Small Vices (1997)
by Robert B. Parker
Number 24 in the series, Small Vices is one of the better Spenser novels of these middle years. Spenser is hired by a law firm to look into the arrest and conviction of a black man, Ellis Alves. Rita Fiori, a recurring character in the Spenser series, has quit her Prosecutor job and moved on to a well-paying defense law firm. She prosecuted Ellis. Another lawyer in the firm was the public defender that defended Ellis. They both feel like he was probably falsely convicted. They want Spenser to look into it, and find out if he was innocent.
We know, as readers of Spenser novels, that this means Spenser will also find out who actually committed the murder.
Spenser gets Hawk to join him when talking to Ellis. He figures having a black man present will get the man to. cooperate. He’s wrong, but this gives Parker a good excuse to involve Hawk, which is always a good thing
in Spenser novels.
The victim is a college student. Spenser starts at the college,talks to “eye witnesses”, family, and anyone who will tell him about the incident. This helps him to find clues and stir up some dirt. Bad guys try to chase him off. This makes him only more interested. He digs deeper and finds roots among the rich and powerful. Ellis is indeed innocent, but he’s not a particularly good person. Spenser frees him, but admits that Ellis will probably go back to jail soon enough.
The good parts: the main story had mystery, bad guys, powerful people throwing their weight around. Spenser gets into fights where he seems competent but not super human. The mystery is revealed in steps and the final revelation is satisfying.
The bad parts: The bad guys, despite being very intelligent and savvy powerful people, reveal their complicity directly to the DA, and the police while their lawyer is telling them to just be quiet.
If it hadn’t ended with that scene, this novel could have been one of the best Spenser hovels of the bunch.
B.S. Donovan 