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Jesse Stone #22
Robert B. Parker's Buried Secrets
Police chief Jesse Stone must investigate the mystery behind a dead body found strewn with photos of murder victims and placed on top of $2 million in cash, before the calculated killer strikes again.
Just another day in Paradise...
Chief of Police Jesse Stone is on his way home from a long shift when a call comes in for a welfare check on an elderly resident of the wealthy seaside town of Paradise, Massachusetts. Inside a house packed with trash is a man's dead body. It's a sad, lonely end, but nothing criminal... until Jesse finds the photos of murder victims , on top of a treasure trove of $2 million in cash.
Jesse takes on the case and finds a trail leading to an aging mobster who will do whatever it takes to keep the past from coming to light. Soon Jesse has a price on his head as hitmen converge to take back the cash and destroy any remaining evidence. But the real danger might be coming from inside his own department.
Jesse Stone must unearth the truth buried under the wreckage of a dead man's life... before he winds up in the ground himself.
Just another day in Paradise...
Chief of Police Jesse Stone is on his way home from a long shift when a call comes in for a welfare check on an elderly resident of the wealthy seaside town of Paradise, Massachusetts. Inside a house packed with trash is a man's dead body. It's a sad, lonely end, but nothing criminal... until Jesse finds the photos of murder victims , on top of a treasure trove of $2 million in cash.
Jesse takes on the case and finds a trail leading to an aging mobster who will do whatever it takes to keep the past from coming to light. Soon Jesse has a price on his head as hitmen converge to take back the cash and destroy any remaining evidence. But the real danger might be coming from inside his own department.
Jesse Stone must unearth the truth buried under the wreckage of a dead man's life... before he winds up in the ground himself.
352 pages, Hardcover
Published February 4, 2025
402 people are currently reading
445 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Farnsworth
22 books1,233 followersChristopher Farnsworth is the author of FLASHMOB (one of Publishers Weekly's Best Books of 2017), KILLFILE, THE ETERNAL WORLD, and the PRESIDENT'S VAMPIRE series. A screenwriter and journalist, he lives in Los Angeles.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 258 reviews
January 24, 2025
Christopher Farnsworth continues the Jesse Stone crime series with the twenty-second book:
Robert B. Parker’s Buried Secrets.
Full of secrets, criminals, a dead body, and some suspense, this novel kept me engaged throughout. Paradise, Massachusetts Police Chief Jesse Stone is asked to do a welfare check while he is on his way home after a long shift. Inside a house filled with junk, boxes, and more, Jesse finds Phil Burton dead. Surrounding him are photos of murder victims and underneath the body lies two million dollars. When old-style criminals and paid guns-for-hire enter the picture, can Jesse and his team solve the case before another person dies?
Jesse has a drive to make things right and do the right thing. He’s considered somewhat old-school, has a history of alcoholism and bad relationships. He tries to save people and punishes himself when he doesn’t succeed. While he needs to let people into his life and open himself up, he has trouble doing this. He is also experiencing anger management issues which are causing him trouble with his friends, co-workers, and others. This deeper dive into Jesse’s flaws and strengths added depth to his character and made him more dynamic. It was also good to catch up with several familiar characters.
The first chapter immediately pulls readers into the story. This riveting mystery captured the characters and made them come to life within the boundaries of a deeply involved plot. The storyline includes both personal and professional challenges for Jesse as well as an intriguing mystery. Gripping scenes, personal struggles, onboarding a new deputy, and fractured friendships add layers of interest to the plot. There are several twists and turns as the story gains momentum and continues to an astonishing conclusion. The internal dialogues and struggles deepen the conflict and quickly pulled this reader into the inner world of the characters. The author also did a good job of capturing the feel of the small town.
Overall, this engrossing and entertaining novel is an excellent addition to the series. Featuring a strong, flawed, and capable protagonist, excellent pacing, and a solid plot, the story kept me turning the pages rapidly. Although this is the twenty-second book in the series, it can be read as a standalone novel. However, readers will gain a better appreciation for Jesse and the recurring secondary characters by reading earlier books in the series. I’m looking forward to reading the next book.
PENGUIN GROUP Putnam – G.P. Putnam’s Sons and Christopher Farnsworth provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for February 04, 2025. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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My 4.25 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
Jesse has a drive to make things right and do the right thing. He’s considered somewhat old-school, has a history of alcoholism and bad relationships. He tries to save people and punishes himself when he doesn’t succeed. While he needs to let people into his life and open himself up, he has trouble doing this. He is also experiencing anger management issues which are causing him trouble with his friends, co-workers, and others. This deeper dive into Jesse’s flaws and strengths added depth to his character and made him more dynamic. It was also good to catch up with several familiar characters.
The first chapter immediately pulls readers into the story. This riveting mystery captured the characters and made them come to life within the boundaries of a deeply involved plot. The storyline includes both personal and professional challenges for Jesse as well as an intriguing mystery. Gripping scenes, personal struggles, onboarding a new deputy, and fractured friendships add layers of interest to the plot. There are several twists and turns as the story gains momentum and continues to an astonishing conclusion. The internal dialogues and struggles deepen the conflict and quickly pulled this reader into the inner world of the characters. The author also did a good job of capturing the feel of the small town.
Overall, this engrossing and entertaining novel is an excellent addition to the series. Featuring a strong, flawed, and capable protagonist, excellent pacing, and a solid plot, the story kept me turning the pages rapidly. Although this is the twenty-second book in the series, it can be read as a standalone novel. However, readers will gain a better appreciation for Jesse and the recurring secondary characters by reading earlier books in the series. I’m looking forward to reading the next book.
PENGUIN GROUP Putnam – G.P. Putnam’s Sons and Christopher Farnsworth provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for February 04, 2025. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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My 4.25 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
March 17, 2025
4 stars for a fast paced mystery thriller. This is book 22 in the series, started by the late Robert B. Parker and now written by Christopher Farnsworth, the 3rd author authorized by the Parker estate in this series. Jesse Stone is the Chief of Police in the fictional small town of Paradise, Mass. He takes a call from someone checking up on a friend. Matthew Peebles says that he drove from New York City to check up on the resident of this house, Phil Burton. But Burton is not answering his phone or the door. Jesse gets into the house and discovers a dead body and mountains of trash. But then Jesse finds several pictures of murder victims. He goes back out to question Peebles, but Peebles has disappeared.
This leads to an aging mobster and some assassins who are willing to kill Jesse to bury some secrets.
Jesse does solve the mystery, but not before he is attacked. I recommend this book to Parker fans. It can be read as a stand alone. I have read all of the previous books in the series and know the back story on each of the main characters, which does add to the enjoyment of the book.
This was a library book that I read in 2 days.
This leads to an aging mobster and some assassins who are willing to kill Jesse to bury some secrets.
Jesse does solve the mystery, but not before he is attacked. I recommend this book to Parker fans. It can be read as a stand alone. I have read all of the previous books in the series and know the back story on each of the main characters, which does add to the enjoyment of the book.
This was a library book that I read in 2 days.
February 26, 2025
Best read in ages for this series.
February 4, 2025
It’s always a treat to revisit Paradise through the pages of a Jesse Stone novel. Robert B. Parker’s Buried Secrets by Christopher Farnsworth, stays true the original characters while stirring up new conflicts, a thrilling crime, and more than a few moments of laughter. If you've missed Jesse's relentless approach to solving crimes and his complicated relationships with the people around him, this book will absolutely deliver. That said, one character's over-the-top antics might just make you roll your eyes (and not in a good way). But we’ll get to that later.
