Silent Night / Robert B. Parker / 343 pages / November Challenge Deceased Authors

It's Christmas in Boston and private investigator Spencer is approached by a young homeless boy, Slide, who needs help.  He is currently staying at Street Business, and he and its other residents have recently been threatened by ruffians.  Jackie Alvarez, who runs the shelter, has also been threatened and someone wants his property.  Hawk and Spencer take the case even though they might not get paid.  The threat turns out to have familial connections and involves a world class tennis star.  Although language is a bit rough - Caution!, Spencer's relationship with Susan, Hawk, and Pearl make this a most readable detective  story.  Upon his death, Robert B. Parker's widow agreed to let his agent, Helen Brann, finish the manuscript for this book upon which he was working on when he died.