears to have about the same depth as the shallow industry and culture of which she’s a big star — a pain in the posterior star. She’s stunning, and television fans adore her, but Jill Joyce’s cultivated image is in stark contrast to her real-life persona. She is, in essence, everything Spenser states in the opening quote to this review. But she has no one looking out for her, and to please the insipid Susan Silverman and make her happy, the ever soft-hearted Spenser agrees to be Jill's bodyguard/investigator; even though she refuses to offer any details concerning the actions of the person harassing/threatening her.

The narrative, while enjoyable enough due to Parker’s trademark sterling dialog and banter, seems to be pointlessly meandering. For a time Spenser begins to wonder if Jill Joyce is being threatened at all. But then her look-alike stand-in is murdered, and it’s clear that something is going on. Just what, is not clear, and with his client refusing to divulge even a single tidbit that might point him in a direction for investigation, he brings in Hawk to watch her — which he knows will be amusing — while he eventually heads west, to San Diego and Los Angeles, to get a bead on Jill Joyce’s past. What he uncovers brings about some fine and poignant moments, including a startling revelation from a man who had loved well but unwisely, and now only has three mongrel dogs for companionship:

“He was staring down into the swale. I didn’t say anything. It was as if he were a shattered cup, badly mended, with the shards of himself barely clinging together. One of the dogs came back from ranging and sat on Pomeroy’s feet and looked down at the swale too.”

A dirtbag sheriff, a wasted away alcoholic mother, a lover who may still love a nearly unlovable woman, a secret so dark that it explains the woman/child Jill Joyce, Spenser’s first meeting with Victor del Rio and Chollo, three mongrel dogs, a sad moment at Candy Sloan’s grave while Spenser is out in LA, and a poignant resolution to Stardust that reverberates back to the beginning make this a sterling entry in the series. While it starts off as one of the entertaining but forgettable Spenser outings, Stardust is in fact a must-read in the Spenser canon. Highly recommended. show less

Stardust is the 17th novel By Robert B. Parker featuring Spenser, the intrepid one-named Boston detective. In this one, Spenser is hired to protect Jill Joyce, the biggest star on television, from an anonymous threatening caller. The beautiful Jill is exceedingly unpleasant and also uncooperative—she refuses to talk about her past, giving Spenser very little to work with in ascertaining a motive for the caller. Later, Jill’s stunt double is found murdered, shot at close range by a .357 magnum.

As usual, Parker is more interested in a character study than a “who-done-it” mystery, and so much more of the story is dedicated to the interplay among Spenser, Jill, and her various boyfriends than to determining who shot the double.

As show more in any Spenser novel, there are plenty of clever similes, metaphors, and other tropes. For example:

“…facing the pasture was a barn, newly built, that mimicked the old barns of New England the way fashion mimics clothing.”

“…a formal gesture of self deprecation, as sincere as a congressman’s handshake.”

“…two well groomed young women in tailored suits…sipping Gibsons. Everything about them said, We have MBAs.”

“…there were enclaves of rural poverty where the official town mascot was probably a rat.”

Spenser takes a trip to Los Angeles to investigate Jill’s past, and there he meets (I think for the first time) the enigmatic Chollo, a Mexican hit man who in later novels will be described as the best shooter Spenser has encountered.

Parker’s art enables him to create a character, Jill Joyce, that you know you could not stand to be around, and yet you feel sorry for her and sympathize with her in the end.

Not one of his best, but still pretty good.

(JAB) show less

The 17th in Robert B. Parker's mystery novels about the Boston private detective Spenser. This one, Stardust, was published around 1991. It doesn't seem dated, though when characters need a telephone they look for one with a cord. Readers should consider starting with Parker's books in order of publishing. The characters and and relationships an plots build on each other. Spenser is far from perfect, but he is loyal, kind and ethical. A former heavyweight boxer he can still deliver a knockout punch and he knocked down at least one pushy offensive bad guy in this book. In Stardust Spenser is hired to guard a troubled actress who is on location in Boston. Spenser's girlfriend, the psychologist Susan, is also involved as a consultant to show more the movie that the story revolves around. The actress, Jill, has many problems including a serious drinking issue. Who is stalking Jill, or is she making it all up. When Jills stunt double is murdered Spenser sets out to find who did that and why. Was the double mistaken for Jill, or was her murder about something else. Spenser follows lead and hints from Boston and the nearby suburbs to the Berkshire hill towns, Los Angeles and San
Diego and back. Along the way he rescues the three dogs of a suicide victim. How does it work out. Read it and see. But read the earlier books first. show less