Plot Summary
Paradise doesn’t stay quiet for long, and this time, Jesse Stone is dealing with one of his strangest cases yet—a dead man discovered in a hoarder’s house in Paradise. And if that wasn’t strange enough, the body is lying on top of $2 million in cash. Talk about stumbling onto buried secrets, right? The mystery takes Jesse and his department down a dark and complicated rabbit hole, complete with shady figures and, of course, the arrival of a hitman to the not-so-serene town of Paradise.
Adding a layer of workplace drama is the introduction of Tate, a new hire at the Paradise PD. Tate is an eager young cop who’s keen to make his mark, but not everyone in the department is thrilled about his addition. Cue the fireworks with Daisy, whose extreme reaction to Jesse not immediately firing Tate on her command becomes one of the book’s more divisive threads.
Main Characters
The usual cast of characters returns, bringing their uniquely endearing qualities (and quirks) with them.
Jesse Stone
There’s something about Jesse’s understated charm and his sharp yet calm demeanor that makes him one of crime literature’s most iconic characters. Jesse’s moral compass is as strong as ever in this book as he navigates the layers of mystery surrounding the $2 million and the tragic death at its center. But my favorite moments in this book didn’t involve him solving the case; they happened during his vulnerable, and hysterically funny conversations with his psychologist. Those sessions provide some of the best insight into Jesse’s internal battles, allowing readers to see the complexities that drive him. Oh, and yes, Jesse still struggles with sobriety.
Mollie
Ever-reliable Mollie plays her usual role as Jesse’s trusted colleague and confidante. Her level-headedness is the perfect foil to the chaos surrounding Jesse. While her role isn’t as flashy as some of the newer additions, Mollie’s steady presence gives the story familiarity that fans of the series will appreciate. She also delivers some of the book’s most witty remarks, which balance out the darker themes beautifully.
Tate
Tate is the fresh, eager face in this installment, bringing youthful energy and a touch of naivety to the Paradise DPD. He has no idea how to handle people in a small town. He wants to impress Jesse but often fumbles his way through conversations, saying inappropriate things and earning more than a few second looks from his Jesse and other members of the team. When Derek Tate sees red, run for cover.
Daisy
Daisy is adamant that Tate shouldn't be part of the team, and she handles it with all the subtlety of a train wreck. Her behavior feels unnecessarily extreme, as she pulls out all the stops to rally the entire town against Jesse. Honestly, her actions felt like melodrama. It’s not that Daisy’s frustrations weren’t valid, but her over-the-top response made it hard to take her seriously. If you find yourself muttering, “Really, Daisy?” every time she shows up, well, you’re not alone.
Favorite Moments
Now, for the good stuff. The moments that made me genuinely laugh and kept me turning the pages.
First off, I loved Jesse’s conversations with his psychologist. These sessions peel back the layers of Jesse’s tough, stoic exterior and offer reflections that are raw and insightful. There’s a realness to these exchanges that hits you right in the gut, reminding you that even the strongest among us aren’t afraid of being alone.
The way the book handles the hitmen subplot is another highlight. While Paradise is familiar with its fair share of trouble, the presence of these deadly gangsters turn up the tension. Watching Jesse strategize while remaining his usual unruffled self adds a layer of excitement to the story’s pacing.
And then there’s the discovery at the hoarder’s house. This was equal parts fascinating and gross (seriously, prepare to shudder at the descriptions), but you can’t help but laugh at the sheer absurdity of the scene. A dead man buried under mountains of junk and sitting on $2 million in cash? It’s exactly the kind of bizarre setup that works so well in this series.
Final Thoughts
Robert B. Parker’s Buried Secrets is a solid addition to the Jesse Stone series. It brings back the action, humor, and small-town intrigue that fans know and love while introducing some new dynamics to keep things fresh. Farnsworth does justice to the world Parker created, and it’s clear that he understands what makes Jesse Stone and his crew tick. Despite the missteps with Daisy’s character, the book delivers an enjoyable mystery with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments.
If you’re a longtime fan, you’ll feel right at home in Paradise. And if you’re new to the series, this book has enough humor and heart to make you want to explore Jesse’s earlier adventures.
Would I recommend it? Absolutely. Just don’t be surprised if you find yourself muttering, “Really, Daisy?” a few times along the way.
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons for the Advanced Readers Copy. All of the opinions expressed are proudly my own.
Plot Summary
Paradise doesn’t stay quiet for long, and this time, Jesse Stone is dealing with one of his strangest cases yet—a dead man discovered in a hoarder’s house in Paradise. And if that wasn’t strange enough, the body is lying on top of $2 million in cash. Talk about stumbling onto buried secrets, right? The mystery takes Jesse and his department down a dark and complicated rabbit hole, complete with shady figures and, of course, the arrival of a hitman to the not-so-serene town of Paradise.
Adding a layer of workplace drama is the introduction of Tate, a new hire at the Paradise PD. Tate is an eager young cop who’s keen to make his mark, but not everyone in the department is thrilled about his addition. Cue the fireworks with Daisy, whose extreme reaction to Jesse not immediately firing Tate on her command becomes one of the book’s more divisive threads.
Main Characters
The usual cast of characters returns, bringing their uniquely endearing qualities (and quirks) with them.
Jesse Stone
There’s something about Jesse’s understated charm and his sharp yet calm demeanor that makes him one of crime literature’s most iconic characters. Jesse’s moral compass is as strong as ever in this book as he navigates the layers of mystery surrounding the $2 million and the tragic death at its center. But my favorite moments in this book didn’t involve him solving the case; they happened during his vulnerable, and hysterically funny conversations with his psychologist. Those sessions provide some of the best insight into Jesse’s internal battles, allowing readers to see the complexities that drive him. Oh, and yes, Jesse still struggles with sobriety.
Mollie
Ever-reliable Mollie plays her usual role as Jesse’s trusted colleague and confidante. Her level-headedness is the perfect foil to the chaos surrounding Jesse. While her role isn’t as flashy as some of the newer additions, Mollie’s steady presence gives the story familiarity that fans of the series will appreciate. She also delivers some of the book’s most witty remarks, which balance out the darker themes beautifully.
Tate
Tate is the fresh, eager face in this installment, bringing youthful energy and a touch of naivety to the Paradise DPD. He has no idea how to handle people in a small town. He wants to impress Jesse but often fumbles his way through conversations, saying inappropriate things and earning more than a few second looks from his Jesse and other members of the team. When Derek Tate sees red, run for cover.
Daisy
Daisy is adamant that Tate shouldn't be part of the team, and she handles it with all the subtlety of a train wreck. Her behavior feels unnecessarily extreme, as she pulls out all the stops to rally the entire town against Jesse. Honestly, her actions felt like melodrama. It’s not that Daisy’s frustrations weren’t valid, but her over-the-top response made it hard to take her seriously. If you find yourself muttering, “Really, Daisy?” every time she shows up, well, you’re not alone.
Favorite Moments
Now, for the good stuff. The moments that made me genuinely laugh and kept me turning the pages.
First off, I loved Jesse’s conversations with his psychologist. These sessions peel back the layers of Jesse’s tough, stoic exterior and offer reflections that are raw and insightful. There’s a realness to these exchanges that hits you right in the gut, reminding you that even the strongest among us aren’t afraid of being alone.
The way the book handles the hitmen subplot is another highlight. While Paradise is familiar with its fair share of trouble, the presence of these deadly gangsters turn up the tension. Watching Jesse strategize while remaining his usual unruffled self adds a layer of excitement to the story’s pacing.
