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Jesse Stone #17
Robert B. Parker's Colorblind
Police chief Jesse Stone returns in the newest novel in Robert B. Parker's New York Times--bestselling series, and his newest case hits right at the heart of the Paradise police force.Jesse Stone is back on the job after a stint in rehab, and the road to recovery is immediately made bumpy by a series of disturbing and apparently racially motivated crimes, beginning with the murder of an African American woman. Then, Jesse's own deputy Alisha--the first black woman hired by the Paradise police force--becomes the target of a sophisticated frame-up. As he and his team work tirelessly to unravel the truth, he has to wonder if this is just one part of an even grander plot, one with an end game more destructive than any of them can imagine.At the same time, a mysterious young man named Cole Slayton rolls into town with a chip on his shoulder and a problem with authority--namely, Jesse. Yet, something about the angry twenty-something appeals to Jesse, and he takes Cole under his wing. But there's more to him than meets the eye, and his secrets might change Jesse's life forever.
367 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 11, 2018
2088 people are currently reading
1056 people want to read
About the author
Reed Farrel Coleman
166 books743 followersaka Tony Spinosa
Reed Farrel Coleman’s love of storytelling originated on the streets of Brooklyn and was nurtured by his teachers, friends, and family.
A New York Times bestseller called a hard-boiled poet by NPR’s Maureen Corrigan and the “noir poet laureate” in the Huffington Post, Reed is the author of novels, including Robert B. Parker's Jesse Stone series, the acclaimed Moe Prager series, short stories, and poetry.
Reed is a three-time Edgar Award nominee in three different categories—Best Novel, Best Paperback Original, Best Short Story—and a three-time recipient of the Shamus Award for Best PI Novel of the Year. He has also won the Audie, Macavity, Barry, and Anthony Awards.
A former executive vice president of Mystery Writers of America, Reed is an adjunct instructor of English at Hofstra University and a founding member of MWA University. Brooklyn born and raised, he now lives with his family–including cats Cleo and Knish–in Suffolk County on Long Island.
Reed Farrel Coleman’s love of storytelling originated on the streets of Brooklyn and was nurtured by his teachers, friends, and family.
A New York Times bestseller called a hard-boiled poet by NPR’s Maureen Corrigan and the “noir poet laureate” in the Huffington Post, Reed is the author of novels, including Robert B. Parker's Jesse Stone series, the acclaimed Moe Prager series, short stories, and poetry.
Reed is a three-time Edgar Award nominee in three different categories—Best Novel, Best Paperback Original, Best Short Story—and a three-time recipient of the Shamus Award for Best PI Novel of the Year. He has also won the Audie, Macavity, Barry, and Anthony Awards.
A former executive vice president of Mystery Writers of America, Reed is an adjunct instructor of English at Hofstra University and a founding member of MWA University. Brooklyn born and raised, he now lives with his family–including cats Cleo and Knish–in Suffolk County on Long Island.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 373 reviews
February 16, 2023
4 stars for a library book that I raced through in 2 days, even though it was 356 pages. Reed Farrell Coleman has done an excellent job of carrying on the Jesse Stone series. He writes short chapters and short sentences, in the Robert B. Parker style. The main characters, Jesse, Molly Crane, his chief deputy, Luther Simpson, another deputy, and other continuing characters are still described as I envisioned them from the beginning. This book has Jesse back from Rehab, where he finally gave up alcohol.
The book opens with a rape and a brutal beating, so definitely not for cozy mystery fans. Although the rape and beating are in a neighboring town out of Jesse's jurisdiction, he is called to the scene, because of a similarity to a past crime. Several incidents, including the rape/beating point to a disturbing theme: Some people are targeting interracial couples.
Jesse does solve the case, but not before several people are killed and he is attacked. There is also a new character in Jesse's personal life. Both my wife and I enjoy this series. I recommend this series be read in order, because of events in Jesse's personal life.
The book opens with a rape and a brutal beating, so definitely not for cozy mystery fans. Although the rape and beating are in a neighboring town out of Jesse's jurisdiction, he is called to the scene, because of a similarity to a past crime. Several incidents, including the rape/beating point to a disturbing theme: Some people are targeting interracial couples.
Jesse does solve the case, but not before several people are killed and he is attacked. There is also a new character in Jesse's personal life. Both my wife and I enjoy this series. I recommend this series be read in order, because of events in Jesse's personal life.
January 27, 2024
I read a Jesse Stone Novel again by the guy who wrote the TV episodes for Tom Selleck who played an amazing good role and it is a bloody shame the show ended too early. Anyhow these books are comfort food and as such too be enjoyed. A great reread of an excellent series of continuation series by New writer after the demise of the great Robert B Parker. January 2024
A continuation novel of the works of the late and great Robert B Parker concerning Chief Jesse Stone and his life in Paradise.
Starting off I will gladly admit that Parkers' Jesse Stone was one of my favorite literary creations and while the continuation writer do a decent job they lack the skill Parker had that made Spenser & Stone wickedly cynical and funny in a very own style that I have not seen in any continuation author.
Anyhow Stone returns after spending some time in rehab and picks up his civic duty as Chief of the Police.
Some hate crimes happen in Paradise and its neighbors, and before Stone knows they are caught in a sh&tstorm because Paradise one colored policewoman has shot an unarmed young man.
This invites the crazies into town and their opponents which makes for a very unwanted situation in which Jesse Stone wants to find the truth something that is hardwired into him.
Before the book ends Stone's life does change in a positive way and totally positive way.
Another excellent continuation novel by Reed Farrel Coleman who does write an excellent book about Jesse Stone.
A continuation novel of the works of the late and great Robert B Parker concerning Chief Jesse Stone and his life in Paradise.
Starting off I will gladly admit that Parkers' Jesse Stone was one of my favorite literary creations and while the continuation writer do a decent job they lack the skill Parker had that made Spenser & Stone wickedly cynical and funny in a very own style that I have not seen in any continuation author.
Anyhow Stone returns after spending some time in rehab and picks up his civic duty as Chief of the Police.
Some hate crimes happen in Paradise and its neighbors, and before Stone knows they are caught in a sh&tstorm because Paradise one colored policewoman has shot an unarmed young man.
This invites the crazies into town and their opponents which makes for a very unwanted situation in which Jesse Stone wants to find the truth something that is hardwired into him.
Before the book ends Stone's life does change in a positive way and totally positive way.
Another excellent continuation novel by Reed Farrel Coleman who does write an excellent book about Jesse Stone.
September 27, 2018
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 and Reed Farrel Coleman having written the last five. Under Coleman’s creative influence Jesse has gone through a personal journey of trial, heartbreak, and growth. That continues with this new book.
At the end of his last book, “The Hangman’s Sonnet” ends, Jesse found himself pretty much at rock bottom mentally and emotionally. Struggling to recover from the murder of his true love and drinking too heavily has impaired his ability to do his job. Jesse realizes it and voluntarily takes a leave of absence to admit himself into a rehab program. “Colorblind” begins with Jesse’s return from rehab and first day back on the job. As expected, his road to recovery is immediately tested by a series of disturbing crimes that appear to be racially motivated.
It begins with the murder of Felicity Wileford – an African American woman taking a jog along the beach while visiting Paradise. Not only is the act brutal, the killers used women’s lipstick to write the word “Slut” on her stomach. A couple of nights later, Ron Patel, a doctor of Indian descent, and his family have a large cross burned in their front yard. This is followed by the secret distribution throughout Paradise of confederate flag laced fliers promising a revolution of change is coming soon. The fliers are signed by a group calling themselves “The Saviors of Society”. If that wasn’t enough, Paradise’s first ever black woman deputy hired by Jesse himself, Alisha, is the target of a very sophisticated frame-up.
At the same time, Jesse face personal challenges of his own. As part of his recovery plan, Jesse starts attending Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings in Boston. There he meets Bill, a longtime AA member who becomes Jesse’s mentor and helps him fight the daily battle to say away from the bottle. Jesse also meets Callie, the lady who runs the meetings and provides him with an attractiveness he feels for the first time in a long time. If that weren’t enough, Jesse is introduced to a mysterious young man named Cole Slayton, who has the biggest chip possible on his shoulder and a problem with authority, especially with Jesse in particular. Jesse tries overcome the youth’s anger and take him under his mentoring wing, but Cole is hiding secrets. Secrets big enough to forever change Jesse’s life.
Jesse has his hands more than full trying to stay sober while he and his team work diligently to figure out the truth behind the racist attacks and dealing with the angry Cole. The problem is the attacks are only getting worse, building up to a much explosive endgame that Jesse may not survive.
Coleman continues to increase his unique understanding of Jesse Stone and the growing pains of what once was small town of Paradise, Massachusetts. Coleman does an outstanding job of introducing and developing the multiple plot lines and the secondary characters that propel those connecting stories forward. The primary mystery involves racial hate groups which is not one of my favorite ways to go. However, Coleman provides some interesting clues and twists along the way that provides enough depth to keep the reader’s attention. Jesse’s experiences in his AA meetings and his interaction with the old-timer Bill provided a nice mentor for Jesse during this sensitive time in his life. Jesse’s growing professional relationship with State police Officer Lundquist, who replaced the longtime favorite, Healy, who retired, is growing nicely. And of course, his exchanges with closest friend, Officer Molly, may seem argumentative, but have an underlying bond of undeniable love. There isn’t anything one wouldn’t do for the other, at any cost.
But the biggest strength in this book is the quiet, but firm way, Coleman deals with Jesse’s recovery from the personal loss of his former fiancée and his serious drinking problem. Over the last two books we’ve see Jesse at some of his lowest points ever and it sucked. Now we are watching him pull himself up by his bootstrings one step at a time to not only solve the case, but deal with his problems through real life struggles. For example, he opens his work desk drawer several times to find it empty and realize that a real commitment to sobriety is the hardest thing he’s ever faced. the It is painful, but provides hope for a better future for Jesse.
This is Coleman’s fifth Jesse Stone novel and I am going to say something that will probably surprise you. It surprises me. Coleman has pulled me back into caring about Jesse Stone again. Over the last five books he has built up my hope for his happiness, ripped my heart apart, and then began to rebuild Jesse from the ground level up, making him stronger and wiser by fighting through the challenges of his personal demons, only to discover the lessons we learn in life can make us better. Coleman has made Jesse an interesting hero again - an imperfect lawman with chinks in his armor, who’s moral and ethical code requires him to do the right thing at all costs, and believe a positive outcome is possible and will happen.
