Spenser is a private eye which was not the job he had at first. Spenser gets a visit from one of his old friends, Locke, who wants him to take over one of the cases he was working on. The reason is that Locke is dying and he knows Spencer will do a great job with this case involving a painting that was stolen over twenty years ago.

At the museum, Spenser meets with Marjorie and Topper to see exactly what they have in mind and how much money they are going to pay him. Spenser meets with Majorie and Topper. They are the ones that will decide if they want to hire him. After meeting with them, he takes the job.

Little did Spenser know that this job would take him into the black market of thief's and the mafia? The art piece is named The Gentleman in Black. It also seems that anyone that gets their hands on this paint ends up having some bad luck. The bad luck some people who had the painting is dead.

I really enjoy the Spenser series. Ace Atkins writes not only a suspenseful story but Robert B. Parker's Old Black Magic also shows the humor of Spenser. I truly liked the way that Spenser interacts with all of the people that he meets along the way. The way that Atkins weaves this tale was really more than you could ask for. Why after all these years do so many people want this painting? Well if you want the answer to that question, I guess you just have to go out and buy this book.

Pick it up; you are going to enjoy it.