Mystery-writing juggernaut Robert B. Parker, creator of the wisecracking and absurdly well-read sleuth Spenser, died yesterday at his desk, as befits the author of more than 60 books, 38 of them about his most famous character. He was 77.

The Times pre-obit does not say so, but I strongly suspect that in addition to his wife and sons, he’s also survived by a dog named Pearl.