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Jesse Stone #7
Stranger In Paradise
Ten years after hit man Crow Cromartie escapes with the spoils of a lucrative heist, Massachusetts police officer Jesse Stone is astonished when the fugitive enlists his cooperation with a job gone bad involving a young woman whose father wants her mother killed.
320 pages, Paperback
First published February 5, 2008
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2037 people want to read
About the author
Robert B. Parker
489 books2,289 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database named Robert B. Parker.
Robert Brown Parker was an American writer, primarily of fiction within the mystery/detective genre. His most famous works were the 40 novels written about the fictional private detective Spenser. ABC television network developed the television series Spenser: For Hire based on the character in the mid-1980s; a series of TV movies was also produced based on the character. His works incorporate encyclopedic knowledge of the Boston metropolitan area. The Spenser novels have been cited as reviving and changing the detective genre by critics and bestselling authors including Robert Crais, Harlan Coben, and Dennis Lehane.
Parker also wrote nine novels featuring the fictional character Jesse Stone, a Los Angeles police officer who moves to a small New England town; six novels with the fictional character Sunny Randall, a female private investigator; and four Westerns starring the duo Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch. The first was Appaloosa, made into a film starring Ed Harris and Viggo Mortensen.
Robert Brown Parker was an American writer, primarily of fiction within the mystery/detective genre. His most famous works were the 40 novels written about the fictional private detective Spenser. ABC television network developed the television series Spenser: For Hire based on the character in the mid-1980s; a series of TV movies was also produced based on the character. His works incorporate encyclopedic knowledge of the Boston metropolitan area. The Spenser novels have been cited as reviving and changing the detective genre by critics and bestselling authors including Robert Crais, Harlan Coben, and Dennis Lehane.
Parker also wrote nine novels featuring the fictional character Jesse Stone, a Los Angeles police officer who moves to a small New England town; six novels with the fictional character Sunny Randall, a female private investigator; and four Westerns starring the duo Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch. The first was Appaloosa, made into a film starring Ed Harris and Viggo Mortensen.
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September 10, 2015
The setup here goes back to the second book of the series Trouble In Paradise in which Police Chief Jesse Stone faced a crew of professional thieves including Winston ‘Crow’ Cromartie that looted an entire wealthy island of Jesse's ocean side community. Crow got away, but he’s returned now that the statute of limitations has run out on that crime, and he’s taken a job to locate the missing daughter of a crime kingpin from Florida. However, Crow balks when the kingpin orders him to murder his wife who was trying to hide the kid from him which forces Jesse into an uneasy partnership with Crow to try and protect the women.
The idea of a cop having to team up with a guy he knows is a criminal isn’t half-bad, but the execution is so completely botched that all the characters come across as incompetent and unlikable to the point where I was kinda hating everyone by the the end of it. Robert B. Parker’s books were never police procedurals, and he often had flawed characters bending the law for the greater good, but this one just stretches credibility far past the breaking point.
First and foremost, we’re supposed to buy into the idea that even though Crow was involved in multiple felonies including murder, kidnapping, bank robbery, and the deaths of two police officers that Jesse makes only a token effort to build a case against him before giving up and just trying to keep an eye on him in a half-assed kind of way. I’m pretty sure that the FBI would have more than a few things to say about the bank robbery alone. It also seems that Jesse and his cops forget all about their two guys who died during a crime that Crow was part of because none of them seem to hold a grudge other than a few random comments about their deaths. Even when Jesse knows that Crow has been running around shooting people later in the book he just shrugs it off.
RBP loved writing about certain types of badasses who are all of a kind that recognized and respected each other no matter what side of the law they were on, and that’s what he was going for here. However the circumstances under which Jesse met Crow in the previous book just do not allow for any type of believable plot other than Jesse doing everything he can to immediately arrest Crow. It really felt like RBP was trying to take a character he’d created as a pure criminal and tried to retcon him into being another Hawk. Plus, the whole idea of the statute of limitations being a factor also creates a huge problem with the internal timeline of the series.
There’s the usual nonsense with Jesse’s ex-wife Jenn and their inability to either let each other go or maintain a healthy relationship, but because of RBP committing to the ten year time frame (Which aligned to the publishing dates of the books as well.) it also means that Jesse and Jenn have now spent over a decade in which they’ve been unable to get their shit together even with the help of therapists. The idea that the two of them having been doing this same exact routine for that long with no improvement or end in sight just makes me tired.
We’ve also got severe problems in that Jesse is supposed to be bending the rules and working with Crow because he’s trying to save a girl. However, she’s an unlikeable little shit who also is involved with some truly evil stuff. Yet by the end Jesse has risked the lives of his officers as well as his own career to help this girl, and absolutely nothing is done to hold her responsible for her actions.
Overall, Jesse comes across as even more than a sap than ever because at least it’s usually just his ex-wife that he allows to manipulate him, but here Crow plays him for a chump as well. Even the other supporting characters who have generally been reliable also turn into sex crazed idiots, and yet it’s all played as if it’s a cute source of amusement.
I’m not even sure of who I was supposed to be rooting for because the supposed hero of this series came across as complete rube who is not only incapable of arresting a guy he knows committed multiple crimes, he essentially ends up getting played for the entire book in the interest of trying to save a worthless kid who is guilty of terrible things herself.