So, here’s the surprise. After finishing the last page, I came to the sudden realization that Coleman now owns Jesse Stone, the city of Paradise, Molly, Suit, and all the rest of the characters. He may have started out as a caretaker of Robert B. Parker’s wonderful side character to Spenser, but Coleman has captured the heart and essence of this series and made it his own. No disrespect in any way to one of my all-time favorite authors – the marvelous Robert B. Parker – but Coleman has made Jesse Stone and the rest of paradise his home, and he has done an admirable job in using this canvas to elevate an exceptional series to even higher levels. Like the last two years, I absolutely cannot wait to read the new book next year.
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 and Reed Farrel Coleman having written the last five. Under Coleman’s creative influence Jesse has gone through a personal journey of trial, heartbreak, and growth. That continues with this new book.
At the end of his last book, “The Hangman’s Sonnet” ends, Jesse found himself pretty much at rock bottom mentally and emotionally. Struggling to recover from the murder of his true love and drinking too heavily has impaired his ability to do his job. Jesse realizes it and voluntarily takes a leave of absence to admit himself into a rehab program. “Colorblind” begins with Jesse’s return from rehab and first day back on the job. As expected, his road to recovery is immediately tested by a series of disturbing crimes that appear to be racially motivated.
It begins with the murder of Felicity Wileford – an African American woman taking a jog along the beach while visiting Paradise. Not only is the act brutal, the killers used women’s lipstick to write the word “Slut” on her stomach. A couple of nights later, Ron Patel, a doctor of Indian descent, and his family have a large cross burned in their front yard. This is followed by the secret distribution throughout Paradise of confederate flag laced fliers promising a revolution of change is coming soon. The fliers are signed by a group calling themselves “The Saviors of Society”. If that wasn’t enough, Paradise’s first ever black woman deputy hired by Jesse himself, Alisha, is the target of a very sophisticated frame-up.
At the same time, Jesse face personal challenges of his own. As part of his recovery plan, Jesse starts attending Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings in Boston. There he meets Bill, a longtime AA member who becomes Jesse’s mentor and helps him fight the daily battle to say away from the bottle. Jesse also meets Callie, the lady who runs the meetings and provides him with an attractiveness he feels for the first time in a long time. If that weren’t enough, Jesse is introduced to a mysterious young man named Cole Slayton, who has the biggest chip possible on his shoulder and a problem with authority, especially with Jesse in particular. Jesse tries overcome the youth’s anger and take him under his mentoring wing, but Cole is hiding secrets. Secrets big enough to forever change Jesse’s life.
Jesse has his hands more than full trying to stay sober while he and his team work diligently to figure out the truth behind the racist attacks and dealing with the angry Cole. The problem is the attacks are only getting worse, building up to a much explosive endgame that Jesse may not survive.
Coleman continues to increase his unique understanding of Jesse Stone and the growing pains of what once was small town of Paradise, Massachusetts. Coleman does an outstanding job of introducing and developing the multiple plot lines and the secondary characters that propel those connecting stories forward. The primary mystery involves racial hate groups which is not one of my favorite ways to go. However, Coleman provides some interesting clues and twists along the way that provides enough depth to keep the reader’s attention. Jesse’s experiences in his AA meetings and his interaction with the old-timer Bill provided a nice mentor for Jesse during this sensitive time in his life. Jesse’s growing professional relationship with State police Officer Lundquist, who replaced the longtime favorite, Healy, who retired, is growing nicely. And of course, his exchanges with closest friend, Officer Molly, may seem argumentative, but have an underlying bond of undeniable love. There isn’t anything one wouldn’t do for the other, at any cost.
But the biggest strength in this book is the quiet, but firm way, Coleman deals with Jesse’s recovery from the personal loss of his former fiancée and his serious drinking problem. Over the last two books we’ve see Jesse at some of his lowest points ever and it sucked. Now we are watching him pull himself up by his bootstrings one step at a time to not only solve the case, but deal with his problems through real life struggles. For example, he opens his work desk drawer several times to find it empty and realize that a real commitment to sobriety is the hardest thing he’s ever faced. the It is painful, but provides hope for a better future for Jesse.
This is Coleman’s fifth Jesse Stone novel and I am going to say something that will probably surprise you. It surprises me. Coleman has pulled me back into caring about Jesse Stone again. Over the last five books he has built up my hope for his happiness, ripped my heart apart, and then began to rebuild Jesse from the ground level up, making him stronger and wiser by fighting through the challenges of his personal demons, only to discover the lessons we learn in life can make us better. Coleman has made Jesse an interesting hero again - an imperfect lawman with chinks in his armor, who’s moral and ethical code requires him to do the right thing at all costs, and believe a positive outcome is possible and will happen.
So, here’s the surprise. After finishing the last page, I came to the sudden realization that Coleman now owns Jesse Stone, the city of Paradise, Molly, Suit, and all the rest of the characters. He may have started out as a caretaker of Robert B. Parker’s wonderful side character to Spenser, but Coleman has captured the heart and essence of this series and made it his own. No disrespect in any way to one of my all-time favorite authors – the marvelous Robert B. Parker – but Coleman has made Jesse Stone and the rest of paradise his home, and he has done an admirable job in using this canvas to elevate an exceptional series to even higher levels. Like the last two years, I absolutely cannot wait to read the new book next year.
September 20, 2018
I almost always enjoy spending time with Jesse Stone, and this book was no exception. I believe the narrator, James Naughton, played a large part in my enjoyment of this one
July 20, 2018
If I'm honest, although I very much enjoyed the other books by this author, who took over the series after the death of Robert B. Parker, they never quite measured up to the originals. This one, in which Jesse returns to his job after a couple of months in rehab, doesn't read like "classic" Jesse either. Rather, it does something that seems perfect to me after all these years: brings major changes to Jesse's life including a persona that seems a bit different (not the least of which is that he sometimes speaks in full sentences). It's also a great story that held my interest throughout; so if I'm right that this book signals the beginning of a new Jesse, I'm all for it.
Jesse also has left his former home and moved to a condo, removed the bottle of booze from the bottom drawer of his desk at work, hired a newbie cop named Alisha and started going to AA meetings (the latter albeit reluctantly). Talk about a fresh start! Soon, he lands in the middle of a new case as well - the vicious beating and rape of a black woman. The M.O. reminds Jesse of a similar murder years earlier, and suspicions are that there's a connection to the Saviors of Society, who may be attacking interracial couples. Just what the normally peaceful town of Paradise needs.
And then, the almost unthinkable happens: Alisha is accused of murdering an unarmed man - the son of the Saviors leader, no less. Despite the damning evidence against her, Jesse smells a rat and isn't willing to believe she's guilty as charged. Proving that, however, won't be easy; he'll need to garner all his notable investigative skills - and some help from friends - if he's to get to the bottom of what really happened before the Saviors take their demand for "justice" into their own hands.
As all this is happening, Jesse continues to have mixed feelings about sobriety and meets a young man named Cole who, let's say, isn't fond of authority. Feeling some kind of connection, Jesse tries his best to help Cole (or at least keep him out of serious trouble). But will the kid be worth the effort? Maybe, maybe not; I'll never tell!
I will, however, be looking forward to the next chapter in Jesse's new life. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read an advance review copy of this one.
Jesse also has left his former home and moved to a condo, removed the bottle of booze from the bottom drawer of his desk at work, hired a newbie cop named Alisha and started going to AA meetings (the latter albeit reluctantly). Talk about a fresh start! Soon, he lands in the middle of a new case as well - the vicious beating and rape of a black woman. The M.O. reminds Jesse of a similar murder years earlier, and suspicions are that there's a connection to the Saviors of Society, who may be attacking interracial couples. Just what the normally peaceful town of Paradise needs.
And then, the almost unthinkable happens: Alisha is accused of murdering an unarmed man - the son of the Saviors leader, no less. Despite the damning evidence against her, Jesse smells a rat and isn't willing to believe she's guilty as charged. Proving that, however, won't be easy; he'll need to garner all his notable investigative skills - and some help from friends - if he's to get to the bottom of what really happened before the Saviors take their demand for "justice" into their own hands.
As all this is happening, Jesse continues to have mixed feelings about sobriety and meets a young man named Cole who, let's say, isn't fond of authority. Feeling some kind of connection, Jesse tries his best to help Cole (or at least keep him out of serious trouble). But will the kid be worth the effort? Maybe, maybe not; I'll never tell!
I will, however, be looking forward to the next chapter in Jesse's new life. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read an advance review copy of this one.
December 12, 2025
Paradise’s newest officer is a young black woman. She leaves a bar legally intoxicated, spots a suspect of a hate crime, and follows him. She believes he fired on her and returns fire, killing him. And no gun is found. The victim’s father is the head of a white suprematist group. The state investigates and files murder charges against her. Jesse and his officers are not supposed to investigate but Jesse sees too many coincidences.
October 27, 2018
As far as I'm concerned, Colorblind marks a real triumph for author Reed Farrel Coleman. Tasked with carrying on the late Robert B Parker's Jesse Stone series, Coleman has been slowly transmogrifying the series with each passing book-I feel I can safely "announce" that the characters that were Parker's are now Coleman's, lock stock and barrel. Don't get me wrong these are still the characters we loved, but we have moved away from a slavish imitation of Parker's work-this is something new, and it is really really good. The only fly in the ointment (for me) was the "stranger in town" sub-plot. If you have not figured things out by page 55 you may need some form of therapy or counseling. But that is just a sub-plot the main thrust of the story really works and is very topical as well. Very entertaining book.
March 27, 2019
Chief of Police Jesse Stone's first day back on the job after a stint in rehab starts with the beating and rape of a woman visiting Paradise. Quickly, a cross is burned on the lawn of an interracial couple. Then one of Jesse's cops shoots an unarmed suspect, although she says he fired the first shot. Jesse works to keep his cop out of prison while fighting his personal demons of staying away from the bottle.
I love the Jesse Stone book series as well as the TV movies. I bet I've watched all those movies at least 4 times each. I always look forward to seeing Tom Selleck's face in mind every time Jesse Stone speaks in these books. I'm glad he's found the strength to stop drinking, although his struggle is a daily one. I'm happy he found Cole and I know this will help him in his struggles.
I love the Jesse Stone book series as well as the TV movies. I bet I've watched all those movies at least 4 times each. I always look forward to seeing Tom Selleck's face in mind every time Jesse Stone speaks in these books. I'm glad he's found the strength to stop drinking, although his struggle is a daily one. I'm happy he found Cole and I know this will help him in his struggles.
September 20, 2018
Jesse comes back to Paradise after a much needed stay in rehab, he’s tired of fighting his battle with the bottle alone. When he goes back into the office he’s met with some disturbing news. There have been some racial incidents going on in Paradise, one that includes his officer Alicia Davis.
