Robert B Parker’s The Devil Wins by Reed Farrel Coleman

The Devil Wins

By Reed Farrel Coleman 

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.