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Jesse Stone #11
Robert B. Parker's Fool Me Twice
Summer in Paradise, Massachusetts, is usually an idyllic season?—but not this time. A Hollywood movie company has come to town, and brought with it a huge cast, crew, and a troubled star. Marisol Hinton is very beautiful, reasonably talented, and scared out of her wits that her estranged husband's jealousy might take a dangerous turn. When she becomes the subject of a death threat, Jesse and the rest of the Paradise police department go on high alert.
And when Jesse witnesses a horrifying collision caused by a distracted teenage driver, the political repercussions of her arrest bring him into conflict with the local selectment, the DA, and some people with very deep pockets. There's murder in the air, and it's Jesse's reputation as an uncompromising defender of the law—and his life—on the line.
And when Jesse witnesses a horrifying collision caused by a distracted teenage driver, the political repercussions of her arrest bring him into conflict with the local selectment, the DA, and some people with very deep pockets. There's murder in the air, and it's Jesse's reputation as an uncompromising defender of the law—and his life—on the line.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published September 11, 2012
796 people are currently reading
2226 people want to read
About the author
Michael Brandman
16 books156 followersMichael Brandman is an acclaimed novelist, screenwriter, and motion picture & television producer.
His Jesse Stone novels, KILLING THE BLUES, FOOL ME TWICE, and DAMNED IF YOU DO, each based on characters created by the late Robert B. Parker, are all New York Times best sellers.
Together with Tom Selleck, he has written and produced nine Jesse Stone films for television, the tenth of which will premiere in the Spring of 2019.
His new series of Buddy Steel mystery novels debuted in 2017 with MISSING PERSONS. The second book in the series, ONE ON ONE, made its debut in August. WILD CARD, the third in the series, will be released in April, 2019.
He has produced more than forty motion pictures, including works by Tom Stoppard, Arthur Miller, Neil Simon, David Mamet, Elmore Leonard, Louis L'Amour, and Stephen Sondheim.
He lives in Los Angeles and is married to the award winning actress, Joanna Miles. He is the father of two sons.
(source: Amazon)
His Jesse Stone novels, KILLING THE BLUES, FOOL ME TWICE, and DAMNED IF YOU DO, each based on characters created by the late Robert B. Parker, are all New York Times best sellers.
Together with Tom Selleck, he has written and produced nine Jesse Stone films for television, the tenth of which will premiere in the Spring of 2019.
His new series of Buddy Steel mystery novels debuted in 2017 with MISSING PERSONS. The second book in the series, ONE ON ONE, made its debut in August. WILD CARD, the third in the series, will be released in April, 2019.
He has produced more than forty motion pictures, including works by Tom Stoppard, Arthur Miller, Neil Simon, David Mamet, Elmore Leonard, Louis L'Amour, and Stephen Sondheim.
He lives in Los Angeles and is married to the award winning actress, Joanna Miles. He is the father of two sons.
(source: Amazon)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 554 reviews
October 8, 2019
Pop quiz. If you were the chief of police in a small town, which of these issues would be your top priority?
1) A movie production has started filming, and in addition to all the logistical headaches that creates, the lead actress is worried about her safety because she’s trying to divorce her drug addicted husband who has physically assaulted her in the past.
2) Officials at the local water company may have been rigging the meter readings to overcharge customers which would be a criminal conspiracy that affected the entire town.
3) One bratty rich girl keeps driving while texting despite repeated warnings.
If you answered #3, congratulations! You’d be just as bad a cop as Jesse Stone.
To be fair, the rich brat did cause a serious traffic accident, and her parents are major league assholes so it is a legit problem. However, while facing the other two issues Jesse chooses to delegate most everything related to the movie production to one of his officers while arranging for a guy he once pursued as a dangerous criminal to be the actress’ bodyguard. Plus, even when he suspects the water commissioner of shenanigans Jesse doesn’t call in some accountants or utilities experts to perform an audit and investigation, he just kind of casually happens to talk to the people at the water company involved in the fraud. Hell, he doesn’t even check his own water bill to see if anything looks off.
Instead, most of his focus and action is directed towards dealing with the young lady who is a chronic texter while driving. Again, I know this is a serious problem, but even when Jesse manages to get some legal action taken against her he also continues to involve himself with the idea of turning the girl around for the better. Noble, but as I’ve outlined here, he’s really got better things to do. So no surprise that everything goes to hell on him.
This seems to be all part of a weird situation with this series at this time. After Robert B. Parker’s death his family chose Michael Brandman to continue it, and since Brandman had been the writer/producer of a series of pretty good TV movies based on these books that made a lot of sense. Yet in these first two books he did Jesse really comes across as a cop who abuses his power over trivial matters while ignoring major situations.
It’s not surprising to me then that Brandman only did one more of these before the series was handed over to Reed Farrel Coleman. The writing is decent enough and mimics the style of Parker, but the plotting choices make Jesse out to be pretty awful at his job.
1) A movie production has started filming, and in addition to all the logistical headaches that creates, the lead actress is worried about her safety because she’s trying to divorce her drug addicted husband who has physically assaulted her in the past.
2) Officials at the local water company may have been rigging the meter readings to overcharge customers which would be a criminal conspiracy that affected the entire town.
3) One bratty rich girl keeps driving while texting despite repeated warnings.
If you answered #3, congratulations! You’d be just as bad a cop as Jesse Stone.
To be fair, the rich brat did cause a serious traffic accident, and her parents are major league assholes so it is a legit problem. However, while facing the other two issues Jesse chooses to delegate most everything related to the movie production to one of his officers while arranging for a guy he once pursued as a dangerous criminal to be the actress’ bodyguard. Plus, even when he suspects the water commissioner of shenanigans Jesse doesn’t call in some accountants or utilities experts to perform an audit and investigation, he just kind of casually happens to talk to the people at the water company involved in the fraud. Hell, he doesn’t even check his own water bill to see if anything looks off.
