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Jesse Stone #20
Robert B. Parker's Stone's Throw
"Paradise is rocked by the mayor's untimely death in the latest novel starring police chief Jesse Stone"--
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 7, 2021
570 people are currently reading
750 people want to read
About the author
Mike Lupica
115 books1,221 followersMichael Lupica is an author and American newspaper columnist, best known for his provocative commentary on sports in the New York Daily News and his appearances on ESPN.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 277 reviews
November 6, 2023
Jesse Stone has to find a good friend killed, the major of Paradise to become actively involved in a major real estate deal . His friend was opposed to the sale of prime Paradise territory and especially to the two crooks in contention with each other and of course the seller is not very symphatetic personality either. After finding the major shot dead the New mayor wants the apperent suïcide to go away, a dead treehugger extra does not change the fact that mr new mayor is in favor of closing the deal because it would be great for Paradise and the death of opposing characters does suit him just fine.
This time Jesse finds himself, Suit and Molly Crane looking for the motive while the killers are looking for Just that too only they know what Jesse and his posse do not know, what or where to look for.
Add a certain mr Wilson Cromartie to the mix and it adds to the heat in Paradise
A New Jesse Stone, well for me that is, is always good New, even if it is not by Robert B. Parker anymore. Mike Lupica shows himself to be a worthy successor and forwards Jesse Stone's présence and adventures in Paradise. It is awel written truthful to RBP's vision. With Stone and Scudder being the best former alcoholics you'd beter not cross when they are investigating.
Well advised for people enjoying dry wit combined with some crime.
This time Jesse finds himself, Suit and Molly Crane looking for the motive while the killers are looking for Just that too only they know what Jesse and his posse do not know, what or where to look for.
Add a certain mr Wilson Cromartie to the mix and it adds to the heat in Paradise
A New Jesse Stone, well for me that is, is always good New, even if it is not by Robert B. Parker anymore. Mike Lupica shows himself to be a worthy successor and forwards Jesse Stone's présence and adventures in Paradise. It is awel written truthful to RBP's vision. With Stone and Scudder being the best former alcoholics you'd beter not cross when they are investigating.
Well advised for people enjoying dry wit combined with some crime.
October 6, 2022
Reads just like Mr. Parker.
October 2, 2021
After one wades through the 5-star reviews from the readers that got free advance copies of this latest Jesse Stone extension, you find those from long-time fans of the set like ourselves who were not all that impressed. We do love that the estate is allowing and paying for these extended tales – in the Stone case, first by Michael Brandman (who did the Tom Selleck screenplays); then by Reed Coleman; and now this second, “Stone’s Throw”, by Mike Lupica, who has also already delivered three similar add-ons to Parker’s Sonny Randall set. Indeed, Jesse and Sunny have been “cavorting” in Lupica’s prior tales; but are somewhat at odds herein as she spends the entire novel out on the West Coast in unidentified hijinks.
The plot was all about the attempt to sell prime real estate in Jesse’s home town (Paradise MA) to one of two questionable developers. As the story proceeds, we learn the seller and both prospective buyers have financial woes that need this solution, despite the objection of many of the townfolk over the commercial plans for the site. Soon the apparent murder of the mayor and then big trouble for a couple of young protesters has Jesse, with some help from an old villain named Crow, deeply involved in trying to unravel the whole mess.
While there was nothing particularly amiss herein, the plot was not that original or engrossing, and it seemed the characters were almost as close to only mildly engaged as we readers. Perhaps dear Molly involved in a fatal shooting was the highlight of an otherwise somewhat forgettable entry in this typically fun set.
The plot was all about the attempt to sell prime real estate in Jesse’s home town (Paradise MA) to one of two questionable developers. As the story proceeds, we learn the seller and both prospective buyers have financial woes that need this solution, despite the objection of many of the townfolk over the commercial plans for the site. Soon the apparent murder of the mayor and then big trouble for a couple of young protesters has Jesse, with some help from an old villain named Crow, deeply involved in trying to unravel the whole mess.
While there was nothing particularly amiss herein, the plot was not that original or engrossing, and it seemed the characters were almost as close to only mildly engaged as we readers. Perhaps dear Molly involved in a fatal shooting was the highlight of an otherwise somewhat forgettable entry in this typically fun set.
September 12, 2021
I've been reading this Jesse Stone series for over 20 years and I always eagerly await the next installment.
In this story, Paradise's Chief of Police Jesse Stone walks upon a dead body. It's his boss, the mayor. The death appears to be a suicide but Jesse doesn't believe that. He thinks it might have something to do with two wealthy buyers who are vying over a piece of prime real estate so they can build a casino. Not long after this death, two young tree huggers who are trying to stop the sale disappear.
This was a fun read for me and a series that I can always read very fast. The part I liked best is Crow being back. I also saw all my old friends in addition to Jesse - Molly, Suitcase and Vinnie. I like the sharp-witted bantering and dialogue in these books. I've invested a lot of years in the characters of these books and I don't believe readers would like them as much as I do if you haven't started from the beginning.
In this story, Paradise's Chief of Police Jesse Stone walks upon a dead body. It's his boss, the mayor. The death appears to be a suicide but Jesse doesn't believe that. He thinks it might have something to do with two wealthy buyers who are vying over a piece of prime real estate so they can build a casino. Not long after this death, two young tree huggers who are trying to stop the sale disappear.
This was a fun read for me and a series that I can always read very fast. The part I liked best is Crow being back. I also saw all my old friends in addition to Jesse - Molly, Suitcase and Vinnie. I like the sharp-witted bantering and dialogue in these books. I've invested a lot of years in the characters of these books and I don't believe readers would like them as much as I do if you haven't started from the beginning.
August 10, 2021
Robert B. Parker was a fantastic creator of characters. Since his passing there has been several authors taking over the series, all of them great. Mike Lupica is one of them, he actually made this series about Jesse Stone in the town of Paradise better. Stone's Throw is about a couple of developers trying to get a land deal done so they can build a casino. But then the mayor is found dead under strange conditions and some youths disappear. I love the way Lupica uses most of Parkers characters and makes them interact with each other. I actually think that more authors should do this. I also think that Tom Selleck should make more Jesse Stone movies. I just love this series. I must than @this_is_edelweiss @putnambooks @penguinrandomhouse for giving me this advance copy and @mlupicabooks for writing it. #GPPutnamsSons #PenguinPublishingGroup and #Edelweiss
October 16, 2021
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 followed by Reed Farrel Coleman authoring six. Under Coleman’s creative influence Jesse went through an incredibly personal journey of trial, heartbreak, and growth. His last three books – “The Hangman’s Sonnet”, “Colorblind”, and “The Bitterest Pill” – were especially memorable, and their strong arcs were Jesse’s Stone’s best writing in my opinion.