And then there’s the discovery at the hoarder’s house. This was equal parts fascinating and gross (seriously, prepare to shudder at the descriptions), but you can’t help but laugh at the sheer absurdity of the scene. A dead man buried under mountains of junk and sitting on $2 million in cash? It’s exactly the kind of bizarre setup that works so well in this series.
Final Thoughts
Robert B. Parker’s Buried Secrets is a solid addition to the Jesse Stone series. It brings back the action, humor, and small-town intrigue that fans know and love while introducing some new dynamics to keep things fresh. Farnsworth does justice to the world Parker created, and it’s clear that he understands what makes Jesse Stone and his crew tick. Despite the missteps with Daisy’s character, the book delivers an enjoyable mystery with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments.
If you’re a longtime fan, you’ll feel right at home in Paradise. And if you’re new to the series, this book has enough humor and heart to make you want to explore Jesse’s earlier adventures.
Would I recommend it? Absolutely. Just don’t be surprised if you find yourself muttering, “Really, Daisy?” a few times along the way.
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons for the Advanced Readers Copy. All of the opinions expressed are proudly my own.
October 27, 2024
Robert B. Parker invented some great characters, Jesse Stone is one of those. Luckily for us readers some great authors have taken over since he passed. In Buried Secrets the 22nd book set in Paradise we have a new author, Christopher Farnsworth, he has taken over the reins. I must admit that I hadn't heard about this author when the book was announced, It is always with trepidation I hear that a new author is at the helm. I can tell you all that do not worry, he has written one of the best Jesse Stone books ever. I was pleasantly surprised and hooked by the story in the first chapter, he sure captured the atmosphere of Parkers creation. What a great book and story, well written and with some fantastic characters and some new problems for Jesse to solve as well. I just love it. Now I have to rectify not reading this author before and look into the other books he has written. I must thank Edelweiss , Penguin Random House and G.P. Putnam's Sons for letting me have an advance copy of this book that will hit the shelves early in February 2025.
September 15, 2024
I’ve enjoyed every one of the Robert Parker Jesse Stone novels. Some more than others (I am thinking of a few written by ghost writers), but all left me entertained and better for having spent time with Police Chief Jesse Stone and his solid moral core, his undeniable sense of justice, his unending energy, and the sense of humor to get him--and everyone--through even tough times. In Buried Secrets (GP Putnam's Sons 2025), twenty-second in the series, Stone hires a new cop to replace several on the City of Paradise's force who have found greener pastures. He admits to not taking enough time to interview the new guy, but instinctively feels good about him and takes him on. From Day One, things don't go as well as Stone had hoped, but he is wrapped up in a complicated case involving a man who died atop millions of dollars and hundred of crime scene photos. Trying to untangle this odd situation makes Stone less attentive than he should be to his newest officer. Plus, Jesse is trying to improve his life, make its job-centric pieces allow him a more fulfilling personal life. Juggling all of these balls is almost more than he can handle, until his laser focus figures out what to pay attention to and what to ignore. This is the Jesse readers love.
Writer Christopher Farnsworth does a good job reproducing the voice and feel of the original Jesse Stone books. Of course, there are a few differences, but nothing that made me lose interest. This was an excellent story and I am eager for the next in the series.
Writer Christopher Farnsworth does a good job reproducing the voice and feel of the original Jesse Stone books. Of course, there are a few differences, but nothing that made me lose interest. This was an excellent story and I am eager for the next in the series.
February 8, 2025
Christopher Farnsworth wrote an excellent Jesse Stone novel.
I was drawn into the story from the start.
It was action packed, fast paced and emotional.
Some familiar characters show up in this novel, too.
If you’re a Jesse Stone fan, I highly recommend this book.
I’m looking forward to Christopher Farnsworth’s next Jesse Stone book.
I was drawn into the story from the start.
It was action packed, fast paced and emotional.
Some familiar characters show up in this novel, too.
If you’re a Jesse Stone fan, I highly recommend this book.
I’m looking forward to Christopher Farnsworth’s next Jesse Stone book.
March 12, 2025
I have been reading Robert B. Parker’s Jesse Stone series since its beginning. Jesse is the Chief of Police in the small town of Paradise, outside of Boston. Jesse’s background includes a once promising baseball prospect until suffering a career ending injury. He became a dedicated police officer in the Los Angeles Police department who developed a drinking problem that cost him his job.
Jesse’s role as Police Chief in Paradise has been his second chance at making life work, which has been full of work-related challenges as well as personal ones. When Parker passed away the series continued with Michael Brandman writing three books, Reed Farrel Coleman writing the next six, and Mike Lupica writing the last three books – “Fool’s Paradise”, “Stone’s Throw”, and Fallout” – before leaving to take over writing the Spenser novels upon Ace Atkins moving on to spend more time on his own creations.
Enter Christopher Farnsworth to take over the Jesse Stone series, which kicks off with “Buried Secrets” and turns out to be a surprisingly strong delivery for the first timer.
It starts with Jesse Stone, Chief of Police of Paradise, Massachusetts, a seaside tourist town outside of Boston that is home to the wealthy, retired, and middle-class families trying to make ends meet, trying to get home from a busy day at work. However, after receiving a callout from his deputy chief, Molly Crane, his night’s about to change for the bad. Significantly bad.
Someone has asked for a welfare check on a local friend who hasn’t been seen or heard from for a couple of weeks. Upon arriving at the house, Jesse meets the friend who’s worried, and enters the house through a partially open back door to discover a junk and trash filled residence that rivals a dump, and a dead body on the couch that is in a state of decomposition.
It appears to be a natural death with no obvious signs of foul play. Then things get weird when Jesse discovers the friend who requested help has suddenly drove off without saying goodbye. Things get even worse when Suit shows up to assist. First, Jesse finds photos of what appear to be murder victims in file boxes. Lots and lots of them. Second, when they move the dead man to the floor, they find cash in the couch cushions. Lots and lost of cash. What they estimate could be as much as $2 million.
In addition to taking on this new case full of unknown mysteries, Jesse is tasked with onboarding a new officer on his team. The newly hired, Derek Tate, is a former cop from Philadelphia who had a bad moment on the job, and is hoping starting over in a small-town setting will be a new start for him. However, things get off to a rough start for him when he makes a derogatory compliment about Molly which puts in the doghouse with other officers, Suit and Gabe. Things get worse when Tate threatens and almost draws his gun on Daisy, owner of Daisy’s Café, when she delivers coffee and donuts to the team. Things escalate quickly, and before you know it, the entire Paradise Police department is banned from stepping one foot into Daisy’s Café and causing city members to pick sides.
Chief Stone is facing unwanted danger on two fronts. His new case is bringing unwanted attention. As he tries to unravel the mystery of where the money came from, he finds himself facing unknown enemies arriving in town that will kill to keep the pictures and money away from the hands of law enforcement. At the same time, his new officer is creating a damaging rift not within the department, but with key business owners and close friends of Jesse’s. And to make matters worse, both of these situations are making Jesse want to reach out and take a drink. Something he’s promised Molly and Suit he would never do to them again…
My initial reaction when I first heard that Farnsworth was talking over the Jess Stone series was to google his name because I was not familiar with either him or any of his books. Truth be told, I had no clue who he was. Surprisingly, I discovered that he’s published several books, including a series that features a vampire agent, Nathaniel Cade, who works directly for the President of the United States, serving his country in ways that the living cannot. After reading his first Jesse Stone novel, I may have to check out his first Cade novel.