Instead, most of his focus and action is directed towards dealing with the young lady who is a chronic texter while driving. Again, I know this is a serious problem, but even when Jesse manages to get some legal action taken against her he also continues to involve himself with the idea of turning the girl around for the better. Noble, but as I’ve outlined here, he’s really got better things to do. So no surprise that everything goes to hell on him.
This seems to be all part of a weird situation with this series at this time. After Robert B. Parker’s death his family chose Michael Brandman to continue it, and since Brandman had been the writer/producer of a series of pretty good TV movies based on these books that made a lot of sense. Yet in these first two books he did Jesse really comes across as a cop who abuses his power over trivial matters while ignoring major situations.
It’s not surprising to me then that Brandman only did one more of these before the series was handed over to Reed Farrel Coleman. The writing is decent enough and mimics the style of Parker, but the plotting choices make Jesse out to be pretty awful at his job.
October 1, 2012
As usual, it didn't take long to finish the latest in the Jesse Stone series - I'd estimate somewhere around three hours all told, in fact. Some of that I'll chalk up to all the short sentences (think: "Yep." "Nope." "I do."), each of which, as is book-writing protocol, starts a new paragraph. A single conversation between hero Jesse Stone and a single other character, then, easily can use up an entire page.
I must say, though, that author Michael Brandman has captured the essence of the late Robert B. Parker's style (as he did in the earlier Robert B. Parker's Killing the Blues). I'll even go far enough to say that he does it better than Ace Atkins, who was chosen by the Parker family to carry on Parker's highly successful Spenser series. Even though Jesse always seems to me to be Spenser in cowboy boots, there are differences - and, IMHO, Brandman does a better job of picking up on them. That's no accident, I'm sure, since he either co-wrote or supervised writing of eight of the Jesse Stone movies that starred Tom Selleck. In any event, he knows the drill.
In this one, Stone first has a run-in with a belligerent teenager who insists on texting while driving even though it's illegal (how's that for keeping things current). Since she's the spoiled child of wealthy, well-connected parents, Stone is forced to deal with the politics of small-town Paradise, Massachusetts, as well. Then, when a motion picture company brings a production to town, Stone is charged with solving a related murder. In between, he uncovers a long-standing scheme to overcharge Paradise residents for water.
Does everything get resolved in the end? This is Jesse Stone, for goodness sake, so the only thing left somewhat in the wind is Stone's not-so-vague feelings of discontent and loneliness. All in all, the book is a fun experience - if nothing else, it's a good way to wile away a Saturday night when you've got nothing else to do.
I must say, though, that author Michael Brandman has captured the essence of the late Robert B. Parker's style (as he did in the earlier Robert B. Parker's Killing the Blues). I'll even go far enough to say that he does it better than Ace Atkins, who was chosen by the Parker family to carry on Parker's highly successful Spenser series. Even though Jesse always seems to me to be Spenser in cowboy boots, there are differences - and, IMHO, Brandman does a better job of picking up on them. That's no accident, I'm sure, since he either co-wrote or supervised writing of eight of the Jesse Stone movies that starred Tom Selleck. In any event, he knows the drill.
In this one, Stone first has a run-in with a belligerent teenager who insists on texting while driving even though it's illegal (how's that for keeping things current). Since she's the spoiled child of wealthy, well-connected parents, Stone is forced to deal with the politics of small-town Paradise, Massachusetts, as well. Then, when a motion picture company brings a production to town, Stone is charged with solving a related murder. In between, he uncovers a long-standing scheme to overcharge Paradise residents for water.
Does everything get resolved in the end? This is Jesse Stone, for goodness sake, so the only thing left somewhat in the wind is Stone's not-so-vague feelings of discontent and loneliness. All in all, the book is a fun experience - if nothing else, it's a good way to wile away a Saturday night when you've got nothing else to do.
April 2, 2023
3 Stars. I enjoyed this one less than previous entries in the Jesse Stone series. It seemed like an imitation of itself - Jesse takes on the case of a troubled young person; Jesse confronts difficult politicians on Paradise Council, and Jesse deals with some in the policing world who rebuff him because he's just a small-town police chief. If this was the first I'd read, it would have ranked higher - a delicious read. But it's my 11th. Stone is an attractive character; he's a man of action and few words. I like the guy. They tell me Tom Selleck played him to perfection on the small screen - so far not seen by yours truly! In two matters though, Stone seems to have moved on - from his former wife Jenn, with whom we have all endured a thousand "He said," / "She said" scenes, and from excessive drinking. A Hollywood movie is being shot in Paradise with an A-List star. Exciting. Marisol Hinton is lovely and sexy, but she's got baggage - an abusive and separated husband who has been violent in the past. You just know trouble's coming. There's a bonus. Author Michael Brandman has produced 40 or so films and brings authenticity to the on-location scenes. (March 2023)
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April 11, 2013The awarding of no stars is NOT an oversight.
The sad thing is that the idea of extending the Jesse Stone series after Robert B Parker's death comes across as a cynical money grabbing exercise judging by this feeble imitation of Parker's work. Brandman is described as an award winning producer of 'more than thirty motion pictures'. Let's be clear - these are television films, not films you might see at the cinema. He has won 2 ACE awards - the American Cinema Editors Association gong, and two 'Bronze Wrangler' awards; no, I don't know either - something awarded by the Rodeo Riders of America?
Anyway, I am sure Brandman is a fine producer; what he isn't is any sort of fiction writer. Characterisation is non existent. Dialogue has all been written by a man with a tin ear, and the story is ludicrous. Parker's dry ironic humour is missing completely, and the story is a feeble one.
If you treasure the work of Parker, as I do, give this pale mimicry a miss; it sullies his memory, and will ultimately degrade the rest of his oeuvre. Let Brandman make up his own stories and take his own risks; this trading on another's reputation is shameful, and given the size of Parker's name on the cover, is, I feel, an exercise in misleading unwary fans of the great man's work.
Avoid.
