Solid And Entertaining Crime Fiction From A Master

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	• Stranger in Paradise (Jesse Stone Novels) Robert B. Parker Putnam Adult, 2008 - 304 pages average customer review:based on 50 reviews view larger image
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Solid And Entertaining Crime Fiction From A Master

I've been a fan of Robert B. Parker's novels since 1978, which might be part of the problem with his latest offering STRANGER IN PARADISE. I love the author's writing style, his usual commentary on society and the individual, and his one-liners. All of those are present in the latest book, but in some ways too many of the same plots are revisited in this one.

This is the seventh Jesse Stone novel. Stone is a former Los Angeles policeman turned drunk turned small town Paradise, Massachusetts police chief. He's also struggling through working out a relationship with his ex-wife Jennifer, which has been one of the on-going subplots of the series. That particular subplot has gotten a little irritating at times because it doesn't seem to be going anywhere but constantly looms over every book.

The book had a lot of potential. Wilson Cromartie, a villain from an earlier book, puts in an appearance to tell Jesse he's going to be around town for a while. Ten years ago, Crow - the name he's called throughout the book - was part of an armed robbery gang. At the end of that, Crow chose not to harm the women hostages the gang had but managed to escape with ten million dollars.

This time around, Crow is in town working on a case, looking for the daughter of a big-time Mafia guy in Florida. I really enjoyed the way Crow and Jesse got a feel for each other and acknowledged how dangerous the other could be. When it comes to pared-down prose and tough guys, nobody delivers the goods the way Parker does.

As it turns out, Amber Francisco is a fourteen-year old mess being raised by her white trash mother. I didn't quite see how the mother went from living the high lifestyle in Florida to living a life barely getting by in Paradise, but I went with it. In addition to living the poor lifestyle, Amber has also hooked up with a young, violent Latino gang in the area.

Parker plays fast and loose with the plotting. Several things are going on throughout the novel. The past encounter with Crow threads throughout, but I'm not quite sure I'm willing to buy everything Parker promotes this time. One of the things that most jarred me was the attraction to Crow by one of the former hostages from that armed robbery ten years ago. Parker sets Crow up to be this sexual fantasy figure for that woman and they have a "one-time deal" encounter.

Not only that, but Crow's sexual magnetism wins over the one character in this series that I thought would never stray outside her marriage. Parker has explored the nature of sex and attraction throughout this series, and I've gone along with it. But, to me, this encounter really cheapened what I thought was a fantastically solid character. This decision really bothered me, which is a good thing on one level because it shows how realistically the author has created his characters.

But the sexual theme seems to hit a high note in STRANGER IN PARADISE. Especially the topic of cheating and how people didn't have to feel guilty about it. That jarred. Usually Parker ties his explorations of the subject to the plot, but this time I don't think that existing criteria was met.

Furthermore, when Crow makes the decision to save Amber and free her from her father rather than kidnap her and take her back home as he's been hired to do, the book started resonating themes from earlier Parker books. In EARLY AUTUMN, Parker's iconic private eye hero Spenser chooses to rescue a young boy from parents that only use him as a pawn in their on-going battle. In CEREMONY, Spenser rescues young April Kyle from parents that don't care about her by moving her from street hooker to high class call girl. The story with Amber smacks of both those books but doesn't dig into the plot as deeply as either of those did.

Truthfully, Crow echoed Parker's earlier creation of Spenser's friend, Hawk. Both of those characters have the same animal magnetism, skewed senses of honor, and no remorse over killing people or doing what they want to do in spite of the law.

STRANGER IN PARADISE is a fun romp. I sat down and read it straight through. I always save Parker books till a day on the weekend so I can read them without interruption. In that respect, the book was fantastic as always. I love the repartee and the familiar characters. But with all the build-up regarding Amber Francisco, I don't know whether to expect her return in future novels in the Jesse Stone series, or never hear from her again. And I don't honestly know which I'd prefer.

Parker is my favorite author, though, and I look forward to subsequent books in this series as well as others. He's still delivering straight-forward tales of crime, detective, and tough guys. It's a combination I just can't stay away from.

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Following the franchise

Once again a real joy to read. Good stories told well. I look forward to the next one. And Jesse Stone is fast becoming my favorite Robert Parker hero.

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Spenser has Hawk, Jesse Stone has Crow

It is easy to dismiss this style of fast paced, adventure novel.

More like a novella than a full blown novel, Parker has to take some liberties with plot and character development to create a product that can be quickly and enjoyably consumed.

That's why "Stranger in Paradise," a Jesse Stone novel is the perfect companion for a weekend at the beach and not required reading for a college, literature course.

If you are a fan of the Spenser series, you gotta love Hawk. A rough, tough character that always helps get the job done.

Jesse Stone, now appears to have Crow, an Apache hitman who upholds his own sense of honor. Like Hawk, Crow fulfills our need for a little less law and a little more justice.

Hawk - Crow. I am sensing a theme.

"Stranger in Paradise" is filled with witty dialogue and some very clever insight into the human condition. Sadly, the incidental characters are poorly developed and plot is contrived. Despite those shortcomings I finished it in 2 days.

Like it for what it is - don't hate it for what it's not.

Caslo

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Typical Robert Parker fare

I started reading Parker's Jesse Stone novels a couple of years ago, and find myself drawn to them. The only other Parker novels I've read were "Appaloosa" and "Double Play".

For me, Parker is a peculiar novelist---he writes in clipped, staccato sentences; he's not heavy into character development; and, his plots are not particularly intricate. However, I find myself attracted to the Jesse Stone series. I like Police Chief Jesse's laconic, self-deprecating style. Molly Crane, one of his assistants, is a funny, wise-cracking woman who, as you find out in "Stranger in Paradise" has feelings/sentiments not befitting a married mother of four children. Jesse's other assistant, "Suitcase" Simpson seems to be an amiable dunce. Then, in this novel, the enigmatic Wilson "Crow" Cromartie, purportedly an Apache Indian hit man, reappears in Jesse's town of Paradise, Massachusetts, for reasons not readily apparent.

Frankly, Parker's novels are mind candy, but addictive, and this novel is no exception. What I find irritating in the Jesse Stone novels is the angst that Jesse suffers in his relationship with his ex-wife, Jenn. The relationship seems contrived, and I simply wish that Jesse would dump Jenn once and for all and move on with his life. Anyway, "Stranger in Paradise" is a fast and entertaining read.

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reviews: 1, 2, 3, page 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

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