Anyway, I am pleased to share that Farnsworth delivers a winning read for his first Jesse Stone novel. His presents us with a type of Jesse that we haven’t seen in a while. One that is more reminiscent of when Reed Farrel Coleman was writing them and Jesse was crankier and more combative due to his wanting to drink again. I kept wondering why Jesse was acting more impatient and distracted through the first half of the book (which seemed a little out of character coming out Lupica’s last book), but Farnsworth provided an excellent reason for it in the second half that delivered a strong emotional payoff from the build-up that I didn’t see coming. I tip my hat to you, Farnsworth. Well done.
If I am going to be honest, I wasn’t sure where a writer could take Jesse as a character, how to develop him further, as well as create interesting conflict for him. Well, I was not only surprised, but seriously impressed with what Farnsworth did with Jesse in this book.
First, I started wondering during the first third of the book why Farnsworth was turning him back into an angry Jesse, wanting to drink again and making what appeared to be obvious mistakes in not seeing the troubles his new hire brought him, as well as damaging his relationship with Daisy and refusing to apologize. But oh boy, was I wrong. Farnsworth set up some serious conflicts for Jesse that really paid in the last half of the book, some of which I just didn’t see coming. Farnsworth really understands Jesse in a way that captures what truly drives him to serve others, to not give up in the face of adversity, and his inner weaknesses that hold him back. Instead of retreading the same ground, Farnsworth moves Jesse forward in a new and refreshing direction. We’re not used to seeing Jesse vulnerable on an emotional level and having to face his fears, and Farnsworth delivered a surprising punch that reenergized Jesse in a way I never saw coming. Much like when Reed Farrell Coleman was writing the books. An aging and maturing Jesse than learns and grows from his mistakes.
Second, how Farnsworth chose to deal with Jesse’s relationships with Daisy and Rita Fiore were creative, emotional, and heartbreaking. That alone was worth the price of admission. I wondered how Farnsworth was going to deal with Jesse’s relationship with Rita coming out of the last Spenser book and their reconnecting (at least temporarily). How he dealt with it in this book was absolutely shocking yet reminded me of why I loved these Robert B. Parker characters so dang much. I’ve spent almost forty years with them in my life and there are like my family. I love them, for the good things they do and regardless of the bad things they do. The physical and emotional conflict these two strong women faced in this book added a depth and quality I never expected. You put me through an emotional ringer, Farnsworth. That’s for sure.
Third, Farnsworth writing style was smooth, flowed well, and had that Robert B. Parker staccato rhythm. He balanced characters, plot, and setting in a way that felt familiar and comfortable yet mixed them up enough to keep you on your toes. It’s got to be a lot harder than it looks to write in Parker’s world, with his established characters and relationships. The dialogue and sarcastic witty banter are easy to read but must be awfully dang hard for a writer to just sit down and recreate from scratch. Somehow Farnsworth captured those unique voices and made the transition from Lupica easier than I expected.
My only real criticism about this book is what appears to be a lower word count. Most of the books in the Robert B. Parker recurring series (Spenser, Jesse Stone, and Sunny Randall) usually come in around 300 pages, give or take about 20 to 30 pages. Although this one clock ins at 337 pages, it still looks and feels formatted to increase the page count. The font size is much larger than normal (no, I am not reading the large print edition), and the margins are the thinnest per page I have ever seen. Talk about making it look longer than it really is…
I appreciate that Farnsworth is a tight writer, but wow, it sure seems like the publisher was really pushing hard to stretch the word count per page. I sat down to read this one night, and within 2 hours (or maybe less) I was already more than half way through it. I am not complaining about the quality of the read; I am just requesting a little more meat, or quantity, to my reading experience. Maybe that’s just my impression, and nobody else’s, but if nothing else, I am trying to help readers get full value for their money.
Overall, “Buried Secrets” was a good first outing for Christopher Farnsworth in the world of Jesse Stone. Usually, it takes a couple of books to get fully immersed in another author’s series and get your own rhythm going, but he did much better than I expected the first time out. Farnsworth understands Jessie Stone, Molly, Suit, and the other characters of Robert B. Parker’s crime driven world. More importantly, he just elevated the serious to a higher level, one that you don’t see coming and enriches it with new life and direction. I honestly cannot wait to read the next Jesse Stone book. “Buried Secrets” sets Farnsworth up with high expectations moving forward and I hope he can deliver on them like he did with this one.
But for now, I say thank you, Farnsworth, for such a compelling and worthy start.
Jesse’s role as Police Chief in Paradise has been his second chance at making life work, which has been full of work-related challenges as well as personal ones. When Parker passed away the series continued with Michael Brandman writing three books, Reed Farrel Coleman writing the next six, and Mike Lupica writing the last three books – “Fool’s Paradise”, “Stone’s Throw”, and Fallout” – before leaving to take over writing the Spenser novels upon Ace Atkins moving on to spend more time on his own creations.
Enter Christopher Farnsworth to take over the Jesse Stone series, which kicks off with “Buried Secrets” and turns out to be a surprisingly strong delivery for the first timer.
It starts with Jesse Stone, Chief of Police of Paradise, Massachusetts, a seaside tourist town outside of Boston that is home to the wealthy, retired, and middle-class families trying to make ends meet, trying to get home from a busy day at work. However, after receiving a callout from his deputy chief, Molly Crane, his night’s about to change for the bad. Significantly bad.
Someone has asked for a welfare check on a local friend who hasn’t been seen or heard from for a couple of weeks. Upon arriving at the house, Jesse meets the friend who’s worried, and enters the house through a partially open back door to discover a junk and trash filled residence that rivals a dump, and a dead body on the couch that is in a state of decomposition.
It appears to be a natural death with no obvious signs of foul play. Then things get weird when Jesse discovers the friend who requested help has suddenly drove off without saying goodbye. Things get even worse when Suit shows up to assist. First, Jesse finds photos of what appear to be murder victims in file boxes. Lots and lots of them. Second, when they move the dead man to the floor, they find cash in the couch cushions. Lots and lost of cash. What they estimate could be as much as $2 million.
In addition to taking on this new case full of unknown mysteries, Jesse is tasked with onboarding a new officer on his team. The newly hired, Derek Tate, is a former cop from Philadelphia who had a bad moment on the job, and is hoping starting over in a small-town setting will be a new start for him. However, things get off to a rough start for him when he makes a derogatory compliment about Molly which puts in the doghouse with other officers, Suit and Gabe. Things get worse when Tate threatens and almost draws his gun on Daisy, owner of Daisy’s Café, when she delivers coffee and donuts to the team. Things escalate quickly, and before you know it, the entire Paradise Police department is banned from stepping one foot into Daisy’s Café and causing city members to pick sides.
Chief Stone is facing unwanted danger on two fronts. His new case is bringing unwanted attention. As he tries to unravel the mystery of where the money came from, he finds himself facing unknown enemies arriving in town that will kill to keep the pictures and money away from the hands of law enforcement. At the same time, his new officer is creating a damaging rift not within the department, but with key business owners and close friends of Jesse’s. And to make matters worse, both of these situations are making Jesse want to reach out and take a drink. Something he’s promised Molly and Suit he would never do to them again…
My initial reaction when I first heard that Farnsworth was talking over the Jess Stone series was to google his name because I was not familiar with either him or any of his books. Truth be told, I had no clue who he was. Surprisingly, I discovered that he’s published several books, including a series that features a vampire agent, Nathaniel Cade, who works directly for the President of the United States, serving his country in ways that the living cannot. After reading his first Jesse Stone novel, I may have to check out his first Cade novel.
