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Spenser: For Hire
1985 - 1988 6.7 (30 votes) 3 Seasons
Genres
Drama Crime Mystery
Networks
ABC
Created By
Robert B. Parker

Spenser: For Hire

A lot of people think I like to get even. They're dead right.

Overview

Mystery and suspense series based on Robert Parker's "Spenser" novels. Spenser, a private investigator living in Boston, gets involved in a new murder mystery each episode.

Top Cast

Robert Urich
Robert Urich

Spenser

Avery Brooks
Avery Brooks

Hawk

Barbara Stock
Barbara Stock

Susan Silverman

Ron McLarty
Ron McLarty

Frank Belson

Seasons

Season 0 (1993)

No overview available.

7 episodes

Episodes
Episode 1: Ceremony
1993-01-08

Spenser is hired to locate April Kyle, the missing daughter of Harry Kyle, millionaire and candidate for Governor.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 2: Pale Kings and Princes
1994-01-02

One of Susan's former patients, a news reporter, is killed, Spenser investigates.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 3: The Judas Goat
1994-12-01

Spenser is hired out by Hugh Dixon to track down the killers of his wife and daughters.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 4: A Savage Place
1995-01-08

Candy Sloane, a news reporter that Spenser used to date, hires him out as backup while she investigates a credit card fraud ring.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 5: Small Vices
1999-07-18

Rita Fiore hires Spenser to determine if two-time loser Ellis Alves really did kill a college coed. Soon everybody wants him off the case, from the investigating officer to the parents of the dead girl's boyfriend; and a professional hitman named Rugar is trying to kill him.

Runtime: N/A min
Episode 6: Thin Air
2000-09-12

Frank Belson didn't ask too many questions about the past of his new wife Lisa St. Claire, even after she suddenly and mysteriously disappeared one night. He brings in Spenser to help locate her, who begins to piece together her complete life story while submerged in the Latino shadow world of the town of Proctor.

Runtime: N/A min
Episode 7: Walking Shadow
2001-08-26

As a favor to his longtime lover Dr. Susan Silverman, Spenser agrees to investigate the stalking of a theater company director, pro bono. But before he can get started, an actor is killed by an arrow in the middle of a play. Now that there's a real-life murder to investigate, Spenser and Hawk, get to do what they do best--even if it means death threats from the Chinese underworld, being ordered out of town by the tough local police chief, and dodging bullets and crossbows at every turn. By the time they leave the quaint ocean front community, the population has decreased by three, and live theater will never be the same.

Runtime: N/A min
Season 1 poster
Season 1 (1985)

No overview available.

22 episodes

Episodes
Episode 1: Promised Land
1985-09-20

Spenser is hired to find the runaway wife of a wealthy businessman. Based on a story by Spenser novelist Robert B. Parker.

Runtime: 95 min
Episode 2: No Room at the Inn
1985-09-27

Spenser's apartment burns down, but he's allowed to move into an old fire station as thanks for saving a firefighter's life. Meanwhile, Spenser and Hawk are hired to protect the life of grand jury witness. When it starts to look like someone on the inside might be trying to have the witness killed, and that the witness may not be who she says she is, things get convoluted.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 3: The Choice
1985-10-04

A old man whom Spenser and Hawk knows is shot. They discover that the killer are a couple who comes from an affluent background, which they hide behind. It turns into a cat and mouse game for Spenser and Hawk, who are determined to take them down.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 4: Children of a Tempest Storm
1985-10-11

Spenser kills a would-be thief in the course of thwarting a robbery. He and Susan take in the man's two children while investigating his past. Susan discovers she's pregnant.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 5: Original Sin
1985-10-18

Spenser investigates the apparent suicide of a young nun, and stumbles onto a corrupt landlord.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 6: Discord in A Minor
1985-10-25

Spenser's been hired by a conductor to find his daughter who ran away with her boyfriend. When he finds them, she tells him that her father has been molesting her. Spenser then tells her father what she said which he denies. After Spenser leaves, he calls Hawk, who once did a job for him, to do something for him.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 7: The Killer Within
1985-11-12

Spenser is hired to protect a woman's identical twin sister from assassins, only to discover his employer suffers from a split personality.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 8: Autumn Thieves
1985-11-19

Spenser stumbles onto a ring of thieves while investigating a relic stolen from a museum.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 9: Blood Money
1985-11-26

The wife of a kidnapped oil tycoon hires Spenser to deliver $1 million in ransom money to a ring of terrorists while police have the drop-off area surrounded.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 10: Resurrection
1985-12-03

Spenser investigates a crooked vice cop involved in the mugging of one of Susan's friends.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 11: Internal Affairs
1985-12-17

Marital infidelity and suspected involvement in a gambling ring lead to Lt. Quirk's suspension. Belson is shot during a raid. Spenser works to clear Quirk's name and catch Belson's would-be killer.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 12: Death By Design
1986-01-07

Spenser and Hawk blame themselves for failing to protect their respective clients from the clutches of the underworld, and vow to settle the score with a big-time racketeer and his henchmen.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 13: A Day's Wages
1986-01-14

