HUNDRED-DOLLAR BABY

New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2006. Hardcover. Very Good/Near Fine. The 35th novel by Mystery Grand Master Parker in his mystery-suspense series featuring Boston private detective, Spenser. This time Spenser is dealing with a familiar character -- April Kyle, a teenaged runaway and prostitute, whom Spenser, in "Ceremony," helped escape the streets of Boston's "Combat Zone" for safer working conditions in a high class NYC bordello, and in "Taming A Sea-Horse," rescuing her from an abusive lover. This time April has moved on to operate an upscale callgirl business in Boston's Back Bay where she is being threatened with an organized crime takeover. First edition, first printing (with complete numberline). About 6 1/4 x 9 1/4 inches, 291 pages in red paper-covered boards with red back strip and gold lettering on spine. Author's initials stamped in center of front cover. Dustjacket's front panel shows an automatic pistol with a red garter wrapped around barrel and trigger guard below Parker's name and book's title in red lettering. Red lettering on spine with full-panel color photo of Parker and his dog on back panel. Other than a tiny nick on the lower edge of the front cover and a similar nick in the edge of back cover, the only damage/flaws this book shows are slightly bumped spine ends. No tears, no chipping or creasing. Not ex-library or remaindered. The dustjacket also shows the light bumping at spine ends and a touch of edge wear. Again, no tears, no creasing. Not price-clipped. A collectable copy of this book, which was also issued under the title, "Dream Girl.