Spenser Series Matchups Trivia Quiz

Answer: The Gray Man, Spenser's would-be assassin

Rugar appeared in several Spenser books, known at first as the Gray Man because of his choices in clothing and his colorless complexion. He was another extremely fast shot, and nearly succeeded in killing Spenser at one time. Their final encounter resulted in a peace of sorts between them, with a very unexpected twist.

Answer: Writer rescued from kidnapping by Spenser

Rachel Wallace was a feminist and activist who first hired, then fired, Spenser because their views on several issues were divergent. Shortly after he was fired, Ms. Wallace was kidnapped and Spenser felt duty-bound to find her, believing that if he'd been on the job the kidnapping wouldn't have happened.

He did find her, and they became friends. Rachel Wallace was an expert researcher who provided Spenser with information related to a subsequent case.

Answer: Boston cop; Spenser found his/her missing spouse

Detective Frank Belson appeared in many of the Spenser books. He worked with Captain Martin Quirk of the Boston Police Department, often serving as Quirk's driver. Belson was described as always looking like he needed a shave. After Spenser found Belson's wife Lisa following her disappearance, Belson became a staunch friend.

Answer: LA-based thug; one of the fastest shots Spenser knew

Chollo, along with a Native American named Bobby Horse, worked for a crime boss, Vincent del Rio, who was based in Los Angeles. Like Spenser's primary sidekick, Hawk, Chollo had no last name. He and Vinnie Morris were the two fastest shooters Spenser had ever met.

Answer: A client Spenser failed to save

Candy Sloan was a TV reporter based in LA. She hired Spenser as a bodyguard while she was working on a story about a shady moviemaking outfit. She was found murdered after she took off on a lead without Spenser, and Spenser never really got over his failure to protect her.

In several future books he referred to the case, usually when someone praised his abilities. Candy Sloan is also the only woman he slept with while actively involved with Susan Silverman (although during breaks in their relationship he saw other women).

Answer: Gay Massachusetts State Police officer

Lee Farrell appeared in several Spenser books. He was an officer in the State Patrol and a gay man, the first gay character to appear in the Spenser series, but not the last. Farrell became friends with Spenser and his girlfriend Susan. In one book he stayed with their dog Pearl while they were out of town, and later noted it was the first time he'd slept with a female.

Answer: Crime boss; ran prostitution rings in the Boston area

Tony Marcus was a powerful mobster who had an uneasy alliance with Spenser-most of the time. Although they had a wary mutual respect, neither much liked the other - but they cooperated when it was beneficial for them to do so.

Answer: Former boxer, owner of the Harbor Health Club

Henry was a professional fighter back when Spenser boxed. When Henry got out of the ring, he opened a gym which over the years morphed into a glitzy health club patronized by yuppies who didn't want to break a sweat getting toned. As a nod to his past, Henry kept one small room in the club that housed a speed bag and a heavy bag. Spenser and his sometime sidekick Hawk were the only people who used the room-and they avoided the rest of the club entirely.

Answer: Elegant proprietor of a high-class brothel

Patricia Utley is an interesting, although minor, recurring character in the Spenser series. She was the madam of a New York prostitution establishment, which she ran in as humane a way as could be managed given the profession of its inhabitants.

She was portrayed as elegant and educated, not what one might expect in a madam. When Spenser tried to rehabilitate a wayward teenager named April, and failed, he set her up with Miss Utley figuring that a high-class establishment that kept its girls healthy, off drugs, and served a better clientele was preferable to a cathouse.

Answer: Unstable and incompetent son of a mobster

Joe Broz, one of three main underworld bosses featured in the Spenser novels, had one son, Gerry, on whom he doted. Sadly, Gerry was self-centered, swaggering, emotionally volatile, and not too bright - not a great prospect for taking over his father's operations when the time came. Gerry caused a number of headaches, small and large, for Spenser in a couple of books.