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Content snapshot
Flag an inaccuracy →What's in this book, at a glance — five things readers want to know before they start.
Violence
Some
Moderate violence including confrontations with organized crime enforcers and a shooting
Language
Some
Frequent hard-boiled profanity consistent with the detective genre
Sexual Content
Barely any
Brief references to a woman's past in prostitution, handled with discretion
Substance Use
Barely any
Social drinking referenced; alcohol present in scenes but not a major theme
Emotional Intensity
Some
Moral complexity as characters face impossible choices to protect loved ones
What this book is about
Spenser is hired to investigate whether a Red Sox starting pitcher is throwing games for gamblers. What begins as a sports corruption case leads him into organized crime, a player's secret past, and the brutal machinery that controls lives from behind the scenes. Parker's sharp dialogue and Boston atmosphere shine in this gritty, morally complex installment of the beloved series.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
organized crime violence
references to sex work in backstory
Reader Verification
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