Robert B Parker
The sad thing is that the idea of extending the Jesse Stone series after Robert B Parker's death comes across as a cynical money grabbing exercise judging by this feeble imitation of Parker's work. Brandman is described as an award winning producer of 'more than thirty motion pictures'. Let's be clear - these are television films, not films you might see at the cinema. He has won 2 ACE awards - the American Cinema Editors Association gong, and two 'Bronze Wrangler' awards; no, I don't know either - something awarded by the Rodeo Riders of America?
Anyway, I am sure Brandman is a fine producer; what he isn't is any sort of fiction writer. Characterisation is non existent. Dialogue has all been written by a man with a tin ear, and the story is ludicrous. Parker's dry ironic humour is missing completely, and the story is a feeble one.
If you treasure the work of Parker, as I do, give this pale mimicry a miss; it sullies his memory, and will ultimately degrade the rest of his oeuvre. Let Brandman make up his own stories and take his own risks; this trading on another's reputation is shameful, and given the size of Parker's name on the cover, is, I feel, an exercise in misleading unwary fans of the great man's work.
Avoid.
Robert B Parker
January 6, 2016
The movies come to Paradise, followed by trouble in guise of a husband that got his marching orders from his famous movie star wife.
There also seems to be a bit of trouble with the recent water bills, somebody seems to make some extra money by charging people some more.
There is this high school girl that runs into trouble and Jesse Stone's radar for personal drama's. She does so thrice and gets Jesse Stone's attention.
The usual suspects are there as well: Molly always ready with an answer, Suitcase the smart cop who learns a lot about policing and humanity from his teacher Jesse Stone, Healy from the state police who always fancies a bagel, Rita Fiore the lawyer who is far more than a set of great legs & the Apache Cromartie doing Stone a favor.
Like all Jesse Stone books all strings get tied up at the end by the laidback attitude of police chief Jesse Stone. But was is mostly lacking is the brilliant wit of Robert B. Parker in the dialogues, and that is sadly one of the best parts in the books. But still a decent & easy read, even if I wished that Brandman would rather do a few scripts for new Stone tv-movies than write a book.
There also seems to be a bit of trouble with the recent water bills, somebody seems to make some extra money by charging people some more.
There is this high school girl that runs into trouble and Jesse Stone's radar for personal drama's. She does so thrice and gets Jesse Stone's attention.
The usual suspects are there as well: Molly always ready with an answer, Suitcase the smart cop who learns a lot about policing and humanity from his teacher Jesse Stone, Healy from the state police who always fancies a bagel, Rita Fiore the lawyer who is far more than a set of great legs & the Apache Cromartie doing Stone a favor.
Like all Jesse Stone books all strings get tied up at the end by the laidback attitude of police chief Jesse Stone. But was is mostly lacking is the brilliant wit of Robert B. Parker in the dialogues, and that is sadly one of the best parts in the books. But still a decent & easy read, even if I wished that Brandman would rather do a few scripts for new Stone tv-movies than write a book.
February 1, 2020
Smoked Mozzarella Cheese
If you're looking for a complex plot with a clever twist and deeply profound characters this book isn't for you.
If you're looking for pizza, garlic knots, and a large coke you've come to the right place.
I had pizza with smoked mozzarella cheese, it was excellent. Try it on homemade pizza.
Anyway back to the book. Michael Brandman writing is like a tv drama. Fast, effortless, with a wholelotta witty, sarcastic dialogue. Jesse Stone is dealing with a bratty teenage girl, an actress who has a soon to be ex husband stalking her, and townsfolk complaining about high water bills. The interesting plot was the workers at the local water company rigging the meter readings to overcharge customers then distributing the proceeds to under developed countries lacking clean water. That would make a good stand alone book.
The kind of book you read while waiting for the book you want to read.
If you're looking for a complex plot with a clever twist and deeply profound characters this book isn't for you.
If you're looking for pizza, garlic knots, and a large coke you've come to the right place.
I had pizza with smoked mozzarella cheese, it was excellent. Try it on homemade pizza.
Anyway back to the book. Michael Brandman writing is like a tv drama. Fast, effortless, with a wholelotta witty, sarcastic dialogue. Jesse Stone is dealing with a bratty teenage girl, an actress who has a soon to be ex husband stalking her, and townsfolk complaining about high water bills. The interesting plot was the workers at the local water company rigging the meter readings to overcharge customers then distributing the proceeds to under developed countries lacking clean water. That would make a good stand alone book.
The kind of book you read while waiting for the book you want to read.
November 14, 2025
Not one of my favorites from the Jesse Stone series. Three stories built into this novel show the bad side of people yet demonstrates Jesse’s attempts to help where he can.
October 23, 2012
After the death of author Robert B. Parker, Michael Brandman took over the “Jesse Stone” series. The first one Robert B. Parker’s Killing The Blues was a fairly good book. It certainly was not Robert B. Parker, but the book was good and there was the suggestion that Michael Brandman had plans to push the boundaries a little bit. Unfortunately, this novel is simply nowhere as near as good while it reads like discarded pieces of a movie script due to the lack of depth to characters or scenes. The book features three equally weak storylines that are way too predictable for any mystery reader.
The primary storyline is about threats against actress, Marisol Hinton, who is in town to film a movie. Her marriage to another actor is collapsing due to his ego, his lack of movie roles, and his heavy drug use.
The two secondary storylines involve water usage and rates and the spoiled teen of a rich family who is acting out.
In a sense, all three storylines in this latest Jess Stone novel are about folks acting out in one way or another. In all cases, those involved get dealt with in easily predictable fashion over the course of the 278 page novel. A novel that features very little scene description, nothing new in the Jesse Stone character, and weak storylines that seem to have come straight from a discarded movie script of the now cancelled series. On a positive note, the mentions of Jesse’s ex-wife, Jenn, are kept to a bare minimum giving the impression that Jesse is slowly moving on.
