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Stone Cold (Jesse Stone #4)

3.9 of 5 stars 3.90 · rating details · 2,757 ratings · 116 reviews

Tony and Brianna Lincoln just moved into Paradise, but friendly they aren't. In fact, these urbane thrill killers are knocking off the neighbors one by one, and Jesse Stone is next.

Paperback, 336 pages

Published September 28th 2004 by Berkley (first published January 1st 2003)

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Jan 06, 2012 Carolyn F. rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: audiobook, romantic-suspense, contemporary, favorites

Audiobook.

First time reading this author. I'm categorizing this as romantic as there is that element in the book, just not in a good way.

I have this stupid prejudice against male suspense/mystery writers because usually they're too gory for me or I just can't connect with the characters. That's not the case with this book. Robert Parker has probably changed my conception because this book was excellent. I loved Jesse Stone. There's a serial killer case and a rape case that's he trying to solve...more

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Apr 16, 2011 Johnny rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery

Some people feel like all of Parker’s protagonists are the same. They all like to eat, they all have relationship issues, they all have a past (authority issues and/or drinking problem, possibly guilt). Yet, after reading Stone Cold, the first of the Jesse Stone mysteries I’ve read, I’m not certain I agree. First of all, one of the things I really enjoy in the Spenser series is the fact that this anti-authority figure as private eye makes smart comments all the time—even when admitting in his na...more Some people feel like all of Parker’s protagonists are the same. They all like to eat, they all have relationship issues, they all have a past (authority issues and/or drinking problem, possibly guilt). Yet, after reading Stone Cold, the first of the Jesse Stone mysteries I’ve read, I’m not certain I agree. First of all, one of the things I really enjoy in the Spenser series is the fact that this anti-authority figure as private eye makes smart comments all the time—even when admitting in his narrator role that he knew it was the wrong thing to say before he said it or confessing that he knew it would offend someone. I did notice that Parker couldn’t help himself on a couple of occasions in Stone Cold, but they were subdued compared to the Spenserian comments in the other series. Of course, some have suggested that Sunny Randall is merely a female version of Spenser. She does, after all, crack wise at every opportunity, but she does seem to have a better relationship with the law enforcement authorities than Spenser does. I’ll have to read a couple more outside of the Spenser series before I form my opinion on this.

I also need to confess that I like to read escape fiction to get into the heads of people who think and act differently than I do. Spenser waxes philosophical from time to time and would often make Ayn Rand a happy camper. Yet, just when you think he is objectivist to the core, he shows compassion that the novelist/philosopher/movie extra wouldn’t have admitted if she had such feelings. Jesse Stone doesn’t fit that mold. He’s a victim, not the remote loner that Spenser wants to be. Spenser, of course, is committed at a level that Stone can’t be. As a victim of sexual infidelity, he finds himself constantly searching for intimacy but denying himself a chance for authentic relationship because of a, probably false, hope for reconciliation with the very one who victimized him. I find myself feeling both sad and fascinated by this combination of desperation and deprivation (the former in multiple liaisons and the latter in lack of emotional fulfillment).

The other fascinating aspect of Stone Cold for me was the almost Columbo-esque nature of the interplay between the murderers and the protagonist. It felt strange to be reading in this genre when I actually knew who committed the crime, the protagonist knew who committed the crime, and we were just trying to get enough evidence together to be able to prosecute them. This aspect reminded me of the old television series mentioned above, but the irony here is that it was the murderers who kept coming back for that “one more question.” This felt very fresh to me.

The main “mystery” in Stone Cold revolves around a couple who kill pre-selected victims as an aphrodisiac. Normally, I would consider such information to be a “spoiler,” but the information is given straight-up at the beginning of the book. In telling the story, Parker alternates between an omniscient viewpoint where we see all and know-all to being regaled by Stone himself. For this book, I found the mix to be refreshing and interesting. I may find it too convenient if Parker uses that approach in the rest of the “episodes.”

