Robert B. Parker's Grudge Match (Sunny Randall, #8)

by Mike Lupica

Robert B. Parker's beloved PI Sunny Randall returns on a case that blurs the line between friend and foe...and if Sunny can't tell the difference, the consequences may be deadly.

When Sunny's long-time gangster associate Tony Marcus comes to her for help, Sunny is surprised--after all, she double crossed him on a recent deal, and their relationship is on shakier ground than ever. But the way Tony figures it, Sunny owes him, and Sunny's willing to consider his case if it will clear the slate.

Tony's trusted girlfriend and business partner has vanished, appears to have left in a hurry, and he has no idea why. He just wants to talk to her, he says, but first he needs Sunny to track her down. While Sunny isn't willing to trust his good intentions, the missing woman intrigues her--against all odds, she's risen to a position of power in Tony's criminal enterprise. Sunny can't help but admire her, and if this woman's in a jam, Sunny would like to help.

But when a witness is murdered hours after speaking to Sunny, it's clear there's more at stake than just Tony's love life. Someone--maybe even Tony himself--doesn't want this woman on the loose...and will go to any lengths to make sure she stays silent.

• ISBN10: 0525539328
• ISBN13: 9780525539322
• Publish Date: 5 May 2020
• Publish Status: Remaindered
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Penguin Putnam Inc
• Imprint: G P Putnam's Sons
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 320
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780525539322

Reviews

[annieb123]

Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Grudge Match is the 8th book in the Sunny Randall series begun by Robert B. Parker, and continued posthumously by other authors (Mike Lupica in this instance). Released 5th May 2020 by Penguin on their G. P. Putnam's Sons imprint, it's available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats.

Of Parker's three perennial related/spinoff series (Spenser, Stone, and Randall), Sunny Randall was always in third place for me. Parker was such a gifted writer, brilliant (or nearly so) at all aspects of the art and craft of storytelling, that I never missed an opportunity to read (and re-read) his books. I still revisit them. The authors who are writing the posthumously released books are all worthy of the collaboration. I'm a keen reader for pleasure, not a literary professional by any means, but I can't easily tell what's cobbled together from Parker's notes and partially finished manuscripts and what (or if all of it) is completely new.

In fact, this episode is probably my favorite in the Sunny Randall series thus far. It's tightly plotted, engaging, and really well written. It's just a solidly entertaining book. I also really enjoyed the inclusion of Dr. Susan Silverman in this one (she's Sunny's therapist) and as always, she's the Greek chorus of the play and a logical counterpoint to Sunny's full-steam-ahead bravado (called "balls" for atmospheric purposes in the narrative).

This would make a perfect summer read (although it's set in January). It's too cold to read about January in Boston during the wintertime.

Five stars, a worthy addition to the series.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.