The idea of a cop having to team up with a guy he knows is a criminal isn’t half-bad, but the execution is so completely botched that all the characters come across as incompetent and unlikable to the point where I was kinda hating everyone by the the end of it. Robert B. Parker’s books were never police procedurals, and he often had flawed characters bending the law for the greater good, but this one just stretches credibility far past the breaking point.
First and foremost, we’re supposed to buy into the idea that even though Crow was involved in multiple felonies including murder, kidnapping, bank robbery, and the deaths of two police officers that Jesse makes only a token effort to build a case against him before giving up and just trying to keep an eye on him in a half-assed kind of way. I’m pretty sure that the FBI would have more than a few things to say about the bank robbery alone. It also seems that Jesse and his cops forget all about their two guys who died during a crime that Crow was part of because none of them seem to hold a grudge other than a few random comments about their deaths. Even when Jesse knows that Crow has been running around shooting people later in the book he just shrugs it off.
RBP loved writing about certain types of badasses who are all of a kind that recognized and respected each other no matter what side of the law they were on, and that’s what he was going for here. However the circumstances under which Jesse met Crow in the previous book just do not allow for any type of believable plot other than Jesse doing everything he can to immediately arrest Crow. It really felt like RBP was trying to take a character he’d created as a pure criminal and tried to retcon him into being another Hawk. Plus, the whole idea of the statute of limitations being a factor also creates a huge problem with the internal timeline of the series.
There’s the usual nonsense with Jesse’s ex-wife Jenn and their inability to either let each other go or maintain a healthy relationship, but because of RBP committing to the ten year time frame (Which aligned to the publishing dates of the books as well.) it also means that Jesse and Jenn have now spent over a decade in which they’ve been unable to get their shit together even with the help of therapists. The idea that the two of them having been doing this same exact routine for that long with no improvement or end in sight just makes me tired.
We’ve also got severe problems in that Jesse is supposed to be bending the rules and working with Crow because he’s trying to save a girl. However, she’s an unlikeable little shit who also is involved with some truly evil stuff. Yet by the end Jesse has risked the lives of his officers as well as his own career to help this girl, and absolutely nothing is done to hold her responsible for her actions.
Overall, Jesse comes across as even more than a sap than ever because at least it’s usually just his ex-wife that he allows to manipulate him, but here Crow plays him for a chump as well. Even the other supporting characters who have generally been reliable also turn into sex crazed idiots, and yet it’s all played as if it’s a cute source of amusement.
I’m not even sure of who I was supposed to be rooting for because the supposed hero of this series came across as complete rube who is not only incapable of arresting a guy he knows committed multiple crimes, he essentially ends up getting played for the entire book in the interest of trying to save a worthless kid who is guilty of terrible things herself.
February 5, 2021
2.5 stars
Wilson Cromartie (Crow) - who claims to be an Apache Indian - perpetrated a huge robbery in Paradise, Massachusetts ten years ago and got away.
Now that the statute of limitations has expired Crow is back in Paradise, having been hired to find the ex-wife and 14-year-old daughter of a big-time Florida criminal.
As a courtesy Crow stops by the Paradise Police Department to tell Chief Jesse Stone he's in town and doesn't want any trouble with the cops.
Crow finds the ladies he's seeking and learns that Amber, the teen......
.....is involved with a 20-year-old low-life/gang banger.
As it turns out the Florida mob guy, Louis Francisco, wants his ex-wife killed and Amber sent back to Florida, but the girl absolutely doesn't want to go. Moreover, Crow has an aversion to harming women. Thus Crow makes it his mission to 'save' the girl. Due to a confluence of circumstances, Jesse decides to help Amber as well. So, oddly enough, the police chief and the criminal have a common goal in this book.
Meanwhile, a hoity-toity wealthy Paradise woman is trying to stop the opening of a pre-school for Hispanic children in Paradise, claiming this will ruin property values and bring crime to town.
Soon enough her fears seem to be validated when a dead body is found on the school property.
Regular characters in the series make an appearance including Jesse's psychiatrist,
his ex-wife Jenn,
and Paradise cops Molly and Suitcase (both of whom engage in illicit romance....not with each other).
There's also a gang of young, vicious, but not-too-bright criminals. As usual Jesse is having trouble with his drinking, an ongoing theme in the series. There's some amusing repartee among some characters, which makes a nice break from the more violent scenes.
The book is an easy, quick read with a straightforward main story and a couple of side issues. The primary plot is fairly predictable, no big surprises. Also, a good number of characters in the book are not especially likable. Crow is a killer without a conscience (though apparently with plenty of sex appeal), Amber is a foul-mouthed, badly behaved teenager, the rich lady has an agenda (though her backstory isn't particularly believable), and so on. Also, Robert Parker has a sort of tic in his writing and uses the phrase "he said' or "she said" a million times (it seems like). This gets really old.
Overall, a so-so book. Best for for a plane trip or beach read where you don't want too much of a challenge.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....