Although I read the entire book in one commuter train round-trip plus a bedtime perusal of about an hour, I wasn’t entirely satisfied with the ending. It felt anticlimactic. Of course, I’m probably more like those Hollywood audiences at test screenings who don’t like unclear or unhappy endings. I can live with those in books and films, but I usually don’t re-read the books or watch the movies again. I’m not sure Stone Cold can be classified as a happy ending or unhappy ending, but I can definitely say that it doesn’t provide the catharsis that either Jesse Stone wanted or that I wanted. On the other hand, it was a very realistic ending. The hand of justice is limited.

In fact, there is a parallel “mystery” that is very similar to the main story arc of this book and it also comes to a less than satisfying ending, in spite of the fact that justice has cranked through its normal process. The secondary “mystery” has to do with a rape and even though the perpetrators are brought to justice, it’s very unsatisfying—realistic, but unsatisfying. I can live with that once in a while, but I don’t want a steady diet of it.
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David I don't think Stone Cold was the best of the Jesse Stone novels. I like Jesse Stone a lot more than I like Spenser, however.

In regards to the similari...more
Apr 18, 2011 11:40am

Johnny There was a lost dog that was adopted by one of the crime victims. It hadn't registered (no pun intended) to me until you asked.
Apr 18, 2011 03:24pm

Sep 09, 2011 Gavin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: pulp-detective-spy

Jesse Stone has a major problem in Paradise in this fourth installment of Parker's Jesse Stone series. It seems a pair of thrill killers, man and wife, have come to Paradise with intent to keep their thrills alive. Parker does a wonderful job of letting the reader see what type of madness swirls within the minds of these types of people, while at the same time never trying to give blanket answers to why some people are this crazy.

But the killers are only a small portion of this book. It seems t...more

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Aug 05, 2012 Mark rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: detective, mystery-adventure, robert-b-parker, jesse-stone

In his 4th book of the Jesse Stone tales Paradise is being visted by a set of killers. With the amount of carnage they are quickley updated to serial Killers. As usual the head of the State police homicide squad leaves the investigation in the capable hands of Jesse Stone who has proved by now that he is not the hick police-officer most people think he should be.

We do get insight in the minds and motivations of this set of killers, husband and wife. And yet the writer never tries to explain ever...more

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Nov 03, 2011 Shane rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: goodreads

These books just get better as they go along. Quick chapters, interesting characters, and KNOWING that there is a better than average chance that Jesse is going to hit someone in the nuts make for good reading.

This story, like the others, wraps up quickly once things start to happen, but it doesn't feel nearly as rushed as it could have. The murderers are truly fascinating characters in and of themselves. While they don't exactly make you hope they get away, they're still very well developed ps...more

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Aug 12, 2011 Kathy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: detective-bounty-hunter, mystery

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. 3 parts of this book... a high school gang rape, a pair of lovers/seriel killers, and Jesse.

Candace is 16 years old, seen as standoffish by others, and the football captain and 2 buddies decide to harrass her - take her into the woods, force her to undress, and rape her (the buddies didn't go in with the intention of raping, but...), and taking pictures of her naked so that she wouldn't tell anyone - one of the boys can been seen inthe picture. Her mom, seeing something wrong though Candace too...more 3 parts of this book... a high school gang rape, a pair of lovers/seriel killers, and Jesse.

Candace is 16 years old, seen as standoffish by others, and the football captain and 2 buddies decide to harrass her - take her into the woods, force her to undress, and rape her (the buddies didn't go in with the intention of raping, but...), and taking pictures of her naked so that she wouldn't tell anyone - one of the boys can been seen inthe picture. Her mom, seeing something wrong though Candace too embarrassed to admit the truth, bathes her and drags her to the police station. But then mom does not want anyone else to know because 'what would people say'... Jesse then tracks the girl down at the mall, gets her to talk to him by promising not to say anything to anyone else and finds out the truth and who... then he begins an undercover drug investigation at the school with the intention of protecting Candace and getting at the boys another way - with Molly as busdriver and Suit as janitor... the head boy smokes a joint on the bus, so Molly and Suit arrest him (with the help of pepper spray), and find a few of the pictures in his backpack... Dad blusters, along with his son. Jesse brings in the boy in the picture, making sure everyone knows that they know the boy because of the picture, not beacuse of Candace. The boy, afraid of jail, tells all (recorded) - his parents are bit more real... at one section head boy & dad are in station with candace and dad (who boxed in college) - when the boy gets mad, he takes a swing at dad, and dad clocks him and then dad - and Jesse allows it... Candace sees her dad through new eyes...then the 3 boys are brought in - Rita fiori (from Spencer) is defender for one of the boys... the plea bargain to probation and x number of volunteer hours - and Rita, at the advice of Jesse, has them volunteer at thepolice station.. Jesse then gets Candace the dog that was left alone when the first body was found... and at the end, the family has moved out of town for a new start.

