The Devil Wins
I’ve never read any of
Robert B Parker’s books so when this review copy of a novel written by Reed
Farrel Coleman as a continuation of Parker’s Jesse Stone series arrived, I read
it with an open mind and no particular expectations.
As an introduction to the
character of Jesse Stone and the world in which he operates, I enjoyed it very
much.
Jesse, once an LA homicide
detective, is now chief of police in Paradise, Mass. and living a very
different lifestyle from his previous one. Early on in the book we find out
that Jesse is struggling with alcohol, with troubled relationships with women
and with his own past.
Paradise turns out to be far
from heavenly when, one night in the midst of a huge storm, a dead body is
found in a collapsed building. Things take an even more sinister turn when two
further bodies are found and it turns out they’ve been there for twenty-five
years.
I found this an enjoyable
and engrossing mystery. I really liked Jesse Stone and the characters
surrounding him, and the way the story had its roots in the past added an extra
dimension to it.
There are many twists and
turns to keep the reader guessing, including an unexpected extra revelation at
the end.
I can’t comment on how well
the book reflects Robert B. Parker’s works, but would definitely recommend it
in its own right.
Thanks very much to the
publishers for a review copy of this book.
You can find out more here.