Going back on the promise of a slightly edgier Jesse Stone, Robert B. Parker’s Fool Me Twice: A Jesse Stone Novel is saccharine even for this series. One knew that it would be all but impossible for anyone to continue the Jesse Stone series as written by Robert B. Parker. One hoped that Mr. Brandman would not make it the series even lighter in terms of storylines, plots, settings, etc. Thanks to an absolute minimum of scene setting, limited dialogue that often reads forced, and three storylines where the resolution is obvious from early on, this read is a very disappointing step backwards and not anywhere near the level of the last book.
Robert B. Parker’s Fool Me Twice: A Jesse Stone Novel
Michael Brandman
G. P. Putnam’s Son (Penguin Group)
http://www.penguin.com
2012
ISBN# 978-0-399-15949-7
Hardback
276 Pages
$25.99
Material supplied by the good folks of the Plano, Texas Public Library System.
Kevin R. Tipple © 2012
MIND SLICES at Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009OIV346
MIND SLICES at Smashwords http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/...
Book Reviews and More http://kevintipplescorner.blogspot.com/
The primary storyline is about threats against actress, Marisol Hinton, who is in town to film a movie. Her marriage to another actor is collapsing due to his ego, his lack of movie roles, and his heavy drug use.
The two secondary storylines involve water usage and rates and the spoiled teen of a rich family who is acting out.
In a sense, all three storylines in this latest Jess Stone novel are about folks acting out in one way or another. In all cases, those involved get dealt with in easily predictable fashion over the course of the 278 page novel. A novel that features very little scene description, nothing new in the Jesse Stone character, and weak storylines that seem to have come straight from a discarded movie script of the now cancelled series. On a positive note, the mentions of Jesse’s ex-wife, Jenn, are kept to a bare minimum giving the impression that Jesse is slowly moving on.
Going back on the promise of a slightly edgier Jesse Stone, Robert B. Parker’s Fool Me Twice: A Jesse Stone Novel is saccharine even for this series. One knew that it would be all but impossible for anyone to continue the Jesse Stone series as written by Robert B. Parker. One hoped that Mr. Brandman would not make it the series even lighter in terms of storylines, plots, settings, etc. Thanks to an absolute minimum of scene setting, limited dialogue that often reads forced, and three storylines where the resolution is obvious from early on, this read is a very disappointing step backwards and not anywhere near the level of the last book.
Robert B. Parker’s Fool Me Twice: A Jesse Stone Novel
Michael Brandman
G. P. Putnam’s Son (Penguin Group)
http://www.penguin.com
2012
ISBN# 978-0-399-15949-7
Hardback
276 Pages
$25.99
Material supplied by the good folks of the Plano, Texas Public Library System.
Kevin R. Tipple © 2012
MIND SLICES at Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009OIV346
MIND SLICES at Smashwords http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/...
Book Reviews and More http://kevintipplescorner.blogspot.com/
December 24, 2016
This book #11 in the Jesse Stone Series by Robert B. Parker, and so far my favorite. Unfortunately Robert B. Parker passed away in 2010 and this book was written by a ghost writer, Michael Brandman. I think he does a great job keeping the essence of Parker's writing in this continued series.
Synopsis
Autumn in Paradise, Massachusetts, is usually an idyllic season?—but not this time. A Hollywood movie company has come to town, and brought with it a huge cast, crew, and a troubled star. Marisol Hinton is very beautiful, reasonably talented, and scared out of her wits that her estranged husband's jealousy might take a dangerous turn. When she becomes the subject of a death threat, Jesse and the rest of the Paradise police department go on high alert.
And when Jesse witnesses a horrifying collision caused by a distracted teenage driver, the political repercussions of her arrest bring him into conflict with the local selectment, the DA, and some people with very deep pockets. There's murder in the air, and it's Jesse's reputation as an uncompromising defender of the law—and his life—on the line.
I have to say that I was concerned about continuing this series once I found out that Parker passed away 6 years ago, and that he had a ghost writer for the last 4 books of the Jesse Stone series, but so far they have been great. They are still very fluid and quick, easy reads. I love how we have a small town setting with big city problems. I love all the different cases going on in the book at the same time, keeps readers entertained and keeps the story from becoming boring. I find the whole series to be very engaging from first page to last.
The main characters continue to grow and develop very well and I love witnessing that with each new book I pick up. I love Jesse's character the most. He has many different issues, but with that, he also has plenty of wit and sarcasm that keeps him quite realistic and very likable. There are always plenty of new characters introduced in each book of the series. plenty to like and plenty to dislike as well.
I look forward to continuing this series and finishing it. I can't recommend this series enough to anyone who is a mystery buff, or a Parker fan.
Synopsis
Autumn in Paradise, Massachusetts, is usually an idyllic season?—but not this time. A Hollywood movie company has come to town, and brought with it a huge cast, crew, and a troubled star. Marisol Hinton is very beautiful, reasonably talented, and scared out of her wits that her estranged husband's jealousy might take a dangerous turn. When she becomes the subject of a death threat, Jesse and the rest of the Paradise police department go on high alert.
And when Jesse witnesses a horrifying collision caused by a distracted teenage driver, the political repercussions of her arrest bring him into conflict with the local selectment, the DA, and some people with very deep pockets. There's murder in the air, and it's Jesse's reputation as an uncompromising defender of the law—and his life—on the line.
I have to say that I was concerned about continuing this series once I found out that Parker passed away 6 years ago, and that he had a ghost writer for the last 4 books of the Jesse Stone series, but so far they have been great. They are still very fluid and quick, easy reads. I love how we have a small town setting with big city problems. I love all the different cases going on in the book at the same time, keeps readers entertained and keeps the story from becoming boring. I find the whole series to be very engaging from first page to last.
The main characters continue to grow and develop very well and I love witnessing that with each new book I pick up. I love Jesse's character the most. He has many different issues, but with that, he also has plenty of wit and sarcasm that keeps him quite realistic and very likable. There are always plenty of new characters introduced in each book of the series. plenty to like and plenty to dislike as well.
I look forward to continuing this series and finishing it. I can't recommend this series enough to anyone who is a mystery buff, or a Parker fan.