A young ex-con named Louis Harper steals from his boss, John Brady. Brady hires Spenser to prove it and Harper hires Hawk to protect him from leg-breakers. Spenser and Hawk team up to solve Louis' murder.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 14: A Madness Most Discreet
1986-01-21

Spenser tries to protect a former Russian ballerina, when she hires him to help her find stolen papers, but he gets more than he bargained for once he discovers that she is a person of interest to dueling government agents employed by American and Russian forces.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 15: Brother to Dragons
1986-02-04

Spenser is going skiing with Susan, but when he picks her up at Smithfield High School where she works, he finds out one of her students died of a heroin overdose. Spenser gets hired by the superintendent and goes undercover as a teacher at her school to find out where the drugs are coming from. He obviously gets into it with the dealers.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 16: When Silence Speaks
1986-02-11

A deaf woman hires Spenser to find a man she had been corresponding with who had gone missing. As Spenser investigates, he realizes that the missing man is somehow involved with a gang of thieves who are trying to kill Spenser in revenge for busting up their diamond heist.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 17: In a Safe Place
1986-02-14

Spenser searches for the father of an undocumented boy killed by an unhinged unemployed man. The trail leads Spenser into a conspiracy involving the exploitation of undocumented workers on the waterfront.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 18: Angel of Desolation
1986-03-04

Spenser is hired by the fashion model wife of a rich bank owner who says her life is in danger. After multiple attempted murders and one successful murder, Spenser realizes that the wife is not the target. When the wife's past comes to light, the investigation takes a whole new direction.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 19: She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not
1986-03-11

Detective Belson's ex-partner is murdered during his daughter's wedding reception. The dead cop is suspected of being involved in criminal activities, so Lt. Quirk asks Spenser to investigate the dead man and find out if Belson is dirty, too.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 20: At the River's Edge
1986-03-25

Spenser witnesses an ex-convict murder a 19 year-old girl, then kill himself. The girl's wealthy younger sister hires Spenser to find out why her sister was killed.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 21: Rage
1986-04-01

Spenser locates a runaway, and saves her from a psychotic man—but the man escapes.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 22: Hell Hath No Fury
1986-04-08

Partnering with an attractive TV news reporter, Spenser investigates the reason a newly constructed building collapsed, killing a boy.

Runtime: 60 min
Season 2 poster
Season 2 (1986)

No overview available.

22 episodes

Episodes
Episode 1: An Eye for an Eye
1986-09-27

New District Attorney Rita Fiori tries to prosecute Spenser for blackmail.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 2: Widow's Walk
1986-10-04

A small fishing family hires Spenser to investigate the death of their father. Spenser suspects a rival fishing family, the Almeidas.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 3: White Knight
1986-10-18

While Spenser and Hawk are in a small town to view a boxing match, Hawk is arrested, ostensibly for carrying a concealed weapon, but Spenser suspects racism may be involved.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 4: Rockabye Baby
1986-10-25

A mobster's pregnant teenage girlfriend tries to keep her unborn son from his father.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 5: And Give Up Show Biz?
1986-11-01

Spenser protects a man suffering from amnesia.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 6: The Long Hunt
1986-11-08

A young criminal's father attacks a bus transporting convicts to the state prison.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 7: Home is the Hero
1986-11-22

Rita hires Spenser to investigate a troubled teenager, yet another 'Spenser helps a misguided youth' episode.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 8: One if by Land, Two if by Sea
1986-11-29

A friend of Spenser's is shot and killed while portraying Paul Revere during a Revolutionary War re-enactment.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 9: Shadowsight
1986-12-13

A girl who apparently has the unique ability to 'see' through both space and time, enlists Spenser's help to solve a rash of arsons.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 10: The Hopes and Fears
1986-12-20

With the help of Hawk, a disgusted Spenser is determined to get rid of thugs who are terrorizing his Boston neighborhood.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 11: Among Friends
1987-01-10

Hawk is the main suspect when Lt. Quirk is shot, due to a recent fracas between the two. Spenser suspects a new man in town, trying to take Hawk down to make a name for himself.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 12: I Confess
1987-01-17

A wealthy man is murdererd and, surprise, an innocent man is arrested. If you've seen one Spenser, you've seen them all.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 13: Murder and Acquisitions
1987-01-24

Spenser investigates the apparent suicide of a philandering financier about to turn state's evidence to bring down insider trading. Rita has problems of her own when an old boyfriend shows up. Belson hires Spenser to find his missing wallet containing a winning lottery ticket.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 14: Personal Demons
1987-02-07

Spenser and Rita go after a corrupt African.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 15: Mary Hamilton
1987-02-14

A girl comes to Boston looking for her estranged father. Spenser decides to help her.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 16: Trial and Error
1987-02-21

A pimp is wrongfully arrested for the murder of one of his girls. Spenser agonizes between pursuing the real murderer or letting the pimp take the rap.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 17: One For My Daughter
1987-03-07