Last year, Mike Lupica, who has done a surprisingly good job of resurrecting Parker’s Sunny Randall series, was given creative control of Jesse Stone, the city of Paradise, Molly, Suit, and all the rest of the characters. It was a tough transition for because Coleman set an incredibly high bar and Lupica had his work cut out for him. Unfortunately, for me, I felt like his first Jesse Stone outing – “Fool’s Paradise” had some problems, especially with Jesse’s character and behaviors. It drove me crazy how many times he used the F word for the first time ever. Fortunately, Lupica’s second outing is an improved step in the right direction.
“Stone’s Throw” starts off with two dilemmas for Stone. The first is work related. A piece of Paradise land is bringing a lot of attention from two powerful businessmen, one from Boston and one from Las Vegas, both with mob relationships and gangster backgrounds. Both have placed undisclosed bids to buy the land from a longtime Paradise family and are awaiting the Town’s leadership council to vote their approval for the sale and development of a new casino resort. While the two adversaries are promising to improve Paradise’s economy post-COVID, there is a ground level resistance from the younger citizens trying to save their environment, and tempers are flaring. To make matters worse, the mayor who was passionately against the development, has been found dead, with his body left lying in a shallow grave on the very property causing the fight.
The second dilemma for Stone is personal. His on and off girlfriend, Sunny Randall has left to work a job for an old friend in California. Unfortunately, her feelings for her ex-husband have come up again, causing her to take a break from Jesse. Somehow, this separation feels more serious and lasting, so Jesse is not only fighting his feelings for her, he is dealing with his constant battle to return to drinking.
As Jesse investigates what is supposed to appear as suicide, but he is sure is murder, he finds himself going up against a new mayor who refuses to support anything less than a completion of the land deal. Jesse’s job could be at risk if he doesn’t let things go, which we know is not his style. Then, a blast from a past appears in the form of an old adversary, Wilson Cromartie, better known as “Crow” arrives in town. Years ago, Crow was a part of a team that went on a crime spree, blowing up the Stiles Island bride bridge and robbing several rich families. Most of the team was either killed or arrested, all except for Crow, who escaped on a speedboat with what was thought to be millions of dollars. 10 years following that (when the statue of limitations had run out) he returned to Paradise tracking down a runaway girl. He ended up working with Jesse to save her and disappeared again. However, not before spending some personal quality with Jesse’s deputy Molly Crane.
Now Jesse finds himself in the middle of two unwanted situations – the fight between two sworn enemies willing to kill in order to bring a casino to Paradise and the tension between Crow and Molly. If one doesn’t kill, the other one will…
I must say that Lupica improved a lot in his second Jesse Stone novel. There were a couple of things to improve on, but most of it was good. He did a pretty good job of capturing the qualities of small town of Paradise, Massachusetts. The characters were authentic and interesting, and contributed to the unfolding mystery being told. He’s displaying a better understanding of Jesse’s character (less swearing and emotional use of the F word which is not his style). I also enjoyed Molly’s expanded role, her family situations described, and individual chapters devoted to her activities. I thought that worked for the most part, not only for plotting purposes, but it also served to expand the character base around Jesse Stone. Maybe Suit can be explored further in future books.
Lupica’s plot of the town fighting over a potential casino and economic development is not new. But Lupica did a pretty good job of developing the storyline (much better than his previous Stone novel), and made it more interesting by including other well known Parker characters like Rita Fiore (one of my personal favorites). Adding in the return of Crow to provide tension with Molly and create conflicting partnership with Jesse ala Hawk and Spenser was a well delivered strong touch. I also enjoyed Lupica’s nostalgic mentioning of people and places from prior novels. I noticed that some readers liked that habit and others didn’t care for it. For me, I didn’t mind. I found those references rather nostalgic.
And I must add, without giving away any spoilers, I thoroughly the last chapter and how Jesse ended up resolving his personal issues. For me, it was the perfect ending to the book and an opening of future opportunities for development.
I mentioned in my review of Lupica’s first Jesse Stone novel that I was going to be patient, hoping that he would work on some things and get them right… Well, I am going to give credit where credit is due, and he say this was an improvement. An enjoyable one that has me looking forward with interest again for Jesse’s next outing. Lupica’s making me feel optimistic again… Thank you, Mike.
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 followed by Reed Farrel Coleman authoring six. Under Coleman’s creative influence Jesse went through an incredibly personal journey of trial, heartbreak, and growth. His last three books – “The Hangman’s Sonnet”, “Colorblind”, and “The Bitterest Pill” – were especially memorable, and their strong arcs were Jesse’s Stone’s best writing in my opinion.
Last year, Mike Lupica, who has done a surprisingly good job of resurrecting Parker’s Sunny Randall series, was given creative control of Jesse Stone, the city of Paradise, Molly, Suit, and all the rest of the characters. It was a tough transition for because Coleman set an incredibly high bar and Lupica had his work cut out for him. Unfortunately, for me, I felt like his first Jesse Stone outing – “Fool’s Paradise” had some problems, especially with Jesse’s character and behaviors. It drove me crazy how many times he used the F word for the first time ever. Fortunately, Lupica’s second outing is an improved step in the right direction.
“Stone’s Throw” starts off with two dilemmas for Stone. The first is work related. A piece of Paradise land is bringing a lot of attention from two powerful businessmen, one from Boston and one from Las Vegas, both with mob relationships and gangster backgrounds. Both have placed undisclosed bids to buy the land from a longtime Paradise family and are awaiting the Town’s leadership council to vote their approval for the sale and development of a new casino resort. While the two adversaries are promising to improve Paradise’s economy post-COVID, there is a ground level resistance from the younger citizens trying to save their environment, and tempers are flaring. To make matters worse, the mayor who was passionately against the development, has been found dead, with his body left lying in a shallow grave on the very property causing the fight.
The second dilemma for Stone is personal. His on and off girlfriend, Sunny Randall has left to work a job for an old friend in California. Unfortunately, her feelings for her ex-husband have come up again, causing her to take a break from Jesse. Somehow, this separation feels more serious and lasting, so Jesse is not only fighting his feelings for her, he is dealing with his constant battle to return to drinking.
