Review of "Stranger in Paradise: A Jesse Stone Mystery" by Robert B. Parker

 

Wilson Cromartie (Crow) - who claims to be an Apache Indian - perpetrated a huge robbery in Paradise, Massachusetts ten years ago and got away.



Now that the statute of limitations has expired Crow is back in Paradise, having been hired to find the ex-wife and 14-year-old daughter of a big-time Florida criminal.



As a courtesy Crow stops by the Paradise Police Department to tell Chief Jesse Stone he's in town and doesn't want any trouble with the cops.



Crow finds the ladies he's seeking and learns that Amber, the teen......



.....is involved with a 20-year-old low-life/gang banger.



As it turns out the Florida mob guy, Louis Francisco, wants his ex-wife killed and Amber sent back to Florida, but the girl absolutely doesn't want to go. Moreover, Crow has an aversion to harming women. Thus Crow makes it his mission to 'save' the girl. Due to a confluence of circumstances, Jesse decides to help Amber as well. So, oddly enough, the police chief and the criminal have a common goal in this book.



Meanwhile, a hoity-toity wealthy Paradise woman is trying to stop the opening of a pre-school for Hispanic children in Paradise, claiming this will ruin property values and bring crime to town.



Soon enough her fears seem to be validated when a dead body is found on the school property.

Regular characters in the series make an appearance including Jesse's psychiatrist,



his ex-wife Jenn,



and Paradise cops Molly and Suitcase (both of whom engage in illicit romance....not with each other).





There's also a gang of young, vicious, but not-too-bright criminals. As usual Jesse is having trouble with his drinking, an ongoing theme in the series. There's some amusing repartee among some characters, which makes a nice break from the more violent scenes.



The book is an easy, quick read with a straightforward main story and a couple of side issues. The primary plot is fairly predictable, no big surprises. Also, a good number of characters in the book are not especially likable. Crow is a killer without a conscience (though apparently with plenty of sex appeal), Amber is a foul-mouthed, badly behaved teenager, the rich lady has an agenda (though her backstory isn't particularly believable), and so on. Also, Robert Parker has a sort of tic in his writing and uses the phrase "he said' or "she said" a million times (it seems like). This gets really old.

Overall, a so-so book. Best for for a plane trip or beach read where you don't want too much of a challenge.

Rating: 2.5 stars