Anyway, I am pleased to share that Farnsworth delivers a winning read for his first Jesse Stone novel. His presents us with a type of Jesse that we haven’t seen in a while. One that is more reminiscent of when Reed Farrel Coleman was writing them and Jesse was crankier and more combative due to his wanting to drink again. I kept wondering why Jesse was acting more impatient and distracted through the first half of the book (which seemed a little out of character coming out Lupica’s last book), but Farnsworth provided an excellent reason for it in the second half that delivered a strong emotional payoff from the build-up that I didn’t see coming. I tip my hat to you, Farnsworth. Well done.
If I am going to be honest, I wasn’t sure where a writer could take Jesse as a character, how to develop him further, as well as create interesting conflict for him. Well, I was not only surprised, but seriously impressed with what Farnsworth did with Jesse in this book.
First, I started wondering during the first third of the book why Farnsworth was turning him back into an angry Jesse, wanting to drink again and making what appeared to be obvious mistakes in not seeing the troubles his new hire brought him, as well as damaging his relationship with Daisy and refusing to apologize. But oh boy, was I wrong. Farnsworth set up some serious conflicts for Jesse that really paid in the last half of the book, some of which I just didn’t see coming. Farnsworth really understands Jesse in a way that captures what truly drives him to serve others, to not give up in the face of adversity, and his inner weaknesses that hold him back. Instead of retreading the same ground, Farnsworth moves Jesse forward in a new and refreshing direction. We’re not used to seeing Jesse vulnerable on an emotional level and having to face his fears, and Farnsworth delivered a surprising punch that reenergized Jesse in a way I never saw coming. Much like when Reed Farrell Coleman was writing the books. An aging and maturing Jesse than learns and grows from his mistakes.
Second, how Farnsworth chose to deal with Jesse’s relationships with Daisy and Rita Fiore were creative, emotional, and heartbreaking. That alone was worth the price of admission. I wondered how Farnsworth was going to deal with Jesse’s relationship with Rita coming out of the last Spenser book and their reconnecting (at least temporarily). How he dealt with it in this book was absolutely shocking yet reminded me of why I loved these Robert B. Parker characters so dang much. I’ve spent almost forty years with them in my life and there are like my family. I love them, for the good things they do and regardless of the bad things they do. The physical and emotional conflict these two strong women faced in this book added a depth and quality I never expected. You put me through an emotional ringer, Farnsworth. That’s for sure.
Third, Farnsworth writing style was smooth, flowed well, and had that Robert B. Parker staccato rhythm. He balanced characters, plot, and setting in a way that felt familiar and comfortable yet mixed them up enough to keep you on your toes. It’s got to be a lot harder than it looks to write in Parker’s world, with his established characters and relationships. The dialogue and sarcastic witty banter are easy to read but must be awfully dang hard for a writer to just sit down and recreate from scratch. Somehow Farnsworth captured those unique voices and made the transition from Lupica easier than I expected.
My only real criticism about this book is what appears to be a lower word count. Most of the books in the Robert B. Parker recurring series (Spenser, Jesse Stone, and Sunny Randall) usually come in around 300 pages, give or take about 20 to 30 pages. Although this one clock ins at 337 pages, it still looks and feels formatted to increase the page count. The font size is much larger than normal (no, I am not reading the large print edition), and the margins are the thinnest per page I have ever seen. Talk about making it look longer than it really is…
I appreciate that Farnsworth is a tight writer, but wow, it sure seems like the publisher was really pushing hard to stretch the word count per page. I sat down to read this one night, and within 2 hours (or maybe less) I was already more than half way through it. I am not complaining about the quality of the read; I am just requesting a little more meat, or quantity, to my reading experience. Maybe that’s just my impression, and nobody else’s, but if nothing else, I am trying to help readers get full value for their money.
Overall, “Buried Secrets” was a good first outing for Christopher Farnsworth in the world of Jesse Stone. Usually, it takes a couple of books to get fully immersed in another author’s series and get your own rhythm going, but he did much better than I expected the first time out. Farnsworth understands Jessie Stone, Molly, Suit, and the other characters of Robert B. Parker’s crime driven world. More importantly, he just elevated the serious to a higher level, one that you don’t see coming and enriches it with new life and direction. I honestly cannot wait to read the next Jesse Stone book. “Buried Secrets” sets Farnsworth up with high expectations moving forward and I hope he can deliver on them like he did with this one.
But for now, I say thank you, Farnsworth, for such a compelling and worthy start.
January 1, 2025
This is, I believe, the author's first go-round at continuing the legacy of the late Robert B. Parker's popular series featuring Paradise, Massachusetts, police chief Jesse Stone - a complex character if there ever was one. And although Jesse's darker moment return to the forefront more often in this one, it definitely has the Parker "vibe." For those who keep count, this is the 22nd installment in the series.
It begins as Deputy Chief Molly Crane, Jesse's friend and protector and no-nonsense advice-giver, asks Jesse to make a welfare check on an elderly resident. The department is short on staff for several reasons, so Jesse draws the short straw. What he finds is a dead body - but only by following the smell; the man was a serious horder, and wading through his collection is a daunting task. On the way in, he met a "concerned friend," Matthew Peebles - who mysteriously disappeared by the time Jesse came back out.
Jesse and his deputy, Luther "Suitcase" Simpson, find a ton of revealing photos (by accident), suggesting that the dead man may not have been an upstanding citizen. On top of that (more accurately, closer to the bottom), they find a cool $2 million in cash. It's a puzzlement, at least till the department's discoveries become known - attracting unwanted attention from hitmen for hire who really don't want the world to learn their secrets. They'll do whatever it takes to put the kabosh on those photos and get their hands on the money - and since Jesse and his department are standing in their way, well...
On top of all that, Jesse must deal with a new hire named Derek Tate, a total jerk who thinks his police officer status gives him the right to bully anyone who crosses his path. This storyline was to me a bit of a stretch, in fact; even though Jesse may feel sorry for him and believe in second chances, the guy is way off the rails and there's no way he'd have lasted more than a day and a half under the Jesse I've come to know and love.
The hitmen, though, do pose a serious risk, and even Jesse is concerned - as he should be. Unbeknownst to Jesse, a couple of them have decided to hold hands long enough to take Jesse out, destroy the evidence and grab the money. Will they be successful, or do Jesse and his team have some counter-measures up their sleeves? Well, you'll just have to read it to find out. I sure did - taking the last handful of chapters to bed with me to finish because I couldn't wait till morning. Good one - and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for providing me the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy.
It begins as Deputy Chief Molly Crane, Jesse's friend and protector and no-nonsense advice-giver, asks Jesse to make a welfare check on an elderly resident. The department is short on staff for several reasons, so Jesse draws the short straw. What he finds is a dead body - but only by following the smell; the man was a serious horder, and wading through his collection is a daunting task. On the way in, he met a "concerned friend," Matthew Peebles - who mysteriously disappeared by the time Jesse came back out.
Jesse and his deputy, Luther "Suitcase" Simpson, find a ton of revealing photos (by accident), suggesting that the dead man may not have been an upstanding citizen. On top of that (more accurately, closer to the bottom), they find a cool $2 million in cash. It's a puzzlement, at least till the department's discoveries become known - attracting unwanted attention from hitmen for hire who really don't want the world to learn their secrets. They'll do whatever it takes to put the kabosh on those photos and get their hands on the money - and since Jesse and his department are standing in their way, well...
