The Novels of Robert B. Parker Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The series about the exploits of the Laramie, WY born "Spenser" encompasses 40 novels. The debut of the hard-boiled, wise-cracking ex-Korean War vet, ex-boxer, ex-state trooper, private detective came in "The Godwulf Manuscript" (1973). In the second book of the series we meet the woman who becomes his girlfriend, Susan Silverman. What is her occupation?

Answer: She is a psychologist.

We make the acquaintance of the sultry shrink in "God Save the Child" (1974).
She remains Spenser's main squeeze for the entirety of the series. She, along with Pearl, "the wonder dog", gay mobster Gino Fish, fight club manager Henry Cimoli and Boston police detective Martin Quirk are just some of the characters whose presence lends an air of pleasure to the reading of each novel.

Interesting note: The 40th and final "Spenser" novel written by Robert B. Parker, "Sixkill" was published posthumously (2011).

2. Another regular member of the ensemble cast of characters is Spenser's friend, ally and "muscle", who at one time, as we learn, was a professional boxer. What is his sobriquet?

Answer: Hawk

The intimidating presence of Hawk first loomed in the fourth "Spenser" book, "Promised Land" (1976). His seemingly indestructible sidekick saves Spenser too many times in the series to count, and the back-and-forth banter between the two of them is priceless. They first came to know each other when they fought in a boxing match that each claims to have won.

Spike is the best friend of another Parker series lead character, Sunny Randall.

3. Sunny Randall is the lead character in six of Robert B. Parker's novels. The first book in the series of South Boston's female gumshoe is "Family Honor" (1999). Just as Spenser and Susan have Pearl ("the wonder dog"), Sunny also has a puppy who is mentioned several times in all of her stories. Do you remember the name of her precious pet?

Answer: Rosie

Sonya Joan Randall is, like Spenser, an ex-cop. In "Melancholy Baby" (2004), she finds the need to consult with a therapist. In a deft act of literary juxtaposition, the medical professional she turns to is none other than Dr. Susan Silverman. Sunny also interacted with another of Parker's series leads, Jesse Stone, when they hooked up in "Blue Screen" (2006).

4. Jesse Stone is another protagonist of a Robert B. Parker series, taking the lead role in nine novels. The first book in his series is "Night Passage" (1997). Before becoming the police chief of Paradise, MA, he was a major league baseball player and, more germane to the series, he was also a detective in a somewhat larger city than the bucolic-sounding Boston suburb. Do you know where it was?

Answer: Los Angeles, CA

After going through a divorce and getting himself tossed off the force of the L.A.P.D. for a drinking problem (actually he didn't have a "drinking" problem, he had a "staying sober" problem), he headed east. Not a quick learner, he shows up half-in-the-bag for an interview to be the police chief of the sleepy town of Paradise, MA. and somehow gets hired. (I'm guessing the person who interviewed him was totally in-the-bag). What could ever go wrong there, right? Parker of course finds a few things, right up to the final book in the series "Split Image" (2010).

5. Author Robert B. Parker decided to take a temporary leave from the environs of MA, and try his hand writin' novels about cowboys and such in 2005. This four-book series began with "Appaloosa". In it we meet a pair of U.S. Marshals who sometimes decide to exact their own brand of justice on the gunslingers, rustlers, gamblers, bandits, stagecoach robbers and other ne'er-do-wells of the Old West. One of the lawmen is Virgil Cole. Who is Cole's partner?

Answer: Everett Hitch

Everett and Virgil also appear in "Resolution" (2008), "Brimstone" (2009) and "Blue-Eyed Devil" (2010). Although the settings are very different from his other series, the books and banter are just as entertaining.

Jack Reacher is the literary creation of the excellent British author, Jim Grant writing as Lee Child. Michael Connelly has brought us the exploits of L.A.P.D. Detective, Harry (Hieronymus) Bosch in a wonderful series, and Joe Pike, along with his partner Elvis Cole, come from the creative mind of the superb mystery scribe Robert Crais.

