“Robert B. Parker’s “Killing the Blues” is the latest in the Jesse Stone series. With the sudden death of author Robert B. Parker in January 2010, this franchise now rest in the hands of Michael Brandman. Since Mr. Brandman has been the executive producer, among other duties, for the CBS movies it is hard to imagine who else would be better suited to pick up the series.
It is spring in Paradise, Massachusetts and at least some of the board of selectmen are still far more worried about the coming summer season with tourism and public appearances then actually providing constructive support and resources. It is an old situation to Jesse and one that he tolerates as folks do have to make their public positions known. Instead of power points and detailed speeches in public, Jesse Stone prefers to let his actions do the talking.
Behind the scenes, though he does not want to detail it out for the board of selectman, Police Chief Jesse Stone is at work investigating a string of auto thefts. It is a problem when tourists have their cars stolen. Not only does it provide a problem from the tourism angle and the life blood those dollars give the small community of Paradise, Massachusetts the recent thefts signal a far bigger problem with organized crime once again trying to move into the area. Not to mention the latest case of bullying over at one of the schools. If that was not enough, a career criminal recently released from prison is coming to Paradise bent on revenge against Jesse Stone and ultimately killing him. Of course, like any crazed convict of TV show or book, he first must make Jesse and his town suffers through various escalating acts of violence.
The 276 page book serves as a fitting tribute to the series and the style of Robert B. Parker. The Parker tradition of short chapters, the use of very few dialogue tags, very little description and plenty of action continues in this latest novel. This is a slightly harder edged Jesse, somewhat less reflective while more prone to unorthodox and possible illegal actions, as he works to keep his town of Paradise safe. How the series continues from here should be very interesting.
Robert B. Parker’s Killing The Blues: A Jesse Stone Novel
Michael Brandman
G.P. Putnam’s Sons (Penguin Group, USA)
2011
ISBN# 978-0-399-15784-4
Hardback
275 Pages
$25.95
Material supplied by the good folks of the Plano Texas Public Library System.
Kevin R. Tipple © 2012
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