On top of all that, Jesse must deal with a new hire named Derek Tate, a total jerk who thinks his police officer status gives him the right to bully anyone who crosses his path. This storyline was to me a bit of a stretch, in fact; even though Jesse may feel sorry for him and believe in second chances, the guy is way off the rails and there's no way he'd have lasted more than a day and a half under the Jesse I've come to know and love.
The hitmen, though, do pose a serious risk, and even Jesse is concerned - as he should be. Unbeknownst to Jesse, a couple of them have decided to hold hands long enough to take Jesse out, destroy the evidence and grab the money. Will they be successful, or do Jesse and his team have some counter-measures up their sleeves? Well, you'll just have to read it to find out. I sure did - taking the last handful of chapters to bed with me to finish because I couldn't wait till morning. Good one - and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for providing me the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy.
February 6, 2025
The 22th Jesse Stone novel with a new continuation writer by the name of Christopher Farnsworth, that in itself is enough for a pre-order. Jesse Stone for me has the face of Tom Selleck and his bookish version as created by Robert B Parker turned for me into an amazing character that is worth following. The continuation writers so far have proved to great choices for Jesse Stone. This one being no exception.
In Paradise an understaffed Police force brings the chief of Police Jesse Stone to an house to check up on its occupant. When hé proves to be dead Jesse discovers a lot of crime scene photo's which leads to a forensic search which also uncovers a cool 2 million dollars in cash. The combination of this find proves to be an interesting puzzel for the Paradise Police departement.
And then a connection with an retired Irish gangster pops up and before you lnow hitmen turn up in the silent town of Paradise.
In this book there is also a snake in the PPD which causes a lot of unwanted unrest in this idealic little town.
Another great installment in Jesse Stone's saga and this New writer immediately delivers an excellent tale. Some more of Stone's cynical humour would be welcome in the next book if it were up to me.
Well worth you reading time.
In Paradise an understaffed Police force brings the chief of Police Jesse Stone to an house to check up on its occupant. When hé proves to be dead Jesse discovers a lot of crime scene photo's which leads to a forensic search which also uncovers a cool 2 million dollars in cash. The combination of this find proves to be an interesting puzzel for the Paradise Police departement.
And then a connection with an retired Irish gangster pops up and before you lnow hitmen turn up in the silent town of Paradise.
In this book there is also a snake in the PPD which causes a lot of unwanted unrest in this idealic little town.
Another great installment in Jesse Stone's saga and this New writer immediately delivers an excellent tale. Some more of Stone's cynical humour would be welcome in the next book if it were up to me.
Well worth you reading time.
February 4, 2025
★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2 (rounded up)
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
WHAT'S BURIED SECRETS ABOUT?
Jesse is called to make a welfare check on an elderly Paradise resident (no one he knows) and finds the worst outcome—they are weeks too late for this check. Also, the man was a hoarder, and it's near impossible to navigate through his home to his body without disturbing some of his stacks of...whatever it was that he'd accumulated.
When one box of photos is dislodged, Jesse finds several photos of murder victims. Crime Scene techs soon find $2 million in cash stashed in the house. Either one of these finds would send Jesse's "coply intuition" to sound alarm bills—the two together? He knows that they stumbled onto something bad—and worse is on the way to Paradise if they can't wrap up this case soon.
THE A STORY AND JESSE
(not that most of the cast of characters aren't involved in this storyline)
Something about this case sets Jesse off. Something is eating him in ways that he's unprepared for, and he gets a little on edge and grumpy (at least to those on the outside). The bottle is calling to him in a way it hasn't for a while. The voice is loud and tempting. There's at least once that he goes looking for a bottle that thankfully isn't there anymore.
The way this—and the related issues it brings up—work themselves out through this novel shows just how far Jesse has come since he first came to Paradise—or even since he stopped drinking in earnest. But that battle isn't over.
The rest of the PPD is involved in this storyline, but this is Jesse's focus throughout the novel—it's also where everything that Jesse goes through emotionally/psychologically is rooted. As such, I've found that I can't keep talking about this without telling you too much. So let's move on to:
THE B STORY AND EVERYONE ELSE
The day that this body is found is also the first day for a new officer for the PPD. He'd spent some time on patrol in a major city, and then a smaller city before this relocating. He tells Jesse that he wanted to be in a town like Paradise, where he could do some good.
There's an incident or two—you could see them as first-day on-the-job eagerness, a training issue, or something worse. Before you know it, people in Paradise (and in the PPD) are divided over this one officer. Jesse is too caught up in this case, the city politics, and other things to really dig into things. Some others in the department aren't so sure about him. Others are willing to give him a chance or three. Essentially, Jesse is willing to let things shake out on their own—at least until he's able to close the murder.
He might not get that chance. Making this call is arguably Jesse's biggest mistake in the novel.
In addition to the story of this officer, Farnsworth is able to bring in some discussion of what it means to be a police officer in the 21st Century USA. What does it look like, what kind of people should wear the badge? What kind of equipment should police departments have? How can people who have a problem with the police in their area safely do? There's a related scene that touches on public protest and social media/legacy media fanning the flames.
In many—most—ways, this story is not the main focus of the book—but it's so close that it might as well be. And as much as I enjoyed The A Story, this is the one that hooked me the deepest. Farnsworth did the franchise proud with it, too.
FARNSWORTH AT THE HELM
Poor Jesse Stone, this is his fourth author since Parker's death. Just for that reason alone, I hope Farnsworth sticks around for a while. He and his readers need some continuity. Once you figure in what a bang-up job that Farnsworth did, I can underscore that hope a couple of times.
Unlike just about every other (I think every other, but let's throw some wiggle room into this), Farnsworth didn't give us a lot of trivia from Parker's books to establish his bona fides. There were some references, but they were the same kind that Parker himself made. Farnsworth showed us his credentials in the way he wrote these characters, this community, and the story.
I was a little apprehensive about him—I read at least the first two of his Nathaniel Cade books—maybe all three, but nothing since. There was something about whichever Cade book was my last that didn't leave me eager to try him again. Don't ask me what it was—it's been over a decade. I'm glad my loyalty to the series won out over my vague sense of apprehension (it wasn't a close competition). He nailed it.
The one item that I'm most happy about is that with one line of dialogue, Farnsworth expanded on—added depth to—Dix. Did we need this for Dix? But I love that we got it. Also...it was a great way to give that gift to us.
BTS QUESTION
I know there have been conversations between some of the Parker-verse authors about moves they were going to make with certain characters and whatnot—I can't remember the details, but I heard in one or two interviews that Atkins or Coleman had to make an adjustment to one book because of something the other did (I'm being very vague because I don't remember too much and I'm too lazy to do the homework). So I'm sure that Farnsworth and Lupica had a conversation about this book and the events of Hot Property.
What I want to know is how did Hot Property impact this novel? Did Farnsworth have Rita's scenes in this book completed and added a couple of lines to reflect it? Did he have something else in mind for those scenes and revised them to take advantage of Lupica's latest? Just what kind of collaboration happened?
Does this impact my appreciation for either book? Nah. But I'm certainly curious.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT BURIED SECRETS?
At each step along the way, I kept thinking of other things I wanted to say about this one—and at book 22 of a series (no matter how many authors have contributed), that's saying something. I've done my best to limit myself to the bigger matters, but I think I could add at least another 5 paragraphs without breaking a sweat (and they'd likely lead to others).
