THE GODWULF MANUSCRIPT (Robert B. Parker)

This novel, written in 1973 and the first of the popular Spenser series, was like a visit back to an era where people had to interact face-to-face and information was something you really had to dig for instead of paying an Internet service or calling a cell phone.  Spenser, as most everyone knows, is a charming Boston-based private eye with an eye for the ladies and a brash, unapologetic style.  He is also a great cook and a satisfying lover with a very 70's outlook on sex and romance.  One of the things I found most enjoyable in this novel were the descriptions, seeing the world through Spenser's eyes.  The reader is treated to Spenser's uncensored opinions on clothing, weather, neighborhoods, people, driving conditions, and food, as well as anything else that comes his way.  As for the crime-solving aspect of this mystery, Spenser works hard to investigate every clue and follow every lead, taking on dangerous opponents, beaing beaten and shot, and recuing damsels in distress.  The heroes of most of today's slick high-tech thrillers can't compare with Spenser's nitty-gritty hands-on style of crime-solving.  Spenser is a real PI, the kind we will always love to read about.