Robert B. Parker coming to Oak Brook in a cloud of melancholy

Previews of coming attractions:

The nonpareil Robert B. Parker comes to the Chicago area Sept. 30to promote his newest Sunny Randall P.I. mystery, Melancholy Baby,(Putnam, $24.95) at 7:30 p.m. at Borders, 1500 16th, Oak Brook.

The novel begins with Sunny helping a troubled woman find herbirth parents at the same time she wallows in a murderous funkbecause her ex -- a man she just can't seem to let go of -- ismarrying a woman she can't stand.

Now's your chance to ask Parker some tough questions. Are theSunny Randall tales merely female-oriented mirror images of Parker'sbeloved Spenser series, with characters that correspond closely tothose in the hairy-chested whodunits ? Why does he write the JesseStone series about an alcoholic cop as well? Why has his work of thelast few years been so full of psychological angst? Is he acting outon the page stresses in his own life? Or Is he just writing forfeelings-driven women, the largest audience for today's mysteries?Hmm...