Robert B. Parker's Lullaby / Ace Atkins / 310 pages

Chosen by the Parker family to continue the Spenser series after the death of Robert B. Parker, Ace Atkins has written a page-turner filled with humor and heroism.  Fourteen year old Mattie Sullivan witnessed the kidnapping of her mother four years ago and the cops paid no attention to her testimony.  They arrested a family friend and with little investigation he was found guilty and imprisoned.  Mattie hires Spenser to find the real killer and free Mickey.  Spenser takes the case for the agreed upon dozen dough-nuts.