Painted Ladies by Robert Parker

It's sad to think that there will be no more Spenser books, no more Jesse Stone books, no more Sunny Randall books--with the unexpected passing of Robert Parker earlier this year. Painted Ladies is his last Spenser story and (except for the absence of his sidekick Hawk), it is a fitting ending to the series. Once again, Spenser uses his wit, his street smarts and sometimes his fists to solve a mystery (in this case, a missing painting with ties to the Holocaust).

The one good thing about the series ending like this is that Spenser is still in fighting form, ready to tackle his next case--rather than worrying about getting too old for that lifestyle. And his longtime love, Susan, is still by his side.