August 27, 2022
4 Stars. He's not Parker's Spenser, but who really is? Sheriff Jesse Stone in Paradise, Massachusetts has more faults than that Boston wisecracker. He drinks too much, can't get past his divorced wife Jenn, and seems to care little about the rap sheet of a visitor to his office. The man is Wilson Cromartie, an Apache for hire, who we learn was involved in a local heist of $10 million a little more than a decade ago. Beyond the statute of limitations. Stone is curious, but keep's his revolver close at hand when asking "Crow" why he's in town. Apparently, he has a client who wants him to find someone. It turns out the client is a mob boss in Miami looking for his former wife and their 14-year-old daughter. Crow has instructions to kill the woman and bring back the kid, Amber Francisco now Alice Franklin, a real brat. If the money is right, is a job just a job? Except Crow likes women and doing nasties to them is not his thing. He finds the two but decides to stiff Miami. The next envoys from Florida are not only seeking the girl but Crow as well! Watch for the editing mistake as Jesse asks Molly Crane, his Sergeant, the same questions twice. A little light, but enjoyable. (May 2020)
December 1, 2017
A fun read with very easy to care about characters. Who wouldn't love some Stone.
November 20, 2016
While the violence was over the top, it was nice to meet with the series characters.
Only Parker can write dialogue, tagging most lines as he said he said she said.
Only Parker can write dialogue, tagging most lines as he said he said she said.
July 2, 2019
I have read one of Robert B. Parker's Spenser mystery series books and enjoyed very much. I've also enjoyed the Jesse Stone movies based on Parker's books. Stranger In Paradise is my first Jesse Stone book and is the 7th in the series. Most enjoyable I must say.
Jesse is sheriff in Paradise, Massachusetts. He's reinventing himself after moving from a police job in LA. He's got an interesting police department, about 12 cops; the two most interesting being Molly and Suitcase. His ex-wife, Jenn also lives in Paradise, trying for a career as a TV journalist. They love each other, see each other, but haven't decided where to go from there. Jesse is also seeing psychiatrist, Dix, trying to sort out his issues / problems. Of course there are other characters as well.
An old case from ten years ago resurfaces when Wilson Cromartie (Crow) shows up in Jesse's office. Crow was part of a bank robbery / kidnapping that took place then. Wasn't able to be convicted of anything and it seems he may have prevented the other robbers from killing the hostages, especially the woman. He likes women (you will find this out). Crow has been hired to find a mother and daughter for some fellow from Florida. He wants Jesse to know he's in town.
That's the gist of the story. When Crow finds the two, he is told to kill the mother and bring the girl to Florida. He refuses and this sets off a chain of events, involving a gang from the next town and also killers who work for the father. A minor story line involves Paradise protesters who don't want Latino children from the neighboring town to come to a small school near their residences. Are the two stories related? Read it and find out.
I really enjoyed this story. Parker has a sparse writing style but still manages to craft a rich, interesting story. The characters are interesting, some likable, some not so much, but still engrossing. The story moves along quickly and is difficult to put down. Once you get into it, say on page 1, you will want to see how it ends. And along the way, you will be fascinated. Most enjoyable. (4 stars)
Jesse is sheriff in Paradise, Massachusetts. He's reinventing himself after moving from a police job in LA. He's got an interesting police department, about 12 cops; the two most interesting being Molly and Suitcase. His ex-wife, Jenn also lives in Paradise, trying for a career as a TV journalist. They love each other, see each other, but haven't decided where to go from there. Jesse is also seeing psychiatrist, Dix, trying to sort out his issues / problems. Of course there are other characters as well.
An old case from ten years ago resurfaces when Wilson Cromartie (Crow) shows up in Jesse's office. Crow was part of a bank robbery / kidnapping that took place then. Wasn't able to be convicted of anything and it seems he may have prevented the other robbers from killing the hostages, especially the woman. He likes women (you will find this out). Crow has been hired to find a mother and daughter for some fellow from Florida. He wants Jesse to know he's in town.
That's the gist of the story. When Crow finds the two, he is told to kill the mother and bring the girl to Florida. He refuses and this sets off a chain of events, involving a gang from the next town and also killers who work for the father. A minor story line involves Paradise protesters who don't want Latino children from the neighboring town to come to a small school near their residences. Are the two stories related? Read it and find out.
I really enjoyed this story. Parker has a sparse writing style but still manages to craft a rich, interesting story. The characters are interesting, some likable, some not so much, but still engrossing. The story moves along quickly and is difficult to put down. Once you get into it, say on page 1, you will want to see how it ends. And along the way, you will be fascinated. Most enjoyable. (4 stars)
September 11, 2016
This is book #7 in the Jesse Stone series. So far it is a decent series and I was hoping to get through the whole series this year, but whether or not that happens I am hoping it will be enjoyable throughout the whole series.
Synopsis
Police Chief Jesse Stone faces his most fearsome adversary in the latest addition to the celebrated series. The last time Jesse Stone, chief of police of Paradise, Massachusetts, saw Wilson "Crow" Cromartie, the Apache Indian hit man was racing away in a speedboat after executing one of the most lucrative and deadly heists in the town's history. Crow was part of a team of ex-cons who plotted to capture Stiles Island, the wealthy enclave off the Paradise coast, by blowing up the connecting bridge. Residents were kidnapped, some were killed, and Crow managed to escape with a boatload of cash, never to be seen again. Until now. So when Crow shows up in Jesse's office some ten years after the crime, it's not to turn himself in. Crow is on another job, and this time he's asking for Jesse's help-by asking him to stay out of his way. Crow's mission is simple: find young Amber Francisco and bring her back to her father, Louis, in Florida. It should be an easy payday for a pro like Crow, but there are complications. Amber, now living in squalor with her mother, Fiona, is mixed up with members of a Latino gang. And when Louis orders Crow to kill Fiona before heading back with Amber, he can't follow through. Crow may be a bad guy, but he doesn't kill women. It's up to Jesse to provide protection. Meanwhile, Jesse's on-again, off-again relationship with ex-wife Jenn picks up steam as Jenn investigates the gang problem for her TV station. As they dig deeper, the danger escalates. The life of a young girl hangs in the balance, and saving Amber could be the miracle Jesse and Jenn need for themselves, too.
