Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
201st out of 244 books
—
109 voters
Death In Paradise (Jesse Stone #3)
Robert B. Parker is back in Paradise, where Detective Jesse Stone is looking for two things: the killer of a teenage girl—and someone, anyone, who is willing to claim the body…
Paperback, 320 pages
Published
November 5th 2002
by Berkley
(first published January 1st 2001)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
3,000)
Watched one of the Jesse Stone movies with Tom Selleck, and that reminded me I had several of the Jesse Stone books moldering on my Ipod. Opened up Death in Paradise, started listening and became enthralled.
I really enjoyed this. I've read a lot of Parker and liked the early Spenser very much. Once Susan entered the picture, they became less interesting. Jesse Stone is understated, his problems with booze real but not overly dramatized, and his relationships with girlfriends real. There is an un...more
I really enjoyed this. I've read a lot of Parker and liked the early Spenser very much. Once Susan entered the picture, they became less interesting. Jesse Stone is understated, his problems with booze real but not overly dramatized, and his relationships with girlfriends real. There is an un...more
Ah, the library discard box. Such a treasure trove at times. I've found for myself, and others, some really good books, and some of course pretty bad. Parker's Jesse Stone tale falls into the former, and was enjoyable enough for me to consider renting some of the others from the library.
Many might be familiar with Jesse from the Tom Selleck movies. The major difference between the movies and the book is Jesse in the book is not as old as Jesse in the movies. The rest is there though. Failed mino...more
Many might be familiar with Jesse from the Tom Selleck movies. The major difference between the movies and the book is Jesse in the book is not as old as Jesse in the movies. The rest is there though. Failed mino...more
This book was actually my first meeting with Jesse Stone in the guise of Tom Selleck. Yes indeed I saw the tv-movie and found it highly enjoyable. And indeed the film stays largely faithfull to the book, with the exception of Stone's exwife who plays a larger part in the books than the movies. I still think that the books did that far better than RB Parker ever did.
The story is about a murdered girl found and she is NOT MISSING because her family threw her out because she did not fit their ideal...more
The story is about a murdered girl found and she is NOT MISSING because her family threw her out because she did not fit their ideal...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
This is an early Jesse Stone (I can't give the publication date since I read it in large print and they only give the date it was first printed in large type). So how can I tell it's an early one? Well, first of all Jesse really does have a drinking problem. Second of all he begins therapy with the bald, enigmatic Dix, and third he and Jen are just beginning to circle around each other in their ex-marriage love affair. As far as the mystery goes, Jesse is looking for someone who killed a teenage...more
If Parker's most recent Spenser tale (Widow's Walk) seems laid-back, this one is positively moribund, as small-town police chief Stone deals with the death of a local girl. Even moving half the “action” down to Boston, and encountering there some familiar Spenser bad guys, does almost nothing to keep this one afloat. Jesse deals lackadaisically with his various romances and his love of baseball, but also (and it’s only here that any real tension surfaces) his drinking.
If Parker were really tryin...more
If Parker were really tryin...more
This was an early Jesse Stone novel that I somehow missed. It filled in the gaps for some things, like how Jesse started going to Dix. It was a nice touch to see Vinnie outside of a Spenser novel.
Parker had a gift -- he could tell an ongoing story of daily life and love, write conversation, and spin a mystery all between the covers of books.
This was a little bittersweet, too, because in the past, I would hold my Spenser books for mother and brother and husband. At least I still have one person...more
Parker had a gift -- he could tell an ongoing story of daily life and love, write conversation, and spin a mystery all between the covers of books.
This was a little bittersweet, too, because in the past, I would hold my Spenser books for mother and brother and husband. At least I still have one person...more
Second Jesse Stone book I've read, and who knows which number in the series it is (I'm guessing third for no better reason than only 2 other Stone books are listed in the front inside blurb).[return][return]Again, very short sentances and chapters, often primaily dialogue. Not everything is explained, so it's not quite a police procedural. Most things dont suffer - it makes it a fast read - but there are somethings that you just wonder: Why did he put that in? (e.g. the whole 10 pages or so dedi...more
This is a serviceable detective thriller about the police chief of a small coastal town near Boston. The protagonist is an alcoholic who blew his career as a homicide detective in L.A. and his marriage, too. He's not a complete loner; he still meets his ex-wife frequently and starts a relationship with the head of the local high school...which interested me: The parts of the book where it is demonstrated that Stone has a life beyond his job mostly distract from rather than advance the plot. It's...more
8 likes · like · see review
Another good read by Robert Parker. I really like the character except for his sick obsession with his ex-wife and hers with him. That seems out of character but I like the series so far.