April 2, 2013
I like the new Jesse Stone. Brandman's version of Stone has him less screwed up and more comfortable in his own skin. Less booze, no pining for his slutty ex-wife, (which never played too well with me in the first place), yet the same sardonic, sure of himself investigator. I wasn't sure Brandman was going to work as a stand-in for the late Robert Parker, but I was rooting for him (or somebody) to keep this great character going. With this book, Brandman not only takes up the Jesse Stone baton, but makes him a stronger, more self-assured character with the same 'against the grain' streak of independence and snappy dialog. Like most Parker books this one is a quick read, but throughly enjoyable. Michael Brandman has an excellent grasp of this character and is a fitting heir to channel Robert Parker's Jesse Stone.
Now having anointed Brandman as the heir to pick up the Jesse Stone mantle, there is still room for improvement. As another reader pointed out, Brandman's weapons knowledge is embarrassing. Brandman's version of the relationship between Molly and Jesse is off. Molly normally gives Jesse a feminist attitude about getting coffee and a multitude of other things, but you could always read between the lines to see the real affection she has for the man. In this book, she just seems cranky. Another issue is the cat! Stone is a dog person! Never the twain shall meet. Get the man a big rescue mutt of some sort, preferably a Golden Retriever. No frou-frou lap dogs and no cats. Jesse Stone was and should always be a dog person. So while Michael Brandman has come a long way from his first Stone novel, further tweeking may be necessary before I can no longer distinguish the Brandman version from Parker's original.
Now having anointed Brandman as the heir to pick up the Jesse Stone mantle, there is still room for improvement. As another reader pointed out, Brandman's weapons knowledge is embarrassing. Brandman's version of the relationship between Molly and Jesse is off. Molly normally gives Jesse a feminist attitude about getting coffee and a multitude of other things, but you could always read between the lines to see the real affection she has for the man. In this book, she just seems cranky. Another issue is the cat! Stone is a dog person! Never the twain shall meet. Get the man a big rescue mutt of some sort, preferably a Golden Retriever. No frou-frou lap dogs and no cats. Jesse Stone was and should always be a dog person. So while Michael Brandman has come a long way from his first Stone novel, further tweeking may be necessary before I can no longer distinguish the Brandman version from Parker's original.
August 13, 2014
"Fool Me twice" (Jesse Stone #11) by Michael Brandman.
Very well done! This was Jesse Stone on every page and Robert B. Parker would be proud.
There was more than one situation for Jesse in this book. Jesse witnesses a collision caused by a spoiled brat with no conscience whatsoever. The parents further this lack of responsibility by blaming Jesse's efforts to get to the root of why she is lashing out at society. Jesse will not be deterred.
Trouble comes to town in the form of a movie company. One of the major stars is afraid of her estranged husband and rightfully so. He is unable to handle the rejection from his former wife due to drugs and jealousy. Jesse is needed to protect Marisol after she starts receiving death threats.
I listened to this Jesse Stone book on Cd narrated by James Naughton who did an excellent job. Highly recommended to all fans of Jesse Stone.
Very well done! This was Jesse Stone on every page and Robert B. Parker would be proud.
There was more than one situation for Jesse in this book. Jesse witnesses a collision caused by a spoiled brat with no conscience whatsoever. The parents further this lack of responsibility by blaming Jesse's efforts to get to the root of why she is lashing out at society. Jesse will not be deterred.
Trouble comes to town in the form of a movie company. One of the major stars is afraid of her estranged husband and rightfully so. He is unable to handle the rejection from his former wife due to drugs and jealousy. Jesse is needed to protect Marisol after she starts receiving death threats.
I listened to this Jesse Stone book on Cd narrated by James Naughton who did an excellent job. Highly recommended to all fans of Jesse Stone.
May 17, 2018
I think what I like most about these books is that everything is solved and you can see things moving in positive directions. This book was no different. Jesse Stone sees the problems and tries to find positive resolutions.
January 2, 2025
I liked the book but it's an odd duck. Jesse is busy in this book but he doesn't do anything. There's a storyline about overbilling of utilities. Jesse unearths the perpetrators fairly easily but does nothing to prevent someone being killed over it. There's the actress storyline. Jesse fails to protect to her or capture the killer. There's a wayward teen storyline which never really develops until the last few pages. While the book is likeable it is very undeveloped.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 6, 2013
This one almost gets four stars just for being a successful contiunation of the Jesse Stone series following the death of Robert Parker, the original author. ALMOST...
Brandman does an excellent job of recreating Parker's dialogue heavy, Stone stares at someone and gets and leaves type encounters. If you read Parker you know that all of his books are quick reads because they are mostly dialogue.
Brandman also successfully gets the reader into the Jesse Stone character and his dogged determination to do what's right in the face of political and social pressure.
As usual, there are several issues going on at once, which is one of the things that makes this series realistic. Rarely does a police chief deal with only one issue at a time.
So-- why does it fall short of four stars?
Unfortunately, Brandman continues Parker's morbid preoccupation with describing the food being consumed-- whether it be a cheese danish or a gourmet meal. It is almost as if both authors don't know how to put a story together without a few filler sentences about food that don't add much to the story. Does it matter who eats a breakfast burrito and who has the cheese danish? (page 38) Do we really have to know Jess tears into a porterhouse steak only a page later (yes, page 39) Okay, when he eats a gourmet meal that probably needs to be included, and perhaps we need to know the bad guy is living on frozen pizza.. but at times.. this just seems like uninteresting filler material. Obviously, I'm no gourmet..
Another problem was that the author doesn't seem to know much about guns. At one point he mentions a Berreta .38 auto.. Browning made a .38 auto like in the 1920's or 1930's, but it is a pretty rare thing.. I don't think Beretta makes a .38 auto, I think he meant a .380 auto which is, essentially, a short 9 mm bullet. Well, maybe that was a typo.. but then he mentioned a Colt Commander .45 mm... Sorry.. it's a .45 auto.. not milimeter... So, he gets a bit messed up. Shouldn't publishers have at least one editor on staff who knows guns to run the gun stuff by???? Now maybe those guns exist, but if they do, they are a rarity.
