Arbieroo reviewed Melancholy baby by Robert B. Parker
Review of 'Melancholy baby' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
[And now this review is associated with the correct book!]
Hi, my name's Stephanie Plum Runny Sandall Sunny Randall, Boston PI, and I'm sexy and clever, like Stephanie Plum - except I really am clever, not completely clueless. In fact, I'm not much like Stephanie at all apart from we're both good looking; I have sensible (if cliched) reasons for doing the work I do, rather than getting totally out of my depth because I can't pay my bills. I'm not obviously a female-wish-fulfilment fantasy but rather a real person. My first book came out about the same time as Stephanie's but doesn't seem to have become famous, despite not being preposterous and having a realistic protagonist. Why is that? I have a series of books but not a huge one with a ridiculous gimmick about the titles. Anyway, I don't need to be famous because of my …
[And now this review is associated with the correct book!]
Hi, my name's Stephanie Plum Runny Sandall Sunny Randall, Boston PI, and I'm sexy and clever, like Stephanie Plum - except I really am clever, not completely clueless. In fact, I'm not much like Stephanie at all apart from we're both good looking; I have sensible (if cliched) reasons for doing the work I do, rather than getting totally out of my depth because I can't pay my bills. I'm not obviously a female-wish-fulfilment fantasy but rather a real person. My first book came out about the same time as Stephanie's but doesn't seem to have become famous, despite not being preposterous and having a realistic protagonist. Why is that? I have a series of books but not a huge one with a ridiculous gimmick about the titles. Anyway, I don't need to be famous because of my dog and my friends, one of whom is another cliche; the gay friend of the female protagonist. He's not a stereotypical gay friend of the female protagonist, though, 'cos he's a tough guy, rather than a camp or effete comic relief kinda gay friend of the female protagonist. Why aren't there any gay detectives with female lesbian friends? Or lesbian detectives with straight friends, or gay detectives with gay friends? Or...
Anyway, if you've read books from several of my creator's series you will probably notice some recurring themes and motifs; alcohol abuse, people who aren't over their divorces, fathers who care about their daughters more than their mothers do, clinical psychologists. Several of those are in this book, too. In fact my psychologist is the girlfriend of another PI from a different series of books...how weird is that?
You should read my books if you want some competent, realistic, if not exceptionally good detective fiction.