While Jesse is trying to come to terms with his sobriety and keep things under control in Paradise, he’s faced with a full on race war. This thing has its tentacles stretched from upstate New York back down to Boston. Jesse realizes that there are too many coincidences in these crimes, he goes up against the State police on this one.
This is another action packed novel in this series.
I think Mr. Coleman has done a great job with this series, I’m so glad that he’s kept it going.
Disclosure: I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. The opinion expressed above are my own.
While Jesse is trying to come to terms with his sobriety and keep things under control in Paradise, he’s faced with a full on race war. This thing has its tentacles stretched from upstate New York back down to Boston. Jesse realizes that there are too many coincidences in these crimes, he goes up against the State police on this one.
This is another action packed novel in this series.
I think Mr. Coleman has done a great job with this series, I’m so glad that he’s kept it going.
Disclosure: I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. The opinion expressed above are my own.
October 15, 2018
I am a huge fan of Robert B. Parker, and Reed Farrel Coleman continues this series perfectly. The evolution of Jesse Stone is well written and well thought out. I am already anxious for the next Jesse Stone novel to come out.
November 10, 2018
First Sentence: She thought she might pass out from the ache in the side or that her heart might explode in her chest as she ran barefoot along the dunes.
Police Chief Jesse Stone is back at his job after spending two months in rehab for alcoholism and is called to a neighbouring town by the state's chief homicide investigator, Captain Brian Lundquist, to help with a murder investigation. Officer Drake Daniels made an association between the condition of a current victim and a murder that was Jessie's first case in Paradise. The so-called "Saviors of Society" ` have set up shop and are targeting interracial couples. Do they have a bigger plan? And who is the troubled young man with the huge chip on his shoulder?
Could the themes of a book be any more relevant? It's a painful first chapter, but it sets the stage.
Although this book is well into the series, Coleman does a very good job of fleshing out the characters, particularly Jesse, so that new readers don't feel lost. There is a real sense of who he is, what he has been through, and for what he stands. The definition of police work is nicely done—"Cops rode the wave or followed the wave onto the beach. It wasn't their job to get ahead of it. Cops were really like the guys who followed the parade with brooms and shovels, cleaning up the mess the horses and the spectators left behind."
Coleman's reference to Shakespeare and the Old Testament can make one smile. The interesting observation that—"Some forms of evil don't just appear in your house. They have to be invited in."—is an interesting subject for debate. One should never underestimate the determination of evil.
The portrayal of Jessi's struggle with sobriety is very well done. As anyone who has ever been down that road, or been close to someone who has, it is such a difficult path of constant temptation, and the inner devil is loud. In contrast to this is food; not fancy food, but good food and how to prepare it, such as an omelette with onion and sausage. Such scenes help defuse the tension and add just the right touch of normalcy.
The story is filled with interesting characters who come to life from the page. Some have been part of the series for a long time, such as Molly and Healy, while some, such as Alisha, are more recent. They give substance and depth to the story. As for the antagonists, they, too, are well done and very effective. One may not wish to believe such people exist, but one knows they do.
Following Jesse, as he starts to put the pieces together is filled with excitement. The tension increases nicely as the pieces fall into place and build to a nail-biting conclusion. The story is told in short chapters and very fast moving.
"Robert B. Parker's Colorblind" deals with issues that are timely wrapped within a very exciting police procedural. The development in Jesse's life is a lovely touch.
COLORBLIND (PolProc-Jesse Stone-Paradise, MA-contemp) - VG
Coleman, Reed Farrel – 17th in series
Putnam – Sept 2018
Police Chief Jesse Stone is back at his job after spending two months in rehab for alcoholism and is called to a neighbouring town by the state's chief homicide investigator, Captain Brian Lundquist, to help with a murder investigation. Officer Drake Daniels made an association between the condition of a current victim and a murder that was Jessie's first case in Paradise. The so-called "Saviors of Society" ` have set up shop and are targeting interracial couples. Do they have a bigger plan? And who is the troubled young man with the huge chip on his shoulder?
Could the themes of a book be any more relevant? It's a painful first chapter, but it sets the stage.
Although this book is well into the series, Coleman does a very good job of fleshing out the characters, particularly Jesse, so that new readers don't feel lost. There is a real sense of who he is, what he has been through, and for what he stands. The definition of police work is nicely done—"Cops rode the wave or followed the wave onto the beach. It wasn't their job to get ahead of it. Cops were really like the guys who followed the parade with brooms and shovels, cleaning up the mess the horses and the spectators left behind."
Coleman's reference to Shakespeare and the Old Testament can make one smile. The interesting observation that—"Some forms of evil don't just appear in your house. They have to be invited in."—is an interesting subject for debate. One should never underestimate the determination of evil.
The portrayal of Jessi's struggle with sobriety is very well done. As anyone who has ever been down that road, or been close to someone who has, it is such a difficult path of constant temptation, and the inner devil is loud. In contrast to this is food; not fancy food, but good food and how to prepare it, such as an omelette with onion and sausage. Such scenes help defuse the tension and add just the right touch of normalcy.
The story is filled with interesting characters who come to life from the page. Some have been part of the series for a long time, such as Molly and Healy, while some, such as Alisha, are more recent. They give substance and depth to the story. As for the antagonists, they, too, are well done and very effective. One may not wish to believe such people exist, but one knows they do.
Following Jesse, as he starts to put the pieces together is filled with excitement. The tension increases nicely as the pieces fall into place and build to a nail-biting conclusion. The story is told in short chapters and very fast moving.
"Robert B. Parker's Colorblind" deals with issues that are timely wrapped within a very exciting police procedural. The development in Jesse's life is a lovely touch.
COLORBLIND (PolProc-Jesse Stone-Paradise, MA-contemp) - VG
Coleman, Reed Farrel – 17th in series
Putnam – Sept 2018
May 15, 2019
By the end of the last book in the series Jesse had been hitting the bottle pretty hard. The death of his girlfriend Diana in a “Debt to Pay” had devastated him and he had used Johnny Walker to deal with his sorrow. He knew it was time for rehab, committed to go and between this book and the last he completed the program. He has now returned to Paradise where Molly Crane has been holding down the fort and acting as Chief of Police. Jesse knows he must give this attempt at sobriety his best shot, his career and his life depend on it. And he knows it won’t be easy, probably the most difficult thing he has ever done.
On his first days back on the job he hears about a brutal assault in Swan Harbour. Felicity Wileford, an African American PhD student at Harvard who was staying at a local B and B with her white boyfriend was running on the beach when she was viciously attacked, beaten and raped. Her assailants left her clinging to life with the word “slut” scrawled in red lipstick on her abdomen. For Jesse, it is a chilling reminder of a similar murder he investigated when he first arrived in Paradise several years ago.
Shortly after hearing of the attack, Jesse is called to a fire at his former home, the place he sold to interracial couple Lisa and Ron Patel when he moved into his new two bedroom condo. The fire had been set with kerosene and there was a burning cross left on the grass. Both Lisa and Ron are concerned about the effect the media attention will have on their children and request the incident be reported simply as vandalism. Jesse quickly notes that both incidents, the rape and the fire, involve an interracial couple and is worried there are rough times ahead for their normally peaceful seaside town.
That feeling is reinforced when Molly tells him about an incident that occurred shortly before he returned to work. A group of bikers had drifted into town and began harassing a number of customers at the Scupper bar. Alisha Davis, the young African American cop Jesse recently hired, responded to the call and stepped in between the feuding parties, asking them to take their disagreements outside. One of the bikers used the “n” word in talking back to her and Alisha lost her cool. By the time Suit and Gabe arrived, things had heated up and they took a while to diffuse the situation. Alisha is presently dating Dylan Taylor, a white security officer from Stiles Island. Jesse notes this is just one more person in an interracial relationship that appears to be targeted for harassment.
Molly comes to work one morning angry and upset. She found a white nationalist flyer on her car windshield, warning everyone that a revolution was imminent and encouraging people to take back their country. It was signed by a group of men calling themselves The Saviors of Society. Jesse has heard of them. They are led by a very smart, self-appointed “Colonel” named Leon Van de Camp who commands a group of followers committed to their cause and ready to do whatever is necessary to advance their agenda. There are several phone calls to the office complaining about the flyers, but it is clear there are some that have not expressed outrage because they agree with its sentiments.
Alisha is drinking at the Gull and waiting for her date with Dylan who is late. When she leaves she sees the man believed to be a suspect in setting the fire at the Patel home and follows him. After a long chase in the dark, the suspect lures her into a blind alley, shots are fired and a man lies dead. Alisha says she fired her gun when the suspect shot at her, but there is no gun, no bullets on the pavement and no evidence the victim was armed. Alisha is charged with shooting an unarmed man. The fact she was legally drunk at the time, that she is black and the victim is the white son of Leon Van der Camp, make things even worse. The investigation is taken over by the state and Detective Lieutenant Mary Weld leads the case. Given the circumstances, she has little hope of keeping Alisha out of jail.
Jesse, cut out of the investigation, is troubled by the number of circumstances and sheer coincidences that seem to help this case travel in a certain direction. There are just too many to make sense or accept. He suspects a set-up. The state investigation led by Weld is following the evidence and headed straight for a conviction unless Jesse can do something to turn things around. His only recourse is to set up a quiet, parallel investigation with a different objective, to find evidence that will support his suspicions. He knows he will not be able to save Alisha’s career as a police officer but he hopes he can keep her out of prison.
During this time Jesse has also met a young man in town named Cole Slayton, a kid with a huge chip on his shoulder and an attitude to match who was arrested for drunk and disorderly behavior. Jesse learns the boy lives out in the homeless section of Paradise called Pilgrim Cove and is curious why this young kid from California has drifted into Paradise. It’s not the usual place for aimless youth to head and he seems different from the usual vagabond types, the lost souls traveling the country looking for handouts. Jesse takes the boy under his wing as he has done with other similar lost souls in the past. He finds him a job and a place to stay and tries to get the boy off a potentially destructive path. The boy seems to thrive under Jesse’s guidance and they develop an interesting relationship.
Jesse must face the white supremacists, Alisha’s criminal charges and keep an eye on Cole Slayton, all the while trying to stay sober. He has always had difficulty asking for help and is worried about making it through life without his usual anchor of alcohol. His first job is to attend AA meetings and find a sponsor. The first group encounters which he chooses to attend in Boston, are uncomfortable and he feels out of place, more like an observer than a participant. But he knows he has no choice. This is something he must do.
During his first days back on the job he tries to stay out of the office and away from the desk drawer where he kept the bottle of Johnny Walker. There are many times when he badly wants to drink. He sees visions of the glass, hears the tingling of the ice cubes and remembers how the liquor felt going down. It is not just the drink he misses but the rituals around it, the anticipation that always made it taste better. He also remembers all the conversations he had with Dix, all the lies and rationalizations he come up with over the years. It was his problems with Jenn, the stress of the job or the pain in his shoulder. But they never sounded like lies when he spoke them. He knows now they were. He quickly learns when to check in with his sponsor or get to a meeting. When he does, he doesn’t drink.
