Having read most of Robert B. Parker's novels, I knew what to expect from this one. Short, crisp, world-weary wise-guy dialog. Action. Tough guys. Interesting characters. Murder.

Most of it is there. This one is little short on action and way long on relationships. Jesse Stone, the venerable hero of a half-dozen or so novels, is the police chief in little Paradise, Massachusetts. He is divorced from his former wife, Jen, but can never really let her go. In earlier novels, she has followed him to the East Coast from LA so she can be near him.

In the last novel, Jesse met and became involved with Sunny Randall, a lady PI in Boston who has her own series of Robert B. Parker novels. In this one, they are in love. Sunny, however, also has an ex that she can't quite live without.

This makes for lots of confusion, soul searching, and dysfunctional relationships. Does Jesse love Jen or Sunny more? Can Jesse give up Jen enough to be in a committed relationship with Sunny? Can Sunny give up her ex, Richie, enough to be in a committed relationship with Jesse? These pressing, urgent soap opera questions form the major, major subplot of the book. And no, they don't really get resolved.

Frankly, I got very tired of the whole mess. I liked the murder plot. I like Jesse. I like Sunny. I like Rosie (Sunny's dog). I don't much care for Jen, whose driving force in life seems to be advancing her career by sleeping with whoever might prove helpful. I just got tired of all the talking (and thinking, and studiously not talking) about who loves whom the most or the best and how should they act together. Enough already! Not to call upon stereotypes too much, I'll just hint that I'll bet Parker's female readers will enjoy this more than his male fans.

However, if you follow either Jesse or Sunny's series of books, you have to read this one. Sigh.

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Parker is worth reading if for no other reason than his "zippy" dialogue!

You can read this book in two or three sittings. Lots of action, twists and turns keep you turning the pages. Although it is not a "Spenser" book, the character Jesse could be Spenser's twin. Lots of sarcastic humor that is typical Robert Parker. This is a perfect book for the beach, plane or doctor's office since the chapters are very short and you can put the book down and pick it back up without missing a beat. Five stars all the way

Newest in series.

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