Because of the varying topical nature of the subjects dealt with in the Spenser series and because of the changing nature of the central figure, Parker's crime novels offer a particularly rich subject for discussion.

1. Thin Air offers an especially good starting point for discussing the entire run of books. An evocative way to begin might be to compare the character of Spenser in the first book The Godwulf Manuscript (1974) with his portrayal in a middle novel like Early Autumn (1981), to his appearance in this book of the series.

2. One could also trace the development of other characters like Susan Silverman or Hawk throughout the series.

3. Since Parker obsessively returns to the same themes, tracing their development would also prove interesting, especially since the books have evolved over time.

4. What about the use of setting through the books? Parker no longer confines himself to the Boston...