Book Review: Perish Twice

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Perish Twice     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Robert B. Parker
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Private Investigator   Woman Main Character
Series: Sunny Randall # 2
Putnam, Oct 2000, $23.95, 278 pp.

Boston private detective Sunny Randall was once married to Irish mobster Richie Burke. Though divorced, Sunny and Richie still date, make love, spend a lot of time together and share custody of their miniature bull terrier Rosie. Richie wants to remarry his beloved, but the independent sleuth needs her space.

Sunny currently is dealing with several situations. At her sister's request, Sunny tails the woman's husband and obtains proof he is cheating on her. Her best friend steps out on her husband and children and wants Sunny to accompany her while obtaining an abortion. Finally, the lesbian head of Great Strides hires Sunny to serve as her bodyguard because someone is stalking her, but the suspect commits suicide neatly wrapping up the case for everyone except Sunny. The private investigator begins an inquest only to end up in the midst of prostitution and the individual who runs the action in the city.

Anyone who thinks Sunny Randall is a distaff Spencer because they are Robert B. Parker's Beantown detectives has not read one or the other series. Sunny is not a one-person gangbuster and her books contain a small ensemble ready to help her with little notice. The mystery of PERISH TWICE is a cryptic puzzle that is fun to read as well solve. Mr. Parker remains one of the better writers on the market today and the proof will be when he returns to all the bestseller lists with this fine novel.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner

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