Stone's soft-heartedness shines through, but this time around, the brokenheart over his relationship with Jenn, or Sunny doesn't come through as strongly. The television movies were quite morose and almost depressing and the author doesn't really recreate that particular tone quite as well as Parker did.
However, this was a well-written, fast paced book full of interesting characters and ideas and I enjoyed it and wish Brandman well with future endeavors. I just hope he manages to minimize the food talk and gets the guns right in future titles.
Brandman does an excellent job of recreating Parker's dialogue heavy, Stone stares at someone and gets and leaves type encounters. If you read Parker you know that all of his books are quick reads because they are mostly dialogue.
Brandman also successfully gets the reader into the Jesse Stone character and his dogged determination to do what's right in the face of political and social pressure.
As usual, there are several issues going on at once, which is one of the things that makes this series realistic. Rarely does a police chief deal with only one issue at a time.
So-- why does it fall short of four stars?
Unfortunately, Brandman continues Parker's morbid preoccupation with describing the food being consumed-- whether it be a cheese danish or a gourmet meal. It is almost as if both authors don't know how to put a story together without a few filler sentences about food that don't add much to the story. Does it matter who eats a breakfast burrito and who has the cheese danish? (page 38) Do we really have to know Jess tears into a porterhouse steak only a page later (yes, page 39) Okay, when he eats a gourmet meal that probably needs to be included, and perhaps we need to know the bad guy is living on frozen pizza.. but at times.. this just seems like uninteresting filler material. Obviously, I'm no gourmet..
Another problem was that the author doesn't seem to know much about guns. At one point he mentions a Berreta .38 auto.. Browning made a .38 auto like in the 1920's or 1930's, but it is a pretty rare thing.. I don't think Beretta makes a .38 auto, I think he meant a .380 auto which is, essentially, a short 9 mm bullet. Well, maybe that was a typo.. but then he mentioned a Colt Commander .45 mm... Sorry.. it's a .45 auto.. not milimeter... So, he gets a bit messed up. Shouldn't publishers have at least one editor on staff who knows guns to run the gun stuff by???? Now maybe those guns exist, but if they do, they are a rarity.
Stone's soft-heartedness shines through, but this time around, the brokenheart over his relationship with Jenn, or Sunny doesn't come through as strongly. The television movies were quite morose and almost depressing and the author doesn't really recreate that particular tone quite as well as Parker did.
However, this was a well-written, fast paced book full of interesting characters and ideas and I enjoyed it and wish Brandman well with future endeavors. I just hope he manages to minimize the food talk and gets the guns right in future titles.
July 30, 2016
Another fast-paced entry in the Jesse Stone series. This is the second book in the series written by Brandman after the passing of Robert B. Parker. I actually read this one in one afternoon. As usual, it was filled with crisp dialog which made the pages turn really fast. The novel was typical of the series and included a few different storylines. First, a movie crew moves into Paradise to make a film with a leading lady whose husband is seeking revenge against her for filing for divorce and giving him a worthless check right before she travels to Paradise for the movie. Then there are complaints about the cost of Paradise's water being more than what is being actually used by the residents. And there is the problem of a young girl who disregards the law and causes an accident while texting on her cell phone. Jesse works his way through the cases as usual and as usual has a new love interest...this time an assistant working on the movie. Overall, I thought this one was a little below par for a Stone novel but would still mildly recommend it for fans of the series.
September 29, 2012
I loved Robert B. Parker and was really sad when he died. Aside from the fact that we lost a great writer, I grieved for the loss of books he had yet to write. Then along came Michael Brandman. There are subtle differences in his style, but he mostly stays true to Parker and his characters. This is one of his better efforts. Brandman brings his insider-knowledge of the world of entertainment and his expertise in film-making to enrich the storyline and make it more believable. One of the differences between Parker and Brandman is that Brandman seems to be gently helping Parker's characters mature. While none of the Parker characters will ever be flawless, Brandman is helping Jesse Stone gain better control of his life - love life, drinking, etc. He's still the same smart-mouthed cop that Parker created. But his edges are smoother and he's even more likable. I hope Brandman continues channeling Parker and creating more great stories.
April 6, 2014
Another excellent Jesse Stone written by Michael Brandman. Paradise is being overrun by a Los Angeles film company and Jesse witnesses an accident caused by a rich teenager who was texting and ran a stop sign. Leading off with the classic, "Do you know who I am?" arrogance, she's the daughter of a wealthy contributor to the DA's election campaign so the charges Jesse files don't stick very well, and he makes it his mission to make her life a bit miserable. (All in the guise of doing what’s best for the poor little troubled girl so misunderstood by her parents -- a theme I found beyond fanciful.)
A concurrent plot involves threats on the life of the film star by her estranged husband. The plots are hardly novel; it’s the characters and their relationships that make them enjoyable.
I’ve listened to all of these post-Parker Jesse Stone novels and the reader is very good. They’re all pure fantasy, however, not to be confused in any way with real life. But that’s OK.
A concurrent plot involves threats on the life of the film star by her estranged husband. The plots are hardly novel; it’s the characters and their relationships that make them enjoyable.
I’ve listened to all of these post-Parker Jesse Stone novels and the reader is very good. They’re all pure fantasy, however, not to be confused in any way with real life. But that’s OK.
October 3, 2012
When it was announced, after the death of Robert B. Parker, that someone else (Michael Brandman) would take over writing the Jesse Stone books, I was terribly afraid that the series was would become awful. Happily, this second Jesse Stone book by Michael Brandman proves that the series is almost as good as before Parker's death. In this story, Jesse is trying to discover the killer of an actress who was in Paradise to film a new movie. The writing is terse, funny and the story is great. There is a bit more description than in the original books, but I still really enjoyed reading this. It was almost possible to forget they were being written by another author. (Although Brandman is the scriptwriter/producer for several of the Jesse Stone films.) I will look forward to the next in the series.
