
Hundred-Dollar Baby
A Spenser Novel
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Narrated by:
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Joe Mantegna
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By:
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Robert B. Parker
About this listen
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, 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.
©2006 Robert B. Parker (P)2006 Random House, Inc. Random House Audio, a division of Random House, Inc.Listeners also enjoyed...
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Critic reviews
"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." (Publishers Weekly)
Auld Lang Syne
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As to the plot, faithful RBP readers will recognize April Kyle. She was a young girl in Boston's worst neighborhood when Spenser first met her. She was being pimped and abused by a horrible guy, as usual. Spenser managed, with some difficulty, to extract April from her pimp and from that neighborhood, and with a phone call or two, Spenser was able to deliver April to a very high-priced madame who lives on the Upper East Side of NYC. This woman, whose name I will remember just as soon as I finish writing this review, turns April into a classy, gorgeous call girl. It takes a while, but April eventually evolves quite nicely. She is still a whore, but still...
When we encounter her here, April has risen so far that she has reached almost the pinnacle of her profession. She owns an all-woman whorehouse, in a beautiful old house, with, let us say, all the trimmings. Sad to say, some local goons are trying to muscle in on her, and the Large Goon wants to make some extremely easy money, by sending his blockheads to threaten April and scare the customers, so it will then be as easy as pie for the place to become Goon owned whore house number whatever. The Large Goon soon meets Spenser, and then Hawk. Merriment ensues, in a way which only Robert B. Parker has ever been able to create. Joe Mantegna holds our interest completely. His voice is familiar to most of us, I think. His work is flawless. He even handles the "he said, she said," patter, which in my view is just about the only part of RBP's work that becomes hard to listen to. In any case, I become long-winded. Pick this book up. If you already know what to expect, then this book will perfectly meet your already very high expectations. If this is your first Spenser book, then, my friend, you are in for a fantastic treat, one that could last you for years and years. Don't read the "Some hack or other's Robert B. Parker's Spenser series," or whatever it is called. The real thing will have you laughing within two or three minutes. You will then be hooked. Many years later, you will think: I have probably read about a hundred of these. Are there any more?
If Robert B. Parker can't cure what ails you...
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Small "however", however...Parker has put in a little bit of proselytizing regarding the 'victimless' crime of prostitution (I think there would be a few wives who'd disagree). And there a few other slyly inserted bits of political opinion here and there. I've quit reading Stephen King and Le Carre because they seem to be more interested in presenting their political opinions rather than writing a good story. Drug companies/big government/abortion rants aren't fun to read when one is in the middle of a decent story. Parker is tip-toeing into that area in this book and I hope he realizes we read his books for a good time rather than indoctrination.
But except for that little failing, it's a good read for riding back and forth to work. I chuckled out loud more than a few times. I still see the fellow who played Spenser on TV as my version when I read the books...makes for a VERY pleasant few hours of listening.
Don't go the route of LeCarre and King
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If you love Spender, you won't be dissapointed.
Love Spenser
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As usual...
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Love the reader
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What did you love best about Hundred-Dollar Baby?
I love Parker's quirky chracters, the regulars and the new ones he introduces with every entertaining novel.Who was your favorite character and why?
Spenser because he is always a step ahead and consistantly maintains his sense of humor.Which scene was your favorite?
I loved his sexual intraspection upon realizing the girl in his office was young April! His ethics with women have always impressed me.If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?
Expose them to culture and they will think on their own.Any additional comments?
Their is nothing more fun than a Spenser novel. Thank you Mr. Parker and thanks to his family for carrying on the Spenser books.There is no one better at this than Parker
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One of my favorites
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What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?
Didn't even finish the first chapter. I just couldn't deal with the constant repetition of he said, she said. Someone needs to buy this author a thesaurus. Please...Any additional comments?
Audible please come up with some better recommendations for mystery enthusiasts. I really believe, with a little effort, you could do better.He said, she said, ad nauseam
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Pass on this one
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