God Save The Child

This may change in later novels in the series, but for the earlier volumes, I feel they are as interesting as cultural artifacts as they are as mysteries. 
A formula emerges: all women involved in the case will be irresistibly drawn to Spenser, comment on his physique without fail, and he will sleep with at least one. All architecture, ensembles and meals will be described in detail, which personally, in the case of the outfits, is fascinating.
Normative views and proposed psychology on gender and sexuality land somewhere between ignorant and backwards, and the first glance racialized and sexualized description introducing characters is off putting to modern sensibilities.
Perhaps showing my lack of sophistication but the people all seem to drink A LOT.
Strange dichotomy, where the hypermasculine protagonist appears to be completely laid back/understanding of friend/acquaintance/informant and bar full of strangers being gay, but happy to diagnose it as a psychological condition in a teenager. Ah, the 70s. 
Why do I keep reading? Because the series is also peppered with laconic self-effacing wit, sometimes surprisingly sensitive (especially for the times it was written in), and it turns out I love a tightly written detective-led mystery! 🤷🏼‍♂️
⚠️ Sexual harrassment, sexism, homophobia, pedophilia