September 23, 2012
when Robert Parker wrote books about the character Phillip Marlowe in Raymond Chandler's treasured books I wondered if he could pull off the feat of duplicating the master's style, and was surprised that he did a workmanlike job, I liked those books.
Now Brandman has attempted the same feat. this book is pretty good, because it is written by a guy who wrote scripts for the Jesse Stone movies,and had some conversations with Parker before his death, and has a feel for the dialogue style of Parker. He did very well with that part, and only fair with the descriptions, but this book captures the essence of Jesse Stone, and was a good read. One other attempt at writing a Spencer novel was awful, but this one will please the aficionados of Robert Parker's Jesse Stone books.
Now Brandman has attempted the same feat. this book is pretty good, because it is written by a guy who wrote scripts for the Jesse Stone movies,and had some conversations with Parker before his death, and has a feel for the dialogue style of Parker. He did very well with that part, and only fair with the descriptions, but this book captures the essence of Jesse Stone, and was a good read. One other attempt at writing a Spencer novel was awful, but this one will please the aficionados of Robert Parker's Jesse Stone books.
October 3, 2012
I love the Jesse Stone character and for obvious reasons, I picture Tom Selleck speaking in monosyllables as I read. I love this deride and even though we've lost Robert B. Parker, Michael Brandman does a yeoman's job of continuing the story line. These books are a quick read and hold one's interest very well. I wholeheartedly recommend Fool Me Twice.
Read
June 24, 2019Storytelling in Parker's vein seems to be done so effortlessly. I'm pondering the outcome already, on two fronts. Surprising crack in the seeming invincibility of one of Parker's (originally) trademark ally characters. Jesse's imperturbability and moral sense played well. Unusually strong emotional impact.
January 28, 2015
This refreshing story of love, pain, sorrow, sacrifice and redemption touches all the emotions of this listener. Although short, its also just the right length. Well done Michael Brandman. 10 of 10 stars
September 27, 2012
I do recommend this book, is the quickest read ever, and I love Jesse Stone's novels. I hope Michael Brandman continues to bring more of this wonderful series. I can't wait for his next book.
June 7, 2021
Not the best one. I like the sharp, concise stories - but four hours of audio is not enough to get a real story going.
June 21, 2018
I did not realize I had missed 3 Jesse Stone books so I bought them via nook B & N today. this is one of them so I read them slightly out of order. This is #11 but I have already read Robert B. Parker's Blind Spot #13. That is okay as I realized it since I have read them in order and knew what was suppose to be going on. Molly is missing in #13, bad, bad, bad lolol Movie start, dip shit husband not working, on drugs (sound familiar, SHIT, SHIT, SHIT)
Page 12 . . . "You do know it's illegal to text while driving?"
. . .
"Have you any idea who I am?"
dickwad . . .
"Recklessendanement. Running a stop sign. Texting while driving. Resisting arrest. Arrogance." (Jesse forgot she was going 50 mph in a 25 mph zone!)
Page 149 . . . "I'm guessing Princeton. With your extraordinary people skills and your incredible charm, you had to have graduated from Princeton."
"Fuck off," Wellstein said. (FBI AGENT)
Page 159 . . . "Buddy Fairbanks is the name of the character that Ryan Rooney played in Tomorrow We Love." . . .
Page 160 . . ."How do you say 'Good luck' in Apache," Jesse said.
"Go get 'em, kemosabe."
Page 162 . . . He was naked, and his body had been smeared with what appeared to be honey. Red ants swarmed all over him, and angry welts were already visible beneath the honey glaze." . . .
Page 166 . . . "I could have your balls for this."
"I don't think so."
"What makes you so sure of yourself?"
"Your job is to quell the media furor. Exacerbating it would be a bad idea."
"So you set me up, too."
"I'm just a small-town cop. Mostly I write parking tickets."
"You're so full of shit, Stone."
. . .
Page 181 . . . I can't rid myself of the image of the one and a half gallons of clean water it takes to flush away less than an ounce of piss. . . .
Page 12 . . . "You do know it's illegal to text while driving?"
. . .
"Have you any idea who I am?"
dickwad . . .
"Recklessendanement. Running a stop sign. Texting while driving. Resisting arrest. Arrogance." (Jesse forgot she was going 50 mph in a 25 mph zone!)
Page 149 . . . "I'm guessing Princeton. With your extraordinary people skills and your incredible charm, you had to have graduated from Princeton."
"Fuck off," Wellstein said. (FBI AGENT)
Page 159 . . . "Buddy Fairbanks is the name of the character that Ryan Rooney played in Tomorrow We Love." . . .
Page 160 . . ."How do you say 'Good luck' in Apache," Jesse said.
"Go get 'em, kemosabe."
Page 162 . . . He was naked, and his body had been smeared with what appeared to be honey. Red ants swarmed all over him, and angry welts were already visible beneath the honey glaze." . . .
Page 166 . . . "I could have your balls for this."
"I don't think so."
"What makes you so sure of yourself?"
"Your job is to quell the media furor. Exacerbating it would be a bad idea."
"So you set me up, too."
"I'm just a small-town cop. Mostly I write parking tickets."
"You're so full of shit, Stone."
. . .
Page 181 . . . I can't rid myself of the image of the one and a half gallons of clean water it takes to flush away less than an ounce of piss. . . .
October 21, 2022
Hollywood comes to Paradise. And a teenaged girl almost kills a middle-aged man in a car accident while texting. And keeps texting and driving. And a number of people around Paradise call Jesse complaining about their water bills being higher than a year earlier. Jesse is busy this outing.
Marisol Hinton is the star in the movie set in Paradise. She has recently filed for divorce from her abusive husband and is afraid of him. Jesse calls Cromartie and he is hired by Marisol. The ex drives across country to cash in on the life insurance policy.
Meanwhile, Courtney is repeatedly arrested for texting or talking on her phone while driving. Jesse wants her to get some time during the trial. She gets probation.
