This was the first book in the Spenser that indicated something weird was going to happen. Catskill Eagle signalled the beginning of the end for the Spenser series. They've gone completely down hill since it's publication (although in fairness there has not yet been a Spenser novel as awful as A Catskill Eagle). Parker suddenly tried to turn Spenser in James Bond, having him invade hidden underground bases and the like. The book makes no sense.