Robert B. Parker's The Hangman's Sonnet

Sheriff Jesse Stone is recovering from the brutal death of Diana, a woman he thought he would spend the rest of his life with. He is recovering with the help of his old friend Johnnie Walker Black. But at this point in time he has to stay sober as his right hand man, "Suitcase" Simpson is getting married and all must go right.

Before he can get out of the office, he is visited by Roger Bascom, head of security for the posh Stiles Island where the wealthy live; Stan White, agent/promoter of Terry Jester the one time equivalent to Bob Dylan; and Bella Lawton, PR agent and stunning woman. They are there to discuss the big birthday bash for Jester's 75th birthday on Stiles Island. Touted to have numerous luminaries from the entertainment show more world and more. Something that Jesse knows will be a major pain for the small village of Paradise Cove.

What ensues is the unnecessary death of one of Paradise Cove's oldest residents and the theft of her very valuable and historic jewellery. The word of the emergence of a long missing recording of Jester's last great work, The Hangman's Sonnet, which is expected to be offered for a bidding war ransom.

While Jesse has his hands full with the cases, he is also dealing with personalities such as the mayor, who would love for fire Jesse and is concerned more with her image and her climb up the political food chain; the mayor's PR assistant whose job is to protect the mayor's image; Bascom and White and their huge egos, and Lawton and her seduction come-ons. The frosting is his dealing with his alcoholism and what he is going to do about it, if anything.

Jesse is not a verbose person, but he does get his point across. He has connections and uses them...even if they may not all be attached to law enforcement. The plot moves along at a steady pace. The chapters are short so you can always get a bit of reading in, even when time is short.

I am enjoying the series and looking forward to reading more. show less

Jesse Stone, the Chief of Police in Paradise, Massachusetts, is still reeling from the murder of his fiancée, Diana Evans. His struggle to come to terms with her death results in far too many evenings with a bottle, causing his worried friends to try to help him while hoping that he will find a better way to deal with his problems.

When “Suitcase” Simpson’s wedding day arrives, Jesse is trying to keep it together long enough to get through the ceremony. Having just learned of a planned seventy-fifth birthday gala for reclusive folk singer Terry Jester, Jesse is concerned about the security issues surrounding an event that the planners expect will bring many music industry mega-stars to town. Adding to the interest in the planned show more party, Terry Jester has been in seclusion since the disappearance of the master recording for his last album, “The Hangman’s Sonnet” some forty years ago.

When a violent home invasion results in the death of elderly Maude Cain, Jesse soon comes to believe the break-in has a connection to the missing Terry Jester master tape. The clues lead him to Boston, where he consults with Spenser, a private investigator involved with the original case of the missing tape. As he continues his investigation, Jesse finds himself dealing with stubborn town fathers and hostile politicians.

Can he find the answers before there are more deaths? And just what does the long-missing Terry Jester master tape have to do with the murders?

In this, the sixteenth Jesse Stone saga, the relationships are complicated, the story filled with unexpected revelations. With its well-drawn characters, a fascinating musical mystery, and an intriguing, fast-paced plot, there is much to enjoy in this captivating tale. Readers will find themselves rooting for Jesse as he investigates the case and does what he needs to do for the town and for himself.

Highly recommended. show less

An elderly woman dies and a package delivery man is seriously injured during a home invasion in Paradise, MA. At the same time Police Chief Jesse Stone is informed that planning is under way for a high-profile media event in Paradise to celebrate the career of a revered but reclusive musician. Anxious about the effects these events will have on her political career, the Paradise Mayor is on the verge of firing Police Chief Jesse Stone, who has been ineffective following months of binge drinking. Suit is departing on his honeymoon, Stone’s state police buddy Healy has retired, and only Jesse and Molly are on hand to deal with the situation.

This is one of the poorest entries in the Jesse Stone series. The early third of the story show more slowly sets up the situation while focusing on Stone’s alcoholism and binge drinking. Frankly, it’s rather boring. At the same time, it offers one of the better mysteries in the final third of the book. There are red herrings to distract you and the culprit may well surprise you. The positive ending is not enough to redeem the book, but the conclusion promises the reader a significant change.

Jesse announces that he is taking an extended vacation to enter a rehabilitation program. Molly will serve as acting police chief in his absence. On his way to the rehabilitation facility Jesse is helping the medical examiner move to Austin, TX for a new job.

This development creates the possibility that Stone could relocate to Austin, an event during Jesse’s rehabilitation could require him to investigate in an unofficial capacity, or Jesse could return to Paradise with his drinking under better control. Stay tuned. show less

ROBERT B PARKER'S THE HANGMAN'S SONNET BY REED FARREL COLEMAN is the next installment of the Jesse Stone series. Truth be told this is the first of any of Parker's books I have read ! I enjoyed it very much. So much I'm planning on hunting up more. As for the review: The in depth review, if you will, of Jesse's drinking & mourning helped me enjoy this book. Any other time I would have criticized the droning on of the issues, but being a newbie it gave me time to really get to know all the characters.

Sheriff Stone is having trouble in Paradise, literally! His drinking & his mourning is pushing him towards not only self destruction but the destruction of his friendships and his job! Stone has been tasked for security for a has been show more singer/songwriter by a mayor he can't stand( and vise versa). He has a robbery and a homicide and an assault to deal with, his best friend is leaving Paradise . I still find the mystery a good one & hope to see more of a hopefully more sober Sheriff Stone in the future.

I recieved this book free from Netgalley in exchange for a review. show less

This should be the book to end the Jesse Stone series on. I read the first 100 pages or so page by page. But I lost interest as the book focused on Stone's problem with alcoholism that I quickly paged through to the end. Just as Stone's employees in the Paradise Police Department were getting weary of dealing of Stone's problem with drinking, so had this reader.

I had borrowed the book from the library and quickly moved on to a book less depressing...I had enjoyed Debt to Pay, the previous book in the series a year ago---this book did not capture my interest.

This book did nothing for me. Way to many pages spent On Jesse Stones drinking problems. The plot was uninteresting as well.

Synopsis: 'Jesse Stone, still reeling from the murder of his fiancée by crazed assassin Mr. Peepers, must keep his emotions in check long enough to get through the wedding day of his loyal protégé, Suitcase Simpson. The morning of the wedding, Jesse learns that a gala 75th birthday party is to be held for folk singer Terry Jester. Jester, once the equal of Bob Dylan, has spent the last forty years in seclusion after the mysterious disappearance of the master recording tape of his magnum opus, The Hangman's Sonnet.
That same morning, an elderly Paradise woman dies while her house is being ransacked. What are the thieves looking for? And what's the connection to Terry Jester and the mysterious missing tape? Jesse's investigation is show more hampered by hostile politicians and a growing trail of blood and bodies, forcing him to solicit the help of mobster Vinnie Morris and a certain Boston area PI named Spenser. While the town fathers pressure him to avoid a PR nightmare, Jesse must connect the cases before the bodies pile up further.' From author website.

Review: I knew who 'did it' from the introduction of the character and I guessed why fairly early, as well. Glad Jesse is not drinking. show less