The head of the water department is a passionate environmentalist and is perfectly comfortable overcharging people on their water bills and passing the purloined funds onto various water charities around the world. He is doing good (with money that is not his.) His partner, a meter reader, actually keeps the money for himself. There is a confrontation between the activist, the meter reader and Jesse and shots are fired.
“Crow” steps away from Marisol for a moment and her ex-husband strikes.
I do like when Jesse takes an ill-tempered teen under his wing.
I like the banter and sarcasm between Molly and Jesse. I don’t mind that he sleeps with a new woman each outing yet.
Marisol Hinton is the star in the movie set in Paradise. She has recently filed for divorce from her abusive husband and is afraid of him. Jesse calls Cromartie and he is hired by Marisol. The ex drives across country to cash in on the life insurance policy.
Meanwhile, Courtney is repeatedly arrested for texting or talking on her phone while driving. Jesse wants her to get some time during the trial. She gets probation.
The head of the water department is a passionate environmentalist and is perfectly comfortable overcharging people on their water bills and passing the purloined funds onto various water charities around the world. He is doing good (with money that is not his.) His partner, a meter reader, actually keeps the money for himself. There is a confrontation between the activist, the meter reader and Jesse and shots are fired.
“Crow” steps away from Marisol for a moment and her ex-husband strikes.
I do like when Jesse takes an ill-tempered teen under his wing.
I like the banter and sarcasm between Molly and Jesse. I don’t mind that he sleeps with a new woman each outing yet.
November 24, 2017
This book follows Jesse Stone as he tries to help a troubled teen stay out of trouble and investigate a crime from the water company along with dealing with a movie being made in Paradise which brings all sorts of issues to the small town. When Marisol Hinton shows up in town she unknowingly brings her ex-husband determined to rid himself of the actress by taking her out in order to claim her will and all the money she owns along with it. What he doesn't count on is Jesse Stone and people Jesse knows helping find Marisol's ex-husband.
This book is in typical Jesse format trying to keep peace while helping out where he can with whatever he can assist with. It's fast moving chapters and the story really pulls you in wanting to see what Jesse will do next! I really like this series and feel like the author is the same caliber as Robert Parker was. He writes with the same style and grace that Parker did. Can't wait to see what is next for Jesse Stone!
This book is in typical Jesse format trying to keep peace while helping out where he can with whatever he can assist with. It's fast moving chapters and the story really pulls you in wanting to see what Jesse will do next! I really like this series and feel like the author is the same caliber as Robert Parker was. He writes with the same style and grace that Parker did. Can't wait to see what is next for Jesse Stone!
April 24, 2025
It was a fast- paced book the 11th in the series. It finds Jesse involved in 3 separate cases. The first involves a teenage girl, self-destructive Courtney Cassidy, who doesn’t care what happens to herself or anyone else. Jesse also has a murderer on the run, Ryan Rooney. Ryan is the suspected in the killing of his movie star wife Marisol for a life insurance policy after she tries to divorce him. This case takes a little help from his friend Crow an Apache who does security jobs on the side. Crow has an unusual way of dealing with people, a form of Indian justice. The final case involves the local water utility and its three employees trying to overcharge their customers for their own benefit. Each case is handled with a Jesse type solution. Mildred the cat is still the best thing in Jess’s life. The opinions of this review are my own.
March 3, 2024
From early on, I've been a huge fan of Robert B. Parker and ALL of his series...It is my Lenten commitment to catch the misses I've had along the way...Additionally, I've found the continuation of the various series by the Estate's "legacy authors" to be masterful...Both the original Parkers and the legacy Parkers have been completely satisfying...In "Fool Me Twice," Jesse Stone and the Paradise PD, are challenged by a trouble little rich girl, a major Hollywood production using Paradise as a setting and corruption within the Paradise Public Works system...Just completely satisfying!
November 17, 2017
Another lovely Jesse Stone story. Different author but true to the character. I really enjoyed it.
When Belva Radford and Renzo Lazzeri insist that Jesse investigate their water bills, I kinda wondered if this was a problem you'd bring to the local police, but apparently so. Jesse's a good man, he spoke with Oscar LaBrea and William Goodwin and suspiciously they both wanted a lawyer, instantly rather than talk with Jesse. Hmmmm, something's afoot!
Jesse witnesses the rich, spoiled teenager Courtaney Cassidy texting, causing an accident and feeling persecuted when Jesse wants to hold her accountable, in fact, she was downright insulting. Well Jesse's not going to let this go even when the councillman tells him to. He keeps an eye on her and lo and behold, she drives while texting again and again. Jesse takes her under his wing and deals with the cause of her apparent disregard for the rest of the human race.
Small town stuff.
A movie is being shot in Paradise and the star, Marisol Hinton tells Jesse that she's scared of her estranged husband's intentions to her. Jesse does alright on set, he hooks up with the producer, in the line of the job of course. He provides Crow to Marisol for protection. Nice to see Crow again.
When Belva Radford and Renzo Lazzeri insist that Jesse investigate their water bills, I kinda wondered if this was a problem you'd bring to the local police, but apparently so. Jesse's a good man, he spoke with Oscar LaBrea and William Goodwin and suspiciously they both wanted a lawyer, instantly rather than talk with Jesse. Hmmmm, something's afoot!
Jesse witnesses the rich, spoiled teenager Courtaney Cassidy texting, causing an accident and feeling persecuted when Jesse wants to hold her accountable, in fact, she was downright insulting. Well Jesse's not going to let this go even when the councillman tells him to. He keeps an eye on her and lo and behold, she drives while texting again and again. Jesse takes her under his wing and deals with the cause of her apparent disregard for the rest of the human race.
Small town stuff.
A movie is being shot in Paradise and the star, Marisol Hinton tells Jesse that she's scared of her estranged husband's intentions to her. Jesse does alright on set, he hooks up with the producer, in the line of the job of course. He provides Crow to Marisol for protection. Nice to see Crow again.
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