One thing I really enjoy about this series is the pacing and how well the books flow, and this installment is no different. I love that these cases are in a small town environment, makes it feel more relatable to me since I am in a small town myself. I also enjoy the Authors use of dialogue. He is so good with that. I love all of the interaction between characters and it keeps the story moving along, makes for a quick fun read, and also it allows readers to keep track of the characters and who they are.
The characters are really fun for me as well. I enjoy Jesse a lot, mostly because he is so flawed, but I think besides him, I love Molly and her quirkiness and her mishaps, while she is still able to get the job done. She is always there for Jesse along with Suitcase, his right hand man. There is a full cast of very colorful characters in this series and they are developing very well. They are all a very enjoyable part of the series and I look forward to meeting many more characters throughout the series.
Synopsis
Police Chief Jesse Stone faces his most fearsome adversary in the latest addition to the celebrated series. The last time Jesse Stone, chief of police of Paradise, Massachusetts, saw Wilson "Crow" Cromartie, the Apache Indian hit man was racing away in a speedboat after executing one of the most lucrative and deadly heists in the town's history. Crow was part of a team of ex-cons who plotted to capture Stiles Island, the wealthy enclave off the Paradise coast, by blowing up the connecting bridge. Residents were kidnapped, some were killed, and Crow managed to escape with a boatload of cash, never to be seen again. Until now. So when Crow shows up in Jesse's office some ten years after the crime, it's not to turn himself in. Crow is on another job, and this time he's asking for Jesse's help-by asking him to stay out of his way. Crow's mission is simple: find young Amber Francisco and bring her back to her father, Louis, in Florida. It should be an easy payday for a pro like Crow, but there are complications. Amber, now living in squalor with her mother, Fiona, is mixed up with members of a Latino gang. And when Louis orders Crow to kill Fiona before heading back with Amber, he can't follow through. Crow may be a bad guy, but he doesn't kill women. It's up to Jesse to provide protection. Meanwhile, Jesse's on-again, off-again relationship with ex-wife Jenn picks up steam as Jenn investigates the gang problem for her TV station. As they dig deeper, the danger escalates. The life of a young girl hangs in the balance, and saving Amber could be the miracle Jesse and Jenn need for themselves, too.
One thing I really enjoy about this series is the pacing and how well the books flow, and this installment is no different. I love that these cases are in a small town environment, makes it feel more relatable to me since I am in a small town myself. I also enjoy the Authors use of dialogue. He is so good with that. I love all of the interaction between characters and it keeps the story moving along, makes for a quick fun read, and also it allows readers to keep track of the characters and who they are.
The characters are really fun for me as well. I enjoy Jesse a lot, mostly because he is so flawed, but I think besides him, I love Molly and her quirkiness and her mishaps, while she is still able to get the job done. She is always there for Jesse along with Suitcase, his right hand man. There is a full cast of very colorful characters in this series and they are developing very well. They are all a very enjoyable part of the series and I look forward to meeting many more characters throughout the series.
November 15, 2025
Low believability for me
July 7, 2016
Good entry in the Jesse Stone series by Parker. Parker's Stone series are one of my favorites. I also enjoy the TV movies based on the Stone character starring Tom Selleck. The last book I read in this series was a little bit of a let down for me (High Profile) but with Stranger in Paradise, Parker is back on track. In this one, ex-con Wilson "Crow" Cromartie returns to Paradise 10 years after he eluded police and made off with a few million. Crow, who claims to be Apache, is searching for someone in the Paradise area at the behest of a Florida mobster named Louis Francisco. It turns out Crow is ordered to kill the mobster's ex-wife and to bring his 14-year old daughter, Amber, to him in Florida. But Crow has a thing about hurting women so does not comply with his contract. Stone ends up using Crow as an ally to help make Amber safe and get her away from a Latino gang.
Overall, this was an enjoyable entry in the Stone series and I'm looking forward to reading others in the series that I have missed.
Overall, this was an enjoyable entry in the Stone series and I'm looking forward to reading others in the series that I have missed.
April 13, 2019
It’s really Spenser and the whole crew with new names, a new setting, slightly different dialogue. If you don’t figure out he basic plot pdq, you’re not paying attention. Still, it’s like reading the same funnies in the paper or watching the same show on tv; the familiarity, as in good relationships, is nice.
Read
December 16, 2017Awful.
March 14, 2020
Fun story. Still wish he'd get rid of Jenn. Thought she was going to be gone for good at one point, but back she came.
November 15, 2020
Spellbinding.
September 14, 2024
A fine story, well written, easy to follow, I liked the way the story built until it's conclusion.
August 1, 2016
This is the seventh installment in the Jesse Stone series and is so much better than the last book which I found disappointing.
In this story, a character who helped stage a huge robbery on Stiles Island ten years ago, returns to Paradise. Several people were killed during the commission of that crime, including two police officers. The man is Wilson “Crow” Comartie, who claims he is a full blooded Apache Indian. Jesse last saw him fleeing from the crime scene in a speedboat with all the cash.
