Caring, Detection, Introspection and Action in Paradise,
November 14, 2003
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Reviewer:
Don Mitchell from a happy Patriots fan in Boston
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Stone Cold is clearly the best of the Jesse Stone
series, and one of the finest Robert Parker books in many years.
If I leave my emotional attachment to Spenser behind, Jesse Stone
now surpasses Spenser as an interesting character. Mr. Parker's
dialogue was never better than in this superb book.
The novel has several, nicely intertwined story
lines. If you like all of the story lines, you'll think this is a
great book. If you dislike any of them, you will grade Stone Cold
down one star for each one that you don't care for.
If you are new to the series, I suggest that you
start with Death in Paradise and work your way forward to this
one.
I must admit that I love the constant allusions to
Paradise Lost and other books about those who are out of touch
with God's grace. In this novel, we have two villains who are very
much like Milton's residents of the nether regions who have fallen
from grace because of their fascination with themselves. There are
also three young men who are like those whom Dante describes as
being overcome by lust in the Inferno.
Lastly, there are Jesse and his ex-wife Jenn who
seem to be looking for something that they cannot even define,
like the lost souls of those who have never known God's grace such
as the barbarians in the Inferno.
The major plot line features a pair of serial
killers who enjoy the feeling of power and superiority that their
type of murder provides. In the process of gratifying themselves,
they terrorize Paradise, and leave Jesse without two of his
closest friends and colleagues.
He also finds himself staring down their gun
sights. The story is developed as a simple police procedural
(without much progress for some time) which makes the book more
complex and interesting.
The most touching plot line though is about a
young woman who is raped and threatened by three insensitive
bullies. Jesse tries to do the right thing, and discovers the
limits of how much one person can do for another under dire
circumstances.
The continuing plot line involves Jesse's troubled
relationships with women, and shows him at his most confused. At
the same time, his problems are better developed here than in
earlier books by showing how he relates to different women in
different ways and what he says to his psychiatrist about them.
For those who don't enjoy psychiatry, it may get a
little deep when Jenn and Jesse are sharing what their
psychiatrists have had to say about their relationship.
Of primary interest for the future is that Jesse
seems to start to come to grip with some of his failings,
weaknesses and attitudes. He begins to show the potential to use
his pain to learn and make progress.
I came away looking forward to the next book in
the series.
Because the dialogue is so smooth and delicious,
you'll find yourself finishing the book very rapidly. Stone Cold
will hit you just like a perfect martini . . . great going down
and warming afterward.