Second story - the Lamont's (alias Lincoln), indpendently rich (his opthomoligist scanner patent brought him a lot of money, and aparently bored.... they are of one accord, and their sex life is enhanced after filming the killing of a random someone - one they've checked out, photographed, and chosen... they kill 3, then the 4th is Abby (lover of Jesse)... and then they are out for jesse. The story line traces Jesse's thinking through the crime scenes, the house, their behavior - helping ut to process the clues along the way as he is talking with Molly, Suit, or Captain Healy (state police / Spencer) ... and though Jesse knows it is them, he cannot prove it... when following them one night, Jesse sees them stop at his condo and taking pictures - he knows he is their next victim... he pushes them along - they take him for a sheriff bumpkin... it goes down at the mall, and though Jesse thinks they re ready for him, after they shoot Jesse (in his body armor so he's okay), they change clothes, shoot one of Jesse's officers in the head when he tries to stop them, and they get away... Jesse is able to reason out and trace them to Canada - and is given a few minute with them alone...

Third story - Jesse's personal growth - and we see it through his shrink, and the women he is having sex with - his discussions, their observations, and his responses... He loves Jenn (when he doesn't get a hold of her, he waits outside her studio, and confronts her when she emerges with the station manager - her current lover), but appreciates the other women - real estate Marcy (whom he spends the most time with), Rita (a night, where the sex is great, but Rita is looking for more), with Abby (who has closure sex with him before she accepts a proposal from an interested guy - and then before she gets home, is killed by the Lincolns), and with Jenn (who doesn't contact him before or after his drop by, who finally contacts him when her manager wants her to get the inside scoop on the seriel killer and Jesse says no, hanging up on her, and then who contacts him 2 times toward the end, with her apologies, for always putting herself first, for ignoring Jesse's feelings and needs, and with a deeper understanding that she doesn't know how to be strong for herself while caring for another) and finally at the end she invites Jesse back into an exclusive relationship with her, with weekend and one weekday dates... hmmmm and after the confrontation with Jenn and manager, Jesse just decides not to drink and he doesn't - the difficulty only discussed with Dix, the theapist... and Jesse has to give up control - hmmmm (less)

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Apr 14, 2010 Debby rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I have always enjoyed Robert B. Parker's books in the past. However, I could barely bring myself to read this one past the first 50 pages. If I heard "he said", "she said" after each exchange of a conversation in the book one more time I was going to pull out my hair. I know I'm super sensitive to it because I'm listening to the book on CD, but seriously, this was like nails on a chalkboard. I learned in high school English NOT to do that. It's completely not necessary when writing conversations...more

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Jun 27, 2010 Eric_W rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: police-procedural

Another winner in the Jesse Stone series. Two simultaneous plots, one involving a particularly nasty couple who get their rocks off by killing people. The police work is first rate if the couple a bit unreal.

The book is worth reading just for watching how Jesse maneuvers three high school football players (and their obnoxious parents) with regard to their rape of another high school girl. It's wonderfully done.

I would say this is one of his best. If you saw the movie with Tom Selleck, don't wor...more

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Mar 18, 2008 Amanda rated it 3 of 5 stars

I think this was a re-read -- that I read it the first time when I was pregnant. I don't remember any book I read then, so I can't be sure. But I dimly recall the end.

