My first experience of Spenser/Parker was in 1981. I was in the midst of a year-long bicycle trip around the United States. We'd stopped for a couple of days in Missoula where I visited a mall bookstore. Looking for something to read in camp after a long day's ride, I happened on Looking for Rachel Wallace and was hooked. I devoured all the published books and eagerly awaited the publication of the latest novel, which reliably came out around April each year.