And the results are a mixed bag. 

A young teenager is found dead on a beach in a small town north of Boston.  The boy’s death is ruled a suicide, but Terry Novak, a fifteen year old classmate and wanna-be boxer, doesn’t believe that.  Terry and his small group of friends begin to investigate and quickly realize that things don’t add up.  Terry is a very likable hero and seems very much to be a younger version of Parker’s iconic private detective hero, Spenser - earnest, intelligent, funny.  His desire to learn the truth seems very genuine.  Terry’s relationship with his girlfriend, Abby, is quite charming, as is his bond with his mentor and boxing trainer, George.   

But the things that work so well in Parker’s adult novels don’t work quite as well here.  The plot is a bit too simple and the villains are thinly veiled.  The teenager characters seem more suited for the 1950’s than the supposed contemporary setting of the novel, their dialogue - always the best part of Parker’s adult novels - a bit awkward and out of date.  In theory, Terry’s investigation puts both him and his pals in danger, but that threat never feels fully realized. 

Even with those flaws, however, readers will probably stick with the novel to discover the ending, which ties up the story nicely.  Sophisticated young mystery readers may find this one too easy, but The Boxer and The Spy should have some appeal for teens who are just getting a feel for mysteries.