As Jesse investigates what is supposed to appear as suicide, but he is sure is murder, he finds himself going up against a new mayor who refuses to support anything less than a completion of the land deal. Jesse’s job could be at risk if he doesn’t let things go, which we know is not his style. Then, a blast from a past appears in the form of an old adversary, Wilson Cromartie, better known as “Crow” arrives in town. Years ago, Crow was a part of a team that went on a crime spree, blowing up the Stiles Island bride bridge and robbing several rich families. Most of the team was either killed or arrested, all except for Crow, who escaped on a speedboat with what was thought to be millions of dollars. 10 years following that (when the statue of limitations had run out) he returned to Paradise tracking down a runaway girl. He ended up working with Jesse to save her and disappeared again. However, not before spending some personal quality with Jesse’s deputy Molly Crane.
Now Jesse finds himself in the middle of two unwanted situations – the fight between two sworn enemies willing to kill in order to bring a casino to Paradise and the tension between Crow and Molly. If one doesn’t kill, the other one will…
I must say that Lupica improved a lot in his second Jesse Stone novel. There were a couple of things to improve on, but most of it was good. He did a pretty good job of capturing the qualities of small town of Paradise, Massachusetts. The characters were authentic and interesting, and contributed to the unfolding mystery being told. He’s displaying a better understanding of Jesse’s character (less swearing and emotional use of the F word which is not his style). I also enjoyed Molly’s expanded role, her family situations described, and individual chapters devoted to her activities. I thought that worked for the most part, not only for plotting purposes, but it also served to expand the character base around Jesse Stone. Maybe Suit can be explored further in future books.
Lupica’s plot of the town fighting over a potential casino and economic development is not new. But Lupica did a pretty good job of developing the storyline (much better than his previous Stone novel), and made it more interesting by including other well known Parker characters like Rita Fiore (one of my personal favorites). Adding in the return of Crow to provide tension with Molly and create conflicting partnership with Jesse ala Hawk and Spenser was a well delivered strong touch. I also enjoyed Lupica’s nostalgic mentioning of people and places from prior novels. I noticed that some readers liked that habit and others didn’t care for it. For me, I didn’t mind. I found those references rather nostalgic.
And I must add, without giving away any spoilers, I thoroughly the last chapter and how Jesse ended up resolving his personal issues. For me, it was the perfect ending to the book and an opening of future opportunities for development.
I mentioned in my review of Lupica’s first Jesse Stone novel that I was going to be patient, hoping that he would work on some things and get them right… Well, I am going to give credit where credit is due, and he say this was an improvement. An enjoyable one that has me looking forward with interest again for Jesse’s next outing. Lupica’s making me feel optimistic again… Thank you, Mike.
April 20, 2023
The author does justice to the late Robert Parker, maintains the crisp dialogue, smart-aleck humor, and hero on the edge made famous in this series.
October 9, 2021
Robert B. Parker's Stone's Throw: A Jesse Stone Novel by Mike Lupica finds Jesse Stone missing drinking as well as Sunny Randall. They are in a relationship time out and she is out in Los Angeles working a case. That means she is far from home and working for an old boyfriend, Tony Gault. He is some sort of Hollywood talent agent and hired her to deal with a problem. That case and his presence are not why they are in a relationships time out, but it certainly does not help matters.
One of the ways Jesse keeps drinking at bay is by going for long walks. As the book begins in earnest, Paradise Police Chief Jesse Stone is on one of those late evening walks. This night he has walked over to an area of land known as “The Throw.” It is the last big piece of beachfront property in the area and is up for sale by Thomas Lawton III. The sale has caused massive controversy locally and is being fought over by two very rich men who have their own designs for how they will develop the property once the Board of Selectmen approve the sale. Billy Singer, a guy out of Vegas, and Boston based, Ed Barron, have competing plans to build a casino and a hotel on the property.
While the rich have been battling it out in public and on the airwaves with their competing golden promises, some local opposition has come about from folks who have environmental and other concerns. The opposition are underdogs as the rich guys, as they always do, are promising a massive boost to the local economy that has been ravaged by Covid-19 as well as a lot of new jobs. Some in the opposition have resorted to a sort of guerrilla tactic of digging graves and placing ironic tombstones n the fresh grave each time. It happens every so often and at random intervals which makes it hard to catch the people doing it.
Not that Chief Jesse Stone is much worried about it. The current property owner is irate each time it happens, but in the big scheme of things and the fact the land is soon to be ripped apart by bug tractors and the like, it does not really matter.
So, his only concern when he sees evidence of a new shallow grave is the fact that Lawton will be in his office loudly complaining yet again. That would have been preferable to what Jesse actually finds at the new grave. Instead of another empty one, he finds his friend and the Paradise mayor, Neil O' Hara, very much dead by way of an apparent suicide.
Of course, it isn't a suicide for several reasons soon explained. The questions of who did it and why are ones of many that have to be answered in Robert B. Parker's: A Jesse Stone Novel by Mike Lupica.
Fast moving with short chapters and a brevity of dialogue and scene details, the book is an okay fast read. It hits all the usual touchstones regarding local and distantly located characters and keeps action front and center. A lightweight and simplistic read that serves as a pleasant enough multi hour diversionary escape despite the fact there is no new ground here and even the final twist is rather expected. The estate really should have stayed with Reed Farrel Coleman for these books. It would have been way better.
Robert B. Parker's Stone's Throw: A Jesse Stone Novel
Mike Lupica
G. P. Putnam’s Sons
ASIN: B08R1BDKFC
September 2021
ISBN# 978-1-4328-6858-1
eBook
334Pages
My reading copy, in eBook format, came courtesy of the Dallas Public Library System. As always, Scott provided the technical assistance needed to get it up and working on my iPad.
Kevin R. Tipple © 2021
One of the ways Jesse keeps drinking at bay is by going for long walks. As the book begins in earnest, Paradise Police Chief Jesse Stone is on one of those late evening walks. This night he has walked over to an area of land known as “The Throw.” It is the last big piece of beachfront property in the area and is up for sale by Thomas Lawton III. The sale has caused massive controversy locally and is being fought over by two very rich men who have their own designs for how they will develop the property once the Board of Selectmen approve the sale. Billy Singer, a guy out of Vegas, and Boston based, Ed Barron, have competing plans to build a casino and a hotel on the property.