When Crow steps into Jesse’s office, the two face one another as considerable opponents. Crow has an aura about him and reeks of power and confidence. He tells Jesse he has a job to do in town and doesn’t want to bump up against him, so he asks that they stay clear of each other while he carries out his assignment. Jesse promises nothing, determined to put a case together that will put Crow behind bars for the crime he carried out years ago. Jesse knows the statute of limitations may be a problem, but he is determined to try nonetheless.
Crow is a dangerous contract killer. But he has another side to his character. Jesse remembers watching Crow releasing the hostages that he could easily have killed after that huge robbery. All of the hostages were women.
Jesse and Molly meet with some of those women in an effort to put that case together. But the women are frightened and don’t want to co-operate. They remember Crow as the one who protected them from the other bad men. They feel he saved their lives and will not say a word against him.
Crow has been hired by Florida racketeer Louis Francisco to find his wife Fiona and his daughter Amber. Crow’s attempt to locate the two women leads him to a confrontation with a Latino gang called The Horn Street Boys. He gets into trouble with their leader Estebhan when he is forced to kill their enforcer Puerco. Crow knows he will have to deal with the gang again and expects revenge for the killing.
Amber who is only fourteen, is a mess. Her mother is a drunk who needs help and her father is a gangster whose men molested her. This young girl has never had a chance at life and has now fallen in with a gang. Her boyfriend is Esteban, the leader of the Horn Street Boys.
When Crow locates Fiona and Amber, he contacts his employer Francisco, who tells Crow to kill the wife and bring the daughter back to him in Florida. Crow will not carry out this assignment because he does not kill women. But he also knows that Francisco is not one to let anybody double cross him or allow his daughter to avoid him when he wants her home.
Crow first has to deal with the Latino gang he has annoyed and then he must deal with his employer who has already paid him for a job he is determined not to complete. He asks Jesse to look out for the two women while he takes care of the gang problem.
Crow wants to free Amber from her father and give her a chance at a better life.
Jesse and Crow, still wary of one another, create a tenuous pact to work together and protect the two women. But Amber escapes protective custody and Fiona is shot, leading Jesse and Crow to meet once again to develop an intricate plan, which may save Amber and take out some of Francisco’s bad guys who arrive to kidnap her and haul her back to Florida. The will also be there to kill Crow who reneged on their boss’s assignment.
During this time, Jesse is also approached by a small delegation of residents in Paradise Neck who are concerned about the opening of a school for disadvantaged students in their neighborhood. The students are mostly Hispanic from the nearby town of Marshland. The residents are concerned the influx of these students will attract gangs and drive down the value of their elite properties. Leading the charge is Marion Fielder one of the area residents who seems to be fervent about this cause.
Jesse’s ex Jenn is now on assignment for Newsbeat Three News. She has been asked to work up a story about the new school and the possibility of Latino gangs infiltrating Paradise. Knowing Jesse has been visited by the resident delegation, she cozies up to him to see if she can get an inside story for the news desk. The couple’s difficult and dysfunctional relationship continues, although in this installment they finally begin to make progress sorting out their problems.
This book is so much better than the last book in the series. Parker has really nailed the character of Miriam Felder, the older, affluent dissatisfied woman who is determined to stop the opening of the new school. And he has created a great character in Crow, although his sexual exploits do not seem believable. I would not be surprised if Crow turns up again in the series. He is an interesting character and a great focus for a good story.
In this story, a character who helped stage a huge robbery on Stiles Island ten years ago, returns to Paradise. Several people were killed during the commission of that crime, including two police officers. The man is Wilson “Crow” Comartie, who claims he is a full blooded Apache Indian. Jesse last saw him fleeing from the crime scene in a speedboat with all the cash.
When Crow steps into Jesse’s office, the two face one another as considerable opponents. Crow has an aura about him and reeks of power and confidence. He tells Jesse he has a job to do in town and doesn’t want to bump up against him, so he asks that they stay clear of each other while he carries out his assignment. Jesse promises nothing, determined to put a case together that will put Crow behind bars for the crime he carried out years ago. Jesse knows the statute of limitations may be a problem, but he is determined to try nonetheless.
Crow is a dangerous contract killer. But he has another side to his character. Jesse remembers watching Crow releasing the hostages that he could easily have killed after that huge robbery. All of the hostages were women.
Jesse and Molly meet with some of those women in an effort to put that case together. But the women are frightened and don’t want to co-operate. They remember Crow as the one who protected them from the other bad men. They feel he saved their lives and will not say a word against him.
Crow has been hired by Florida racketeer Louis Francisco to find his wife Fiona and his daughter Amber. Crow’s attempt to locate the two women leads him to a confrontation with a Latino gang called The Horn Street Boys. He gets into trouble with their leader Estebhan when he is forced to kill their enforcer Puerco. Crow knows he will have to deal with the gang again and expects revenge for the killing.
Amber who is only fourteen, is a mess. Her mother is a drunk who needs help and her father is a gangster whose men molested her. This young girl has never had a chance at life and has now fallen in with a gang. Her boyfriend is Esteban, the leader of the Horn Street Boys.
When Crow locates Fiona and Amber, he contacts his employer Francisco, who tells Crow to kill the wife and bring the daughter back to him in Florida. Crow will not carry out this assignment because he does not kill women. But he also knows that Francisco is not one to let anybody double cross him or allow his daughter to avoid him when he wants her home.