Jesse Stone takes dead bodies in his jurisdiction personally. This time it is all the worse because it is a young girl. He is determined to find the killer, all the more so because the victim was unloved and abandoned by her own parents. He finds out who the killer is but how to prove it and how to get justice....more
Jesse Stone takes dead bodies in his jurisdiction personally. This time it is all the worse because it is a young girl. He is determined to find the killer, all the more so because the victim was unloved and abandoned by her own parents. He finds out who the killer is but how to prove it and how to get justice....more
I continue to laugh through the books.
* Suitcase Simpson (deputy): "You thinking she was
murdered, Jesse?"
* I'm thinking she was shot in the head behind her
right ear and the bullet exited high on the left
side of her head and blew a pretty sizable piece of
her skull off when it did."
* "Maybe she shot herself," Simpson said.
* "And jumped into the lake after," Jesse said.
* "So you're saying she was murdered and her body
dumped?"
* "It's a working theory," Jesse said.
* Suitcase Simpson (deputy): "You thinking she was
murdered, Jesse?"
* I'm thinking she was shot in the head behind her
right ear and the bullet exited high on the left
side of her head and blew a pretty sizable piece of
her skull off when it did."
* "Maybe she shot herself," Simpson said.
* "And jumped into the lake after," Jesse said.
* "So you're saying she was murdered and her body
dumped?"
* "It's a working theory," Jesse said.
Ok, I've decided that Robert B. Parker is one the best mystery writers around today. Luckily he's written so many books that its kind of hard to run out of them. I love how he always knows what to do with any situation he's involved in but sucks with his own personal life. I have to admit though that my favorite series which I'm re-reading now is the Jesse Stone one. I enjoy the humor which always makes me laugh out loud. I've already started the next one.
Listened to this on audio. It was very nice to get a book from Parker with more police procedure than the whole PI schtick. I really didn't care for the personal relationship and all of the psycho babble. Some of the conversation back and forth is old and not necessarily witty- since it has been rehashed since Spencer started.
But I thought the mystery was good and the resolution also good. The whole Jen thing- I thought was silly and ho hum.
But I thought the mystery was good and the resolution also good. The whole Jen thing- I thought was silly and ho hum.
On rare occassions a movie or TV show leads me to an author. This is one of them. The TV movie series Jesse Stone, starring Tom Selleck was so brillantly cast that every work and jesture I read in the Parker books is firmly pictured in my mind. I like the plots, repeating characters, and the villians are carefully thought out. Villians have a little more depth without being over the top psychotics. Yes, I will continue reading the rest in the series.
This is a guys guy type of book. I have many patrons who might enjoy the character, but I'm not one of them.
I disliked Jesse from the start. Now this could be because I didn't read the earlier books in the series, but I doubt it. The storyline seemed a bit too adventurous for such a short book.
The narrator won't go on my favorites list. It's possible he might go on my list of narrators to avoid.
I finished it, and I can guide patrons accordingly. That was my mission.
I disliked Jesse from the start. Now this could be because I didn't read the earlier books in the series, but I doubt it. The storyline seemed a bit too adventurous for such a short book.
The narrator won't go on my favorites list. It's possible he might go on my list of narrators to avoid.
I finished it, and I can guide patrons accordingly. That was my mission.
Aug 04, 2011
Ingrid
added it
I started with the third book in the series because it was the earliest one my library had. It is very different from the t.v. movies...Jen, the ex-wife is much more present in Jesse's life. In fact she lives in town and they have dinner once a week. They are actively trying to figure out if they are over each other or not. The writing and the mystery were really good. Good enough in fact for me to go buy the first book.