Vintage Parker, and quite good, though a serial killer novel. I normally find them frustrating and simple minded. (I'm reading "Spare Change" right now and I suspect, on page 10, that it will be way too cliched. His Sunny books are so much LESS than his male novels.) But this one was much better than the usual tripe.

I want to be ou...more

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Jan 29, 2008 Guy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Ook gelezen: Stone Cold (2003) van de immer betrouwbare Robert B. Parker, de Amerikaanse Pieter Aspe: hij schijt boeken aan de lopende band, ze worden verkocht per palet en druk verfilmd. Het verschil: zijn boeken zijn goed. De Spenser-reeks (een kleine dertig romans met P.I. Spenser als held) is intussen uitgegroeid tot een klassieke reeks in de Amerikaanse crime literature. Stone Cold is er eentje uit de Jesse Stone-reeks, die Parker wel gestart zal zijn om even te ontsnappen aan de beperkinge...more

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May 31, 2011 Caroline rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery

I give this one 3.5 stars. I have not read a Robert Parker book prior to this but immediately recognized the main character, Jesse Stone, from the made-for-TV movies under the same name. My problem was that I could not get Tom Selleck's face (the star who plays the role on TV) out of my mind as I read the story. It was a quick read, with some interesting characters, and a little murder to boot. I listened to the book on my IPod and I must admit that the narrator was not very good, but I stuck wi...more

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May 04, 2009 Kate Quinn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Any book of Robert B. Parker's is an exercise in crisp dialogue, and this one's no exception. His Jesse Stone novels are interesting in that he allows the point of view to expand from his hero to include others - the two serial killers narrate some chapters in this book, for a distinctly creepy effect. My one complaint, as with all the Jesse Stone books, is that I find his wife Jenn unbearable. I hope he will soon acknowledge her for the selfish cow she is, and drop her like a bad habit.

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Aug 14, 2012 Jeni rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: oakland-summer-2012

A good read - Robert Parker is one of my favorite authors. It's puzzling why Jesse Stone would be so hung up on Jenn, but I've seen this type of relationship for real. The 2 cases which Jesse Stone is working on really keep the story moving. Loved the way Jesse Stone deals the young girl who claims to have been raped. The serial killer case bogles the mind, but there probably are people like the Lincolns (Lamonts).

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Jul 25, 2012 Bob Ryan rated it 4 of 5 stars

The first of the "Jesse Stone" series. Now an annual movie event starring Tom Seleck. If you've seen the movies they are right on track with Parker's writing style. The dialouge is sharp and to the point, very much like the Spencer novels. Stone is a great character, Parker makes his flaws a central part of the story. The plot is very good, The ending is predictable but the path to get there is not. I enjoyed it a lot.

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Sep 07, 2007 LJ rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery, police_procedural, massachusetts, contemporary_post_1945

STONE COLD – G+
Robert B. Parker – 4th in series
Investigating a serial killer in an affluent suburban town is difficult, and dangerous, and with the added pressures from the town selectmen and the media, the heat is turned up on Jesse. He's spending too much time with the bottle-and with his ex-wife-neither of which helps him, or the case. And the harder these outside forces push against him, the more Jesse retreats into himself, convinced-despite all the odds-that it's up to him alone to stop th...more

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Dec 30, 2011 Robby rated it 3 of 5 stars

Probably the best of his novels that I have read so far. It was a bit different from the movie, but in other ways it was exactly the same. They changed some plot elements and merged a few characters, but the dialog found its way directly into the film. That is really what reading his novels is like...watching a movie. Enjoyable, but not much more to them than that.

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Jan 04, 2010 Rachelle Bowden rated it 2 of 5 stars

Robert B. Parker has written a series of mystery books starring Jesse Stone. I thought I’d try one out and see how I liked it, since I’m a sucker for a good mystery. This was not the best book, but I stayed interested and flew through it in 2 days. Easy read. Felt kind of like it was for older people, though.

