Product Description

Another teen thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of the Spenser mysteries.

When a shy high school student’s body is found washed up on the shore of a quiet New England beach town—an apparent suicide—fifteen-year-old Terry Novak doesn’t know what to think. Something just doesn’t add up, so he decides to do some investigating of his own with the help of his best friend, Abby. It doesn’t take long before they learn that asking questions puts them in grave danger, and surviving is going to be a fight. Fortunately, Terry has been learning a thing or two about fighting, thanks to a retired boxer named George, who teaches the boy to use his head and always keep his feet set beneath him—lessons Terry takes to heart in more ways than one. He will need to.

Robert B. Parker, New York Times bestselling author of the Spenser novels, delivers a taut, empowering mystery for young readers.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #14876 in Books
• Published on: 2008-05-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 224 pages

Review
Few could question either the quality of the writing or the book's undeniable appeal to teen readers. -- School Library Journal

[N]ice action scenes...High-school intrigue written simply enough to satisfy budding mystery fans in the middle-school crowd as well. -- Kirkus Reviews

About the Author
Robert B. Parker lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Customer Reviews

the boxer & the spy
Good book for a teenager. I thought it was for an adult but enjoyed it thoroughly.

Great for Reluctant Reader shelf
Robert B. Parker repackages his knowledge of boxing for the young adult, giving us a fresh addition to our guy reluctant read shelf. The book has some of those ingredients Dav Pilkey, author of Captain Underpants, recommends for the reluctant reader: fast moving plot, villainous school principals, and wide margins. (Unfortunately, there are no cartoons.) Our victim is murdered by page five, so there can't be any complaints that nothing happens. The plot is a bit threadbare. One has the feeling the author found it in an old cardboard box labeled "Plots, OK - 1973" while cleaning out his attic. However, the characters themselves are fresh enough and pleasant enough to carry us easily through the book's 200 pages. Interestingly, both of Parker's sons are openly gay, as was the book's victim. Several times during the book, the hero is asked, "Did you think he was gay?" to which he always replies, "Yes." "Did you care?" "Not really." Teen sexual confusion gives the book's characters an added dimension of reality and depth.

Teens Reveal the Truth behind a Puzzling Death
What would Spenser and Susan Silverman have been like as a teenage couple? It's possible they might have sounded and acted a great deal like Terry Novak and his friend, Abby. That link in characterization gives this book extra fascination for adult fans of Robert B. Parker. I particularly enjoyed the innuendo in the dialog where Terry and Abby refer to their physical desire for one another in flirting, boy-girl terms.

The mystery isn't all that mysterious; the main mystery is how two high school students will be able to bring out the truth: A high school student is found dead and most adults presume it was suicide related to using steroids. Terry doesn't believe it and starts asking around.

His detection is interspaced with boxing lessons from his fifty-five year-old friend, George. There's a bullying jock at the high school who tries to stop Terry, but Terry jabs on. In the background are some greedy adults looking out for themselves at the expense of everyone else.

I would have loved to read this book when I was a young teen. I also loved it as a 61-year-old man. I suspect the appeal wouldn't be as great for those in the 25-45 age range.

I look forward to reading other books for younger readers by Mr. Parker.