Uck! This was utterly terrible. It read like a screenplay, no not even that. It was pure dialog. Besides the lame murder mystery there was some personal stuff about drinking and the ex wife - they'd sit around together and talk about how much they want each other, but can't be together. Meanwhile, other women just throw themselves at him.
I really enjoy Parker's "Jesse Stone" books. Stone is a great character - quiet, laconic, flawed and aware of it. There's a nice balance between his problems with keeping the law in a small town and his problems with his own demons. I strongly recommend these books to anyone who enjoys complex characters and interesting, if undemanding, plots.
Am I the only one who's sick of reading about Stone's private life? The sub-plot of his alcoholism and ex-wife problems are excruciating. Mr. Parker would do well to stick with what works: snappy dialogue and cop work. I, for one, would be happier, and would have all that wasted time back that I spent with Jesse Stone in his shrink's office.
LANGUAGE!!!!!!!!!!! Would have given it more stars but ever character except Jesse had a bad mouth.
This was the next in the series of Jesse Stone mysteries set in Paradise, MA . Sad story of a family that found it easier to disavow their daughter rather than help her change. And even her brutal death doesn't change their hearts. COLD!
This was the next in the series of Jesse Stone mysteries set in Paradise, MA . Sad story of a family that found it easier to disavow their daughter rather than help her change. And even her brutal death doesn't change their hearts. COLD!
This is just one of the MANY mysteries by Robert Parker. They are delightful -- tough guy with a tender heart, terse language, bits of humor. This was the first I read in the Jesse Stone series, but I especially like the Spencer and Hawk series. I can't keep up with the titles, but I'm happy to ready any book by Robert B. Parker.
I love the mini-series starring Tom Selleck and it got me started on the Jesse Stone series. I think the understated dialogue is cool and the character is a sort of a Jimmy Stewart-like, anti-establishment good guy. Except that Jimmy probably wouldn't bed every woman he meets... It's fun summer reading!
This is a somewhat lower-key book than the earlier ones in the series. Perhaps because of the nature of the offences - child-killing, under-age prostitution, paedophile exploitation - this book is concerned primarily with the nature of self-control. It seems a sparse, darker book to me. With Jesse's complex problems with Jenn, the woman he thinks he loves, and the continuing difficulties of an addiction to drink various options are revealed. As usual with RBP there are a range of alternatives fr...more
I had seen the movie before reading the book. Both are very good. Jesse Stone is an interesting character, but depressing. The depressing is actually intriguing because it is very real and honest. He's so honest about his continuing love of his ex-wife you are compelled to understand and sympathize. This makes you root for him to become more whole. Still, this part is depressing. Love the characters, even when I don't like them.
The book jacket says that the book has magnetic characters and muscular writing. I'll agree. It also has good plot twists and sleuthing. Parker did a good job of including Stone's struggle with alcoholism and not being able to change his relationship with his former wife.
Third book in the Jesse Stone series. These earlier books have been MUCH better than the later one I read. They don't flow quite as easily as the Spenser books; there characters are, at times, difficult to empathize with. But they're never boring. And they're certainly very different from Spenser's main characters. Still, nice to run into and Gino Fish and Vinnie Morris, see the familiar streets. At one time Stone was up the street from Spenser's office. I think it was brilliant to come up with...more
Chief of Police for Paradise, MA, Jesse Stone unravels the mystery behind a murdered 14 year old girl. Parents claim she is not their daughter. Author does a good job of portraying the personality of Jesse and the environment a police officer works in.
Third book in the Jesse Stone series does not disappoint. It's a great easy read, especially in the summer time. I am really enjoying the literary version of the movies that I already love. I would recommend it for anyone who wants an easy and light whodunit.
Like most Parker books, the plot is rather predictable and the bad guys are typical. It's a good book, keeps you interested. It also adds more into Jesse Stones character, with drinking, sex and now a therapist. Good but not great.
Not bad. This was one of the better Jesse Stone novels I have read so far. As usual there aren't really any twists or surprising things, it is just a good entertaining story that plays out in an interesting way. No depth, just entertaining reading.
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
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
More about 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
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
Feb 27, 2010 05:31pm