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bookqueen82's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
constantreader471's review
4.0
4 stars for a fast paced book about a drug overdose death in Paradise, Massachusetts. Jesse Stone is the Police Chief in Paradise and realizes that this death of a high school junior means that someone is dealing drugs laced with lethal fetanyl in his small town. Jesse has a department of 5 people, including himself.
He does solve the case, but there are more deaths. This is book 18 in the series and I have missed reading books 13 through 17. I will have to go back and read them as some things have happened in Jesse's personal life in those books that are referred to in this book.
There are some red herrings leading you on, but to say more would be a spoiler.
One quote on notifying parents of the dead girl: "He didn't need to be a parent to know that a mother and father should never have to put a kid in the ground before them. Not ever, not for any reason."
My wife and I agree that the author has written this book in a slightly different style than Robert B. Parker. Parker wrote in short sentences, with more dialogue than narrative thought by the central character, i.e. Jesse. This book has more narrative thought than dialogue.
My wife also rates this book 4 stars.
I read this library book in 2 days.
He does solve the case, but there are more deaths. This is book 18 in the series and I have missed reading books 13 through 17. I will have to go back and read them as some things have happened in Jesse's personal life in those books that are referred to in this book.
There are some red herrings leading you on, but to say more would be a spoiler.
One quote on notifying parents of the dead girl: "He didn't need to be a parent to know that a mother and father should never have to put a kid in the ground before them. Not ever, not for any reason."
My wife and I agree that the author has written this book in a slightly different style than Robert B. Parker. Parker wrote in short sentences, with more dialogue than narrative thought by the central character, i.e. Jesse. This book has more narrative thought than dialogue.
My wife also rates this book 4 stars.
I read this library book in 2 days.
abibliofob's review against another edition
4.0
This was just as good as the others in the series. I like the pace in Paradise and Jesse Stone is a great character. I only wish that Tom Selleck would do more movies about him. For a while I thought that it would go to hell for Jesse and his relations again but...
jeffreyb721's review
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Started really slow without a whole lot of mystery. Ticked up a bit in the middle, but the twist at the end didn't quite live up to greatness. A decent read.
mommasaystoread's review against another edition
4.0
I've loved Jesse Stone's laid-back attitude, at least until it's time to be not so laid back, for years. I was introduced to him first in the movies with Tom Selleck, which led me to the books, and I was forever hooked. Jesse's story continues through the words of Reed Farrel Coleman, and I love that he holds true to the wonderful character first brought to life by Parker. There is one big difference, Jesse's sober now and trying to remain so. I realize that Jesse's sobriety is a source of contention for some, but I don't see it that way. For me, a character needs to continue to grow and evolve, and an honest effort at sobriety seems like a natural progression for the character.
I missed the last book in the series, so the addition of Jesse's son was new to me. That's where this book first got a little personal for me. I grew up in a situation very similar to Cole's, except I was older than Cole by the time I met my father. So, I'm always interested in how these situations play out on the page. Based on my own experiences, the interactions between Cole and Jesse ring true. They're still getting to know each other, and Cole is still learning to trust Jesse as well as learning that everything he thought he knew wasn't exactly how things were. I liked the progression for the father and son, and I enjoyed the addition of Cole's character.
The Bitterest Pill tackles the growing drug problem, specifically the opioid crisis and how it gets a hold on small towns everywhere. The web of players on that side of things was complex and held my interest as well as kept me guessing about a particular player in the game. There are red herrings, and there's also more than one possibility for who it could be. And here I will admit that I was wrong. I had my guesses, and while this one didn't exactly come out of nowhere, that person wasn't even on my radar. Of course, we get plenty of Suit and some of Molly as the case moves forward as well as Jesse relying on some help from a known criminal, which, again, rings true to the character.
In addition to a solid mystery and some page time with some series favorites, Coleman gives us a touch of romance for our favorite police chief. One that comes with some migivings, and we all know Jesse's penchant for wanting answers. I won't go into details on that so as not to give spoilers, but I felt like things happened the only way they could have given the circumstances.
In the end, there were a lot of players in this deadly game as the opioid crisis hits Paradise with a vengeance, and the story moves along with a steadily rising tension that explodes into an edge of your seat conclusion. However, I will add that when you think the dust has settled on this particular addition to the Jesse Stone series, it really hasn't. There's a bit more to the story. I don't know if there's another Jesse Stone book planned, but I sincerely hope so, and I certainly recommend this one.
I missed the last book in the series, so the addition of Jesse's son was new to me. That's where this book first got a little personal for me. I grew up in a situation very similar to Cole's, except I was older than Cole by the time I met my father. So, I'm always interested in how these situations play out on the page. Based on my own experiences, the interactions between Cole and Jesse ring true. They're still getting to know each other, and Cole is still learning to trust Jesse as well as learning that everything he thought he knew wasn't exactly how things were. I liked the progression for the father and son, and I enjoyed the addition of Cole's character.
The Bitterest Pill tackles the growing drug problem, specifically the opioid crisis and how it gets a hold on small towns everywhere. The web of players on that side of things was complex and held my interest as well as kept me guessing about a particular player in the game. There are red herrings, and there's also more than one possibility for who it could be. And here I will admit that I was wrong. I had my guesses, and while this one didn't exactly come out of nowhere, that person wasn't even on my radar. Of course, we get plenty of Suit and some of Molly as the case moves forward as well as Jesse relying on some help from a known criminal, which, again, rings true to the character.
In addition to a solid mystery and some page time with some series favorites, Coleman gives us a touch of romance for our favorite police chief. One that comes with some migivings, and we all know Jesse's penchant for wanting answers. I won't go into details on that so as not to give spoilers, but I felt like things happened the only way they could have given the circumstances.
In the end, there were a lot of players in this deadly game as the opioid crisis hits Paradise with a vengeance, and the story moves along with a steadily rising tension that explodes into an edge of your seat conclusion. However, I will add that when you think the dust has settled on this particular addition to the Jesse Stone series, it really hasn't. There's a bit more to the story. I don't know if there's another Jesse Stone book planned, but I sincerely hope so, and I certainly recommend this one.
nonna7's review
4.0
When a local high school girl is found dead in her bed from an overdose, Jesse Stone wonders if big city drug problems are coming to his small town of Paradise. It doesn't take long for him to discover that there is a pattern: a teenager suffers an injury, regular treatment isn't doing it and they find a doctor who will prescribe Oxycontin. The book was published two years ago. Since then doctors are less likely to prescribe Oxycontin although there is always a doctor who will do it for a fee. Soon Jesse is targeted by the gang. Of course they don't get Jesse but there is quite a trail of bodies. I've mixed a couple of these so I have to go back and read the ones that came just before this one. Anyway, this is a good one. It's a fast and relatively light read.
tunesmithnw's review
3.0
This was another good installment in the saga of Parker's Jesse Stone. I have been disappointed in the way Coleman has changed the character of Jesse Stone. Stone no longer has a dog, he has moved into an updated home, gone is the quaint feel of the small town Police Chief who occasionally ran speed traps and argued with the selectmen. It feels as if Coleman is gentrifying Jesse Stone. I have no problem with Stone going through alcohol rehab and having a son, but otherwise leave his character the way Parker created him.
epollack's review
3.0
For a "by a different author" book this was a very good effort. Maybe not Parker but not far off.
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