This is Coleman’s fifth book since taking over the Spenser series after Robert B. Parker’s death and he has gradually been making the series his own. What helps is the difference in his style of writing which does not have those sharp witty quips, that staccato burst of narrative and the short choppy chapters that were so much a part of Parker’s writing. Instead the chapters are longer, go deeper into the issues Jesse faces and the prose flows more casually. Coleman is also gradually making changes to Jesse’s character that fit with a man who is aging and gradually coming to understand himself better, evolving into a much more complex character under Coleman’s hand. There is also a different tone to the cases Jesse must face, cases which are more socially charged than in the past. Even the town of Paradise is changing as more people drift in from Boston and the community becomes more racially diverse.
This is another solid addition to the series which has settled into good hands and seems to be thriving.
On his first days back on the job he hears about a brutal assault in Swan Harbour. Felicity Wileford, an African American PhD student at Harvard who was staying at a local B and B with her white boyfriend was running on the beach when she was viciously attacked, beaten and raped. Her assailants left her clinging to life with the word “slut” scrawled in red lipstick on her abdomen. For Jesse, it is a chilling reminder of a similar murder he investigated when he first arrived in Paradise several years ago.
Shortly after hearing of the attack, Jesse is called to a fire at his former home, the place he sold to interracial couple Lisa and Ron Patel when he moved into his new two bedroom condo. The fire had been set with kerosene and there was a burning cross left on the grass. Both Lisa and Ron are concerned about the effect the media attention will have on their children and request the incident be reported simply as vandalism. Jesse quickly notes that both incidents, the rape and the fire, involve an interracial couple and is worried there are rough times ahead for their normally peaceful seaside town.
That feeling is reinforced when Molly tells him about an incident that occurred shortly before he returned to work. A group of bikers had drifted into town and began harassing a number of customers at the Scupper bar. Alisha Davis, the young African American cop Jesse recently hired, responded to the call and stepped in between the feuding parties, asking them to take their disagreements outside. One of the bikers used the “n” word in talking back to her and Alisha lost her cool. By the time Suit and Gabe arrived, things had heated up and they took a while to diffuse the situation. Alisha is presently dating Dylan Taylor, a white security officer from Stiles Island. Jesse notes this is just one more person in an interracial relationship that appears to be targeted for harassment.
Molly comes to work one morning angry and upset. She found a white nationalist flyer on her car windshield, warning everyone that a revolution was imminent and encouraging people to take back their country. It was signed by a group of men calling themselves The Saviors of Society. Jesse has heard of them. They are led by a very smart, self-appointed “Colonel” named Leon Van de Camp who commands a group of followers committed to their cause and ready to do whatever is necessary to advance their agenda. There are several phone calls to the office complaining about the flyers, but it is clear there are some that have not expressed outrage because they agree with its sentiments.
Alisha is drinking at the Gull and waiting for her date with Dylan who is late. When she leaves she sees the man believed to be a suspect in setting the fire at the Patel home and follows him. After a long chase in the dark, the suspect lures her into a blind alley, shots are fired and a man lies dead. Alisha says she fired her gun when the suspect shot at her, but there is no gun, no bullets on the pavement and no evidence the victim was armed. Alisha is charged with shooting an unarmed man. The fact she was legally drunk at the time, that she is black and the victim is the white son of Leon Van der Camp, make things even worse. The investigation is taken over by the state and Detective Lieutenant Mary Weld leads the case. Given the circumstances, she has little hope of keeping Alisha out of jail.
Jesse, cut out of the investigation, is troubled by the number of circumstances and sheer coincidences that seem to help this case travel in a certain direction. There are just too many to make sense or accept. He suspects a set-up. The state investigation led by Weld is following the evidence and headed straight for a conviction unless Jesse can do something to turn things around. His only recourse is to set up a quiet, parallel investigation with a different objective, to find evidence that will support his suspicions. He knows he will not be able to save Alisha’s career as a police officer but he hopes he can keep her out of prison.
During this time Jesse has also met a young man in town named Cole Slayton, a kid with a huge chip on his shoulder and an attitude to match who was arrested for drunk and disorderly behavior. Jesse learns the boy lives out in the homeless section of Paradise called Pilgrim Cove and is curious why this young kid from California has drifted into Paradise. It’s not the usual place for aimless youth to head and he seems different from the usual vagabond types, the lost souls traveling the country looking for handouts. Jesse takes the boy under his wing as he has done with other similar lost souls in the past. He finds him a job and a place to stay and tries to get the boy off a potentially destructive path. The boy seems to thrive under Jesse’s guidance and they develop an interesting relationship.
Jesse must face the white supremacists, Alisha’s criminal charges and keep an eye on Cole Slayton, all the while trying to stay sober. He has always had difficulty asking for help and is worried about making it through life without his usual anchor of alcohol. His first job is to attend AA meetings and find a sponsor. The first group encounters which he chooses to attend in Boston, are uncomfortable and he feels out of place, more like an observer than a participant. But he knows he has no choice. This is something he must do.
During his first days back on the job he tries to stay out of the office and away from the desk drawer where he kept the bottle of Johnny Walker. There are many times when he badly wants to drink. He sees visions of the glass, hears the tingling of the ice cubes and remembers how the liquor felt going down. It is not just the drink he misses but the rituals around it, the anticipation that always made it taste better. He also remembers all the conversations he had with Dix, all the lies and rationalizations he come up with over the years. It was his problems with Jenn, the stress of the job or the pain in his shoulder. But they never sounded like lies when he spoke them. He knows now they were. He quickly learns when to check in with his sponsor or get to a meeting. When he does, he doesn’t drink.
This is Coleman’s fifth book since taking over the Spenser series after Robert B. Parker’s death and he has gradually been making the series his own. What helps is the difference in his style of writing which does not have those sharp witty quips, that staccato burst of narrative and the short choppy chapters that were so much a part of Parker’s writing. Instead the chapters are longer, go deeper into the issues Jesse faces and the prose flows more casually. Coleman is also gradually making changes to Jesse’s character that fit with a man who is aging and gradually coming to understand himself better, evolving into a much more complex character under Coleman’s hand. There is also a different tone to the cases Jesse must face, cases which are more socially charged than in the past. Even the town of Paradise is changing as more people drift in from Boston and the community becomes more racially diverse.
This is another solid addition to the series which has settled into good hands and seems to be thriving.
May 30, 2018
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley to read and review.
ROBERT B. PARKER’S COLORBLIND by Reed Farrel Coleman is the latest Jesse Stone novel in the series (#17) that was originally taken over by Michael Brandman after the death of Robert B. Parker, and is now in the hands of Reed Farrel Coleman, author of “Where It Hurts” and “What You Break” in his Gus Murphy series.
Jesse returns to his duties as police chief of Paradise after ending up in rehab, and is serious about staying sober this time around; even to the point of attending A.A. meetings, something he’s never done before having only quit drinking for periods of time without any intention of making it permanent, which now is a commitment due to the loss of his love Diana recently that he blames himself for and the presence of alcohol in his life at the time.
Molly fills him in upon his return of a racially fueled confrontation at a local bar involving Alisha, his newest officer that he hired with the blessing of the mayor of Paradise.
Several crimes, including the physical assault leaving a woman near death, all seem to be racially motivated and specifically directed at interracial couples.
Jesse has several things on his radar, along with Alisha’s brush with the skinhead bikers in the bar, the racially motivated crimes in the area, and the appearance of two new faces to arrive in town.
Cole Slayton is cooling his heels in the jail when Jesse first returns, and Molly fills him in on how the young man has a huge chip on his shoulder, but the reason is unknown.
Jesse releases him and finds everything he’s been told regarding Cole’s demeanor to be true.
Leon Oskar Vandercamp, aka “the Colonel”, arrives in town which can only mean trouble for the entire Paradise community, and is sure to make Jesse and his deputies’ jobs a lot more difficult.
Vandercamp, (who’s sons go by the names of James Earl, John Wilkes, and Lee Harvey) is a nationally known white supremacist that creates racial tensions wherever he appears in public, and his arrival along with recent events would seem to be anything but coincidence.
Several prominent religious leaders become involved, and a full scale confrontation between the two sides seems inevitable unless Jesse can figure out a way to diffuse the situation by solving the hate crimes and apprehending those responsible.
Reed Farrel Coleman has found his groove in his writing of the previous Jesse Stone novel “The Hangman’s Sonnet” and this one, and I like the direction he seems to be taking with Jesse as a character and the series as a whole, as previous books in the series could at times be plodding and depressing affairs saturated with his drinking and his ex-wife Jen (good riddance!), a shallow self centered individual that only furthered his self destruction.
Jesse is still struggling as expected, but seems focused on his recovery more than ever before, and it’s nice to think that he has a chance at a better life in days to come; especially in the wake of the bombshell dropped near the end of the story.
4 stars.
ROBERT B. PARKER’S COLORBLIND by Reed Farrel Coleman is the latest Jesse Stone novel in the series (#17) that was originally taken over by Michael Brandman after the death of Robert B. Parker, and is now in the hands of Reed Farrel Coleman, author of “Where It Hurts” and “What You Break” in his Gus Murphy series.
Jesse returns to his duties as police chief of Paradise after ending up in rehab, and is serious about staying sober this time around; even to the point of attending A.A. meetings, something he’s never done before having only quit drinking for periods of time without any intention of making it permanent, which now is a commitment due to the loss of his love Diana recently that he blames himself for and the presence of alcohol in his life at the time.
Molly fills him in upon his return of a racially fueled confrontation at a local bar involving Alisha, his newest officer that he hired with the blessing of the mayor of Paradise.
Several crimes, including the physical assault leaving a woman near death, all seem to be racially motivated and specifically directed at interracial couples.
Jesse has several things on his radar, along with Alisha’s brush with the skinhead bikers in the bar, the racially motivated crimes in the area, and the appearance of two new faces to arrive in town.
Cole Slayton is cooling his heels in the jail when Jesse first returns, and Molly fills him in on how the young man has a huge chip on his shoulder, but the reason is unknown.
Jesse releases him and finds everything he’s been told regarding Cole’s demeanor to be true.
Leon Oskar Vandercamp, aka “the Colonel”, arrives in town which can only mean trouble for the entire Paradise community, and is sure to make Jesse and his deputies’ jobs a lot more difficult.
Vandercamp, (who’s sons go by the names of James Earl, John Wilkes, and Lee Harvey) is a nationally known white supremacist that creates racial tensions wherever he appears in public, and his arrival along with recent events would seem to be anything but coincidence.
