Taming a Sea-Horse

In Robert B. Parker's 'Taming a Sea-Horse,' the indefatigable Spenser is called upon once more by Patricia Utley, the pragmatic madam of an upscale escort service, whose former charge, April Kyle, has vanished. April, whom Spenser previously aided in 'Ceremony,' had left Utley's employ for the dubious affections of Robert Rambeaux, a male pimp masquerading as a Julliard student. Patricia fears April has fallen into the most dangerous echelons of the prostitution industry. Spenser's investigation quickly leads him to Rambeaux, then to Ginger Bucky, another of Rambeaux's prostitutes, who is soon found dead. With April still missing, Rambeaux in hiding after a brutal assault, and his most direct lead murdered, Spenser is forced to delve into Ginger Bucky's past, hoping to uncover a trail that will ultimately lead him back to April. The seasoned detective navigates a treacherous underworld of exploitation and violence, encountering unexpected twists and confronting the harsh realities of those on society's fringes, all while racing against time to save April from a potentially grim fate.