Status
Available
Series
Genres
Collection
Publication
G.P. Putnam's Sons (2009), Edition: Reprint, 320 pages
Description
Fiction. Mystery. Suspense. Thriller. HTML:The last time Jesse Stone, police chief of Paradise, Massachusetts, saw Wilson "Crow" Cromartie, the Apache hit man was racing away in a speedboat after executing one of the most lucrative and deadly heists in the town's history. Crow managed to escape with a boatload of cash, never to be seen again. Until now. When Crow shows up in Jesse's office some ten years after the crime, it's not to turn himself in. Crow is on another job, and this time he's asking for Jesse's helpâ??by asking him to stay out of the way. Crow's mission is simple: find young Amber Francisco and bring her back to her father Louis, in Florida. It should be an easy payday for a pro like Crow, but there are complications. Amber, now living in squalor with her mother, Fiona, is mixed up with members of a Latino gang. And when Louis orders Crow to kill Fiona before heading back to Amber, he can't follow through. Crow may be a bad guy, but he doesn't kill women. It's up to Jessie to provide protection. Meanwhile, Jesse's on-again, off-again relationship with ex-wife Jenn picks up steam as she investigates the gang problem for her TV station. As she and Jesse dig deeper, the danger escalates. The life of a teenage girl hangs in the balance, and saving Amber could be the miracle Jesse and Jenn need for themselves, t… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member RachelfromSarasota
I was thrilled when I found this book on the “New Books” shelf of my branch library. I couldn’t wait to get home and dive into the latest adventure of Jesse Stone, alcoholic chief of police in the ill-named Paradise, Massachusetts. But to my dismay, the book was awful. I’m a proud long-time
Parker recycled the plot device of an earlier Spenser series work (Early Autumn) in one of his Sunny Randall thrillers (Melancholy Baby) – a badly parented adolescent who needs both rescuing and nurturing. In both of those books the device worked well. He trots out that device for a third time in this Jesse Stone novel, and third time is definitely not the charm in this attempt. The book’s characters, even the well-established ones like Jesse, and Jennifer (his somewhat ex-wife) and Molly Crane (great cop, great mother, devoted wife and Stone’s right-hand woman), seem cursorily presented, and the engaging and thoughtful dialogue that usually is characteristic of Parker’s work is totally absent. No one who’s gotten to know and love Parker’s characters as I have can be less than shocked at what he has two of them do in this book – with little explanation and little follow-up. I’m extrapolating here, but long-time fans of Parker’s know that his own marriage hit a rocky patch a while back, and I can’t but suspect that he’s excusing his own behavior here through the action of one of his characters. But it just doesn’t work, most especially since that action (adultery) is so out of character for that particular literary creation.
All in all, this book was an enormous disappointment.
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fan of Parker’s, and I’m used to his recycling his Spenser series’ plots in his newer Sunny Randall and Jesse Stone books. Since he always adds a slightly new perspective when he does this, it’s never bothered me. I truly love his exploration of Spenser’s feminine alter ego, Sunny, for the female perspective on what is traditionally a masculine job. (Unlike Kinsey Milhone, in Sue Grafton’s great alphabet series, Sunny is unabashedly feminine – concerned about her hair, her make-up, and even her shoes!) But in Stranger in Paradise, for the first time, Parker’s work seems tired and out-of-touch. Parker recycled the plot device of an earlier Spenser series work (Early Autumn) in one of his Sunny Randall thrillers (Melancholy Baby) – a badly parented adolescent who needs both rescuing and nurturing. In both of those books the device worked well. He trots out that device for a third time in this Jesse Stone novel, and third time is definitely not the charm in this attempt. The book’s characters, even the well-established ones like Jesse, and Jennifer (his somewhat ex-wife) and Molly Crane (great cop, great mother, devoted wife and Stone’s right-hand woman), seem cursorily presented, and the engaging and thoughtful dialogue that usually is characteristic of Parker’s work is totally absent. No one who’s gotten to know and love Parker’s characters as I have can be less than shocked at what he has two of them do in this book – with little explanation and little follow-up. I’m extrapolating here, but long-time fans of Parker’s know that his own marriage hit a rocky patch a while back, and I can’t but suspect that he’s excusing his own behavior here through the action of one of his characters. But it just doesn’t work, most especially since that action (adultery) is so out of character for that particular literary creation.
