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Stone Cold: A Jesse Stone Novel 57 reviews
Robert B. Parker
Putnam Adult, 2003
Stone Cold is riviting
This is the fourth novel in the Jesse Stone series and by far the most pschological. This trip to Paradise finds Jesse the troubled cop tackling three problems: to capture the pair of serial killers who are murdering random victims in small-town Paradise, Mass., where Stone is chief of police; to bring to justice the three high-school students who gang-raped a younger schoolmate; and to come to ...
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Sea Change (Jesse Stone Novels) 65 reviews
Robert B. Parker
Putnam Adult, 2006
Another fun read by Parker
Just pick the book up and have fun. It has no philosophical message, although it does deal with a rather vile subject. I really do believe that Parker writes these Jesse Stone novels with Tom Selleck in mind, because you can literally hear Selleck deliver the lines, verbatum from the book. Love to meet Chief Jesse Stone and all the wonderful characters around him. Just pure fun!!!!!
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The Man with the Getaway Face: A Parker Novel (Parker Novels) 8 reviews
Richard Stark
University Of Chicago Press, 2008
Making a buck in the early '60s
Donald Westlake writes of Dortmunder, a bumbling petty criminal it's really hard to like. Then as Richard Stark he gives us Parker, a much more competent crook who will kill when he has to, and surprisingly or not, a much more likeable character. It was written in 1963 when the mob was "The Outfit", Exxon was still Esso and you took the ferry to Brooklyn, not the Verrazano Narrows Bridge. Parker ...
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Night Passage (Jesse Stone Novels)67 reviews
Robert B. Parker
Putnam Adult, 1997
A new character that can hold the story together!
Night Passage is vintage Parker. This novel is fast, witty, suspenseful, and engaging. Told in short, crisp chapters, it's the story of Jesse Stone, a 34-year-old ex-cop who just lost his L.A. policeman's job and his marriage due to a drinking problem. The book opens as Stone leaves California for his new job as chief of police in the picturesque town of Paradise, Massachusetts.
But Paradise ...
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Trouble in Paradise (Jesse Stone Novels)61 reviews
Robert B. Parker
G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1998
Flamingo Blood Rains Thin in Paradise
TROUBLE IN PARADISE, # 2 in Parker's Jesse Stone series, is a quietly seething thriller with explosives to boom. In this type of deep plot action, here's how one chapter should end and the next one begin:
Chapter ending:
>> When the police car was halfway across, the bridge began to ripple. The ripple turned into a heave. And, as the sound of the explosion came rolling into the real ...
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Flashfire (Parker Novels)16 reviews
Richard Stark
Mysterious Press, 2001
On-target, stripped-down noir
Flashfire is wonderful noir, stripped of purple prose and affectation.
The protagonist may be cold, but he's tough and smart, and he adheres at least to some criminals' code of honor. (Basically: Don't screw your partners.)
The dialogue and the propulsive plot are smart, too. Stark writes with economy and accuracy, like a boxer throwing stinging jabs or crisp combinations.
For the most ...
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Breakout (Parker Novels)7 reviews
Richard Stark
Mysterious Press, 2003
Breakout of that Boredom and Pick Up a Parker Novel
This is another quick and simple Parker adventure by Donald E Westlake writing under his pen name Richard Stark. Whilst there are certainly better Parker adventures where the reader gets to see Parker's skills in action, in Breakout the reader gets to see just how intelligent this criminal is. If you haven't checked out Westlake's novels under his own name definitely do so as well. His ...
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The Hunter: A Parker Novel (Parker Novels)7 reviews
Richard Stark
University Of Chicago Press, 2008
Parker Rules
The Hunter
This is the book where Donald Westlake writing as Richard Stark introduces us to Parker in 1962. After re-reading the book after thitysomething years I realize that Lee Marvin was probably cast as a truer version of Parker. Danny DeVito would have been a good messenger and James Gandolfini would have made a better Mal Resnick. The ending was changed for the movie, but what the ...
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The Outfit: A Parker Novel (Parker Novels)8 reviews
Richard Stark
University Of Chicago Press, 2008
Crime Fights Organised Crime
The name is Parker and he's not one for making idle threats. When he talks, he follows through with brutal efficiency. And so, when he warned the organised crime boss not to cross him or he would hurt the organisation, it would have been a good idea to listen. What would not have been a good idea was to attempt to put a hit on Parker. When the hit fails, as of course it must, Parker sets in place ...