Several prominent religious leaders become involved, and a full scale confrontation between the two sides seems inevitable unless Jesse can figure out a way to diffuse the situation by solving the hate crimes and apprehending those responsible.
Reed Farrel Coleman has found his groove in his writing of the previous Jesse Stone novel “The Hangman’s Sonnet” and this one, and I like the direction he seems to be taking with Jesse as a character and the series as a whole, as previous books in the series could at times be plodding and depressing affairs saturated with his drinking and his ex-wife Jen (good riddance!), a shallow self centered individual that only furthered his self destruction.
Jesse is still struggling as expected, but seems focused on his recovery more than ever before, and it’s nice to think that he has a chance at a better life in days to come; especially in the wake of the bombshell dropped near the end of the story.
4 stars.
October 20, 2018
Jesse Stone has just returned to Paradise from alcohol rehab. While he was gone it was alleged that his black female officer shot an unarmed white man. A white power group comes to town to start a revolution. Jesse also has to deal with a series of murders related to the events. A mysterious young man with a several chip on his shoulder also shows up. Coleman has done a good job of being true to the character created by Robert B. Parker.
April 15, 2019
Reed Farrell Coleman continues to do a good job with the Jesse Stone series of the late Robert B. Parker. This one captured the slightly sad tone of the series and provided a good, fast moving story. The suspense was a little lacking here though. I’m in for the series.
October 17, 2018
I missed two books in this series, but read this one anyway. Although the plot is interesting and the characters believable, that Parker spark is missing. I still like the books, however, and the changes in Stone’s life are intriguing.
July 27, 2018
★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2 (rounded up)
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader. If you like this, stop by, you might find something else you like.
---
This is Coleman's fifth Jesse Stone novel, the seventeenth in the series overall and Coleman has really put his stamp on the character here. He's made the series his own already, adding depth and shades of color to characters that've been around for years, don't get me wrong. But everything he's done could be changed, dropped, or ignored in the next -- like an old Star Trek or Columbo episode. But following up from the closing pages of The Hangman's Sonnet, in Colorblind he's enacted permanent change on Jesse -- yeah, things might not go smoothly from this point -- he may stumble. But things won't be the same -- cannot be the same without some sort of Star Wars Expanded Universe level retcon. But I'm getting ahead of myself.
First we need to start with the crime part of the novel -- it's ostensibly what people are buying this for, and the novel's focus. I can absolutely see this happening in Real Life ™ -- a white supremacist group from New York is attacking mixed race couples (and by "mixed," I obviously mean one white person and one person from another race -- they wouldn't care if an Asian man and a Hispanic woman were together) and spreading propaganda in Paradise, of all places. There's a reason Paradise was chosen -- several, actually, and it actually makes sense in context -- it's not just a convenient way to get it into a Jesse Stone novel. Only one of the crimes involved is technically something that Jesse is supposed to be investigating.
Once one of his officers becomes embroiled in this series of crimes -- and the possible target of an elaborate frame job -- Jesse stops really caring about things like jurisdictions, and will stop at nothing to find the truth. If there's a connection between the different crimes, he'll find it. The question he has no answer to is: for what end? Why are these people in Paradise? What do they have to gain from framing his officer?
Yes, certain elements of this story stretch credulity a bit -- but in context it absolutely works. And while I say something stretches credulity, I can't help but wonder if it really does. The actions of this particular supremacist group might not be that much different from the dreams of too many. Also, the race-based crimes, the murders, the vandalism -- everything that Paradise or Massachusetts can prosecute people for -- are not the biggest evil perpetrated by the members of that group. There's a deeper darkness working here, something that people with radically different views can also perpetrate -- Coleman could've gone the easy route and made it all about "Them," but he points at something that everyone can and should recoil from.
While Jesse works to prevent things from getting out of hand in Paradise, he is struggling to prevent himself from doing what he's so often done before -- retreat to the bottle. He has several reasons to, several excuses to -- and decades of experience telling him to do so. Fresh (Very, very fresh) off a stint at rehab, Jesse starts attending AA meetings (in Boston, nothing local that could cause problems for himself or anyone else in the meeting). I absolutely loved this part of the book -- I think Coleman's treatment of Jesse's drinking (and his various attempts to limit/stop it) has been so much better, realistic and helpful than anything that came before. Colorblind takes that another step up, and sets the character on a path that he needs to be on. Jesse's not a rock, but he's working on becoming one when it comes to this addiction. I don't know (don't want to know) where Coleman is going with this -- but I love it. Character growth/development, an actual healthy approach, and Coleman's own stamp on the series. Even if Jesse relapses in the future, he's actually been sober (not just taken a break from drinking) -- I love it (have I mentioned that?). It may have been a little too on-the-nose to have Jesse's new AA friend be named Bill, but, it made me smile.
As for the regulars -- we've got some good use of Healy (retirement can't stop him!); Lundquist is settling in nicely to this world (very glad about that, I've liked him since his intro back that other Parker series, whatever it was called); Molly was outstanding (it's hard to mis-write Molly, but it's very nice when it's done correctly); and Suit is still the guy you want riding shotgun when things get harry (ignoring the fact that someone else was actually carrying the shotgun when it came to it -- it's a metaphor, folks!). Surprisingly enough, given the B-Story, Dix doesn't make an appearance -- but Jesse can't stop thinking about him, so he's here, he's just "offscreen." That was a nice touch (and hopefully not too much of a spoiler), it'd have been very easy to have almost as much Dix in this book as Jesse. Coleman has not only got the original cast of characters done well, he's introduced a few of his own regulars and has merged them into this world well (e.g., Mayor Walker, Monty Bernstein). And it's not just characters he's blending, this book is full (not overstuffed) of call-backs to the oldest Stone novels as well as Coleman's -- this universe is alive and well and whole.
As far as the writing -- it's Reed Farrel Coleman, I really don't need to say anything else. I will say a little bit, though, he balances the various stories and tones of these stories well -- the book feels like a natural outgrowth of every book that came before, however minor the stylistic choices and depth have changed over the last few years. Parker could have written this. I don't think (especially in the latter years) he would have, but he could have. Yet, it's undeniably a Coleman book. It's impressive the way that Coleman can do this (see almost everyone that's tried a Bond novel [honestly haven't tried one in years, maybe someone has], or Robert Goldsborough to see that not everyone is capable of it). There is one moment, I thought, that Coleman faltered a bit and got into some pretty heavy editorializing -- if this was a first person book, it would have worked; or if he had been obviously channeling one of the characters, I wouldn't have said anything; but when your omniscient third-person narrator gets that opinionated, it's not good.
A solid crime story that resonates near the too-close-for-comfort zone given the cultural events (which probably is how some people felt with 1970's Parker), some great character development -- and plenty of fodder for Coleman's next (I ignored one storyline above because I don't think I can talk about it without ruining it). This is a must for Jesse Stone fans and a decent entry point for new readers, too -- it'll get you to go back and read at least a few older books (I'm more than willing to help a new reader with an "Essential Jesse Stone" reading list -- just let me know). Give this one a look folks, it deserves it.
Disclaimer: I received this eARC from Putnam Books via NetGalley in exchange for this post -- thanks to both for this.
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader. If you like this, stop by, you might find something else you like.
---
This is Coleman's fifth Jesse Stone novel, the seventeenth in the series overall and Coleman has really put his stamp on the character here. He's made the series his own already, adding depth and shades of color to characters that've been around for years, don't get me wrong. But everything he's done could be changed, dropped, or ignored in the next -- like an old Star Trek or Columbo episode. But following up from the closing pages of The Hangman's Sonnet, in Colorblind he's enacted permanent change on Jesse -- yeah, things might not go smoothly from this point -- he may stumble. But things won't be the same -- cannot be the same without some sort of Star Wars Expanded Universe level retcon. But I'm getting ahead of myself.
First we need to start with the crime part of the novel -- it's ostensibly what people are buying this for, and the novel's focus. I can absolutely see this happening in Real Life ™ -- a white supremacist group from New York is attacking mixed race couples (and by "mixed," I obviously mean one white person and one person from another race -- they wouldn't care if an Asian man and a Hispanic woman were together) and spreading propaganda in Paradise, of all places. There's a reason Paradise was chosen -- several, actually, and it actually makes sense in context -- it's not just a convenient way to get it into a Jesse Stone novel. Only one of the crimes involved is technically something that Jesse is supposed to be investigating.
Once one of his officers becomes embroiled in this series of crimes -- and the possible target of an elaborate frame job -- Jesse stops really caring about things like jurisdictions, and will stop at nothing to find the truth. If there's a connection between the different crimes, he'll find it. The question he has no answer to is: for what end? Why are these people in Paradise? What do they have to gain from framing his officer?
Yes, certain elements of this story stretch credulity a bit -- but in context it absolutely works. And while I say something stretches credulity, I can't help but wonder if it really does. The actions of this particular supremacist group might not be that much different from the dreams of too many. Also, the race-based crimes, the murders, the vandalism -- everything that Paradise or Massachusetts can prosecute people for -- are not the biggest evil perpetrated by the members of that group. There's a deeper darkness working here, something that people with radically different views can also perpetrate -- Coleman could've gone the easy route and made it all about "Them," but he points at something that everyone can and should recoil from.
While Jesse works to prevent things from getting out of hand in Paradise, he is struggling to prevent himself from doing what he's so often done before -- retreat to the bottle. He has several reasons to, several excuses to -- and decades of experience telling him to do so. Fresh (Very, very fresh) off a stint at rehab, Jesse starts attending AA meetings (in Boston, nothing local that could cause problems for himself or anyone else in the meeting). I absolutely loved this part of the book -- I think Coleman's treatment of Jesse's drinking (and his various attempts to limit/stop it) has been so much better, realistic and helpful than anything that came before. Colorblind takes that another step up, and sets the character on a path that he needs to be on. Jesse's not a rock, but he's working on becoming one when it comes to this addiction. I don't know (don't want to know) where Coleman is going with this -- but I love it. Character growth/development, an actual healthy approach, and Coleman's own stamp on the series. Even if Jesse relapses in the future, he's actually been sober (not just taken a break from drinking) -- I love it (have I mentioned that?). It may have been a little too on-the-nose to have Jesse's new AA friend be named Bill, but, it made me smile.