While the rich have been battling it out in public and on the airwaves with their competing golden promises, some local opposition has come about from folks who have environmental and other concerns. The opposition are underdogs as the rich guys, as they always do, are promising a massive boost to the local economy that has been ravaged by Covid-19 as well as a lot of new jobs. Some in the opposition have resorted to a sort of guerrilla tactic of digging graves and placing ironic tombstones n the fresh grave each time. It happens every so often and at random intervals which makes it hard to catch the people doing it.
Not that Chief Jesse Stone is much worried about it. The current property owner is irate each time it happens, but in the big scheme of things and the fact the land is soon to be ripped apart by bug tractors and the like, it does not really matter.
So, his only concern when he sees evidence of a new shallow grave is the fact that Lawton will be in his office loudly complaining yet again. That would have been preferable to what Jesse actually finds at the new grave. Instead of another empty one, he finds his friend and the Paradise mayor, Neil O' Hara, very much dead by way of an apparent suicide.
Of course, it isn't a suicide for several reasons soon explained. The questions of who did it and why are ones of many that have to be answered in Robert B. Parker's: A Jesse Stone Novel by Mike Lupica.
Fast moving with short chapters and a brevity of dialogue and scene details, the book is an okay fast read. It hits all the usual touchstones regarding local and distantly located characters and keeps action front and center. A lightweight and simplistic read that serves as a pleasant enough multi hour diversionary escape despite the fact there is no new ground here and even the final twist is rather expected. The estate really should have stayed with Reed Farrel Coleman for these books. It would have been way better.
Robert B. Parker's Stone's Throw: A Jesse Stone Novel
Mike Lupica
G. P. Putnam’s Sons
ASIN: B08R1BDKFC
September 2021
ISBN# 978-1-4328-6858-1
eBook
334Pages
My reading copy, in eBook format, came courtesy of the Dallas Public Library System. As always, Scott provided the technical assistance needed to get it up and working on my iPad.
Kevin R. Tipple © 2021
October 12, 2021
EB: Mike Lupica writes a decent novel, but he doesn’t have Parker’s pacing or quick wit, at least in this outing. I might try another of his interpretations in the future.
July 1, 2021
There's big trouble in Paradise - Paradise, Massachusetts, that is - when Police Chief Jesse Stone learns that his good friend and boss, town Mayor Neil O'Hara, turns up dead. At first blush, it appears to be a suicide; but closer inspection raises Jesse's suspicion that somebody did him wrong.
At the heart of the matter is that the land on which the body was found is for sale to the highest bidder - and two hotshot (and filthy rich) potential buyers are in winner-takes-all contention, determined to build a casino on the property. Complicating matters is that Jesse's right-hand policewoman, Molly Crane, thinks she saw an old "friend" near the crime scene - and she's not happy about it.
Then, a young woman - a member of the so-called tree-hugger protesters who want to quash the sale - reports her boyfriend missing. That sends Jesse out to contact some of his gangster acquaintances in the hope that they can provide some clues about the two powerful men who would, in all likelihood, do just about anything to make sure his bid is accepted by the town council at an upcoming meeting.
The investigation brings Jesse into contact with some gangster-like characters who will be familiar to readers not only of the Jesse Stone series, but of Spenser and Sunny Randall. One of my faves, Jesse's trusty officer Suitcase Simpson, doesn't show up here quite as much as I'd like - he's a pretty cool guy - but the somewhat slippery (but surprisingly likable) Wilson Cromartie, or "Crow," gets plenty of page space.
The details of the investigation are neatly tied up by the end, complete with a sort of surprise that I must say didn't please me much. Very entertaining, as expected - and another one down (the 20th in the series) in fine fettle. Good job!
At the heart of the matter is that the land on which the body was found is for sale to the highest bidder - and two hotshot (and filthy rich) potential buyers are in winner-takes-all contention, determined to build a casino on the property. Complicating matters is that Jesse's right-hand policewoman, Molly Crane, thinks she saw an old "friend" near the crime scene - and she's not happy about it.
Then, a young woman - a member of the so-called tree-hugger protesters who want to quash the sale - reports her boyfriend missing. That sends Jesse out to contact some of his gangster acquaintances in the hope that they can provide some clues about the two powerful men who would, in all likelihood, do just about anything to make sure his bid is accepted by the town council at an upcoming meeting.
The investigation brings Jesse into contact with some gangster-like characters who will be familiar to readers not only of the Jesse Stone series, but of Spenser and Sunny Randall. One of my faves, Jesse's trusty officer Suitcase Simpson, doesn't show up here quite as much as I'd like - he's a pretty cool guy - but the somewhat slippery (but surprisingly likable) Wilson Cromartie, or "Crow," gets plenty of page space.
The details of the investigation are neatly tied up by the end, complete with a sort of surprise that I must say didn't please me much. Very entertaining, as expected - and another one down (the 20th in the series) in fine fettle. Good job!
September 5, 2021
A nice continuation of the Jesse Stone series…
I’m often not a fan of continuations of popular series after the original author passes away. But whoever is in control of the estate of Robert B Parker has done a pretty good job, IMO, of selecting authors to continue his Spenser, Jesse Stone, and Sunny Randall series. This may be because (per Wikipedia) they seem to have chosen authors who had previously been close to Parker as friends and/or collaborators. Mike Lupica fits that mold, and his second Jesse Stone continuation title, Stone’s Throw, is a fun romp that feels right at home in the series.
Lupica, who is primarily a sports journalist, but also has previously written a handful of mysteries, is a natural fit for the Jesse Stone series, given Jesse’s cut-too-short-by-injury baseball past. And in fact, Stone’s Throw opens as Jesse muses about baseball (and other things) with Sunny Randall, who then makes a quick exit west to Los Angeles, as she and Jesse take a “time-out”. But Jesse has plenty to keep him busy in Paradise, where the last prime parcel of oceanfront land in town, The Throw, is about to be sold to a developer. As might be expected, the community is bitterly divided between preserving the site and keeping Paradise’s ambiance, versus benefitting from the jobs and money that development might bring. It doesn’t help that neither the Paradise scion selling the land, nor the two developers bidding on it, seem to have particularly clean hands. Meanwhile, Jesse’s friend and Paradise mayor, Neil O’Hara, isn’t a fan of development, and neither are a group of locals who call themselves Save Our Beach (SOB). So when Jesse finds O’Hara dead in a shallow grave on The Throw, he suspects it isn’t the suicide that it seems to be. And his suspicions get raised even more when a couple of the SOB members go missing too.
