Post by Junkyarddog on Sept 27, 2016 14:33:51 GMT
Reed Farrel Coleman has taken on the mantle of Robert B Parker (d.2010), adding to the series of hard boiled crime novels set in Paradise, Mass. featuring local Chief of Police 'Jesse' Stone. Jesse is a man with problems, a troubled past and a determination to live in a better present.
In 'The Devil Wins' Coleman seems to effortlessly maintain the style and tone of Parker while adding a little of himself through the story and the phrasing. This is the latest Jesss Stone offering and the new cases weigh heavily on the whole town of Paradise and it's residents.
The novel begins with the body of a man being found in a derelict house following a particularly fierce storm. Brutally murdered this is only the beginning as the skeletal remains of two young girls from an earlier crime turn up with the cadaver. The darkest moment in Paradise' history comes back to haunt the town. Mary-Kate and Ginny went missing 25 years before during the 4th July celebrations. Jesse knows he is a relative new comer and feels disadvantaged by his lack of local knowledge as he tackles the residents about both the new and old crime. The pressure from town officials to get the case solved/closed weighs on Jesse and his team of officers and no one in town likes the rocks being kicked over and secrets being unearthed but of course someone has much more to hide. Jesse has no idea how bad thing are going to get.
I really liked that you could feel the spirit of Parker in 'The Devil Wins' but also that Coleman has found a way of making the characters his own too.
The Jesse Stone series (the last Parker embarked on) is written in the third person and as such is very different from the Spencer novels and Coleman takes advantage of the freedom this allows with developing the other characters. Incidentally, Ace Atkins has taken on the writing of the Spencer series for No Exit Press).
As the story develops Coleman is able to acquaint new readers with characters and their backgrounds without detracting from the action. Existing fans will be sold on a new thrilling instalment in the Jesse Stone series in any case.
I like the way the story builds a noirish vision of the holiday resort - tention mounts and events spiral towards....
I am usually sceptical of books produced after a writer dies (self indulgent/money spinning motives) but not here. Parker is an iconic hard-boiled author but Coleman is a fine author in his own right and does him proud. I look forward to the next one.
Entertaining and engaging - I enjoying my time on the dark side of Paradise.
In 'The Devil Wins' Coleman seems to effortlessly maintain the style and tone of Parker while adding a little of himself through the story and the phrasing. This is the latest Jesss Stone offering and the new cases weigh heavily on the whole town of Paradise and it's residents.
The novel begins with the body of a man being found in a derelict house following a particularly fierce storm. Brutally murdered this is only the beginning as the skeletal remains of two young girls from an earlier crime turn up with the cadaver. The darkest moment in Paradise' history comes back to haunt the town. Mary-Kate and Ginny went missing 25 years before during the 4th July celebrations. Jesse knows he is a relative new comer and feels disadvantaged by his lack of local knowledge as he tackles the residents about both the new and old crime. The pressure from town officials to get the case solved/closed weighs on Jesse and his team of officers and no one in town likes the rocks being kicked over and secrets being unearthed but of course someone has much more to hide. Jesse has no idea how bad thing are going to get.
I really liked that you could feel the spirit of Parker in 'The Devil Wins' but also that Coleman has found a way of making the characters his own too.
The Jesse Stone series (the last Parker embarked on) is written in the third person and as such is very different from the Spencer novels and Coleman takes advantage of the freedom this allows with developing the other characters. Incidentally, Ace Atkins has taken on the writing of the Spencer series for No Exit Press).
As the story develops Coleman is able to acquaint new readers with characters and their backgrounds without detracting from the action. Existing fans will be sold on a new thrilling instalment in the Jesse Stone series in any case.
I like the way the story builds a noirish vision of the holiday resort - tention mounts and events spiral towards....
I am usually sceptical of books produced after a writer dies (self indulgent/money spinning motives) but not here. Parker is an iconic hard-boiled author but Coleman is a fine author in his own right and does him proud. I look forward to the next one.
Entertaining and engaging - I enjoying my time on the dark side of Paradise.
