false 414491 9 Fans often feel uneasy when the creator of a popular character ventures into new turf, and sometimes their trepidation is justified. But readers of Robert B. Parker's immensely popular Spenser series can breathe a sigh of relief: while <i>Night Passage</i> doesn't feature Spenser, his usual gang of associates, or a Boston setting, it's vintage Parker--fast, witty, suspenseful, and engaging. Told in short, crisp chapters, it's the story of Jesse Stone, a 34-year-old ex-cop who just lost his L.A. policeman's job and his marriage due to a drinking problem. The book opens as Stone leaves California for his new job as chief of police in the picturesque town of Paradise, Massachusetts. <P> But Paradise isn't as placid as it seems--in fact, it's a festering mass of petty corruption, right-wing militia, sexual scandal, and bad guys who favor strong-arm tactics. <i>Night Passage</i> boasts a delicious, classic setup: the lone lawman, new in town, must make his stand to clean the place up. Stone has been picked for the job because the town fathers figured he'd be weak and malleable; as he gradually pulls himself together, it turns out they have a surprise in store. Stone's qualities may remind you of Spenser's--he's taciturn, fearless, good-looking, and compassionate--and in the end the plot's pleasing complexities get resolved a bit simply. But Robert B. Parker is in fine form in <i>Night Passage,</i> with his smart-aleck wit under control and his prose at its economical best. Spenser fans and Parker neophytes alike will find plenty to enjoy here. And the setting is, after all, not far from Boston--dare we hope for a Spenser-Stone meeting in future books? 767095 1997 Night Passage (Jesse Stone) total:482|5:95|4:201|3:155|2:21|1:10| 482 1796 625 46 1 0 false false Wed Apr 22 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Mon Apr 27 12:12:43 -0700 2009 Mon Apr 27 12:20:48 -0700 2009 Last week on Wednesday we went to the public library and I was thrilled that I found all 6 books about Jessie Stone by Robert B. Parker.

I intended to r...more...]]> 3 0 false false Thu May 07 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Mon May 04 10:54:58 -0700 2009 Thu May 07 10:42:05 -0700 2009
Coming from Massachusetts, ...more...]]> 3 0 false false Sat Mar 21 15:55:12 -0700 2009 Sat Mar 21 16:34:25 -0700 2009 more...]]> 4 0 false false Mon Oct 19 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Mon Oct 19 13:57:40 -0700 2009 Mon Oct 19 14:07:15 -0700 2009 more...]]> 3 0 false false Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 1998 Tue Sep 01 14:31:30 -0700 2009 Tue Sep 01 14:32:09 -0700 2009 more...]]> 5 0 false false Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 1997 Sun Nov 30 09:34:27 -0800 2008 Sun Nov 30 09:38:01 -0800 2008 Parker, Robert B. - 1st Jesse Stone

After being kicked out of the LAPD, Jesse Stone's future looks bleak, until he is given another chance as the police chief in a small New England town. However, the town turns out to be rife with homicides, maddened militiamen an...more...]]> 4 0 false false Sun May 17 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Wed May 13 21:33:01 -0700 2009 Sun May 17 12:39:13 -0700 2009
Basically, if you like the Jesse Stone TV movies (or any other stories that invol...more...]]> 4 0 false false Fri Mar 20 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Wed Mar 18 19:34:30 -0700 2009 Fri Mar 20 14:33:24 -0700 2009 more...]]> 4 0 false false Fri May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Fri Oct 30 06:06:23 -0700 2009 Wed Nov 04 03:19:41 -0800 2009 1 more...]]> 5 0 false false Mon Nov 09 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Mon Nov 09 20:03:17 -0800 2009 Mon Nov 09 20:06:07 -0800 2009 2 0 false false Thu Apr 23 18:29:46 -0700 2009 Thu Apr 23 18:31:28 -0700 2009 4 0 false false Fri Nov 20 00:00:00 -0800 1998 Sun Sep 06 11:44:40 -0700 2009 Sun Sep 06 11:45:04 -0700 2009 ]]> 4 0 false false Sun Apr 05 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Fri Mar 27 14:10:59 -0700 2009 Sun Apr 05 21:18:10 -0700 2009 3 0 false false Tue Nov 03 14:55:28 -0800 2009 Tue Nov 03 14:57:05 -0800 2009 4 0 false false Thu Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Sun Oct 04 10:05:21 -0700 2009 Sun Oct 04 10:06:38 -0700 2009 2 0 false false Sat Apr 19 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Thu Feb 05 07:50:36 -0800 2009 Thu Feb 05 07:52:00 -0800 2009 1 5 0 false false Sat Apr 26 20:36:54 -0700 2008 Thu Jul 31 12:45:19 -0700 2008 more...]]> 3 0 false false Tue Mar 03 17:28:04 -0800 2009 Tue Mar 03 17:28:04 -0800 2009 3 0 false false Wed Apr 15 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Mon Apr 27 08:00:38 -0700 2009 Mon Apr 27 08:02:06 -0700 2009 I've now read all five. Some I've enjoyed more.]]> 4 0 false false Sun Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Tue Mar 17 11:24:52 -0700 2009 Tue Mar 17 11:25:41 -0700 2009 http://www.goodreads.com/book_link/follow/8?book_id=414491