All in all, this book was an enormous disappointment.
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LibraryThing member MarthaHuntley
Usual good Robert B. Parker read, this one revolves around Crow, and seems to merge a number of Parker's earlier plots. Fast moving and fun, with the usual satisfying ending. Jesse and Jenn seem to be getting together again, with a little help from the shrink Dix.
LibraryThing member amf0001
I like Robert Parker, but it can take me longer to read some magazine articles. So this is much better than the previous Jesse Stone book I read. I liked the character of Crow, liked the reveal about Suit's love life, even liked the Jesse/Jenn interaction better. Didn't like what I learned about
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Molly, but that's okay, it wasn't bad writing but choices. The cast and crew are familiar to me and to Parker by now. Take is on a short flight, you'll be finished by the end, but it's a easy smooth read. Show Less
LibraryThing member ABVR
This latest addition to Parker's "Jesse Stone" series (concerning the police chief of fictional Paradise, MA) deploys elements that readers of the "Spenser" series will find familiar. There's a troubled teenager who needs not only rescuing but mentoring (and who could be Paul Giacomin or April
There are other welcome departures here, too. Molly Crane and Suitcase Simpson, two of Jesse's cops, get some welcome attention and character development. Jesse functions (plausibly) more as a police chief and less as a detective than he has in other installments. Above all, Parker takes almost indecent delight in a scene where Jesse and Molly meet with a citizen's group concerned about their property values.
Overall, a solid entry in the series, and well worth your attention if you're a Parker fan.
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Kyle), a taciturn gunman who lives by his own inflexible code (who could be Hawk or Vinnie Morris or Chollo), and a complex trap set for the bad guys (which could be the climax of any number of Spenser stories. It's hardly a stretch for Parker, but it's a welcome change of pace for the series . . . in part because it pushes the semi-functional relationship of Jesse and his ex-wife Jenn firmly into subplot status (where, by now, it belongs). There are other welcome departures here, too. Molly Crane and Suitcase Simpson, two of Jesse's cops, get some welcome attention and character development. Jesse functions (plausibly) more as a police chief and less as a detective than he has in other installments. Above all, Parker takes almost indecent delight in a scene where Jesse and Molly meet with a citizen's group concerned about their property values.
Overall, a solid entry in the series, and well worth your attention if you're a Parker fan.
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LibraryThing member Kathy89
I really the laid-back character of Jesse Stone. Jesse teams up with Apache Indian hitman to rid Paradise of the Miami gangster who has come to kidnap his daughter and kill her mother. Fast, easy read
LibraryThing member bexaplex
Strangers in Paradise trills along, with well-explored characters and situations. It seems like it should be implausible that a police chief would engage in the kinds of completely illegal shenanigans that Spenser is always plotting, but Parker doesn't let that bother him.
LibraryThing member ckNikka
Our hero returns with the same great cast of reoccuring characters. What is not to like about Robert Parker? This is fun stuff for the long winter or the beach in summer. I also enjoy the video adaptions that happen on HBO... "Crow came into Jess's office and sat down. "Things happening in town,"
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he said. "All of them since you arrived," Jesse said. Think of me as a catalyst for change," Crow said. "Or the Grim Reaper," Jesse said. Crow Smiled. You're not living in your house, "Jesse said. "Apache warriors can live off the land,' Crow said. "What do you do for food?" Jesse said. "Room Service"," Crow Said. "Hardscrabble," Jesse said. Crow nodded. Show Less
LibraryThing member audryh
Fun quick read. Typical Parker. Short sentences, short paragraphs, short chapters. Jesse Stone adventure with Crow, the killer who likes women. Together they save a 14 punk girl.