As for the regulars -- we've got some good use of Healy (retirement can't stop him!); Lundquist is settling in nicely to this world (very glad about that, I've liked him since his intro back that other Parker series, whatever it was called); Molly was outstanding (it's hard to mis-write Molly, but it's very nice when it's done correctly); and Suit is still the guy you want riding shotgun when things get harry (ignoring the fact that someone else was actually carrying the shotgun when it came to it -- it's a metaphor, folks!). Surprisingly enough, given the B-Story, Dix doesn't make an appearance -- but Jesse can't stop thinking about him, so he's here, he's just "offscreen." That was a nice touch (and hopefully not too much of a spoiler), it'd have been very easy to have almost as much Dix in this book as Jesse. Coleman has not only got the original cast of characters done well, he's introduced a few of his own regulars and has merged them into this world well (e.g., Mayor Walker, Monty Bernstein). And it's not just characters he's blending, this book is full (not overstuffed) of call-backs to the oldest Stone novels as well as Coleman's -- this universe is alive and well and whole.
As far as the writing -- it's Reed Farrel Coleman, I really don't need to say anything else. I will say a little bit, though, he balances the various stories and tones of these stories well -- the book feels like a natural outgrowth of every book that came before, however minor the stylistic choices and depth have changed over the last few years. Parker could have written this. I don't think (especially in the latter years) he would have, but he could have. Yet, it's undeniably a Coleman book. It's impressive the way that Coleman can do this (see almost everyone that's tried a Bond novel [honestly haven't tried one in years, maybe someone has], or Robert Goldsborough to see that not everyone is capable of it). There is one moment, I thought, that Coleman faltered a bit and got into some pretty heavy editorializing -- if this was a first person book, it would have worked; or if he had been obviously channeling one of the characters, I wouldn't have said anything; but when your omniscient third-person narrator gets that opinionated, it's not good.
A solid crime story that resonates near the too-close-for-comfort zone given the cultural events (which probably is how some people felt with 1970's Parker), some great character development -- and plenty of fodder for Coleman's next (I ignored one storyline above because I don't think I can talk about it without ruining it). This is a must for Jesse Stone fans and a decent entry point for new readers, too -- it'll get you to go back and read at least a few older books (I'm more than willing to help a new reader with an "Essential Jesse Stone" reading list -- just let me know). Give this one a look folks, it deserves it.
Disclaimer: I received this eARC from Putnam Books via NetGalley in exchange for this post -- thanks to both for this.
July 24, 2018
Coleman’s fifth Jesse Stone novel tackles a number of timely issues, taking on a darker tone than in past books.
Following the events of Robert B. Parker’s The Hangman’s Sonnet, Paradise Police Chief Jesse Stone is doing everything he can to give sobriety an honest attempt. That includes a two-month stint in rehab (which takes place between books), along with other lifestyle changes. In his absence, officer Molly Crane assumed Jesse’s desk, though she never has had aspirations of becoming chief.
Back on the job, Jesse has little time to re-acclimate himself to the grind when Felicity Wileford, a brilliant African-American doctoral student, is brutally raped and assaulted. On her stomach, her assaulter smeared the word “slut,” which Jesse has a feeling is a nod to his first murder case in Maine many years prior. While searching for a connection between the cases, Jesse monitors a new couple–Ron and Liza Patel–who recently moved to Paradise and purchased his old home. Stone suspects they’re part of a white supremacy group called Saviors of Society, which has recently made their presence felt in Paradise with a string of violent hate crimes.
As the story unfolds, Leon Vandercamp, the leader of Saviors of Society, becomes an obvious suspect. Sadly, the bleeding-heart racist is smart, and his fellow bigots are all very loyal to him and their cause. That leads to a confrontation between Alisha Davis, Paradise’s first female African-American police officer, and a Caucasian suspect in a darkened alley. The encounter results in an officer-involved shooting, and when only Davis emerges, Vandercamp turns the tables by claiming that Jesse’s officer killed an innocent, unarmed man simply for being white, painting her as the racist.
With evil pouring into Paradise from all sides, it’s up to Jesse Stone to. . .
Read the rest of this review here: https://therealbookspy.com/2018/07/15...
Following the events of Robert B. Parker’s The Hangman’s Sonnet, Paradise Police Chief Jesse Stone is doing everything he can to give sobriety an honest attempt. That includes a two-month stint in rehab (which takes place between books), along with other lifestyle changes. In his absence, officer Molly Crane assumed Jesse’s desk, though she never has had aspirations of becoming chief.
Back on the job, Jesse has little time to re-acclimate himself to the grind when Felicity Wileford, a brilliant African-American doctoral student, is brutally raped and assaulted. On her stomach, her assaulter smeared the word “slut,” which Jesse has a feeling is a nod to his first murder case in Maine many years prior. While searching for a connection between the cases, Jesse monitors a new couple–Ron and Liza Patel–who recently moved to Paradise and purchased his old home. Stone suspects they’re part of a white supremacy group called Saviors of Society, which has recently made their presence felt in Paradise with a string of violent hate crimes.
As the story unfolds, Leon Vandercamp, the leader of Saviors of Society, becomes an obvious suspect. Sadly, the bleeding-heart racist is smart, and his fellow bigots are all very loyal to him and their cause. That leads to a confrontation between Alisha Davis, Paradise’s first female African-American police officer, and a Caucasian suspect in a darkened alley. The encounter results in an officer-involved shooting, and when only Davis emerges, Vandercamp turns the tables by claiming that Jesse’s officer killed an innocent, unarmed man simply for being white, painting her as the racist.
With evil pouring into Paradise from all sides, it’s up to Jesse Stone to. . .
Read the rest of this review here: https://therealbookspy.com/2018/07/15...
September 20, 2018
Jesse Stone is back from rehab, back to his duties as the police chief in Paradise. But a series of crimes that seem to be racially motivated mar his homecoming; ultimately, they lead to the targeting of Deputy Alicia Davis, Paradise’s first black woman deputy, with a sophisticated, cruel frame-up.
And, as if all that weren’t enough, there’s young Cole Slayton hanging around town. The young man has a chip on his shoulder and a secret that’s likely to change everything for Jesse.
All the usual characters are here for this, the seventeenth in the venerable series. With some big changes for Jesse [home is in a new condominium, a stint in rehab resulting in no bottle in the bottom desk drawer, and reasonably regular AA meetings], it’s a welcome change that moves Jesse out of the heavy darkness of previous tales, a change that shows his growth even if he still has all those inner demons. The plot is first rate, clever and twisted, with unexpected reveals and an ending readers won’t be expecting.
Highly recommended.
And, as if all that weren’t enough, there’s young Cole Slayton hanging around town. The young man has a chip on his shoulder and a secret that’s likely to change everything for Jesse.
All the usual characters are here for this, the seventeenth in the venerable series. With some big changes for Jesse [home is in a new condominium, a stint in rehab resulting in no bottle in the bottom desk drawer, and reasonably regular AA meetings], it’s a welcome change that moves Jesse out of the heavy darkness of previous tales, a change that shows his growth even if he still has all those inner demons. The plot is first rate, clever and twisted, with unexpected reveals and an ending readers won’t be expecting.
Highly recommended.
September 24, 2020
Robert B. Parker's Colorblind (Jesse Stone #17) by Reed Farrell Coleman (G.P. Putnam's Sons 2018) (Fiction – Mystery) (3465).
All is not well in Paradise, Massachusetts. A lethal gang of white supremacists seems determined to incite hostility between races in Paradise. It quickly becomes personal for Paradise Police Chief Jesse Stone when one of his deputies swore that she returned fire but is charged with killing an apparently unarmed man who was cornered in an alley.
An equally gripping subplot informs readers that Jesse Stone has returned home to Paradise and back to work after a period of residential treatment for his alcoholism.
Author Reed Farrell Coleman provides an accurate sketch of the “sets and settings” that might be encountered at Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.
My rating: 7/10, finished 9/23/20 (3465).
January 11, 2019
Jesse Stone is getting soft in his old age or maybe the author is getting tired. Either way this book didn’t have the edge/urgency that made Jesse interesting. Jesse is going to AA meetings and dealing with neo-nazis in this one and then there’s a weird, sappy Jesse is a dad thing that felt contrived and unnecessary. It was a good run but I’m done with this series. All the best Jesse Stone.
March 3, 2019
Just okay
November 4, 2018
It is fall in Paradise as Robert B. Parker’s Colorblind: A Jesse Stone Novel by Reed Farrel Coleman begins. For Police Chief Jesse Stone, it is a time of new beginnings. He is back from alcohol rehab having been gone the last two months. His old house was sold back during the summer and he has moved into a two-bedroom condo.
While there has been quite a change in his personal life, life and crime continues on in Paradise, Massachusetts as does politics. Biker gangs have been a problem while Chief Stone has been gone. And the latest version of them seems to be of the racist skinhead type. During a recent incident, things were said to the newest member of the police department who is African American and it has caused a little bit of internal strife. That was on top of the mood of some of the local population which had an issue with the hiring.
In the nearby town of Swan Harbor, they have a serious assault victim who may not be alive much longer. The State Chief Homicide investigator, Brian Lundquist, quietly suggested to Police Chief Forster that he ought to have Jesse Stone come over and share his expertise. The woman has been sexually assaulted and horribly beaten and the locals don’t have any detectives, let alone anyone that is equipped to work the case now or when it soon becomes a murder case. That isn’t the only reason Lundquist wanted Jesse Stone involved in the case.
At first, Lundquist didn’t realize the victim was in the same shape as a victim years ago when Jesse firsts started work in Paradise. A veteran of the Swan Harbor police with 20 years plus did, Officer Drake Daniels, and said something to his boss. Now Jesse will be poking around the fringes of the case while Lundquist takes over on the behalf of the state.
Robert B. Parker’s Colorblind: A Jesse Stone Novel is the latest in the series and another very good read. Author Reed Farrel Coleman has had a hard task since he took over the series several years back. Breathing new life into the character while staying true to the roots and flavor of Jesse Stone as well as the earlier books is no easy feat. Mr. Coleman has constantly performed the task admirably and does so again with Robert B. Parker’s Colorblind: A Jesse Stone Novel.
Robert B. Parker’s Colorblind: A Jesse Stone Novel
Reed Farrel Coleman
http://www.reedcoleman.com
Thorndike Press
http://www.gale.com/thorndike
September 2018
ISBN# 978-1-4328-5514-7
Large Print Hardback (also available in audio, eBook, and regular print hardback formats)
505 Pages
$37.99
Material supplied by the good folks of the Dallas Public Library System.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2018
While there has been quite a change in his personal life, life and crime continues on in Paradise, Massachusetts as does politics. Biker gangs have been a problem while Chief Stone has been gone. And the latest version of them seems to be of the racist skinhead type. During a recent incident, things were said to the newest member of the police department who is African American and it has caused a little bit of internal strife. That was on top of the mood of some of the local population which had an issue with the hiring.
