Hundred-dollar Baby - Hardcover

Parker, Robert B.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0786288221 ISBN 13: 9780786288229

Publisher: Thorndike Pr, 2006

Synopsis

A client from a decades-old case reaches out to Boston PI Spenser-but can he rescue troubled April Kyle once more?

Longtime Spenser fans will remember that once upon a time, though not so long ago, there was a girl named April Kyle-a beautiful teenage runaway who turned to prostitution to escape her terrible family life. The book was 1982's Ceremony, and, thanks to Spenser, April escaped Boston's "Combat Zone" for the relative safety of a high-class New York City bordello. April resurfaced in Taming a Sea-Horse, again in dire need of Spenser's rescue-this time from the clutches of a controlling lover. But April Kyle's return in Hundred-Dollar Baby is nothing short of shocking.

When a mature, beautiful, and composed April strides into Spenser's office, the Boston PI barely hesitates before recognizing his once and future client. Now a well-established madam herself, April oversees an upscale call-girl operation in Boston's Back Bay. Still looking for Spenser's approval, it takes her a moment before she can ask him, again, for his assistance. Her business is a success; what's more, it's an all-female enterprise. Now that some men are trying to take it away from her, she needs Spenser.

April claims to be in the dark about who it is that's trying to shake her down, but with a bit of legwork and a bit more muscle, Spenser and Hawk find ties to organized crime and local kingpin Tony Marcus, as well as a scheme to franchise the operation across the country. As Spenser again plays the gallant knight, it becomes clear that April's not as innocent as she seems. In fact, she may be her own worst enemy.

About this title

About the Author

Robert B. Parker was the author of more than fifty books. He died in January 2010.

From AudioFile

This is the third appearance of April Kyle, originally a runaway teenage hooker, now a sophisticated Boston madam. Once again, she needs rescuing by Boston's preeminent soft-hearted tough guy--Spenser. Joe Mantegna's pace is perfect for bringing our hero to life, along with his usual gang. This is no mean feat as Parker has spent a generation developing and perfecting the characters and voices in this series. There's no disappointment in Mantegna's rendering of women, blacks, Boston cops, or South Boston gangsters. Readers of Parker will find that listening to Mantegna's Spenser is as exciting as each new story in the series. M.C. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

About this edition

• Publisher: Thorndike Pr
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 0786288221
• ISBN 13: 9780786288229
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 313