When Coleman got Jesse into AA, I saw one fan complain about him turning Jesse into "another whining Twelve Step wuss" (that's very close to it). This seemed like an odd take, as most of Parker's work (since 1974's God Save the Child) has celebrated people getting help via therapy or some other means to improve—even save—their lives. I'm afraid that some of what this book does is going to elicit similar reactions from that fan and many others. I hope that the publisher, the Parker Estate, and Farnsworth ignore all that. I don't see anything here that doesn't fit in Parker's worldview (or at least the worldview of all of his fiction).
The Paradise Police Department—particularly the officers we've spent time with since Night Passage—got to shine as they ought to. Sure, it's Jesse's series, but Molly, Suit, Peter, Gabe, and the others are more than just cardboard cutouts in the background (obviously we don't know as much about Peter and Gabe as we do some others). The more the various personnel get to contribute, the more the books feel like it's about a Police Chief—not some rogue lawman. I'm glad Farnsworth did that.
Buried Secrets was satisfying on every level that I can think of. It's the best Jesse Stone novel in years (with all due respect to Mr. Lupica), specifically since The Hangman's Sonnet or Colorblind (now that I've mentioned those two books in particular, I could probably have written a post just about the ways that Buried Secrets parallels major elements of those, something I hadn't thought of until now). It contains a good mystery, some strong social commentary, some great character moments, a bunch of characters on the other side of the law that you just have to meet, some solid action, and most of all, time with characters that fans have been spending time with for decades.
I strongly recommend this.
Disclaimer: I received this eARC from PENGUIN GROUP Putnam via NetGalley in exchange for this post which contains my honest opinion—thanks to both for this.
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
WHAT'S BURIED SECRETS ABOUT?
Jesse is called to make a welfare check on an elderly Paradise resident (no one he knows) and finds the worst outcome—they are weeks too late for this check. Also, the man was a hoarder, and it's near impossible to navigate through his home to his body without disturbing some of his stacks of...whatever it was that he'd accumulated.
When one box of photos is dislodged, Jesse finds several photos of murder victims. Crime Scene techs soon find $2 million in cash stashed in the house. Either one of these finds would send Jesse's "coply intuition" to sound alarm bills—the two together? He knows that they stumbled onto something bad—and worse is on the way to Paradise if they can't wrap up this case soon.
THE A STORY AND JESSE
(not that most of the cast of characters aren't involved in this storyline)
Something about this case sets Jesse off. Something is eating him in ways that he's unprepared for, and he gets a little on edge and grumpy (at least to those on the outside). The bottle is calling to him in a way it hasn't for a while. The voice is loud and tempting. There's at least once that he goes looking for a bottle that thankfully isn't there anymore.
The way this—and the related issues it brings up—work themselves out through this novel shows just how far Jesse has come since he first came to Paradise—or even since he stopped drinking in earnest. But that battle isn't over.
The rest of the PPD is involved in this storyline, but this is Jesse's focus throughout the novel—it's also where everything that Jesse goes through emotionally/psychologically is rooted. As such, I've found that I can't keep talking about this without telling you too much. So let's move on to:
THE B STORY AND EVERYONE ELSE
The day that this body is found is also the first day for a new officer for the PPD. He'd spent some time on patrol in a major city, and then a smaller city before this relocating. He tells Jesse that he wanted to be in a town like Paradise, where he could do some good.
There's an incident or two—you could see them as first-day on-the-job eagerness, a training issue, or something worse. Before you know it, people in Paradise (and in the PPD) are divided over this one officer. Jesse is too caught up in this case, the city politics, and other things to really dig into things. Some others in the department aren't so sure about him. Others are willing to give him a chance or three. Essentially, Jesse is willing to let things shake out on their own—at least until he's able to close the murder.
He might not get that chance. Making this call is arguably Jesse's biggest mistake in the novel.
In addition to the story of this officer, Farnsworth is able to bring in some discussion of what it means to be a police officer in the 21st Century USA. What does it look like, what kind of people should wear the badge? What kind of equipment should police departments have? How can people who have a problem with the police in their area safely do? There's a related scene that touches on public protest and social media/legacy media fanning the flames.
In many—most—ways, this story is not the main focus of the book—but it's so close that it might as well be. And as much as I enjoyed The A Story, this is the one that hooked me the deepest. Farnsworth did the franchise proud with it, too.
FARNSWORTH AT THE HELM
Poor Jesse Stone, this is his fourth author since Parker's death. Just for that reason alone, I hope Farnsworth sticks around for a while. He and his readers need some continuity. Once you figure in what a bang-up job that Farnsworth did, I can underscore that hope a couple of times.
Unlike just about every other (I think every other, but let's throw some wiggle room into this), Farnsworth didn't give us a lot of trivia from Parker's books to establish his bona fides. There were some references, but they were the same kind that Parker himself made. Farnsworth showed us his credentials in the way he wrote these characters, this community, and the story.
I was a little apprehensive about him—I read at least the first two of his Nathaniel Cade books—maybe all three, but nothing since. There was something about whichever Cade book was my last that didn't leave me eager to try him again. Don't ask me what it was—it's been over a decade. I'm glad my loyalty to the series won out over my vague sense of apprehension (it wasn't a close competition). He nailed it.
The one item that I'm most happy about is that with one line of dialogue, Farnsworth expanded on—added depth to—Dix. Did we need this for Dix? But I love that we got it. Also...it was a great way to give that gift to us.
BTS QUESTION
I know there have been conversations between some of the Parker-verse authors about moves they were going to make with certain characters and whatnot—I can't remember the details, but I heard in one or two interviews that Atkins or Coleman had to make an adjustment to one book because of something the other did (I'm being very vague because I don't remember too much and I'm too lazy to do the homework). So I'm sure that Farnsworth and Lupica had a conversation about this book and the events of Hot Property.
What I want to know is how did Hot Property impact this novel? Did Farnsworth have Rita's scenes in this book completed and added a couple of lines to reflect it? Did he have something else in mind for those scenes and revised them to take advantage of Lupica's latest? Just what kind of collaboration happened?
Does this impact my appreciation for either book? Nah. But I'm certainly curious.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT BURIED SECRETS?
At each step along the way, I kept thinking of other things I wanted to say about this one—and at book 22 of a series (no matter how many authors have contributed), that's saying something. I've done my best to limit myself to the bigger matters, but I think I could add at least another 5 paragraphs without breaking a sweat (and they'd likely lead to others).
When Coleman got Jesse into AA, I saw one fan complain about him turning Jesse into "another whining Twelve Step wuss" (that's very close to it). This seemed like an odd take, as most of Parker's work (since 1974's God Save the Child) has celebrated people getting help via therapy or some other means to improve—even save—their lives. I'm afraid that some of what this book does is going to elicit similar reactions from that fan and many others. I hope that the publisher, the Parker Estate, and Farnsworth ignore all that. I don't see anything here that doesn't fit in Parker's worldview (or at least the worldview of all of his fiction).
The Paradise Police Department—particularly the officers we've spent time with since Night Passage—got to shine as they ought to. Sure, it's Jesse's series, but Molly, Suit, Peter, Gabe, and the others are more than just cardboard cutouts in the background (obviously we don't know as much about Peter and Gabe as we do some others). The more the various personnel get to contribute, the more the books feel like it's about a Police Chief—not some rogue lawman. I'm glad Farnsworth did that.