What follows is a typical Parker mystery as Jesse, Molly and Suit investigate, pulling in favors from various more or less savory characters, trying a bit of modern forensics, doing some old-fashioned leg work, using the research skills of Jesse’s recently found son, and, of course, ending up in a gun battle or two. There’s a bit of extra tension created when Wilson Cromartie (Crow) shows up back in Paradise, with decidedly ambiguous motives, and a few other old favorites make appearances too. Throughout, Mike Lupica does a great job of replicating Parker’s terse, wise-cracking, short-chapter style, while still having it feel authentic.
If I have any issue with Stone’s Throw, it’s an issue that I’ve had since Parker himself was writing the series. And my problem is that at times I have to suspend disbelief a bit as it relates to some of the bad-guys-who-have-become-semi-good-guys, such as Vinnie Morris, and, in this book especially, Crow. But this is a long-time feature (or bug) of Parker’s books, and if I were all that bothered by it, I would have quit reading them a long time ago – which I haven’t. All-in-all, I very much enjoyed Stone’s Throw, and think that other fans of the Jesse Stone books will like it a lot as well. And finally, my thanks to G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for the advance review copy.
I’m often not a fan of continuations of popular series after the original author passes away. But whoever is in control of the estate of Robert B Parker has done a pretty good job, IMO, of selecting authors to continue his Spenser, Jesse Stone, and Sunny Randall series. This may be because (per Wikipedia) they seem to have chosen authors who had previously been close to Parker as friends and/or collaborators. Mike Lupica fits that mold, and his second Jesse Stone continuation title, Stone’s Throw, is a fun romp that feels right at home in the series.
Lupica, who is primarily a sports journalist, but also has previously written a handful of mysteries, is a natural fit for the Jesse Stone series, given Jesse’s cut-too-short-by-injury baseball past. And in fact, Stone’s Throw opens as Jesse muses about baseball (and other things) with Sunny Randall, who then makes a quick exit west to Los Angeles, as she and Jesse take a “time-out”. But Jesse has plenty to keep him busy in Paradise, where the last prime parcel of oceanfront land in town, The Throw, is about to be sold to a developer. As might be expected, the community is bitterly divided between preserving the site and keeping Paradise’s ambiance, versus benefitting from the jobs and money that development might bring. It doesn’t help that neither the Paradise scion selling the land, nor the two developers bidding on it, seem to have particularly clean hands. Meanwhile, Jesse’s friend and Paradise mayor, Neil O’Hara, isn’t a fan of development, and neither are a group of locals who call themselves Save Our Beach (SOB). So when Jesse finds O’Hara dead in a shallow grave on The Throw, he suspects it isn’t the suicide that it seems to be. And his suspicions get raised even more when a couple of the SOB members go missing too.
What follows is a typical Parker mystery as Jesse, Molly and Suit investigate, pulling in favors from various more or less savory characters, trying a bit of modern forensics, doing some old-fashioned leg work, using the research skills of Jesse’s recently found son, and, of course, ending up in a gun battle or two. There’s a bit of extra tension created when Wilson Cromartie (Crow) shows up back in Paradise, with decidedly ambiguous motives, and a few other old favorites make appearances too. Throughout, Mike Lupica does a great job of replicating Parker’s terse, wise-cracking, short-chapter style, while still having it feel authentic.
If I have any issue with Stone’s Throw, it’s an issue that I’ve had since Parker himself was writing the series. And my problem is that at times I have to suspend disbelief a bit as it relates to some of the bad-guys-who-have-become-semi-good-guys, such as Vinnie Morris, and, in this book especially, Crow. But this is a long-time feature (or bug) of Parker’s books, and if I were all that bothered by it, I would have quit reading them a long time ago – which I haven’t. All-in-all, I very much enjoyed Stone’s Throw, and think that other fans of the Jesse Stone books will like it a lot as well. And finally, my thanks to G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for the advance review copy.
April 2, 2022
I loved Robert B Parker’s writing-he has been gone for over ten years now and I miss reading new books by him. I think it’s really fortunate that other authors have been able to carry on and we have been able to experience the further exploits of Spenser, Sunny Randall, and Jesse Stone. In Stone’s Throw we get to reaquaint ourselves with Stone and the denizens of Paradise Massachusetts as a high stakes land deal has fatal consequences. No spoilers but something happens in this book that has been long overdue and will delight faithful readers of the series. No I won’t tell you what it is. Good stuff.
December 16, 2025
A good old fashioned land war.
September 14, 2021
Love Jesse Stone……was so great to catch up with him and his gang of friends. Especially the return of Crow.
The storyline keeps you engaged and intrigued.
Didn’t see that ending coming at all!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.
The storyline keeps you engaged and intrigued.
Didn’t see that ending coming at all!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.
January 11, 2022
Reading the Jesse Stone novels is like putting on a favorite old shirt. It's comfy and cozy, and you know what you're getting into. I thoroughly enjoyed revisiting Jesse Stone and the town of Paradise. I love the way old characters like Sunny Randall, Spike, and Crow pop up. Thanks to Mike Lucia for continuing with Robert B. Parker's series.
January 17, 2022
I almost gave up on Jesse Stone with the previous two writers. The switch to Lupica has saved it as, had I not known, I would have thought Parker had written this one. The characters were back to form, the dialogue more familiar, and a lovely read on a cold and snowy weekend. I am hoping Lupica continues onward as I do enjoy the character and the deadly town of Paradise.
January 24, 2022
Enjoyable read. Robert B. Parker and Mike Lupica make a good pair.
September 24, 2021
Mike Lupica's success at reviving Robert B. Parker's Sunny Randall series led the late author's estate and publisher to hand him the Jesse Stone novels once Reed Farrell Coleman's turn was finished. Lupica had shown himself better able to move in Parker's world, in addition to being a better mimic of Parker's style.
Lupica also returned Jesse to a previous flirtation with Sunny and established them in a relationship of a sort, building on the developments he'd made in his Randall novels. Robert B. Parker himself was rather tediously enamored with relationships in which the principals couldn't be together but couldn't be apart either, and he often wasted a lot of pages on that kind of dance during his novels from the mid-90s forward. Despite a number of straight-up duds, Coleman had added the welcome wrinkle of making Jesse sober, and Lupica continued it.
