Night Passage

Night Passage is the first in Robert B Parker's "Jesse Stone" series, set in the mythical town of Paradise, Massachusetts. As the story opens we find Jesse comptemplating the sorry mess that he's made of his life; his divorce (he still loves his wife which is evident through the next five or six books), his addiction to alcohol, his resignation from the police department. So he drives cross country to the tiny town of Paradise, Massachusetts. The drive takes quite a bit of book to tell. When he gets there, to be their new police chief, he finds a mess. White Supremacists, money laundering, lots of sex. And all through it, you get soap opera scenes of Jesse and his ex-wife Jenn who can't quite live together but can't quite leave each show more other either.

Jesse is vulnerable and he's not perfect but he is a delightful character. I love how he can solve cases but not have a clue about his own life. You will want at times to scream at him to stop and think about some of his personel dicissions and shaking the book won't help, I tried it. show less

One of those surveys that float around Librarything asked, “What fictional character would you most like to be?” I have a new answer. Jesse Stone – Jesse, to his friends and colleagues.

There is something so real, so solid about Jesse. Watching the rising dawn over the Pacific Ocean, he waits to sober up before he gets behind the wheel and drives away from his old life as a Los Angeles homicide detective. Jesse is so weak that he surrenders his job to Black Label Scotch. But he stands alone on a pier long enough to sober up. The incongruity, the nobility even in weakness, is part of Jesse’s charm. Jesse’s new job as Chief of Police awaits him in Paradise, Massachusetts – a job he interviewed for drunk. The job is as far from show more the gritty streets of Los Angeles as he can go, but it is the only job he can get.

Jesse is simple in speech and truthful to a fault. He responds in conversation with a word or two where most of us would babble. But his meaning is rarely misunderstood. Where you or I might lie to gain an advantage, Jesse is honest or mute. And when he can’t get his meaning across in words, a quick kick to his adversary’s groin is not out of the question.

Parker’s neo-noir story is pure genius. Like his predecessors in the genre, Jesse Stone is hard-living but soft-hearted; he is broken but somehow more than the sum of his broken parts. And though the story had one too many twists, one too many layers, it is a forgivable weakness.

Robert B. Parker died sitting at his writing desk on January 18, 2010. I’ll miss you, Mr. Parker – Robert.

Bottom Line: A re-boot of the noir genre with a hero perfectly balanced between weakness and nobility.

4 bones!!!! show less

This was the first Jesse Stone novel, and my first reading of this excellent character. I was already familiar with the character from watching Tom Selleck playing him in the nine Jesse Stone movies, all of which I really enjoyed. I figured it was time to go to the original source. I’m certainly glad I did. This novel was a great page turner that I breezed through and liked even better than the film version. The only difference in Jesse from the book to the screen is that Jesse is much younger in the book. Other than that, Selleck’s portrayal of the character is perfect. Jesse Stone reminds me of Dave Robicheaux, that great character created by James Lee Burke.
Parker’s writing is so smooth, and his dialogue is fantastic. His show more characters are fully developed, interacting in a rich atmosphere that Parker creates beautifully with minimum prose. Reading this was a delight. I’ll certainly be reading the rest in the series. show less

Night Passage by Robert B. Parker is a 1998 Jove publication.

Jesse Stone, a fired alcoholic homicide cop from L.A., accepts a job offer a Chief of Police in the small community of Paradise, Massachusetts. His past worked in his favor, as certain citizens of Paradise would rather have an incompetent person in the job, someone who wouldn’t pay too close attention to their activities.

Sadly, for them, Jesse Stone turns out to be far more perceptive than they bargained for…

Jesse Stone… not much of a conversationalist…. Which is probably a good thing. Despite his issues with the bottle and his profound depression over the end of his marriage and career- mainly the marriage, I think- you don’t get much past Jesse. He’s quiet, a show more man of few words, but a great listener. Overall, a fascinating character- flawed, sure, but a man, one can’t help but like and root for.

This first installment in the series is just flat out awesome… and despite the age of the book, it seems some things never change. Jessie gets on the bad side of a local when he humiliates him for beating his wife. Now, it seems Jesse could be the target of his revenge. When the former Chief dies, and a woman is murdered, a scheme unfolds worthy of any he might have encountered in LA.

While this style of writing is not very common anymore and would probably be met with disdain by the majority of current, more enlightened readers- but- I liked the spare dialogue, the quietness that screams menace, and builds the suspense, creating a dark, moody atmosphere, almost Noir-ish in style.

This book may have followed a format frequently used in the nineties, might have been a little predictable, but for me it was like a breath of fresh air. Today’s crime fiction might seem far more advanced, but they got nothing on Jesse Stone.

Usually, I’m kicking myself for getting a late start on a series. In this case, I’m glad have this series to work through right now. I’m also glad I watched the movies first. Jesse is a bit younger in the books, but otherwise the feel is similar.

I was a big fan through the movies, I’m a bigger fan now, thanks to the books!

5 stars show less

After a busted marriage kicks his drinking problems into overdrive and the LAPD unceremoniously dump him, 35-year-old Jesse Stone's future looks bleak. He is shocked, however, when a small Massachusetts town called Paradise hires him as their police chief. Once on board he doesn't have to look for trouble in Paradise - it comes to him. For what is on the surface a quiet New England community quickly proves to be a crucible of political and moral corruption - replete with triple homicide, tight Boston mob ties, flamboyantly errant spouses, maddened militiamen and a psychopath-about-town who has fixed his violent sights on the new lawman. He finds he must test his mettle and powers of command to emerge a local hero - or the deadest of show more dupes. [return][return]Enjoyable caper, not too heavy in the "he said, she did" fine detail, this covers over 6 months of Jesse Stone starting his new job, and investigation small town issues and corruption in a place that thought he would be a drunk and a pushover show less

The first in the Jesse Stone series. A good, fast read introducing a character who I will be happy to read more about. There's really nothing for the reader to sort as Jesse figures out who's up to no good, but no matter because the point is to watch him do his thing. And that's mighty fine.

An excellent read, though as mysteries go you're mostly waiting for Jesse Stone to figure out what you already know.

Chapter 45 might be the best scene Parker ever wrote.