Appie Knoll is the kind of suburb where kids grow up right. But something is wrong. Fourteen-year-old Kevin Bartlett disappears. Everyone thinks he's run away -- until the comic strip ransom note arrives.

It doesn't take Spenser long to get the picture -- an affluent family seething with rage, a desperate boy making strange friends...friends like Vic Harroway, body builder. Mr. Muscle is Spenser's only lead and he isn't talking...except with his fists. But when push comes to shove, when a boy's life is on the line, Spenser can speak that language too.

"Spenser is everyman's fantasy: social critic, gourmet cook, physically fit, sculptor, and of course, unabashed participant in a non-destructive sexual relationship. Parker has taken his place beside Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler and Ross MacDonald." (The Boston Globe)

巴特裏傢的一個孩子神密失蹤瞭。這不是一個普通的兒童失蹤案。失蹤兒童的母親打來的電話將大偵探斯賓塞引入史密斯園。這裏究竟發生瞭什麼？他去失蹤孩子的學校調查，在那裏結識瞭迷人的蘇珊？司薇嫚女士。

從埃瑟剋斯郡地檢處的調查組組長席立那裏得到瞭一封勒索函。贖金五萬美元，如果不交齣來傢長將再也見不到自己的孩子。傢長按照指定地點如期赴約，而罪犯卻輕而易舉地將裝錢的包從母親的手中搶走，並消失得蹤影全無。難道是內部的人走漏瞭風聲？接著，怪事接連齣現。就在傢庭宴會即將開始之前，巴特裏傢的律師鄂爾?馬吉爾死在客廳裏。斯賓塞憑藉自己的機智查齣殺害律師的真凶，卻又發現失蹤的兒童與凶手在一起。父母找到孩子之後欣喜若狂，而孩子卻不肯與他們相認，寜願與那個殺人犯為伍。凶手被捕之後尚未接受審判就被人殺害。難道他背後還隱藏著更加陰險的傢夥？

Robert B. Parker began writing in 1971 while teaching at Boston's Northeastern University. Now as the author of nearly 50 books, he is acknowledged as the dean of American crime fiction and was named Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America (2002). His novels featuring the wise-cracking, street-smart Boston private-eye Spenser have earned him a devoted following and reams of critical acclaim. The Spenser character inspired the television series Spenser: For Hire and a number of made-for-television films. He and his wife, Joan, live in the Boston area.

羅伯特·帕剋長期以來，一直擔任美國偵探小說協會主席。他的小說塑造瞭一個傢喻戶曉、令人難忘的中心形象——波士頓的私傢偵探斯賓塞。斯賓塞有著絕世的智慧，卻又不乏油滑習氣。《紐約時報》書評說：“我們有幸見證瞭美國偵探小說史上最偉大的係列之一的誕生!” 帕剋的其他作品包括1989年經典的《Poodle Springs》。這是帕剋為美國曆史上最著名的文學傢、偵探小說巨匠雷濛德·錢德勒晚期一部未竟手稿續寫的優秀作品。該作品1998年被搬上銀幕。作為錢德勒的真正傳人，1994年，帕剋還創作瞭《長眠不醒》(曾被好萊塢多次改編成電影，竟每成經典。此書已由群眾齣版社齣版)的續篇《Perchance to Dream》。