In the nearby town of Swan Harbor, they have a serious assault victim who may not be alive much longer. The State Chief Homicide investigator, Brian Lundquist, quietly suggested to Police Chief Forster that he ought to have Jesse Stone come over and share his expertise. The woman has been sexually assaulted and horribly beaten and the locals don’t have any detectives, let alone anyone that is equipped to work the case now or when it soon becomes a murder case. That isn’t the only reason Lundquist wanted Jesse Stone involved in the case.
At first, Lundquist didn’t realize the victim was in the same shape as a victim years ago when Jesse firsts started work in Paradise. A veteran of the Swan Harbor police with 20 years plus did, Officer Drake Daniels, and said something to his boss. Now Jesse will be poking around the fringes of the case while Lundquist takes over on the behalf of the state.
Robert B. Parker’s Colorblind: A Jesse Stone Novel is the latest in the series and another very good read. Author Reed Farrel Coleman has had a hard task since he took over the series several years back. Breathing new life into the character while staying true to the roots and flavor of Jesse Stone as well as the earlier books is no easy feat. Mr. Coleman has constantly performed the task admirably and does so again with Robert B. Parker’s Colorblind: A Jesse Stone Novel.
Robert B. Parker’s Colorblind: A Jesse Stone Novel
Reed Farrel Coleman
http://www.reedcoleman.com
Thorndike Press
http://www.gale.com/thorndike
September 2018
ISBN# 978-1-4328-5514-7
Large Print Hardback (also available in audio, eBook, and regular print hardback formats)
505 Pages
$37.99
Material supplied by the good folks of the Dallas Public Library System.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2018
June 24, 2023
It’s always a good title when it suggests multiple levels. Colorblind is another of the Jesse Stone novels written by Reed Farrell Coleman after the death of Robert B. Parker (with the cooperation of the Parker estate). The title refers to, idealistically, Jesse Stone’s decision to hire a female police officer who happened to be African-American because she was the best candidate. Unfortunately, the title also refers to the blind racism of white supremacists who cannot see the person for the pigmentation of their skin. Colorblind is an intricately woven conspiracy thriller that is profoundly topical for our current polarized society. It also features a profoundly ironic climax and sadly realistic denouement.
The fault lines for the plot hinge on coincidence. The standard rule is that if you can choose between conspiracy and coincidence or conspiracy and incompetence, choose the latter in both cases. Still, by the time Jesse Stone returns to his job after his alcohol rehabilitation program, the coincidences are starting to stack up, starting with the unusual appearance of a skinhead game identified by the Totenkopf or “Death’s Head” symbols on their jackets and “hogs.” Indeed, as the irritants start to mount up, Jesse has to deal with state and interdepartmental politics, city politics, a racial pressure cooker about to blow, a mysterious vagrant whose situation nags at him, his reluctance to become involved with a 12-step program, and that compulsion to indulge in his old rituals of drink.
Alert readers will probably connect the dots earlier than casual readers, but there are almost a Carl Sagan’s worth (ie. “billions and billions”) of dots to connect and they fit together most satisfactorily. Alert readers will also notice the particular irony in terms of the first and middle names of several of the characters. It’s a nice touch, even if not the most realistic or probable touch! Hey! How many of Charles Dickens’ characters had names that seemed to telegraph a little too much of their character?
For me, Colorblind was an intriguing exercise in escapism. I feel like it would have been stronger if Coleman had tightened things up by up to one-fifth of the book’s length. Then again, today’s publishers seem to be committed to a certain word count and Coleman may have had no choice. It hurt the pacing some, at least for me, but it won’t keep me from trying another of these volumes in Parker’s legacy (particularly since my brother David gave me several of them to try on for size). Colorblind is not likely to win any fans among MAGA nation, but it is a solidly crafted thriller that is worth reading for everyone else.
The fault lines for the plot hinge on coincidence. The standard rule is that if you can choose between conspiracy and coincidence or conspiracy and incompetence, choose the latter in both cases. Still, by the time Jesse Stone returns to his job after his alcohol rehabilitation program, the coincidences are starting to stack up, starting with the unusual appearance of a skinhead game identified by the Totenkopf or “Death’s Head” symbols on their jackets and “hogs.” Indeed, as the irritants start to mount up, Jesse has to deal with state and interdepartmental politics, city politics, a racial pressure cooker about to blow, a mysterious vagrant whose situation nags at him, his reluctance to become involved with a 12-step program, and that compulsion to indulge in his old rituals of drink.
Alert readers will probably connect the dots earlier than casual readers, but there are almost a Carl Sagan’s worth (ie. “billions and billions”) of dots to connect and they fit together most satisfactorily. Alert readers will also notice the particular irony in terms of the first and middle names of several of the characters. It’s a nice touch, even if not the most realistic or probable touch! Hey! How many of Charles Dickens’ characters had names that seemed to telegraph a little too much of their character?
For me, Colorblind was an intriguing exercise in escapism. I feel like it would have been stronger if Coleman had tightened things up by up to one-fifth of the book’s length. Then again, today’s publishers seem to be committed to a certain word count and Coleman may have had no choice. It hurt the pacing some, at least for me, but it won’t keep me from trying another of these volumes in Parker’s legacy (particularly since my brother David gave me several of them to try on for size). Colorblind is not likely to win any fans among MAGA nation, but it is a solidly crafted thriller that is worth reading for everyone else.
September 11, 2018
One would not expect racial unrest in the sleepy town of Paradise, MA, but Jesse Stone and his cops have their hands full. To begin with, a black woman is assaulted in a neighboring town and it is made to look like a murder that occurred in Paradise years before. The woman was in a relationship with a white man, and unfortunately she dies. Then another black female, Alisha, who Jesse hired for diversity purposes, responds to a call at a bar and is taunted by bikers. She also has a relationship with a white man. Soon, however, things get worse.
A cross is burned on the lawn of Jesse’s old house, which was bought by a couple, a white woman and a dark Indian man, with two children. Apparently the fire was set with kerosene, and a check of places where it could have been bought turns up a CCTV image. When Alisha spots the person captured in the CCTV as she emerges from a bar, legally over the limit, she chases him into a blind alley and responds to what she believes is a shot by shooting and killing him.
It turns out that the victim is the son of a strident agitator seeking to incite a race war. Of course, a black cop killing a white person is the perfect excuse. Especially when the investigation turns up no weapon by or near the victim. Jesse to the rescue. As a side story, Jesse now is abstaining from alcohol and is attending AA meetings.
Mr. Coleman continues to live up to the standards set by Robert B. Parker in this latest addition to the Jesse Stone series, and it is recommended.
A cross is burned on the lawn of Jesse’s old house, which was bought by a couple, a white woman and a dark Indian man, with two children. Apparently the fire was set with kerosene, and a check of places where it could have been bought turns up a CCTV image. When Alisha spots the person captured in the CCTV as she emerges from a bar, legally over the limit, she chases him into a blind alley and responds to what she believes is a shot by shooting and killing him.
It turns out that the victim is the son of a strident agitator seeking to incite a race war. Of course, a black cop killing a white person is the perfect excuse. Especially when the investigation turns up no weapon by or near the victim. Jesse to the rescue. As a side story, Jesse now is abstaining from alcohol and is attending AA meetings.
Mr. Coleman continues to live up to the standards set by Robert B. Parker in this latest addition to the Jesse Stone series, and it is recommended.
October 8, 2018
#17 in the Jesse Stone series (#5 by author Coleman after 9 entries by series originator Parker and 3 by Michael Brandman after Parker's death). This 2018 series entry by author Coleman continues the effort to wean Stone from his addiction to Johnny Walker Black. While the character study is not as complex as the author's Robert B. Parker's Blind Spot (2014) or Robert B. Parker's The Hangman's Sonnet (2017) it is still marked by Coleman's stamp while being more reminiscent of Parker's less complex style. An enjoyable, quick read.
esse Stone, the police chief of Paradise, Mass., is back on duty after two months in rehab to try to stay sober. His return coincides with a series of hate crimes, starting with the vicious beating of an African-American woman, Felicity Wileford. That her attacker wrote the word slut on her belly in lipstick suggests a connection with the first murder Stone ever handled in Paradise 21 years earlier. A cross burning on the lawn of a mixed-race couple follows, and a group calling itself the Saviors of Society circulates flyers calling for Paradise's citizens to revolt and take back their community from the pernicious forces that have invaded it. The situation gets even more flammable when one of Stone's officers, Alisha Davis, who's African-American, guns down an apparently unarmed white man.
esse Stone, the police chief of Paradise, Mass., is back on duty after two months in rehab to try to stay sober. His return coincides with a series of hate crimes, starting with the vicious beating of an African-American woman, Felicity Wileford. That her attacker wrote the word slut on her belly in lipstick suggests a connection with the first murder Stone ever handled in Paradise 21 years earlier. A cross burning on the lawn of a mixed-race couple follows, and a group calling itself the Saviors of Society circulates flyers calling for Paradise's citizens to revolt and take back their community from the pernicious forces that have invaded it. The situation gets even more flammable when one of Stone's officers, Alisha Davis, who's African-American, guns down an apparently unarmed white man.
December 30, 2024
Jesse Stone continues his journey. A group of white nationists burned a cross on a mixed-race family house.
This happened in Paradise where Jesse is the police chief. Jesse knows that the white nationists would not stop there. As the investigation continued, a woman cop opened fire on a suspect and he died. Having a black woman cop killing a white man might be the start of the race war that the white nationalists wanted.
Some of the racist materials are too close to the truth. It is disturbing.
Who are the players and who in the police force are helping the white nationalists?
The story is okay. The writing is a bit old fashion. Also, there should be tension with so much going on, which is kind of lacking in the version.
I give it 3.5 stars as I don't enjoy it as much as I hope.
This happened in Paradise where Jesse is the police chief. Jesse knows that the white nationists would not stop there. As the investigation continued, a woman cop opened fire on a suspect and he died. Having a black woman cop killing a white man might be the start of the race war that the white nationalists wanted.
Some of the racist materials are too close to the truth. It is disturbing.
Who are the players and who in the police force are helping the white nationalists?
The story is okay. The writing is a bit old fashion. Also, there should be tension with so much going on, which is kind of lacking in the version.
I give it 3.5 stars as I don't enjoy it as much as I hope.
March 16, 2019
.
Robert B. Parker's Colorblind
(Jesse Stone book series #17, pub. 2018)
Jesse Stone is an ex-ballplayer who joined the LAPD. He was fired from his 10-year position with robbery-homicide when he developed a drinking problem (divorce). Now on the East Coast he serves as Chief of Police in the pleasant town of Paradise, Massachusetts where not surprisingly, a variety of nasty crimes regularly occur.