Crow first has to deal with the Latino gang he has annoyed and then he must deal with his employer who has already paid him for a job he is determined not to complete. He asks Jesse to look out for the two women while he takes care of the gang problem.
Crow wants to free Amber from her father and give her a chance at a better life.
Jesse and Crow, still wary of one another, create a tenuous pact to work together and protect the two women. But Amber escapes protective custody and Fiona is shot, leading Jesse and Crow to meet once again to develop an intricate plan, which may save Amber and take out some of Francisco’s bad guys who arrive to kidnap her and haul her back to Florida. The will also be there to kill Crow who reneged on their boss’s assignment.
During this time, Jesse is also approached by a small delegation of residents in Paradise Neck who are concerned about the opening of a school for disadvantaged students in their neighborhood. The students are mostly Hispanic from the nearby town of Marshland. The residents are concerned the influx of these students will attract gangs and drive down the value of their elite properties. Leading the charge is Marion Fielder one of the area residents who seems to be fervent about this cause.
Jesse’s ex Jenn is now on assignment for Newsbeat Three News. She has been asked to work up a story about the new school and the possibility of Latino gangs infiltrating Paradise. Knowing Jesse has been visited by the resident delegation, she cozies up to him to see if she can get an inside story for the news desk. The couple’s difficult and dysfunctional relationship continues, although in this installment they finally begin to make progress sorting out their problems.
This book is so much better than the last book in the series. Parker has really nailed the character of Miriam Felder, the older, affluent dissatisfied woman who is determined to stop the opening of the new school. And he has created a great character in Crow, although his sexual exploits do not seem believable. I would not be surprised if Crow turns up again in the series. He is an interesting character and a great focus for a good story.
March 28, 2019
Books with Jesse Stone in them couldn't possibly be any better!
Ten years ago, Apache hit man Crow got away from Paradise with $20 million. Statue of limitations is over and Crow is back in Jesse's office to let him know he's been hired to find someone in town. Crow's found his target but now instructions have changed and he doesn't kill women or children. That means Jesse has a situation because someone else will be coming who doesn't mind carrying out these orders. I guess that puts Crow and Jesse on the same side this time. Sounds formidable.
The other storyline deals with some rich suburbanites that dislike a group of 5 year old Latino students coming into their part of town for an alternative school and they want this to stop. You can bet this situation doesn't sit well with Jesse.
I cannot believe I missed this book coming out in 2008. No movie was made out of this particular story either so it totally bypassed me. I'm so happy to have found it for my book collection because Jesse Stone is one of my heroes. I don't like Jenn. I love Molly and Suitcase. I've always loved these older books actually written by Robert B. Parker. I love the witty but sparse dialogue which was his trademark.
Ten years ago, Apache hit man Crow got away from Paradise with $20 million. Statue of limitations is over and Crow is back in Jesse's office to let him know he's been hired to find someone in town. Crow's found his target but now instructions have changed and he doesn't kill women or children. That means Jesse has a situation because someone else will be coming who doesn't mind carrying out these orders. I guess that puts Crow and Jesse on the same side this time. Sounds formidable.
The other storyline deals with some rich suburbanites that dislike a group of 5 year old Latino students coming into their part of town for an alternative school and they want this to stop. You can bet this situation doesn't sit well with Jesse.
I cannot believe I missed this book coming out in 2008. No movie was made out of this particular story either so it totally bypassed me. I'm so happy to have found it for my book collection because Jesse Stone is one of my heroes. I don't like Jenn. I love Molly and Suitcase. I've always loved these older books actually written by Robert B. Parker. I love the witty but sparse dialogue which was his trademark.
February 25, 2024
Parker plays one note, "the stoic, monosyllabic yet handsomely swarthy hero", on his instrument very well, as for the rest of the notes, well, those are harder to come by, or very flat. So, when he just renames the "hero" note as "the bad guy", changes the ethnicity, and proceeds like everything is normal, the story suffers for it.
It degrades the actual hero through the mirror scenes in which they talk to each other... tough to get into a grunting/banter exchange for three pages, even tougher to read extended brooding and silences. And Parker is notorious for not harming his "hero" creations, so you know the ending before you ever get there.
All this while every female character swoons, gets bedded by said character (poorly written execution mind you) and is left to grapple with why she allowed it to occur. married or otherwise.
Let's not get into the plot, as Parker didn't either. Just a lazy, racist setup to introduce gangbangers into the world, and allow for meaningless murders to ensue. Trying to be topical in 2008. Ugh.
Not much of story development or worldly details. Just skippable.
Thanks for reading.
It degrades the actual hero through the mirror scenes in which they talk to each other... tough to get into a grunting/banter exchange for three pages, even tougher to read extended brooding and silences. And Parker is notorious for not harming his "hero" creations, so you know the ending before you ever get there.
All this while every female character swoons, gets bedded by said character (poorly written execution mind you) and is left to grapple with why she allowed it to occur. married or otherwise.
Let's not get into the plot, as Parker didn't either. Just a lazy, racist setup to introduce gangbangers into the world, and allow for meaningless murders to ensue. Trying to be topical in 2008. Ugh.
Not much of story development or worldly details. Just skippable.
Thanks for reading.
