The Body Lovers

The Body Lovers (1967) is a novel by Mickey Spillane featuring private investigator Mike Hammer.

[1] This story opens with Mike Hammer moving through the dark streets of the city when he hears a child emit a terrible scream of fear.

When he finds the child he also discovers the nude body of a murdered beautiful woman who had been beaten to death with a whip.

Mike uncovers a sadistic ring made up of international figures where women at a low point risk their lives for a fortune in a desperate attempt to pull themselves up.

In the end, Velda comes through for Mike and he defeats the ring by literally blowing it away.