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Summary
Summary
The murder of a notorious public figure places Paradise, Massachusetts, police chief Jesse Stone in the harsh glare of the media spotlight. When the body of controversial talk-show host Walton Weeks is discovered hanging from a tree on the outskirts of Paradise, police chief Jesse Stone finds himself at the center of a highly public case, forcing him to deal with small-minded local officials and national media scrutiny. When another dead body-that of a young woman-is discovered just a few days later, the pressure becomes almost unbearable. Two victims in less than a week should provide a host of clues, but all Jesse runs into are dead ends. But what may be the most disturbing aspect of these murders is the fact that no one seems to care-not a single one of Weeks's ex-wives, not the family of the girl. And when the medical examiner reveals a heartbreaking link between the two departed souls, the mystery only deepens. Despite Weeks's reputation and the girl's tender age, Jesse is hard-pressed to find legitimate suspects. Though the crimes are perhaps the most gruesome Jesse has ever witnessed, it is the malevolence behind them that makes them all the more frightening. Forced to delve into a world of stormy relationships, Jesse soon comes to realize that knowing whom he can trust is indeed a matter of life and death.
Author Notes
Robert Brown Parker was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, on September 17, 1932. He received a B.A. from Colby College in 1954, served in the U.S. Army in Korea, and then returned to receive a M. A. in English literature from Boston University in 1957. He received a Ph.D. in English literature from Boston University in 1971.
Before becoming a full-time writer in 1979, he taught at Lowell State College, Bridgewater State College and Northwestern University.
In 1971, Parker published The Godwuff Manuscript, as homage to Raymond Chandler. The character he created, Spencer, became his own detective and was featured in more than 30 novels. His Spencer character has been featured in six TV movies and the television series Spencer: For Hire that starred Robert Urich and ran from 1985 to 1988.
He is also the author of the Jesse Stone series, which has been made into a series of television movies for CBS, and the Sunny Randall series. His novel Appaloosa (2005) was made into a 2008 movie directed by and starring Ed Harris. He has received numerous awards for his work including an Edgar Award for Best Novel in 1977 for The Promised Land, Grand Master Edgar Award for his collective oeuvre in 2002, and the Gumshoe Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008. He died of a heart attack on January 18, 2010 at the age of 77.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Reviews (2)
Publisher's Weekly Review
A storm of media attention rains down on the small town of Paradise, Mass., and local police chief Jesse Stone when a famous national talk show host is shot and left hanging from a tree. To add to his troubles, Stone's ex-wife, Jennifer, is seeking his protection against a stalker/rapist. Overwhelmed, Stone asks current girlfriend, Boston PI Sunny Randall, to watch over Jennifer while he tries to solve the two murders. Over the years Parker has honed his writing into its own minimalist art form, conveying more meaning in one line than many authors do with pages of prose. Unfortunately, Sowers doesn't handle that prose as well as one might hope. At times his character voices run together, making it difficult to distinguish which character is talking in a scene. And, even though he has a fine speaking voice, he misses the clipped, cynical delivery that gives the Parker books their cool, dry wit. Simultaneous release with the Putnam hardcover (Reviews, Dec. 4). (Mar.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Library Journal Review
An irritating talk-show host and a young girl are found hanged only days apart, and police chief Jesse Stone is shocked that no one seems to care. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.