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The Mark (Henry Parker Novels)32 reviews
Jason Pinter
Mira, 2007
Good start to the series
I actually picked this book up after reading Pinter's second novel, THE GUILTY. While the plot isn't the most original ever created--guy accused of murder, teams up with a headstrong, sexy female counterpart to clear his name and find the truth--it's handled much better than most in the genre, mainly because Henry Parker is an engaging protagonist, and the voice of the character is different (in ...
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The Jugger: A Parker Novel (Parker) 3 reviews
Richard Stark
University Of Chicago Press, 2009
What's In A Name?
Joe Sheer, a fine old man, retired safecracker (jugger), has been Parker's contact man for years. Parker receives a disquieting letter from Joe and wonders if he is getting a little old for the job. Parker decides to pay him a visit, not to present a gold watch, but perhaps to help Joe along to his eternal rest. The usually overly careful Parker flies to Sagamore, Nebraska to have a hands-on ...
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Storm Runners: A Novel25 reviews
T. Jefferson Parker
William Morrow, 2007
Control of weather mystery
Matt Stromsoe and Mike Tavarez were the best of friends in high school. They marched in the band at the same time although Stromsoe was the Drum Major in their late years of school. Both boys loved Hallie, but Mike ended up winning her in marriage, which disappointed Matt. Mike was always into gangs in school and afterwards. Matt became a cop. Little did Matt know that his future included a ...
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Comeback (A Parker Novel)17 reviews
Richard Stark
Robert Hale Ltd, 2001
Parker gets religion
Comeback
Comeback is significant because Donald Westlake, writing as Richard Stark came back to writing Parker novels after a hiatus of some twenty years or so. I say welcome back.
Thiis story is ripped from today's headlines. A TV evangelist who uses a stadium to preach from has an "Angel" who is unhappy with all the money being raised and spent on the preacher himself. Can you say ...
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Firebreak (Parker Novels)19 reviews
Richard Stark
Mysterious Press, 2001
Another Great Parker Adventure to Read on Your Break or if You're Fired
Parker narrowly escapes a Russian hit man who came to the cabin he shares with Claire. In the midst of disposal of the body he is contacted about a potential job with huge rewards involving stolen paintings in an isolated Montana mansion. The time frame on the Montana job is very tight so Parker has no time to put closure into those who put the price on his head. Of course they aren't prepared ...
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Stranger in Paradise (Jesse Stone Novels)57 reviews
Robert B. Parker
Putnam Adult, 2008
Love Jesse...Hate Jenn
I love this Jesse Sone novel. If you like Jesse you will like this book. It is more of the "same".
That being said...
I am sick of Jenn. Enough of her already! Get over her!
Enough drinking for Jesse. That is getting old.
I enjoy reading all of the Jesse Stone novels. I love the character. Thus 5 the stars.
I would like to see more of Crow in future books.
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Back Story: A Spenser Novel67 reviews
Robert B. Parker
Putnam Adult, 2003
Hippy Hi-jinks, Hep to the Hey-Day
Paul Giacomin brings one of his friends to Spenser, a young woman named Daryl. Her mother was killed in a bank robbery 28 years ago - blame was accepted by a revolutionary group calling themselves the Dread Scott Brigade, although no one ever discovered who it was that pulled the trigger and killed Emily Gordan. When Spenser begins to dig, he finds some puzzling inconsistencies in the police ...
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School Days (Spenser Novels)78 reviews
Robert B. Parker
Random House Audio, 2005
Spenser On His Own
First--I did this book on unabridged audio CD. Joe Mantegna is amazing as Spenser on the audio books and he outdid himself here.
This is rather unusual as a Spenser novel because Susan is gone and Hawk is not in the book. Spenser takes on what appears to be an open-and-shut case involving two teenaged students shooting up a school--outside Boston.
As always, Parker's books are ...
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Breakout (A Parker Novel)18 reviews
Richard Stark
Thorndike Press, 2003
As Good As It Gets
It goes without saying that a Richard Stark "Parker" story is read at one sitting. Fortunately for the reader (or the sittee, if you will), the books are rarely longer than 300 pages. It's manageable. The writing is as spare and smooth as fine leather holster and concise as a Hemingway vignette. Parker gets nailed in a pharmaceutical robbery gone south. He is detained by the law in a fortress ...
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Blue Screen (Sunny Randall Novels)64 reviews
Robert B. Parker
Random House Audio, 2006
Blue Screen
This is an exciting book, typical of Robert Parker. The copy I received was new and it arrived in a timely manner.
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Spare Change (Sunny Randall Novels)45 reviews
Robert B. Parker
Putnam Adult, 2007
SPARE CHANGE by ROBERT B. PARKER
The book arrived in a timely manner and in good condition. This is a great way to purchase books. gawhite
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