March 31, 2008
Jesse Stone isn't Spenser. He's a lot more burdened by self-doubt, drinks too much, and is still hung up on his ex-wife. Spenser also has Hawk, whereas before this book, Stone only had his little cop force in the small town of Paradise. Now, along comes a professional assassin who like Hawk has his own code of how to behave. Crow doesn't kill women, but he does shoot the "bad" guys like mobsters, gangbangers, and other hitmen. I thought it was an interesting use of names, Hawk vs. Crow.
It's an easy book to read, but I was still a little disturbed by the parallels developing between the Spenser and Stone series. While I like Hawk despite his foibles or maybe because of them, I didn't really like Crow. Tough guy or not, he seems far too much like a predator, much more than Hawk does.
At any rate, it's a quick read with snappy dialogue and some action, something I've come to expect from most of the Parker books. Nobody does great dialogue like Parker.
It's an easy book to read, but I was still a little disturbed by the parallels developing between the Spenser and Stone series. While I like Hawk despite his foibles or maybe because of them, I didn't really like Crow. Tough guy or not, he seems far too much like a predator, much more than Hawk does.
At any rate, it's a quick read with snappy dialogue and some action, something I've come to expect from most of the Parker books. Nobody does great dialogue like Parker.
April 7, 2010
I have always loved Robert B. Parker's books. His male heroes are just slightly larger than life. Stone, the police chief in Paradise, has been played in television movies by Tom Selleck. He has a flaw: he drinks more than he should. His other flaw is also a strength: his deep love for his wife Jenn, who has been unfaithful and from whom he is separated. This particular story features a bad guy to love. The man seems to be completely amoral and at the same time rather knightly. I think part of the reason I like Parker's novels is that I can be sure that women will be honored, children will be saved, and strength--even in the bad man--is honored.
One place in the edition I read Parker slipped. Jesse Stone was talking to someone and the person responds. The next comment ends with the words "I said." Parker lived inside his characters. Maybe that is what makes them so good.
I will miss Parker's writing.
One place in the edition I read Parker slipped. Jesse Stone was talking to someone and the person responds. The next comment ends with the words "I said." Parker lived inside his characters. Maybe that is what makes them so good.
I will miss Parker's writing.
December 16, 2020
I read this as part of the Popsugar 2020 reading list. At first I didn't realize this was part of the Jesse Stone series. I had seen a couple of the movies but didn't know they were adapted from a book. So, this was #7 in the series. It was a pretty quick read and I enjoyed Jesse Stone's brusque personality and communication style. Ha Ha. He needs therapy. Makes me want to read the series in order.
October 10, 2020
Not reading in order, but after listening to several audiobooks in this series this one was by far my favorite. Good story, but what I really enjoyed was the banter among all key characters. Narration was perfect!
October 24, 2020
The late Robert B. Parker was an acknowledged master of the mystery genre, but this entry in his subseries on Jesse Stone simply isn't as good as his many volumes in the Spenser series. Stick with Parker's books that feature Spenser, Susan, and Hawk.
February 25, 2022
I’m very fond of you Jesse. 😉
August 30, 2023
Audio book
October 27, 2011
Since Robert B. Parker died, I've been saving the few novels of his that I hadn't read. I parcel them out to myself very slowly. Yesterday I allowed myself the pleasure of reading this Jesse Stone novel.
If you've read any of this series or have seen a TV interpretation of one, you know Jesse has a drinking problem which got him fired from the police force in California, and an ex-wife who just refuses to stay away from him so he can get over her. He is now the police chief in Paradise, MA. He sees a shrink regularly in a vain attempt to handle his problems.
In Stranger in Paradise we have a character who is much like Hawk of the Spenser series. This guy is a crook, but he has scruples. He won't kill women, for instance; he likes them. And the women are fascinated by him, including me. He claims to be an Apache Indian and goes by the single name Crow although his real name is Wilson Cromartie. To my mind he makes this novel.
Detective "Suitcase" Simpson has changed since the beginning of the series, in what was to me a very surprising way. As usual, the story is punctuated by witty dialogue, a laid back approach to detecting, and some very snobby folks who are incensed because a half dozen little children are being transported to their neighborhood Monday through Friday to a new school. The residents keep going on about "the camel's nose in the tent" as if these little kids are going to steal their silver and put graffiti on their mansions. It's very funny, and of course Jesse gives them enough rope to hang themselves.
I'm not an unbiased reviewer in this case because I've loved Robert B. Parker novels forever, but really who wouldn't like this book. I urge you to read it.
If you've read any of this series or have seen a TV interpretation of one, you know Jesse has a drinking problem which got him fired from the police force in California, and an ex-wife who just refuses to stay away from him so he can get over her. He is now the police chief in Paradise, MA. He sees a shrink regularly in a vain attempt to handle his problems.
In Stranger in Paradise we have a character who is much like Hawk of the Spenser series. This guy is a crook, but he has scruples. He won't kill women, for instance; he likes them. And the women are fascinated by him, including me. He claims to be an Apache Indian and goes by the single name Crow although his real name is Wilson Cromartie. To my mind he makes this novel.
Detective "Suitcase" Simpson has changed since the beginning of the series, in what was to me a very surprising way. As usual, the story is punctuated by witty dialogue, a laid back approach to detecting, and some very snobby folks who are incensed because a half dozen little children are being transported to their neighborhood Monday through Friday to a new school. The residents keep going on about "the camel's nose in the tent" as if these little kids are going to steal their silver and put graffiti on their mansions. It's very funny, and of course Jesse gives them enough rope to hang themselves.
