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Quick answer: If you like Robert B. Parker, try Raymond Chandler's The Big Sleep, Dashiell Hammett's The Maltese Falcon, Lawrence Block's The Sins of the Fathers, Dennis Lehane's A Drink Before the War, Elmore Leonard's Get Shorty and Michael Connelly's The Black Echo. They offer wise-cracking investigators and sharp dialogue.
Robert B. Parker (1932–2010) created Spenser, a Boston private eye, in The Godwulf Manuscript (1973). His books are known for snappy dialogue, short chapters and a code of honor. Readers who love him want more hard-boiled detectives and fast, witty crime fiction. These 15 books include the classics Parker admired, peers and writers who continued his series.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Godwulf Manuscript | Robert B. Parker | Adult | the series opener |
| Night Passage | Robert B. Parker | Adult | Parker's other series |
| Robert B. Parker's Lullaby | Ace Atkins | Adult | readers who want more Spenser |
| The Big Sleep | Raymond Chandler | Adult | readers who want the roots |
| The Maltese Falcon | Dashiell Hammett | Adult | readers who want a classic |
| The Moving Target | Ross Macdonald | Adult | readers who like depth |
| The Sins of the Fathers | Lawrence Block | Adult | readers who like urban noir |
| A Drink Before the War | Dennis Lehane | Adult | Boston crime fans |
| The Black Echo | Michael Connelly | Adult | readers who like procedurals |
| Get Shorty | Elmore Leonard | Adult | readers who like witty crime |
| The Friends of Eddie Coyle | George V. Higgins | Adult | readers who like street talk |
| Devil in a Blue Dress | Walter Mosley | Adult | readers who like historical noir |
| The Monkey's Raincoat | Robert Crais | Adult | readers who like humor |
| The Deep Blue Good-by | John D. MacDonald | Adult | readers who like Florida noir |
| Killing Floor | Lee Child | Adult | readers who like action |
1. The Godwulf Manuscript by Robert B. Parker
The first Spenser novel. Spenser looks for a stolen manuscript and finds murder. Start here if you are new.
Best for: the series opener.
2. Night Passage by Robert B. Parker
The first Jesse Stone novel, in which a former ballplayer becomes police chief in a small town. Quiet and sharp.
Best for: Parker's other series.
3. Robert B. Parker's Lullaby by Ace Atkins
One of the Spenser novels continued by Ace Atkins after Parker's death. Keeps the voice and humor.
Best for: readers who want more Spenser.
4. The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler
Philip Marlowe is hired by a rich family in Los Angeles. The classic hard-boiled novel.
Best for: readers who want the roots.
5. The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett
Sam Spade is drawn into a search for a priceless statue. A founding detective novel.
Best for: readers who want a classic.
6. The Moving Target by Ross Macdonald
Lew Archer investigates a kidnapping in Los Angeles. Elegant and psychologically rich.
Best for: readers who like depth.
7. The Sins of the Fathers by Lawrence Block
Matthew Scudder, an ex-cop in New York, takes a case that unravels. Gritty and humane.
Best for: readers who like urban noir.
8. A Drink Before the War by Dennis Lehane
Boston private eyes Patrick Kenzie and Angie Gennaro investigate a case in their city. Gritty, local and tough.
Best for: Boston crime fans.
9. The Black Echo by Michael Connelly
Detective Harry Bosch investigates a body in a drainpipe. The first Bosch novel.
Best for: readers who like procedurals.
10. Get Shorty by Elmore Leonard
A loan shark goes to Hollywood to make a film. Dialogue-driven and sharp.
Best for: readers who like witty crime.
11. The Friends of Eddie Coyle by George V. Higgins
A small-time gunrunner in Boston tries to survive. Told almost entirely in dialogue.
Best for: readers who like street talk.
12. Devil in a Blue Dress by Walter Mosley
Easy Rawlins, a Black veteran in 1948 Los Angeles, takes a job that leads to murder. Stylish and powerful.
Best for: readers who like historical noir.
13. The Monkey's Raincoat by Robert Crais
Elvis Cole looks for a missing husband in Los Angeles. Funny and tough.
Best for: readers who like humor.
14. The Deep Blue Good-by by John D. MacDonald
Travis McGee, a salvage consultant in Florida, goes after a villain. The first McGee novel.
Best for: readers who like Florida noir.
15. Killing Floor by Lee Child
Jack Reacher arrives in a Georgia town and is arrested for murder. The first Reacher thriller.
Best for: readers who like action.
How to Choose
If you want more Parker, read the early Spenser books in order. For roots, choose The Big Sleep or The Maltese Falcon. For modern detectives with banter, try The Monkey's Raincoat or A Drink Before the War. A simple plan is to alternate a classic and a modern book. Most of these books include violence and strong language. If you enjoy audiobooks, Parker's short chapters and constant dialogue work especially well. To see where his style came from, read the first few chapters of The Big Sleep and compare the voice to Spenser's.
Related: Robert B Parker Printable Book List · Printable List of Robert Crais Books
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Robert B. Parker book should I read first?
The Godwulf Manuscript starts the Spenser series, and Night Passage starts Jesse Stone.
Who writes Spenser now?
After Parker died in 2010, Ace Atkins and later Mike Lupica continued the series.
How many Spenser novels are there?
Parker wrote 40 Spenser novels, and others have continued.
Is Parker like Raymond Chandler?
Parker admired Chandler and wrote his dissertation on the hard-boiled tradition, though his tone is lighter.
Is Spenser the Hawk character in the books?
Yes. Hawk is Spenser's tough friend and a recurring character in the series.
Were Parker's books adapted for TV?
Yes. Spenser: For Hire ran in the 1980s, and the Jesse Stone books became TV movies.