Spenser and Hawk protect a man who owes money to men of dubious ethics. When their client, Bo Braxton tries to blackmail his creditors, he and his alcoholic teenage daughter go on the run.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 18: My Brother's Keeper
1987-03-14

Spenser becomes embroiled in the seamy Vietnamese organized crime racket after a Vietnamese crime boss uses Spenser to track down a former soldier.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 19: The Road Back
1987-03-21

Spenser loses all feeling in his right arm after he's shot while guarding a politician.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 20: If You Knew Sammy
1987-04-04

NRA poster-boy Sammy Backlin breezes into town for a book signing, unwittingly involving Spenser in a shoot out. Spenser agrees to protect Sammy from gangland thugs.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 21: The Man Who Wasn't There
1987-05-02

Rita and her old college friends are reunited when a fictional person they created 20 years ago is found dead in his apartment.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 22: Song of Orpheus
1987-05-09

A prison inmate with a grudge against Hawk hires outside muscle to rub him out.

Runtime: 60 min
Season 3 poster
Season 3 (1987)

No overview available.

21 episodes

Episodes
Episode 1: Homecoming
1987-09-27

A cop who helped send a gangster's son to prison years ago has been hiding, cause the gangster wants to get him. But now he wants to come home, so he and his father, asks Spenser to act as intermediary. While the gangster is unwilling to settle for nothing less than seeing him dead. Spenser tries to see what he can do. At the same time Spenser has to deal with Susan, who came back to town, and would like to see if they have a future, but this case is taking up all of his time.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 2: My Enemy, My Friend
1987-10-04

A streetwise young kid gets involved over his head in the underworld. Spenser and Hawk try to protect him from would-be killers.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 3: The Heart of the Matter
1987-10-11

Lt. Quirk faces his mortality when he suffers a heart attack. Spenser and Hawk protect him from revenge-minded villains as he recovers.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 4: On the Night he Was Betrayed
1987-11-01

Spenser helps an old friend, an alcoholic priest who tries to help homeless teenagers, when he gets involved over his head.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 5: Sleepless Dreams
1987-11-08

Spenser becomes obsessed with an apparently suicidal woman after a chance encounter on the street.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 6: Consilum Abditum
1987-11-15

Susan is in trouble when her claims of sexual harassment lead her college counselor to retaliate by hiring a hit man to keep her quiet. Spenser gets arrested for getting involved in a fight.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 7: Thanksgiving
1987-11-29

Spenser runs into an old friend while visiting a recreation of a Puritan village. Spenser does everything in his power to exonerate said friend when he's accused of a brutal slaying. As he uncovers more and more, Spenser begins to think it might be hard to clear the name of a guilty man.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 8: Gone Fishin'
1987-12-06

Spenser's fishing trip is interrupted when he has to protect a young man who's not allowed to marry the girl he loves.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 9: Child's Play
1987-12-20

A sniper takes some shots at Spenser and Susan, and a young boy ends up dead in the crossfire. Spenser sets out to determine why such a tragedy happened and track down the shooter.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 10: Skeletons in the Closet
1988-01-03

Spenser and Hawk find themselves on opposite sides of the same case. Spenser is hired to retrieve a stolen journal containing information damaging to a judge's career. Hawk is hired by the thief to extort money from the judge.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 11: The Siege
1988-01-10

Hawk and Susan along with other people are held captive in a post office. Richard Brooks later seen on Law and Order during Season's 1 & 2 plays one of the hostage takers.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 12: Arthur's Wake
1988-01-16

Spenser protects an old friend, Arthur, after he's assaulted and robbed. In the course of his investigation, Spenser comes across disturbing information connecting Arthur with racketeering.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 13: To the End of the Line
1988-01-23

When Frank's niece dies of a drug overdose, Spenser and Frank go after the men responsible.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 14: Play it Again, Sammy
1988-01-30

Sammy Backlin calls Spenser for protection when he's being hunted by a 'vicious horde of bloodthirsty assassins'.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 15: The Big Fight
1988-02-06

One of Spenser's old trainers lures Spenser to a deserted warehouse where Spenser is supposed to be killed, to get out from under a gambling debt. Spenser survives, then turns around and protects his trainer from the goons now after him.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 16: Substantial Justice
1988-03-05

Spenser protects a theater owner from gangsters, but begins to suspect she's not as innocent as she appears.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 17: Company Man
1988-03-12

Spenser suspects insurance fraud when a building blows up. Susan has a possibly cancerous mass removed.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 18: Watercolors
1988-03-19

Spenser protects a child artist after the child witnesses a mob execution while painting in the forest.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 19: Hawk's Eyes
1988-03-26

Spenser investigates the death of a friend apparently involved with white supremicists. Hawk is rendered blind by an explosion.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 20: McAllister
1988-04-30

Spenser assists a lawyer in proving the innocence of his client, a Navy seaman accused of murdering the captain's daughter. The only witness is a missing Polish sailor.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 21: Haunting
1988-05-07

Spenser investigates an old child kidnapping case when he tries to track down a teenage girl's biological parents.

Runtime: 60 min

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