Stone Cold

I think I mostly love this series because the narrator (Robert Forester) is so compelling. He could read a dictionary and I would be enthralled. Stone Cold is the fourth novel in the Jesse Stone series. Personally, I have only read the third one and the fourth one but these really do act as standalone novels so I don't feel like I am missing out on anything. Jesse Stone tackles his most challenging case yet - tracking down a pair of serial killers that love to kill together. As the murders keep rising in Paradise - the pressure mounts on Jesse. Can he find them? Can he stay sober? Compelling, but not surprising - the characters are more important than the plot. I am even more intrigued to check out the movie adaptations now.

Love this series. In this one, Parker has come up with some seriously sick characters but he keeps you on the edge of your seat. At the end, there is some movement on the Jenn front which gives me hope that I will be less irritated with the next book.

Jesse Stone thinks that a serial killer, or a pair of serial killers, is at work in Paradise, Massachusetts. With the bodies piling up, Jesse learns that each victim has been shot twice in the chest with a different gun. At first there is no connection between the victims and they appear to be chosen at random. But then a victim turns up who was clearly chosen to get Jesse’s attention. And Jesse may be in the sights next. In between crime scenes and visits to the Medical Examiner, Jesse begins to see a psychiatrist about his drinking and his other unhealthy obsession, his ex-wife.

[Stone Cold], the fourth installment in the Jesse Stone mystery series, is the weakest so far. Parker stretches the bounds of reason and believability with show more the idea of a serial killer, or a pair of serial killers, operating in a town with a population of about 2,000 people. And the bit with Jesse and his ex-wife is getting old. On the other hand, Parker seemed to sense that he was out of bounds because he offers a second crime and investigation that is patent small town business to offset the serial killer plot; and he changes the game between Jesse and Jen in the last few pages of the novel in a way that will send readers eagerly to the next book in the series. Parker also offsets the preposterous serial killer plot with some down-to-earth police work in solving it. There is license plate collection, firearms registry queries, deep background searches, and cross-referencing of all this and more to narrow the field of subjects. While the crime plot may be unbelievable, the cop work used to solve the crime is right on track.

Bottom Line: Even in the weakest installment of the series, Jesse Stone is one of the most interesting detectives in the genre; and Parker changes the game for him in a way that promises for interesting reading in the next installment.

3 ½ bones!!! show less

Robert Parker has created an enigma with his character Jesse Stone. Just when you are sure that you know what Jesse will choose to do next, you are surprised.
In this novel, a pair of serial murderers is running rampant in Jesse Stone's small town. The motive is unfathomable, but then, they ARE serial killers. While Jesse and his police force track the killers, not only the why, but the who will be next question hangs densely in the air. I thought the serial killers were a little vague, as characters, but still the surprising twists and turns of this author never fail to capture the readers full attention.

Another winner in the Jesse Stone series. Two simultaneous plots, one involving a particularly nasty couple who get their rocks off by killing people. The police work is first rate if the couple a bit unreal.

The book is worth reading just for watching how Jesse maneuvers three high school football players (and their obnoxious parents) with regard to their rape of another high school girl. It's wonderfully done.

I would say this is one of his best. If you saw the movie with Tom Selleck, don't worry, the ending is quite different.

My only complaint would be Jenn. I totally fail to see any remnants of allure between Jesse and Jenn. She is such a dip (technical term.)

Mediocre Parker is better than no Parker at all, but only just. Jesse Stone just doesn't make any sense to me. He sleeps with 3 other women, but pines for his wife. Each of the women perfectly understands why he won't commit to them. One of the women even gets murdered 15 minutes after they sleep together and he just ploughs ahead as if not much has happened. My favourite parts are when he has meetings and people expect him to talk and he doesn't.

I just realized why the plot of this one was so familiar. It's because I watched the first Jesse Stone movie with Tom Selleck and this is the book it was based on. I didn't watch any more of the movies. I will probably read the rest of the books.

Synopsis: 'Jesse Stone has a problem no officer of the law likes to face: Dead bodies keep appearing, but clues do not. A man takes his dog out for a run on the beach, only to be discovered hours later - with two holes in his chest, A woman drives her Volvo to the store to do some grocery shopping, and is then found dead, her body crumpled behind her loaded shopping cart. A commuter takes a short cut home from the train, and never makes it back to his house.
Hunting down a serial killer is difficult and dangerous in any town, but in a town like Paradise, where the selectmen and the media add untold pressures, Jesse feels considerable heat. Already walking an emotional tightrope, he stumbles; he's spending too much time with the bottle show more and with his ex-wife - neither of which helps him, or the case. And the harder these outside forces push against him, the more Jesse retreats into himself, convinced - despite all the odds - that it's up to him alone to stop the killing.' From the book jacket.

Review: Really don't like the bad guys and I'm really happy when they get theirs. Review: Good characters, good dialogue, good setting. The story is interesting but I keep hoping that his ex-wife disappears sometime soon. show less