Buried Secrets was satisfying on every level that I can think of. It's the best Jesse Stone novel in years (with all due respect to Mr. Lupica), specifically since The Hangman's Sonnet or Colorblind (now that I've mentioned those two books in particular, I could probably have written a post just about the ways that Buried Secrets parallels major elements of those, something I hadn't thought of until now). It contains a good mystery, some strong social commentary, some great character moments, a bunch of characters on the other side of the law that you just have to meet, some solid action, and most of all, time with characters that fans have been spending time with for decades.
I strongly recommend this.
Disclaimer: I received this eARC from PENGUIN GROUP Putnam via NetGalley in exchange for this post which contains my honest opinion—thanks to both for this.
July 4, 2025
Back to Robert Parker quality. Farnsworth knocks it out of the park. Can’t wait to read the next one.
February 16, 2025
Wow! My favorite Jesse Stone book to date. Lots of action, murderers, Mafia-types, and, best of all, one helluva gruesome crime scene. I did not know that you need a broker to select the proper contractors and subcontractors for your murders.
“A good cop wants to do the right thing. A bad cop wants everyone to do as he says because he says it.”
The title of the book could be “Trapped in Paradise.”
“A good cop wants to do the right thing. A bad cop wants everyone to do as he says because he says it.”
The title of the book could be “Trapped in Paradise.”
February 26, 2025
I vacillated in my rating but a subplot really brought this down for me.
September 4, 2024
This eARC was received through Netgalley.com and I am providing an unbiased review.
By my reckoning, and help from some other book sites on the interwebz, this is the 22nd novel in the Jesse Stone series originally started by Robert B Parker. Once again we are following along in the steps of the Paradise, Mass., police chief Jesse Stone as another crime happens in the peaceful town. If you have read previous novels in this series, and have been able to catch at least one of the several movies made from the books (featuring Tom Selleck) you will more than understand how I picture our MC to look.
This is Farnsworth's first endeavor into the realm of Robert B Parker novels (Spenser, Sunny Randall, Jesse Stone) and he does what I consider a very fine job of doing so. I found the writing style similar to previous novels (by other authors, and Parker himself) and the story moved along at the pace that Parker intended all his stories to go (in my opinion). I really liked how he brought into play the issue regarding 'hoarding', as it seems to occur more often these days, or at least we hear more of it happening. I also liked how he brought up issues with the main character himself, and fears he might be facing (spoiler: being old and alone and dying but no one would notice).
I definitely enjoyed this read, and another trip into the world of Jesse Stone, and I think Farnsworth has done a wonderful job with his first novel into this realm.
By my reckoning, and help from some other book sites on the interwebz, this is the 22nd novel in the Jesse Stone series originally started by Robert B Parker. Once again we are following along in the steps of the Paradise, Mass., police chief Jesse Stone as another crime happens in the peaceful town. If you have read previous novels in this series, and have been able to catch at least one of the several movies made from the books (featuring Tom Selleck) you will more than understand how I picture our MC to look.
This is Farnsworth's first endeavor into the realm of Robert B Parker novels (Spenser, Sunny Randall, Jesse Stone) and he does what I consider a very fine job of doing so. I found the writing style similar to previous novels (by other authors, and Parker himself) and the story moved along at the pace that Parker intended all his stories to go (in my opinion). I really liked how he brought into play the issue regarding 'hoarding', as it seems to occur more often these days, or at least we hear more of it happening. I also liked how he brought up issues with the main character himself, and fears he might be facing (spoiler: being old and alone and dying but no one would notice).
I definitely enjoyed this read, and another trip into the world of Jesse Stone, and I think Farnsworth has done a wonderful job with his first novel into this realm.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 25, 2024
Robert Parker would certainly be proud of this latest installment in the adventures of Jesse Stone in Paradise. All of his usual characters (Jesse, Molly, Suit, Daisy and Rita Fiore) are present and have important roles to play in this stimulating tale of murder, arson, police brutality and vengeance. I particularly enjoyed the sessions Jesse had with his psychiatrist and found them to be very enlightening. The story is interesting and the writing is superb and I thank NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for the opportunity to read and review this book prior to publication.
March 16, 2025
Jesse is back. I have missed these stories!!!
June 30, 2025
I thought Parker came back to life as Christopher Farnsworth as I read this novel. I was a big fan of Parker's Spenser, Stone and Sunny novels but with the exception of Ace Atkins (Spenser) and Coleman (Stone) I did not enjoy any of the other authors who wrote continuing novels following Parker's characters........until Buried Secrets. I hope Farnsworth continues to write Jesse Stone novels. This one is great.
February 15, 2025
We are more than pleased that the extensions to Parker's Jesse Stone series keep coming, as we enjoy both the characters and the general tenor of these tales. "Secrets" is the first by author Farnsworth, who continued to do a fine job in the footsteps of first Michael Brandman (three novels), then Reed Farrel Coleman (six novels), and most recently two more books by (sports reporter) Mike Lupica. Our impression is that this new author did a credible job with the style and "voice" to which we are accustomed. We might quibble that the plot was somewhat atypically violent, complicated by a new hire by Jesse, somewhat foisted upon him, that turned out really bad for both his teammates on the Paradise police force and the local citizens.
Nonetheless, well recommended. [3.5]
Nonetheless, well recommended. [3.5]
May 10, 2025
Farnsworth has come as close as anyone to filling Robert Parker's keyboard as any of the other authors have since Parker passed away. Another dead body in Paradise and Jesse Stone is out to make sense of what was left behind by a real pack rat. At the same time, he's trying to resolve a staffing issue and the two events collide. Excellent read with the type of explosive finish you've come to enjoy in a Robert Parker/Jesse Stone novel
March 31, 2025
Almost every Paradise character from the Jesse Stone books is brought back and made to behave like in the previous books. Molly Crane comes off as a bit too caustic at times. Luckily the end is put together well enough, so we ignore caricatures of characters like Tate.
February 17, 2025
This is how you write a Robert B. Parker novel. The voice, the story, and the history was all there. Well done!
April 15, 2025
Excellent addition to the series!
July 5, 2025
3.5 stars
August 18, 2025
Great book as good as Robert Parker's Lots of action and great characters
November 5, 2025
I have read or seen most of the Jesse Stone series and, at this point, I read new episodes occasionally for entertainment. This is one of the best I have read, including those by Parker himself.
February 23, 2025
Disappointing! Jess Stone is not true to his character. Despite personal issues, he would never treat his friends and colleagues the way he did in this book. Also, some of the plot was unbelievable; perhaps chosen to move the story along, but not realistic to the situation (i.e. not removing documents of crimes from a home, thus allowing them to be destroyed).
The story itself was interesting, but fell somewhat flat because of rookie writing choices such as these.
The story itself was interesting, but fell somewhat flat because of rookie writing choices such as these.
February 9, 2025
Sorry; this book is silly, and many mistakes; doesn’t come close to the originals. An easy read, but much better stuff out there.
February 22, 2025
I liked the story and it was an easy read, but I felt something was off. Tate just kind of busted in and became a bad guy immediately with no build up. His “red mist” was something out of a Tom Clancy novel, not a Stone novel. It was like the author was trying to touch all the Stone highlights but didn’t offer much depth to the story. I didn’t buy Stone believing Tate and not Daisy. It all felt very contrived as a story rather than the genuine Parker characters we’ve come to love
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 26, 2025
Outstanding read. This is the first Jesse Stone novel written by Christopher Farnsworth. He did a bang up job hitting just the right notes with the characters. And the plot was very well thought out. I’m hoping Mr. Farnsworth will write more of Robert B Parker‘s Jesse Stone books. Looking forward to reading them in the future.
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