Ceremony (Mass Market Paperback)

by Robert B. Parker (Author) "She's a goddamned whore," Harry Kyle said..." (more)
Key Phrases: leather trench coat, surly man, sheep ranch, April Kyle, Amy Gurwitz, Combat Zone (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
From the bestselling author of Crimson Joy. Spenser's out to make war, not love, as he goes after Boston's entire X-rated industry. Pretty teenager April Kyle has disappeared into the city's darkest underworld, and to rescue her, Spencer pits muscle and wit against bullets and bullies. Part of Dell's ongoing Robert B. Parker reissue program.

From the Publisher
5 1-hour cassettes --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Dell; First edition (August 1, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440109930
• ISBN-13: 978-0440109938
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #17,468 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #20 in	Books > Mystery & Thrillers > Authors, A-Z > ( P ) > Parker, Robert B.
  #49 in	Books > Mystery & Thrillers > Mystery > Hard-Boiled

• This is item 9 in The Spenser Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A moral dilemma for Spenser, August 14, 2001

By	Larry Eischen (Joliet, IL United States) - See all my reviews

There is no murder in this entry in the long running Spenser series. The missing person is found before the book is half over. What gives the book it's central focus is Spenser's moral problem-what do you do with a teenage hooker who doesn't want to leave her current 'job'? He passes up the chance to bust a big-time pimp preferring to concentrate on a prostitution ring with its roots in the Boston school system. He rescues the girl from a kinky brothel where insubordinate hookers are sent as punishment only to have her break away and rejoin the the man who recruited her. Along with Hawk, Spenser engages in one of the most astounding fistfights of his career at the headquarters of the ring and manages to rescue the girl again. At the end, Spenser and Susan are forced to face the problem of what to do with the girl. Their options shake Susan to her core and make for an interesting argument on what is good for the girl vs what is legal. This stands head and shoulders above the usual Spenser parade of wisecracks. Along with "Mortal Stakes", this is one of Parker's best.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing, December 3, 1998

By A Customer

I have read many of Mr. Parkers books on Spenser and find them very hard to put down. I enjoyed the television series, also and enjoy the relationship between Hawk, Spenser and Susan. I would like to get a list of his older books, which I don't have.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Now this is more like it!, July 1, 2002

By A Customer

I recently finished Spenser's latest, WIDOW'S WALK, and really didn't like it one bit. Thank goodness for CEREMONY, which reminded me of everything I love about the series. The story was complex and meaningful -- student April Kyle has a terrible homelife and turns to hooking. What is worse, what's more damaging to her still evolving psyche? Susan is serious and struggling with real issues. Hawk is a loyal, supportive presence. No extraneous subplots, no strained wise cracking. Just good storytelling. Highly recommended.