OVERVIEW:
Jesse Stone has been away in rehab and is now back on the job--no more bottles of booze in his desk drawer. He deals with whiskey cravings by frequenting AA meetings and talking with his sponsor.
A number of racially motivated crimes begin happening, targeting interracial couples: a black woman (Felicity), visiting Swan Harbor with her white beau, is brutally assaulted and left for dead; a cross is burned into a family's front lawn, the parents are interracil (white & Indian); Jesse’s new rookie-deputy Alisha is the first black woman on the Paradise PD. She too is in a biracial relationship and is tricked into shooting an unarmed white guy.
An additional story line concerns Cole Slayton, a homeless younger guy, new to town with a huge chip on his shoulder. Jesse feels compelled to offer him help, a dry place to stay, a job etc., but Cole is more sarcastic than thankful.
What he got from Slayton was a full dose of attitude. "Minor-league ballplayer. Minor-league cop in a minor-league town."
Cole turns out to be Jesse's son by Saline, a California gal who dumped Jesse and never told him about the baby boy.
Leon Vandercamp's hate group Saviors of Society "SS" are now in the area with plans for sparking a revolution. Racist fliers are placed on car windows during the night. Their vitriol is aimed at liberalism, socialism, feminism and various other isms and they seem to identify as neo-Nazis with an affinity for Klan atrocities. The devotees include: the Vanderkamp family; a Swan Harbor cop, Drake Daniels; Garrison who owns a landscape business; Gary Jr. from the gas station--some others.
Leon Oskar Vandercamp, aka The Colonel, aka the Lion claimed Winston Churchill sacrificed the city of Coventry to protect a secret that helped win the war (a WWII conspiracy theory). The Brits had broken the German code and learned of a bombing raid on the city, but did nothing so the Germans would never know they could read their intel (allegedly). Leon reasons if Churchill could sacrifice a whole city, he could sacrifice his son (John) for the cause.
John, a suspect in the cross burning (caught on camera buying 5 gallons of kerosene), leads Alisha into a dark alley where he shoots at her, but he doesn't know his gun is loaded with blanks. She returns fire and shoots him dead. Lee Harvey a dishonorably discharged, former Ranger is John's half-brother. He quickly rappelled down the wall in the dark, grabbed the gun with the blanks and ascended. Now it appears Alisha shot an unarmed 22 year-old. She's also off duty, had just come out of the bar, is legally intoxicated and killed a suspect only wanted for questioning--perfect setup.
The state cops investigate and determine Alisha is guilty as sin. Jesse conducts his own investigation and figures out the truth. Meanwhile, Leon (the Colonel) is directing his son Lee Harvey (the soldier) to tie up all the loose ends--kill their accomplices and anyone talking to the cops. He also trys to kill Jesse, ramming his Explorer with a stolen truck.
Ends with the soldier shot dead by Jesse and his dad Leon captured at the border. The old meeting-house where the prayer vigil is held blows up (Lee Harvey's doing), but everyone escaped out the old tunnel from Underground Railroad days. No Revolution, the SS followers didn't even riot (they could take a lesson from Antifa).
Cole and his dad get on well together. Now for the first time Jesse decides to share at the AA meeting: "My name is Jesse and I'm an alcoholic."
..
There's some minor anti-gun nonsense. The author seems to purposely malign the religious, conservatives, NRA gun owners, etc as he portrays the villains as right-wing, criminal nutjobs.
Coleman (the author) goes a bit crazy associating his bad guys with a variety of symbols and ideologies (the KKK, Nazis, the Confederate Battle Flag, the fascist salute, revolution aimed at the alt-left, flags labeled ARYAN LIVES MATTER, Etc.). It's comical, but I'm not sure it was meant to be.
In opposition to the SS group the author brings in Reverend Sam (and his protesters) a civil rights extremist who usually attacks cops for killing blacks. Kind of odd here with the black cop killing a white racist/terrorist.
However, the story is mostly compelling even with Leon's ridiculous attempt to start a revolution by sacrificing his son (John Wilkes Vandercamp) in order to start some kind of race war.
The author fails to make it believable.
What does make sense is, Leon, his family and followers being just a bunch of racist wackos.
.
Robert B. Parker (1932 to 2010) authored the Spenser book series (Spenser: For Hire is based on it) ,
Sunny Randall series,
and the Jesse Stone series which were made into a number of TV films.
After Parker's death in 2010 the Jesse Stone series was continued by Michael Brandman (three novels) and then by Reed Farrel Coleman (5 novels).
Reed Farrel Coleman books:
Robert B. Parker's Blind Spot (2014)
Robert B. Parker's The Devil Wins (2015)
Robert B. Parker's Debt to Pay (2016)
Robert B. Parker's The Hangman's Sonnet (2017)
● Robert B. Parker's Colorblind (2018)
..
Robert B. Parker's Colorblind
(Jesse Stone book series #17, pub. 2018)
Jesse Stone is an ex-ballplayer who joined the LAPD. He was fired from his 10-year position with robbery-homicide when he developed a drinking problem (divorce). Now on the East Coast he serves as Chief of Police in the pleasant town of Paradise, Massachusetts where not surprisingly, a variety of nasty crimes regularly occur.
OVERVIEW:
Jesse Stone has been away in rehab and is now back on the job--no more bottles of booze in his desk drawer. He deals with whiskey cravings by frequenting AA meetings and talking with his sponsor.
A number of racially motivated crimes begin happening, targeting interracial couples: a black woman (Felicity), visiting Swan Harbor with her white beau, is brutally assaulted and left for dead; a cross is burned into a family's front lawn, the parents are interracil (white & Indian); Jesse’s new rookie-deputy Alisha is the first black woman on the Paradise PD. She too is in a biracial relationship and is tricked into shooting an unarmed white guy.
An additional story line concerns Cole Slayton, a homeless younger guy, new to town with a huge chip on his shoulder. Jesse feels compelled to offer him help, a dry place to stay, a job etc., but Cole is more sarcastic than thankful.
What he got from Slayton was a full dose of attitude. "Minor-league ballplayer. Minor-league cop in a minor-league town."
Cole turns out to be Jesse's son by Saline, a California gal who dumped Jesse and never told him about the baby boy.
Leon Vandercamp's hate group Saviors of Society "SS" are now in the area with plans for sparking a revolution. Racist fliers are placed on car windows during the night. Their vitriol is aimed at liberalism, socialism, feminism and various other isms and they seem to identify as neo-Nazis with an affinity for Klan atrocities. The devotees include: the Vanderkamp family; a Swan Harbor cop, Drake Daniels; Garrison who owns a landscape business; Gary Jr. from the gas station--some others.
Leon Oskar Vandercamp, aka The Colonel, aka the Lion claimed Winston Churchill sacrificed the city of Coventry to protect a secret that helped win the war (a WWII conspiracy theory). The Brits had broken the German code and learned of a bombing raid on the city, but did nothing so the Germans would never know they could read their intel (allegedly). Leon reasons if Churchill could sacrifice a whole city, he could sacrifice his son (John) for the cause.
John, a suspect in the cross burning (caught on camera buying 5 gallons of kerosene), leads Alisha into a dark alley where he shoots at her, but he doesn't know his gun is loaded with blanks. She returns fire and shoots him dead. Lee Harvey a dishonorably discharged, former Ranger is John's half-brother. He quickly rappelled down the wall in the dark, grabbed the gun with the blanks and ascended. Now it appears Alisha shot an unarmed 22 year-old. She's also off duty, had just come out of the bar, is legally intoxicated and killed a suspect only wanted for questioning--perfect setup.
The state cops investigate and determine Alisha is guilty as sin. Jesse conducts his own investigation and figures out the truth. Meanwhile, Leon (the Colonel) is directing his son Lee Harvey (the soldier) to tie up all the loose ends--kill their accomplices and anyone talking to the cops. He also trys to kill Jesse, ramming his Explorer with a stolen truck.
Ends with the soldier shot dead by Jesse and his dad Leon captured at the border. The old meeting-house where the prayer vigil is held blows up (Lee Harvey's doing), but everyone escaped out the old tunnel from Underground Railroad days. No Revolution, the SS followers didn't even riot (they could take a lesson from Antifa).
Cole and his dad get on well together. Now for the first time Jesse decides to share at the AA meeting: "My name is Jesse and I'm an alcoholic."
..
There's some minor anti-gun nonsense. The author seems to purposely malign the religious, conservatives, NRA gun owners, etc as he portrays the villains as right-wing, criminal nutjobs.
Coleman (the author) goes a bit crazy associating his bad guys with a variety of symbols and ideologies (the KKK, Nazis, the Confederate Battle Flag, the fascist salute, revolution aimed at the alt-left, flags labeled ARYAN LIVES MATTER, Etc.). It's comical, but I'm not sure it was meant to be.
In opposition to the SS group the author brings in Reverend Sam (and his protesters) a civil rights extremist who usually attacks cops for killing blacks. Kind of odd here with the black cop killing a white racist/terrorist.
However, the story is mostly compelling even with Leon's ridiculous attempt to start a revolution by sacrificing his son (John Wilkes Vandercamp) in order to start some kind of race war.
The author fails to make it believable.
What does make sense is, Leon, his family and followers being just a bunch of racist wackos.
.
Robert B. Parker (1932 to 2010) authored the Spenser book series (Spenser: For Hire is based on it) ,
Sunny Randall series,
and the Jesse Stone series which were made into a number of TV films.
After Parker's death in 2010 the Jesse Stone series was continued by Michael Brandman (three novels) and then by Reed Farrel Coleman (5 novels).
Reed Farrel Coleman books:
Robert B. Parker's Blind Spot (2014)
Robert B. Parker's The Devil Wins (2015)
Robert B. Parker's Debt to Pay (2016)
Robert B. Parker's The Hangman's Sonnet (2017)
● Robert B. Parker's Colorblind (2018)
..
September 18, 2018
(3 1/2). Boy, did I welcome this read. After a bunch of weird, dark explorations a nice visit with Jesse Stone was a boost. Coleman keeps refining his style on his extension of this franchise. The chapters, a la Parker, have gotten shorter, but not quite as short and airy as the originals. This is a strange theme, and Jesse certainly has his hands full with all the goings on, criminally, politically and especially personally. Entertaining as always, a little too farfetched in parts, I am still a devoted fan of this series. Real solid fun.
December 5, 2018
The literary spirit of departed author Robert B. Parker is alive and well in the hands of a small group of capable surrogate authors who keep Parker's characters moving forward. This latest novel - which features Jesse Stone - is exemplary, as good or better than the 16 previous books in the series. The story is constructed around hatred, redemption and clever sleuthing. I enjoyed Tom Selleck's portrayal of Stone in the CBS TV dramas; imagining his face and voice as I read this book made for an extraordinarily rich experience.
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