Tough-talking private investigator Spenser, and his loyal sidekick Hawk are back in action again, and this just may prove to be their toughest case yet. When the Hollywood-based television series 'Fifty Minutes' begins shooting locally, Spenser's love Susan - a psychologist who is acting as consultant to the television film crew - persuades Spenser and Hawk to guard the star of the show, Jill Joyce. Spenser can immediately smell the trouble brewing.

As soon as he meets Jill Joyce, he knows that trouble is bound to be just around the corner. Jill Joyce is stunningly beautiful; one gorgeously sexy bombshell. Yet, on closer inspection Spenser freely admits that she is, to put it charitably, one screamingly hot mess to deal with. She is show more arrogant, spoiled and neurotic - and absolutely convinced that someone is stalking her.

Spenser really doesn't know what to believe. Jill's abject fear that someone wants her dead may just be a sign that she is out of her mind - a woman who desperately needs to spend some quality time in drug rehab; or she could be one thousand percent right, and someone is actually out to get her. Even though privately, Spenser can hardly blame the potential assassin for their feelings - he and Susan recognize the woman's very real fear hidden behind the celebrity's mask.

In Spenser's opinion, Ms. Joyce's reckless off-camera behavior epitomizes the term 'Drama Queen'. Her antics seem to be at the very height of extravagant depravity; yet as the detective investigates the threatening letters and phone calls received by the troubled starlet, he becomes increasingly convinced that she has some very valid reasons to fear for her life. Someone is definitely not a fan of Jill Joyce; and Spenser is soon drawn into a deadly and nightmarish mystery that gives new meaning to the term 'stage fright'.

Actually, I know that I have read this book before; I just can't remember exactly when that might have been. The story seemed vaguely familiar to me, although I couldn't have told anyone anything about the mystery. Robert B. Parker was really quite the author; and I've always enjoyed his work. I love his easy writing style and gritty characterizations.

I find his plots very intriguing yet still highly readable - and not so convoluted that I can't follow the mystery or understand the solution. There is also a fine thread of dark comedy running through each mystery that seems entirely appropriate to the situation and to each character's personality, as well. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and am looking forward to reading more from this series. I would give Stardust by Robert B. Parker an A! show less

Read during Summer 2006

In the midst of a beastly heatwave of a beatly hot summer, it was really nice to read a novel taking place in Boston in winter. I love the way I can see every place he describes and the characters are real people. This one took a few turns I never expected and was much better than Playmates.

Stardust is a very good example of Parker's private eye fiction. First published in 1990, it dates to the years when Parker was at his peak. Spenser is assigned to protect a television star -- Jill Joyce -- whose life is being threatened by an unknown person from her past. The drama is entertaining and human, and denouement satisfying. I certainly enjoyed Stardust and would recommend it to any who likes the genre.

Synopsis: '"Fifty Minutes" is the title of a Hollywood-based TV series being shot on location in Boston, but to Spenser it's "Trouble with a capital T." After signing onto protect its glamorous female star, Jill Joyce, from an escalating chain of anonymous harassments, he finds himself saddled with a lot more than he bargained for.
First, there's Jill Joyce herself. A purely Tinsel-town product of sexism, the star system, and identity confusion, she is a spoiled, arrogant substance abuser with little idea of who or what she really is. Since someone's been out to get her, hear has transformed Jill into a nightmare version of her normally difficult self.
Then there's the matter of the mischievous harassments, which are growing steadily more show more serious. And when they blossom into homicide, Spenser knows the hardest work - and greatest risks - are het to come: for the act is ended, but the murderer lingers on, watching and waiting to blow away the stardust - and the star.' From the book jacket

Review: Another person behaving badly - at least this one has somewhat of a reason. Surprising how many folks need therapy in these books. show less