I'm not an unbiased reviewer in this case because I've loved Robert B. Parker novels forever, but really who wouldn't like this book. I urge you to read it.
May 2, 2013
We enjoyed our first Jesse Stone novel (“Split Image”) recently, and decided to read another tale about the wise-crackin’ but confident and competent Police Chief of Boston suburb Paradise Mass. In “Stranger”, when a never-convicted villain of about a decade ago, Wilson "Crow" Cromartie, shows up in town and pays a “courtesy call” to Stone, they both know something’s up, with Stone swearing to work on the old case some more. Despite that intention, the two create a bit of an unholy alliance to foil the attempts of a Florida mobster to extract his daughter Amber from town, killing her mother in the process if necessary. Crow seemingly has the contract to do so, but has qualms about “doing women” (except at bedtime!). So instead a local gang gets involved, offs the mom, losing a member or two in the process; and then some Florida bad guys come up to take care of business, which proves fatal to a couple of them.
Despite all these killings, an entertaining story unfolds in which justice is quite well served, even if not the way they teach it in police academy! Stone is as likable as ever, and we almost root for his temporary pard Crow in the process. Meanwhile, Stone and ex-wife Jenn, who still love each other, pursue their respective therapists; and together with Stone’s right-hand officer Molly, provide some interesting insights into marital relationships. So – two enjoyable outings in a row for this 11-book Parker series – we suspect that in due time we’ll read the entire set!
Despite all these killings, an entertaining story unfolds in which justice is quite well served, even if not the way they teach it in police academy! Stone is as likable as ever, and we almost root for his temporary pard Crow in the process. Meanwhile, Stone and ex-wife Jenn, who still love each other, pursue their respective therapists; and together with Stone’s right-hand officer Molly, provide some interesting insights into marital relationships. So – two enjoyable outings in a row for this 11-book Parker series – we suspect that in due time we’ll read the entire set!
April 16, 2008
another REALLY good one of Parker's.
i have 2 complaints, tho. #1 is, he kept making references to a couple of previous cases, only, i don't think they were ones that were in his previous books in this series. since at least 1 of those cases mentioned involved a murder, seemed rather important, so i felt i SHOULD have known about it, but ...
2ndly, i did NOT like how he had one of the main characters cheat on her husband. i know it happens all the time, and it hasn't bothered me w/ other characters. i guess because it "fit" for the others. for this character, tho ... it did NOT seem to fit for me. plus, i think because of that, this character would also have treated what she did so differently than Parker wrote her doing.
anyway ... i would still DEFINITELY recommend this book, and author, to those who liked twisted thrillers!
i have 2 complaints, tho. #1 is, he kept making references to a couple of previous cases, only, i don't think they were ones that were in his previous books in this series. since at least 1 of those cases mentioned involved a murder, seemed rather important, so i felt i SHOULD have known about it, but ...
2ndly, i did NOT like how he had one of the main characters cheat on her husband. i know it happens all the time, and it hasn't bothered me w/ other characters. i guess because it "fit" for the others. for this character, tho ... it did NOT seem to fit for me. plus, i think because of that, this character would also have treated what she did so differently than Parker wrote her doing.
anyway ... i would still DEFINITELY recommend this book, and author, to those who liked twisted thrillers!
July 27, 2016
Jesse & Wilson "Crow" Cromartie working together? I never would have believed it!
Crow walks into Jesse's office, 10 years since the last time he was in Paradise with his friends and walked away with 20 million dollars. Now he's in town to conduct a job for a big town mafia man in Miami. He wants to let Jesse know what he's doing so he won't end up in any trouble. Crow & trouble are intertwined and there's no stopping the storm that's coming to Paradise.
Fiona & Amber Francisco (mother /daughter) are residing in Paradise Fiona is an alcoholic & Amber has become one of the Latina gangs in Marshport "sweetheart." When Amber purchased a 60" television for her boyfriend, the bill goes to her father and the storm begins,
Crow walks into Jesse's office, 10 years since the last time he was in Paradise with his friends and walked away with 20 million dollars. Now he's in town to conduct a job for a big town mafia man in Miami. He wants to let Jesse know what he's doing so he won't end up in any trouble. Crow & trouble are intertwined and there's no stopping the storm that's coming to Paradise.
Fiona & Amber Francisco (mother /daughter) are residing in Paradise Fiona is an alcoholic & Amber has become one of the Latina gangs in Marshport "sweetheart." When Amber purchased a 60" television for her boyfriend, the bill goes to her father and the storm begins,
January 19, 2009
Slow start but I finished with a smile on my face. Standard Parker fare about police chief Jesse Stone and his cooperation with a cool Apache hit man named Crow. Kind of like Spenser and Hawk. The dialogue here is more Spenserish than ever. The story involves a local Hispanic gang and a 14 year old gang moll, the child of a infamous Miami tough guy who wants her back, and the steps Jesse and Crow take to protect her.
June 18, 2019
Another excellent Stone book. Parker tied up a couple of loose ends from earlier in the series. I wouldn’t have minded a Crow book from Parker but I’m pretty sure there isn’t one. Stone and Jenn were far less annoying as far as their relationship. Molly and Suit continue to evolve. Parker creates characters similar to Stephen King. That’s as good as it gets. Only 2 more Stone books. That’s too bad.
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