A land deal in Paradise could mean a lot of money with a casino development, but there's also strong opposition. The mayor counts himself as one of the opposed, but he doesn't have many levers to pull to thwart the third-party sale of the land. Nevertheless, he's thrown every block he can and delayed things long enough so that when he's found dead Jesse has no shortage of suspects. Add in the environmentalist group that may be willing to take extreme measures and the ongoing dissolution of the mayor's marriage, and about the only thing Jesse is sure of in Stone's Throw is that he and his department didn't do it.
Fool's Paradise was a promising debut for Lupica, but Throw unfortunately revives several other things from Parker's own time with Stone that were better left in the past. One is to send Jesse and Sunny back through the relationship spin cycle, this time because she has a relationship she's not sure is as over as she thought it was. As mentioned above, Parker wore this path smooth and here it brings nothing to the story.
Another major blunder is the return of the Native American mob enforcer Wilson Cromartie, or Crow. Parker created the character for 1999's Trouble in Paradise as a part of a heist crew in a weak TV-movie-level story and brought him back in 2008's Stranger in Paradise, an even weaker entry. Jesse's dependable assistant chief Molly Crane inexplicably had a one-night stand with Crow in this second book and Lupica dawdles around with both of them in a couple of viewpoint sequences where they reflect on that time -- Crow wondering what made him desire Molly and Molly wondering whether she can resist a second tryst.
Add these meanderings to a sloppily-built and confusing story -- was this attack made by the first pair of cardboard-cutout thugs or the second one, and what's the point anyway -- and Stone's Throw calls back more to Parker's later and lesser Stone outings than his earlier ones. It's definitely a move away from Coleman's wordy and often fumbling grasp of Paradise and its people, but not necessarily in the right direction.
Lupica also returned Jesse to a previous flirtation with Sunny and established them in a relationship of a sort, building on the developments he'd made in his Randall novels. Robert B. Parker himself was rather tediously enamored with relationships in which the principals couldn't be together but couldn't be apart either, and he often wasted a lot of pages on that kind of dance during his novels from the mid-90s forward. Despite a number of straight-up duds, Coleman had added the welcome wrinkle of making Jesse sober, and Lupica continued it.
A land deal in Paradise could mean a lot of money with a casino development, but there's also strong opposition. The mayor counts himself as one of the opposed, but he doesn't have many levers to pull to thwart the third-party sale of the land. Nevertheless, he's thrown every block he can and delayed things long enough so that when he's found dead Jesse has no shortage of suspects. Add in the environmentalist group that may be willing to take extreme measures and the ongoing dissolution of the mayor's marriage, and about the only thing Jesse is sure of in Stone's Throw is that he and his department didn't do it.
Fool's Paradise was a promising debut for Lupica, but Throw unfortunately revives several other things from Parker's own time with Stone that were better left in the past. One is to send Jesse and Sunny back through the relationship spin cycle, this time because she has a relationship she's not sure is as over as she thought it was. As mentioned above, Parker wore this path smooth and here it brings nothing to the story.
Another major blunder is the return of the Native American mob enforcer Wilson Cromartie, or Crow. Parker created the character for 1999's Trouble in Paradise as a part of a heist crew in a weak TV-movie-level story and brought him back in 2008's Stranger in Paradise, an even weaker entry. Jesse's dependable assistant chief Molly Crane inexplicably had a one-night stand with Crow in this second book and Lupica dawdles around with both of them in a couple of viewpoint sequences where they reflect on that time -- Crow wondering what made him desire Molly and Molly wondering whether she can resist a second tryst.
Add these meanderings to a sloppily-built and confusing story -- was this attack made by the first pair of cardboard-cutout thugs or the second one, and what's the point anyway -- and Stone's Throw calls back more to Parker's later and lesser Stone outings than his earlier ones. It's definitely a move away from Coleman's wordy and often fumbling grasp of Paradise and its people, but not necessarily in the right direction.
September 23, 2021
Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book, in exchange for a fair and honest review.
While I was a huge fan of Robert B. Parker, I am really enjoying the continuation books in his various series, particularly this one. I think Mike Lupica is getting a good handle on the Jesse Stone and Sunny Randall books, and they're getting better and better.
In Stone's Throw, Jesse is investigating corruption in Paradise, revolving around the sale of a large parcel of property, apparently for the purpose of building a major casino enterprise. It appears that "the fix is in" - the sale is going to be approved by the town council and the only question is which of the two shady and probably criminal developers will get the deal. The investigation is precipitated by the apparent suicide of the mayor, one of the few town officials who opposed the deal. Jesse doesn't buy the purported suicide, so continues to investigate, contrary to the wishes of the new mayor. His position is substantiated when there's another murder, this one clearly a murder.
Once again, we have the familiar cast of character. Molly Crane has a big role in this one, and it's a pleasure to see her more involved. Once again, Jesse gets help from the gangsters in Boston who have been carried forward from the Spenser books, the state police who have been associated with him before, and Rita Fiore gets involved as well. I have enjoyed the mingling of characters from the different series - probably plausible, since they all take place in Boston and not too far away (at least Paradise seems close enough to Boston to drive there for dinner, and Spike now owns a restaurant/bar in Paradise).
The mystery is interesting, the solution is creative, and the characters are well developed. I have one quibble with the book. I appreciate the fact that Jesse's alcoholism is important to him, and that it preys on his mind and all times. But, please, do we have to hear about it constantly? Unless it is actually pertinent to the plot, it would seem sufficient to only refer to it a few times per book!
Overall, a very good read. I enjoyed it, and will be looking forward to more of Lupica's continuation novels.
While I was a huge fan of Robert B. Parker, I am really enjoying the continuation books in his various series, particularly this one. I think Mike Lupica is getting a good handle on the Jesse Stone and Sunny Randall books, and they're getting better and better.
In Stone's Throw, Jesse is investigating corruption in Paradise, revolving around the sale of a large parcel of property, apparently for the purpose of building a major casino enterprise. It appears that "the fix is in" - the sale is going to be approved by the town council and the only question is which of the two shady and probably criminal developers will get the deal. The investigation is precipitated by the apparent suicide of the mayor, one of the few town officials who opposed the deal. Jesse doesn't buy the purported suicide, so continues to investigate, contrary to the wishes of the new mayor. His position is substantiated when there's another murder, this one clearly a murder.