6. I've mentioned that Robert B. Parker's female detective Randall is known to her friends as Sunny and that his Chief of Police Stone goes by the moniker of Jesse. However, I have not disclosed his most famous character Spenser's first name. Do you know what it is?

Answer: It is never revealed.

He's just plain old "Spenser". If it was good enough for Parker, then it's good enough for me. Even his girlfriend, Susan Silverman, always calls him just "Spenser" regardless of what they happen to be doing at the time.
A few of the slimeballs he's nabbed have undoubtedly added an expletive before it, but other than that, "Spenser" is his name and detecting is his game.

7. Another great detective novelist, Raymond Chandler, died March 26, 1959. At the time of his death he had completed just four chapters of a novel he was working on. After many years, Robert B. Parker was asked by Chandler's estate to complete the bulk of the book. He agreed to do so. What was the title of that work?

Answer: Poodle Springs

He finished it in 1989 and it was published as being co-written by Chandler and Parker although Robert B. wrote 75% of it.
"Poodle Springs" was the eighth novel to feature P.I. Philip Marlowe.
Chandler also wrote "The Big Sleep" (1939).

"The Widening Gyre", (1983) was the tenth Spenser book penned by Parker. Chandler started and finished the other two mentioned.

Interesting fact: Parker wrote a sequel to "Poodle Springs" called "Perchance to Dream" (1991), which featured the adventures of Philip Marlowe.

8. In "Double Play" (2004) you won't find Spenser, Sunny Randall, Jesse Stone, Hitch or Cole, as it is a stand-alone novel about a man who hires a bodyguard to protect his daughter. In it we come across a famous athlete, who was a major star in the 1940s and 1950s. Have yourself a cup of coffee and see if you can name him.

Answer: Jackie Robinson

In this unique novel, which mixes fact with fiction, Joe Burke is a bodyguard hired to keep an eye on wild child Lauren Roach.
After fulfilling her father's wishes Joe comes to the attention of Branch Rickey, the real life General Manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers baseball team. The time is 1947 and it is Jackie Robinson's first year in the major leagues. Since Jackie was the first player to break the color barrier, Rickey realizes that Joe Burke is just the man to help protect one of the greatest athletes and greatest men in history.

Interesting facts: After his baseball career ended Jackie was at one time a vice-president of Chock Full O'Nuts Coffee.
The great DiMaggio was a spokesman for Mr. Coffee products on many TV commercials after his playing days were over.

9. In "Gunman's Rhapsody" (2001) Robert B. Parker tells the tale of one of the Old West's most famous characters. The book is set in the 1880s. Who is this legendary figure from back in the day?

Answer: Wyatt Earp

"Gunman's Rhapsody" is the first stand alone foray into the genre of western fiction for Mr. Parker. (He had earlier started the Cole/Hitch western series.) In it he tells of events surrounding Wyatt Earp and his brothers that culminate with the famous Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1881).

He shows that even gunmen have soft spots and hearts that can be broken when he writes of Wyatt Earp's love for the local Tombstone showgirl, Josie Marcus.

10. Robert B. Parker won the prestigious Edgar Award for Best Novel in 1977. Which of his wondrous works won him that award? Hint: The setting for the book is Cape Cod.

Answer: Promised Land

"Promised Land" was the fourth book in the "Spenser" series. "Mortal Stakes", the third in the series was published in 1975. "Melancholy Baby" (2004) was the fourth Sunny Randall tome and "Painted Ladies" (2010) was the penultimate novel featuring his most famous character, just Spenser.

Interesting fact: In addition to The Edgar Award, Robert B. Parker was granted the title of Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America in 2002. In 2008 he was given The Gumshoe Lifetime Achievement Award.

Source: Author paulmallon

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor agony before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

America lost a national treasure when Robert Brown Parker, best-known for his "Spenser" series, passed away January 18, 2010. He wrote over 60 novels and as soon as I finished each one, my eager anticipation for his next would begin. Enjoy!

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