Though set in present day, it is a prequel to Parker's venerable Spenser series of novels.

Unlike the rest of the Spenser series, Chasing the Bear is a young adult novel and not strictly detective fiction.

Spenser, while relaxing at a park with his love interest, Susan Silverman, reflects on some experiences in his life as a youth, before becoming a detective.

Spenser conveys that he grew up in an all-male household, his mother dying immediately before he was delivered by caesarean section.

After an injury his second year, he loses his scholarship and is unable to afford any further schooling and joins the police force, choosing to stay in Boston rather than returning to his home town.

[1] Some critics found the switching between present-day and past to be distracting and felt it may alienate younger readers new to the series.

[1] Critics pointed out that there is no one mystery Spenser pursues, but rather shorter adventures which may disappoint some fans of the series.