Once again, we have the familiar cast of character. Molly Crane has a big role in this one, and it's a pleasure to see her more involved. Once again, Jesse gets help from the gangsters in Boston who have been carried forward from the Spenser books, the state police who have been associated with him before, and Rita Fiore gets involved as well. I have enjoyed the mingling of characters from the different series - probably plausible, since they all take place in Boston and not too far away (at least Paradise seems close enough to Boston to drive there for dinner, and Spike now owns a restaurant/bar in Paradise).
The mystery is interesting, the solution is creative, and the characters are well developed. I have one quibble with the book. I appreciate the fact that Jesse's alcoholism is important to him, and that it preys on his mind and all times. But, please, do we have to hear about it constantly? Unless it is actually pertinent to the plot, it would seem sufficient to only refer to it a few times per book!
Overall, a very good read. I enjoyed it, and will be looking forward to more of Lupica's continuation novels.
April 13, 2022
The stories always follow something of a formula, the characters grow, but only slowly and over long periods of time... but reading a Parker novel, especially the ones that have been taken over by Mike Lupica are like returning to see an old friend. They are easy reads, an interesting plot completed by characters that behave according to who they are. I look forward to the next book in the series.
September 11, 2021
(3). What a relief! The Lupica effort prior to this on the Jesse Stone franchise was weak. A sad follow up to the excellent work that Reed Farrel Coleman did and almost an insult to Robert B. Parker. Thankfully, this one turns it all around. This read feels like Parker reincarnated. Crisp, fun, provoking in lots of ways. Jesse is still Jesse, and that is certainly a good thing. His supporting cast is intact and involved, especially Molly. We have a nice array of bad guys and a major involvement of an old character, Crow. Make sure you stay focused until the very end, as there is a really unusual twist in the last couple of pages. Somewhere I never thought we would go. Pretty good stuff.
September 10, 2021
a machine wrote this book
Terrible writing; worse lack of plot development; abysmal character caricatures of Robert Parker’s Jesse Stone. Truly a word processor did a lot of cut and paste to create this.
Terrible writing; worse lack of plot development; abysmal character caricatures of Robert Parker’s Jesse Stone. Truly a word processor did a lot of cut and paste to create this.
August 27, 2021
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
WHAT'S STONE'S THROW ABOUT?
The mayor of Paradise is found dead at the site of a contentious land deal—it's one of the most sought-after properties in Paradise, and the City is preparing to weigh in and deciding which of two buyers get to put a casino on it—while several citizens are trying to block the sale at all. The mayor is clearly sympathetic to the anti-sale voices, but it doesn't look like he's going to be able to do anything to stop it going forward.
And then he apparently commits suicide on that piece of real estate. Jesse's not so sure about the suicide part, however, it doesn't make sense to him for several reasons—his friendship with the mayor is just one of them (the fact that the left-handed man seemingly used his right hand to shoot himself would be another).
Jesse just has to decide who has the most motive to kill him—one of the buyers? The seller? The anti-sale group?
Then the leader of the conservation movement goes missing, and his girlfriend is worried. Then it turns out that Wilson Cromartie—Crow—is working for one of the casino builders. He and the Paradise Police Department have a very shaky history—his criminal past (all beyond the statute of limitations) makes Jesse dis-inclined to trust him, no matter how much assistance he rendered in finding a missing girl later. Is Crow on the side of angels this time, or could he be behind the mayor's death?
In a case that clearly calls for someone to "follow the money" there's so much of it flying around that it'd be easy to get lost trying that, there are no easy answers for Jesse and the rest of the PPD.
MOLLY
From the beginning of the series, Molly Crane has been one of the highlights of the books and of the Paradise Police Department. She's loyal, competent, and has a big heart. She's stood by Jesse when things were at their worst for him—covering for him as much as she could. She's almost too perfect—except for the one time she slept with Crow. That's pretty much the only time she's done something wrong.
And since then—at least once per book*—Jesse has brought that transgression up. Every author—Parker, Brandman**, Coleman, and now Lupica—has had Jesse throw this in her face regularly. It's always bothered me that it's so constant, so frequent—the woman beats herself up for it, she's been so good to Jesse, and this is how he treats her?
* As far as I remember, I could be wrong about that, I doubt there's been more than 2 books without it.
** I honestly remember so little about the Brandman novels, I only assume he followed suit.
And now, Crow is back—and he and Molly interact a bit, both with others around and one-on-one. Without getting into anything, I hope that this allows Molly to get past this act of infidelity—and that Jesse stops bringing it up. Really, there's an opportunity for closure here, and I hope Lupica takes it.
TALKIN' BASEBALL
I always liked that Parker wrote Jesse as someone who became a cop not because he had the drive to see justice done, to serve and protect, etc.—but because he had to re-evaluate his life after his baseball career-ending injury and then came to the career in law enforcement.
Parker treated this well, in a "road not taken" kind of way. Coleman did a good job with it—although Blind Spot was more about being part of a team, more than the sport. But Lupica? Lupica really knows how to write about this part of Jesse's life. He has Jesse think about this a lot in the first chapter and I put in my notes, "this is the best passage in Lupica's Parker books." And then it comes up later in the book, too. I don't know if it's all the sports books in Lupica's past, just a better insight into the mindset of the baseball player, or what—but this book has the best usage of Jesse's former career that this twenty-book series has had.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT STONE'S THROW?
I wasn't crazy about this at the beginning—it was always good, but I didn't get sucked in right away. I also wasn't crazy about the way that Crow was being used—it reminded me of the way that Parker took some of the danger away from Vinnie Morris, Bobby Horse, and Chollo after their initial appearances. But it started to grow on me the further I got into it—and by the last half, I was invested as I could've hoped to be.
And even if I wasn't—just being back in Paradise with Jesse, Suit, and Molly is good enough.
Lupica's got the voices down, he understands Paradise, he gets the cast of characters right and this book feels like he's been writing Stone novels for more years than he has—I had to remind myself that this is only his second time with this series. I'd have easily believed this is the fifth.
Whether you're new to Jesse Stone, or you've been reading them since the beginning, this is a novel that will entertain you and leave you looking forward to the next one.
Disclaimer: I received this eARC from PENGUIN GROUP Putnam via NetGalley in exchange for this post—thanks to both for this.
---
WHAT'S STONE'S THROW ABOUT?
The mayor of Paradise is found dead at the site of a contentious land deal—it's one of the most sought-after properties in Paradise, and the City is preparing to weigh in and deciding which of two buyers get to put a casino on it—while several citizens are trying to block the sale at all. The mayor is clearly sympathetic to the anti-sale voices, but it doesn't look like he's going to be able to do anything to stop it going forward.
