The Recurring Cast
Character guide · 54 books · 1973 to 2011 · Mostly set in Boston

Robert B. Parker

Crime and mysteryPolice proceduralPrivate eye

Spenser, a Boston private eye, ex-boxer and gourmet cook, solves cases with his lethal friend Hawk and his partner Susan Silverman, a psychologist. Parker’s other series follow small-town police chief Jesse Stone and private investigator Sunny Randall, who cross into each other’s books.

Best estimate, compiled from series guides, publisher descriptions and reviews where available, and from memory otherwise. Book level only, not chapter level. Minor includes cameos and brief references. Each book carries a confidence rating in its tooltip. Only Parker’s own books are charted; the continuation novels by other authors are left out.

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Who appears in which book

Click a name to follow that character from book to book, or a book title to see its cast.

LLeadMMajor·MinorHas a note
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Robert B. Parker books in order

Each series in publication order, with its lead characters. Where the story runs in a different order, switch to Story order. Crossover books are marked and listed under their main series. Use My books to track what you have read.

Spenser

39 books · Set in BostonPrivate eye
  1. 1The Godwulf Manuscript1973With SpenserBuy on Amazon
  2. 2God Save the Child1974With SpenserBuy on Amazon
  3. 3Mortal Stakes1975With SpenserBuy on Amazon
  4. 4Promised Land1976With SpenserBuy on Amazon
  5. 5The Judas Goat1978With SpenserBuy on Amazon
  6. 6Looking for Rachel Wallace1980With SpenserBuy on Amazon
  7. 7Early Autumn1981With SpenserBuy on Amazon
  8. 8A Savage Place1981With SpenserBuy on Amazon
  9. 9Ceremony1982With SpenserBuy on Amazon
  10. 10The Widening Gyre1983With SpenserBuy on Amazon
  11. 11Valediction1984With SpenserBuy on Amazon
  12. 12A Catskill Eagle1985With SpenserBuy on Amazon
  13. 13Taming a Sea-Horse1986With SpenserBuy on Amazon
  14. 14Pale Kings and Princes1987With SpenserBuy on Amazon
  15. 15Crimson Joy1988With SpenserBuy on Amazon
  16. 16Playmates1989With SpenserBuy on Amazon
  17. 17Stardust1990With SpenserBuy on Amazon
  18. 18Pastime1991With SpenserBuy on Amazon
  19. 19Double Deuce1992With SpenserBuy on Amazon
  20. 20Paper Doll1993With SpenserBuy on Amazon
  21. 21Walking Shadow1994With SpenserBuy on Amazon
  22. 22Thin Air1995With SpenserBuy on Amazon
  23. 23Chance1996With SpenserBuy on Amazon
  24. 24Small Vices1997With SpenserBuy on Amazon
  25. 25Sudden Mischief1998With SpenserBuy on Amazon
  26. 26Hush Money1999With SpenserBuy on Amazon
  27. 27Hugger Mugger2000With SpenserBuy on Amazon
  28. 28Potshot2001With SpenserBuy on Amazon
  29. 29Widow’s Walk2002With SpenserBuy on Amazon
  30. 30Back Story2003With SpenserBuy on Amazon
  31. 31Bad Business2004With SpenserBuy on Amazon
  32. 32Cold Service2005With SpenserBuy on Amazon
  33. 33School Days2005With SpenserBuy on Amazon
  34. 34Hundred-Dollar Baby2006With SpenserBuy on Amazon
  35. 35Now & Then2007With SpenserBuy on Amazon
  36. 36Rough Weather2008With SpenserBuy on Amazon
  37. 37The Professional2009With SpenserBuy on Amazon
  38. 38Painted Ladies2010With SpenserBuy on Amazon
  39. 39Sixkill2011With SpenserBuy on Amazon

Jesse Stone

9 books · Set in the fictional Paradise, MassachusettsPolice procedural
  1. 1Night Passage1997With Jesse StoneBuy on Amazon
  2. 2Trouble in Paradise1998With Jesse StoneBuy on Amazon
  3. 3Death in Paradise2001With Jesse StoneBuy on Amazon
  4. 4Stone Cold2003With Jesse StoneBuy on Amazon
  5. 5Sea Change2006With Jesse StoneBuy on Amazon
  6. 6High Profile2007With Jesse StoneBuy on Amazon
  7. 7Stranger in Paradise2008With Jesse StoneBuy on Amazon
  8. 8Night and Day2009With Jesse StoneBuy on Amazon
  9. 9Split Image2010With Jesse StoneBuy on Amazon

Sunny Randall

6 books · Set in BostonPrivate eye
  1. 1Family Honor1999With Sunny RandallBuy on Amazon
  2. 2Perish Twice2000With Sunny RandallBuy on Amazon
  3. 3Shrink Rap2002With Sunny RandallBuy on Amazon
  4. 4Melancholy Baby2004With Sunny RandallBuy on Amazon
  5. 5Blue Screen2006With Sunny RandallBuy on Amazon
  6. 6Spare Change2007With Sunny RandallBuy on Amazon

Characters

13 recurring and key characters, with the book each one first appears in.

Spenser’s Boston

Paradise and Sunny