LibraryThing member TheoClarke
Despite many annoyances I came to enjoy this novel. Initially I found Parker's trademark laconic dialogue irritating through overuse but he soon introduces other styles. Much more fundamental is the hackneyed reworking of his previous plots and the the obvious debt that the main characters owe to
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the Spenser protagonists. Jesse Stone becomes more like Spenser and Crow is now even more overtly derived from Hawk. Much of Parker's work explores disfunctional relationships or strong relationships that appear disfunctional so it is not surprising when he flirts with adultery; but his choice of the very happily married and honourable Molly as an adulterer seems wilfully shocking for little other benefit. So, disappointing as this may be for a Robert B Parker novel, it was still a cut above the average detective novel. Show Less
LibraryThing member milibrarian
Jesse Stone is protecting Paradise again, this time with the help of a known felon called Crow. Crow has been hired to kill a Florida criminal's wife and return his 14 year old daughter to him, but Crow wants to protect the women once he finds them. In the meantime, the daughter (Amber) has become
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involved with a known gang member. An elaborate plot is set up to catch the "bad guys". Subplots involve a school for poor Latino children and Stone's relationship with his ex-wife. Show Less
LibraryThing member SamSattler
Admittedly, this is my first Jesse Stone novel, and jumping into the series at book seven is probably not the best way to introduce myself to Stone and his various sidekicks. But the novel, even with a somewhat interesting plot within which Jesse teams up with a "stone cold killer" calling himself
As is, I enjoyed the story without making much of an emotional attachment to any of the characters, neither the good guys nor the bad guys. Now I have to decide whether or not I want to go back and read book one of the series, "High Profile," or whether I want to call it quits with Jesse Stone.
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Crow, has the feel of ballpark cotton candy because it devotes so little time to character development...more air than substance. But, like I say, perhaps I would feel differently if I had read the previous six Jesse Stone novels. As is, I enjoyed the story without making much of an emotional attachment to any of the characters, neither the good guys nor the bad guys. Now I have to decide whether or not I want to go back and read book one of the series, "High Profile," or whether I want to call it quits with Jesse Stone.
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LibraryThing member nbmars
Stranger in Paradise purports to be “a Jesse Stone novel.” Maybe. After all, Paradise, Massachusetts Police Chief Jesse Stone is the principal narrator. But the real focus of the book is on Wilson Cromartie, a.k.a. “Crow,” an independent hit-man for hire who claims to be an Apache
Jesse had a run in with Crow ten years earlier when some gangsters took over the nearby wealthy enclave, Stiles Island, bound and gagged several of the wealthy wives, extorted $10,000,000 from the local residents, and killed two policemen in the rescue operation. Crow was the only gangster who escaped, and he did so with the $10 million. The book opens with Crow showing up in Jesse’s office and informing him that the statute of limitations on robbery has run, that Jesse has no proof that Crow was involved in any murder, and that he (Crow) “has some business in Paradise,” and wants to avoid trouble with Jesse.
We later learn that Crow has been hired by a notorious Miami based gangster to find his daughter, who ran away with her mother. When Crow’s assignment is expanded to include killing the mother, he balks since he has an aversion to killing women as beneath the dignity of an Apache warrior. In fact, Crow rather likes women and is remarkably successful sexually with them. He even seduces Jesse’s otherwise faithful-to-her-husband secretary, Molly.
Parker would like us to know what motivates his mysterious creation, and so he has Jesse discuss Crow with Dix, Jesse’s psychoanalyst. But neither they, nor Molly, nor the one other woman Crow seduces are able to fathom the stranger’s psyche.
In the end, Jesse’s and Crow’s interests coincide as they cooperate in rounding up not only the local Latin gang, but also several members of the Miami mob. As usual with Parker, this is a fast-paced tale suitable for reading on airplanes or at home in one day.
(JAB)
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warrior.Jesse had a run in with Crow ten years earlier when some gangsters took over the nearby wealthy enclave, Stiles Island, bound and gagged several of the wealthy wives, extorted $10,000,000 from the local residents, and killed two policemen in the rescue operation. Crow was the only gangster who escaped, and he did so with the $10 million. The book opens with Crow showing up in Jesse’s office and informing him that the statute of limitations on robbery has run, that Jesse has no proof that Crow was involved in any murder, and that he (Crow) “has some business in Paradise,” and wants to avoid trouble with Jesse.