And then he apparently commits suicide on that piece of real estate. Jesse's not so sure about the suicide part, however, it doesn't make sense to him for several reasons—his friendship with the mayor is just one of them (the fact that the left-handed man seemingly used his right hand to shoot himself would be another).
Jesse just has to decide who has the most motive to kill him—one of the buyers? The seller? The anti-sale group?
Then the leader of the conservation movement goes missing, and his girlfriend is worried. Then it turns out that Wilson Cromartie—Crow—is working for one of the casino builders. He and the Paradise Police Department have a very shaky history—his criminal past (all beyond the statute of limitations) makes Jesse dis-inclined to trust him, no matter how much assistance he rendered in finding a missing girl later. Is Crow on the side of angels this time, or could he be behind the mayor's death?
In a case that clearly calls for someone to "follow the money" there's so much of it flying around that it'd be easy to get lost trying that, there are no easy answers for Jesse and the rest of the PPD.
MOLLY
From the beginning of the series, Molly Crane has been one of the highlights of the books and of the Paradise Police Department. She's loyal, competent, and has a big heart. She's stood by Jesse when things were at their worst for him—covering for him as much as she could. She's almost too perfect—except for the one time she slept with Crow. That's pretty much the only time she's done something wrong.
And since then—at least once per book*—Jesse has brought that transgression up. Every author—Parker, Brandman**, Coleman, and now Lupica—has had Jesse throw this in her face regularly. It's always bothered me that it's so constant, so frequent—the woman beats herself up for it, she's been so good to Jesse, and this is how he treats her?
* As far as I remember, I could be wrong about that, I doubt there's been more than 2 books without it.
** I honestly remember so little about the Brandman novels, I only assume he followed suit.
And now, Crow is back—and he and Molly interact a bit, both with others around and one-on-one. Without getting into anything, I hope that this allows Molly to get past this act of infidelity—and that Jesse stops bringing it up. Really, there's an opportunity for closure here, and I hope Lupica takes it.
TALKIN' BASEBALL
I always liked that Parker wrote Jesse as someone who became a cop not because he had the drive to see justice done, to serve and protect, etc.—but because he had to re-evaluate his life after his baseball career-ending injury and then came to the career in law enforcement.
Parker treated this well, in a "road not taken" kind of way. Coleman did a good job with it—although Blind Spot was more about being part of a team, more than the sport. But Lupica? Lupica really knows how to write about this part of Jesse's life. He has Jesse think about this a lot in the first chapter and I put in my notes, "this is the best passage in Lupica's Parker books." And then it comes up later in the book, too. I don't know if it's all the sports books in Lupica's past, just a better insight into the mindset of the baseball player, or what—but this book has the best usage of Jesse's former career that this twenty-book series has had.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT STONE'S THROW?
I wasn't crazy about this at the beginning—it was always good, but I didn't get sucked in right away. I also wasn't crazy about the way that Crow was being used—it reminded me of the way that Parker took some of the danger away from Vinnie Morris, Bobby Horse, and Chollo after their initial appearances. But it started to grow on me the further I got into it—and by the last half, I was invested as I could've hoped to be.
And even if I wasn't—just being back in Paradise with Jesse, Suit, and Molly is good enough.
Lupica's got the voices down, he understands Paradise, he gets the cast of characters right and this book feels like he's been writing Stone novels for more years than he has—I had to remind myself that this is only his second time with this series. I'd have easily believed this is the fifth.
Whether you're new to Jesse Stone, or you've been reading them since the beginning, this is a novel that will entertain you and leave you looking forward to the next one.
Disclaimer: I received this eARC from PENGUIN GROUP Putnam via NetGalley in exchange for this post—thanks to both for this.
March 18, 2024
Mike Lupica has shown his mastery of the Robert B. Parker, as a legacy author…The Parker estate has chosen well…In “Stone’s Throw,” we have Jesse Stone, in recovery after his rehab stint, a maybe relationship with Sunny, facing a Paradise, with a problem of desperate casino bosses, seeking to build a gambling hub in Paradise…Conflict ensues and bodies pile up…The usual PPD allies are present along with the contributions of Crow and Vinnie and other assorted “dark-side” cronies. Fun, quick read!!!
October 15, 2021
STONE'S THROW
Mike Lupica
I am still deeply in mourning for Mr. Parker and for the original narration of James Naughton who was a staple and Joe Mantegna who is the voice of Spencer for Hire. Nobody in the world can say, 'he said' 'she said' like Joe Mantegna or James Naughton. In fact, nobody writes relationships like Robert B. Parker.
So all that said, I still love Jesse Stone, Spencer for Hire, and all of Parker's characters. But this Stone was just a bubble off of what I think Jesse Stone is. The plot was a little less intriguing and a bit slower. But this shift is not enough to push me to be less than a loyal fan, so I will continue to read...
3.5 stars
Happy Reading!
Mike Lupica
I am still deeply in mourning for Mr. Parker and for the original narration of James Naughton who was a staple and Joe Mantegna who is the voice of Spencer for Hire. Nobody in the world can say, 'he said' 'she said' like Joe Mantegna or James Naughton. In fact, nobody writes relationships like Robert B. Parker.
So all that said, I still love Jesse Stone, Spencer for Hire, and all of Parker's characters. But this Stone was just a bubble off of what I think Jesse Stone is. The plot was a little less intriguing and a bit slower. But this shift is not enough to push me to be less than a loyal fan, so I will continue to read...
3.5 stars
Happy Reading!
September 13, 2021
The reparte was lacking in the latest Jesse Stone mystery. Mike Lupita is the best of the Parker novel writers, but as my daughter commented, “Nobody is Robert Parker. But when Lupica is in he comes close. This time he singled. Next time I’m looking for a homer.
August 19, 2022
An enjoyable read.
September 6, 2023
If you like the Parker books and the Mike Lucia series you will enjoy this book! Jesse Stone is in his element...
March 13, 2022
I listened to this, didn’t read it. The story line was good. Joe Mantegna was the voice. Nothing against him but I just don’t envision him as Jesse. He doesn’t embody Jesse.
October 22, 2024
I love this series and it’s totally character driven for me . I’m no longer fussed about the crime I just love the dynamic and the interaction between the characters. But for the ones who like a good plot then you needn’t worry cos Lupica delivers
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