The Widening Gyre (1983)

The Widening Gyre is a 1983 novel by Robert B. Parker, featuring his private detective character Spenser. The title comes from the first line of W. B. Yeats poem "The Second Coming".

Story

Spenser is hired to head up the security detail for Congressman Meade Alexander as he runs for the Senate. The congressman confides to Spenser that he is being blackmailed by someone who wants him to drop out of the senate race. The congressman's wife Ronni drinks too much and there is an explicit sex tape of her and a much younger man. Spenser's assignment is to get the original tape and stop the blackmail before Ronni finds out. His investigation leads to Joe Broz's son Gerry and dealing with the Broz organization is always potentially lethal.

Characters

Spenser

Susan Silverman

Hawk

Martin Quirk

Congressman Meade Alexander

Ronni Alexander

Congressman Robert Browne

Gerry Broz

Joe Broz

Vinnie Morris