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Pretty teenager April Kyle is in grown-up-trouble, involved with people who'd beat her up for a dollar and kill her for five. Now she's disappeared, last seen in the Combat Zone, that side of Boston where nothing's proper, especially the sex for sale. With Hawk, his sidekick, Spenser takes on the whole X-rated industry. From a specialty whorehouse in Providence to stylish Back Bay bordellos, he pits muscle and wit against bullets and brawn until he finds what he's looking for: April Kyle, little girl lost. "Nowhere is Spenser's vitality clearer than in CEREMONY...Spenser probably had more to do with changing the private eye from coffin-chaser to a full-bodied human being than any other detective hero." (Sun-Times, Chicago)
Publication Year: 1992
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Spenser decides to try to help a couple of teenagers who’ve turned to prostitution … (Of course you can’t help those who don’t want to be helped.) Hawk’s in this one and it’s the first time we’ve seen him agree to help Spenser for free.
It’s also the first time—though it won’t be the last—that we see Spenser negotiate an agreement with a crime boss.
*In this one, it’s said that Spenser lives on Marlborough St., Boston. This is the first time we’ve been given the street name, and it’s cool to have a more-detailed visual.
It gripped me from start to finish, as Parker’s always do.
5 stars.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Character(s) introduced in this one:
Tony Marcus
*Recurring:
Patricia, the high-class madame from #3, ‘Mortal Stakes’
LOL-moment:
Spenser narrating his and Hawk’s observation of Susan attempting to parallel park.
Audio:
This narrator … is okay. While he does NOT bother with a Boston accent, there is a vibe to his vintage-y sound and being 5 books in now, I’m getting used to him. :)
First edition cover: 
Spenser Reading Order:
1. The Godwulf Manuscript (1973)
2. God Save the Child (1974)
3. Mortal Stakes (1975)
4. Promised Land (1976)
5. The Judas Goat (1978)
6. Looking for Rachel Wallace (1980)
7. Early Autumn (1980)
8. A Savage Place (1981)
9. Ceremony (1982)
10. The Widening Gyre (1983)
11. Valediction (1984)
12. A Catskill Eagle (1985)
13. Taming a Seahorse (1986)
14. Pale Kings and Princes (1987)
15. Crimson Joy (1988)
16. Playmates (1989)
17. Stardust (1990)
18. Pastime (1991)
19. Double Deuce (1991)
20. Paper Doll (1993)
21. Walking Shadow (1994)
22. Thin Air (1995)
23. Chance (1996)
24. Small Vices (1997)
25. Sudden Mischief (1998)
26. Hush Money (1999)
27. Hugger Mugger (2000)
28. Potshot (2001)
29. Widow's Walk (2002)
30. Back Story (2003)
31. Bad Business (2004)
32. Cold Service (2005)
33. School Days (2005)
34. Dream Girl (2006)
35. Now and Then (2007)
36. Rough Weather (2008)
36.5 Chasing the Bear (2009)
37. The Professional (2009)
38. Painted Ladies (2010)
39. Sixkill (2011)
39.5 Silent Night (2013)
Spenser: A Mysterious Profile (2022)
continued in the series by Ace Atkins
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