Police Chief Jesse Stone faces his most fearsome adversary in the latest addition to the celebrated series.
The last time Jesse Stone, chief of police of Paradise, Massachusetts, saw Wilson "Crow" Cromartie, the Apache Indian hit man was racing away in a speedboat after executing one of the most lucrative and deadly heists in the town's history. Crow was part of a team of ex-cons who plotted to capture Stiles Island, the wealthy enclave off the Paradise coast, by blowing up the connecting bridge. Residents were kidnapped, some were killed, and Crow managed to escape with a boatload of cash, never to be seen again. Until now.
So when Crow shows up in Jesse's office some ten years after the crime, it's not to turn himself in. Crow is on another job, and this time he's asking for Jesse's help-by asking him to stay out of his way.
Crow's mission is simple: find young Amber Francisco and bring her back to her father, Louis, in Florida. It should be an easy payday for a pro like Crow, but there are complications. Amber, now living in squalor with her mother, Fiona, is mixed up with members of a Latino gang. And when Louis orders Crow to kill Fiona before heading back with Amber, he can't follow through. Crow may be a bad guy, but he doesn't kill women. It's up to Jesse to provide protection.
Meanwhile, Jesse's on-again, off-again relationship with ex-wife Jenn picks up steam as Jenn investigates the gang problem for her TV station. As they dig deeper, the danger escalates. The life of a young girl hangs in the balance, and saving Amber could be the miracle Jesse and Jenn need for themselves, too.
Jesse Stone Tries to Save the Girl, Himself, and Jenn with Crow's Help (Rating 3 of 5)
» Donald Mitchell
I would have graded this book as a four except that Mr. Parker aggressively advocates women seeking out a little sexual novelty for fun as a major theme. Usually, Mr. Parker tries to draw a contrast between the angels and the devils. The line he draws seems to be coming closer to the devils than the angels in this story.
As the book opens, Wilson "Crow" Cromartie, the "Apache" hit man, comes to see Jesse Stone to be sure that Jesse realizes that Crow is in the clear on past crimes in Paradise due to the running of the statute of limitations on his multi-million dollar heist. Crow is looking for a woman and her daughter for a Miami hood.
Aside from this annoyance, Jesse is mostly facing local citizens who seem unusually upset by some underprivileged kids taking classes in town. The local white-shoe types draw in the media, and Jenn is assigned to cover the story (undoubtedly hoping for special favors from Jesse).
In his rare free time, Jesse is making progress in understanding why Jenn loves him but cannot live with him.
The story turns from joking to deadly when Crow is asked to kill the girl's mother after finding both of them. Crow is a hit man who only kills men. Crow becomes a vigilante trying to keep mother and daughter safe . . . while keeping his own heart pumping.
The strands of these story elements interweave in typical Robert Parker fashion. But the book isn't quite the usual Parker morality play. Instead, it's more about how depraved everyone is (or could be) with the right incentive. There's plenty of fun, but the backdrop of evil and temptations pursued spoil the aftertaste of the fun.
Crow is one of Parker's more interesting "out-of-town" characters. His unique attitudes and perspectives liven up this story or it would be two-star book. Because of the name similarities (birds of a feather), some will compare Crow to Hawk. If that kind of comparison interests you, my take is that Crow is simply Hawk when Spencer isn't around.
The plot resolutions are more fun than much of the story development that shows you can indeed have trouble in paradise.
If you intend to keep up with the Jesse Stone series, you'll have to read this one even if it won't be your favorite.
(Rating 3 of 5)