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Aug 02, 2011 Barry Rocklin added it

I was more engaged in this book after the first paragraph than I was in the last Linda Fairstein/Alexandria Cooper murder mystery after 125 pages. Instantly gripping, demands to be read to the end immediately... snappy dialogue, tight little vignettes. Lovin' the Jesse Stone books.

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Feb 27, 2011 Mike rated it 4 of 5 stars

A different kind of hero than Spenser, but unmistakably from the pen of Robert Parker (with a couple of crossover characters thrown in for fun). I think Spenser and Jesse Stone would get along just fine, but the dry wisecracks might get to be a bit much!

A good, well-paced yarn, and a perfect companion on the bedside table (Parker's trademark short chapters!!). I look forward to reading the other Jesse Stone books.

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Nov 07, 2009 Amelia rated it 3 of 5 stars

The chapters were really short so it was an easy read and very easy to stop at the end of a chapter and pick it up again. The story was fun, but the detective seem so pathetic, kinda draining. It was an interesting plot, the killers seem so smart, you just want to know how they get caught.

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May 21, 2010 Ann Amadori rated it 3 of 5 stars

I like how Jesse Stone solves his cases. I like the humor in the books but I do not like his ex-wife and their unhealthy relationship and his relationships with other women and the bottle. He is compassionate under the tough exterior, smart in a Columbo sort of way. Nasty bad guys here.

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Mar 23, 2010 Evelyn Bryant rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Good story, with characters that you like and want to see sort through their personal issues as well as solve the crime. Jesse Stone played by Tom Sellect in the movies helps the imagination while reading/listening to the books. I like all the Jesse Stone books.

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Dec 18, 2012 Al rated it 3 of 5 stars

Another good read in Parker's Jesse Stone series. The crime solving aspects of this series are well thought out and keep you reading. The relationship aspects are also interwoven nicely through the story, however c'mon Jesse, get a handle on the ex-wife relationship. After 4 novels of this, it's getting a bit dragged out!

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Feb 04, 2012 Ron Wallace rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: top-shelf

Jesse Stone keeps up the Paradise Police work. Parker's work never disappoints. I only wish the Jess Stone TV movies were close to being this good. Nothing against Tom Selleck, think he's great, but the books just overpower the films.

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Jul 22, 2010 Vivian rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Welcome edition to the Jesse Stone series. I really enjoyed listening to this one in the car. Robert Forster's narration was terrific and the story was fast paced and well written. I kept imagining Tom Selleck in my mind as I listened. Recommended.

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Nov 03, 2012 Kenny rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: hard-boiled

Above average Jesse Stone novel. Previous novels focused on small town crime; here Stone is tracking serial killers. Good action and suspense with plot twists. I cared about the supporting characters. Highly recommended.

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Dec 25, 2010 Dan Sussman rated it 4 of 5 stars

A very quick piece of brain candy. Parker's herky-jerky "hardboiled" style is a little over the top, and his characters are only a touch more than two-dimensional, but what the hell. It is what it is. A fun read.

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Feb 13, 2009 Joy rated it 4 of 5 stars

I'm obviously on a roll reading Parker books.
It's taken awhile for me to switch heroes
from Spencer to Jesse Stone -- but I'm now
enthusiastic about Stone, except the dialogue
is not quite as sharp.

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Jul 08, 2009 Bob rated it 3 of 5 stars

A flawed police chief has a serial killer mystery and a teen rape to solve. His numerous female acquaintances and their relationships are integral to the story. Sensitive, but tough, Jesse Stone is a man's man, and a ladies man, too.
No one write with Parker's style...

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Dec 03, 2012 David Carner rated it 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoy Robert B. Parkers writing. I got interested in his material a few years back when Tom Selleck started producing and starring as Jesse Stone in several movies.

Dave C
Author

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About Robert B. Parker

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database named Robert B. Parker.
Robert Brown Parker was an American crime writer. His most famous works were the novels about the private detective Spenser. ABC television network developed the television series Spenser: For Hire based on the character in the late 1980s; a series of TV movies based on the character were also produced....more

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Stone Cold (Jesse Stone #4)

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