title: Hundred-Dollar Baby (Spenser Mystery)
author:  Robert B. Parker 
description: April Kyle, the damsel in distress that Spenser rescued in two earlier books, <i>Ceremony</i> (1982) and <i>Taming a Sea Horse</i> (1986), again turns to the iconic Boston PI for help in the 34th entry in Parker's popular series. Cynical yet romantic, Spenser easily handles the immediate threat of some men trying to muscle in on the high-class Boston whorehouse April is running. Unfortunately, that isn't the real problem, and Spenser without much surprise finds that April, the thugs and everyone else involved is lying to him. Instead of walking away, Spenser continues to probe, following trails that lead to New York, a con artist, mob connections and other complications. This is vintage Parker, with Spenser exchanging witty dialogue with the faithful Hawk, sexy dialogue with his beloved Susan and smart-alecky dialogue with cops and villains. The old pros can make it look easy, and that goes for both the author and his hero as they deliver the goods smoothly and with inimitable style. <i>(Oct.)</i> <br />Copyright  Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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  PRAISE FOR ROBERT B. PARKER AND THE SPENSER NOVELS . . .
  
  
  “A MASTER OF MURDEROUS IRONY.”
  
  
  —Los Angeles Times
  
  
  “ONE OF THE GREAT SERIES IN THE HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN DETECTIVE STORY.”
  
  
  —The New York Times
  
  
  NOW & THEN
  
  
  Investigating a case of infidelity sounds simple—until it plunges Spenser and
  his beloved Susan into a politically charged murder plot that’s already left
  three people dead.
  
  
  “This is vintage Parker, filled with banter and repartee, swagger and rule-
  skirting . . . a page-turner.”—The Boston Globe
  
  
  HUNDRED-DOLLAR BABY
  
  
  Deadly complications arise when Spenser crosses paths with a runaway girl he
  had helped years ago.
  
  
  “Parker in top-notch form.”—The Seattle Times
  
  
  SCHOOL DAYS
  
  
  When a young boy is accused of a mass murder, only his grandmother is
  convinced of his innocence.
  
  
  “Crackling prose and juicy repartee.”—Entertainment Weekly
  
  
  COLD SERVICE
  
  
  When his closest ally is attacked, Spenser re