We later learn that Crow has been hired by a notorious Miami based gangster to find his daughter, who ran away with her mother. When Crow’s assignment is expanded to include killing the mother, he balks since he has an aversion to killing women as beneath the dignity of an Apache warrior. In fact, Crow rather likes women and is remarkably successful sexually with them. He even seduces Jesse’s otherwise faithful-to-her-husband secretary, Molly.
Parker would like us to know what motivates his mysterious creation, and so he has Jesse discuss Crow with Dix, Jesse’s psychoanalyst. But neither they, nor Molly, nor the one other woman Crow seduces are able to fathom the stranger’s psyche.
In the end, Jesse’s and Crow’s interests coincide as they cooperate in rounding up not only the local Latin gang, but also several members of the Miami mob. As usual with Parker, this is a fast-paced tale suitable for reading on airplanes or at home in one day.
(JAB)
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LibraryThing member ZachMontana
I love Jesse Stone novels and TV adaptations with Tom Selleck. I could hear/visualize Tom Selleck doing this story. The leads style, vulnerability and smarts make these fun.
LibraryThing member Carol420
This is definitely one of the oddest Jesse Stone novels that Robert Parker has written. In Stranger In Paradise, Stone is confronted by William "Crow" Cromartie who has come to town to bring the daughter of Miami gangster back to her father. The catch is, Crow has been instructed to kill the girl's
I enjoyed this book as well as the other ones about Jesse Stone, Actually it is the only Robert Parker character that I like. I'm glad that someone is going to continue to write this series as they want to make more TV movies from the stories and they have used all the Jesse Stone stories Parker wrote befor he died. This book, like all the Stone books,draws you into the story. I would recommend this book to all that want a good, well written mystery.
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mother and he doesn't kill women. Instead he solicits Stone to stay out of his way while he protects the girl and takes care of the other bad guys. Catch number two is, last time Crow was seen in Paradise he was speeding off with 10 million dollars leaving behind a string of bodies. Needless to say Jesse gets caught up in the matter and he and Crow become uneasy allies.I enjoyed this book as well as the other ones about Jesse Stone, Actually it is the only Robert Parker character that I like. I'm glad that someone is going to continue to write this series as they want to make more TV movies from the stories and they have used all the Jesse Stone stories Parker wrote befor he died. This book, like all the Stone books,draws you into the story. I would recommend this book to all that want a good, well written mystery.
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LibraryThing member Tweellow
Good story. Holds interest.
LibraryThing member dasam
Sometimes Parker has trouble not making all of his heroes sound like the same guy. In fact, the Jesse Stone movies on TV are actually better than the novels. The character of Jesse is more nuanced, deeper, more real as Tom Selleck has interpreted him.But I still enjoy the quick read.
LibraryThing member bjmitch
Since Robert B. Parker died, I've been saving the few novels of his that I hadn't read. I parcel them out to myself very slowly. Yesterday I allowed myself the pleasure of reading this Jesse Stone novel.
If you've read any of this series or have seen a TV interpretation of one, you know Jesse has a
In Stranger in Paradise we have a character who is much like Hawk of the Spenser series. This guy is a crook, but he has scruples. He won't kill women, for instance; he likes them. And the women are fascinated by him, including me. He claims to be an Apache Indian and goes by the single name Crow although his real name is Wilson Cromartie. To my mind he makes this novel.
Detective "Suitcase" Simpson has changed since the beginning of the series, in what was to me a very surprising way. As usual, the story is punctuated by witty dialogue, a laid back approach to detecting, and some very snobby folks who are incensed because a half dozen little children are being transported to their neighborhood Monday through Friday to a new school. The residents keep going on about "the camel's nose in the tent" as if these little kids are going to steal their silver and put graffiti on their mansions. It's very funny, and of course Jesse gives them enough rope to hang themselves.
I'm not an unbiased reviewer in this case because I've loved Robert B. Parker novels forever, but really who wouldn't like this book. I urge you to read it.
If you've read any of this series or have seen a TV interpretation of one, you know Jesse has a
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drinking problem which got him fired from the police force in California, and an ex-wife who just refuses to stay away from him so he can get over her. He is now the police chief in Paradise, MA. He sees a shrink regularly in a vain attempt to handle his problems.In Stranger in Paradise we have a character who is much like Hawk of the Spenser series. This guy is a crook, but he has scruples. He won't kill women, for instance; he likes them. And the women are fascinated by him, including me. He claims to be an Apache Indian and goes by the single name Crow although his real name is Wilson Cromartie. To my mind he makes this novel.
Detective "Suitcase" Simpson has changed since the beginning of the series, in what was to me a very surprising way. As usual, the story is punctuated by witty dialogue, a laid back approach to detecting, and some very snobby folks who are incensed because a half dozen little children are being transported to their neighborhood Monday through Friday to a new school. The residents keep going on about "the camel's nose in the tent" as if these little kids are going to steal their silver and put graffiti on their mansions. It's very funny, and of course Jesse gives them enough rope to hang themselves.
I'm not an unbiased reviewer in this case because I've loved Robert B. Parker novels forever, but really who wouldn't like this book. I urge you to read it.
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LibraryThing member joeldinda
BEWARE! SPOILERS AHEAD!
It's a good story. Wilson Cromartie, aka Crow--last seen escaping from the Trouble in Paradise--comes back to town. He's agreed to retrieve a Florida gangster's daughter (Amber Francisco or Alice Franklin, depending on context), then decides not to do so because it would
Another story line involves a local charity setting up a school for disadvantaged children in a Paradise mansion. Molly, taking notes at a meeting, characterizes this as "No spicks on Paradise Neck." The neighbors start complaining about graffiti on walls in the town and worry about a gang war.
Meantime, the Crow storyline actually becomes a (very limited) gang war as the Florida gangster brings in professionals to fight the gang headed by his daughter's boyfriend. This event occurs on the causeway to Stiles Island, very near the school/mansion. The main consequence is the death of the boyfriend.
Meantime we learn that the leader of the protests has a personal/financial stake in the mansion that's become a school. I'd have thought every longtime Paradise resident would have recognized that. Someone should have clued Chief Stone.
Jesse Stone and Crow make arrangements to save Amber from her difficult life.
And as the story winds down someone takes out the gangster in his Florida home.
As I said, a good story. But a two or three things bother me:
* Parker never ties the two story lines together, although the potential ties are obvious.
* Molly, completely out of character, has a brief fling with Crow. And apparently has no remorse about it.
* Amber doesn't show up again in Parker's subsequent Jesse Stone novels.
It's a good story. Wilson Cromartie, aka Crow--last seen escaping from the Trouble in Paradise--comes back to town. He's agreed to retrieve a Florida gangster's daughter (Amber Francisco or Alice Franklin, depending on context), then decides not to do so because it would
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obviously be the wrong thing. Complications ensue.Another story line involves a local charity setting up a school for disadvantaged children in a Paradise mansion. Molly, taking notes at a meeting, characterizes this as "No spicks on Paradise Neck." The neighbors start complaining about graffiti on walls in the town and worry about a gang war.
Meantime, the Crow storyline actually becomes a (very limited) gang war as the Florida gangster brings in professionals to fight the gang headed by his daughter's boyfriend. This event occurs on the causeway to Stiles Island, very near the school/mansion. The main consequence is the death of the boyfriend.
Meantime we learn that the leader of the protests has a personal/financial stake in the mansion that's become a school. I'd have thought every longtime Paradise resident would have recognized that. Someone should have clued Chief Stone.
Jesse Stone and Crow make arrangements to save Amber from her difficult life.
And as the story winds down someone takes out the gangster in his Florida home.
As I said, a good story. But a two or three things bother me:
* Parker never ties the two story lines together, although the potential ties are obvious.
* Molly, completely out of character, has a brief fling with Crow. And apparently has no remorse about it.
* Amber doesn't show up again in Parker's subsequent Jesse Stone novels.
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Subjects
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2008
Physical description
320 p.; 4.25 inches
ISBN
042522628X / 9780425226285