Robert B. Parker's Killing The Blues (2011) - Plot & Excerpts
This is not great literature, but none of this series was. It is however good Jesse Stone and Brandman captures Parker's voice. If we can't have Parker, this is the next best thing. It is an easy and relaxing read, a visit with old friends; Jesse, Molly, Healey, Hasty and Suitcase. A new regular appears, a cat named Mildred Memory. As usual there are several sub plots; a bullying at the high school, a car theft ring with mob involvement, a former case from California coming back to haunt Jesse and a pedophile teacher. In the end, Jesse has every thing under control even if his methods are unorthodox. I wasn't too sure how I was going to feel about reading a Jesse Stone novel NOT written by Parker himself. So when I saw this book at the library, I picked it up to read Brandmann's credentials. It was then I decided to check out all three Stone novels he has written.Upon starting this novel, I was a little disappointed. It was a reminder that Parker is no longer alive, and no longer carrying on the Stone story; however, very soon it became clear that Brandman does get the character of Jesse Stone.And why shouldn't he? He has written several screen plays for the character as well as helped produce all of the Jesse Stone movies. He knows Stone as much as Parker and Selleck.For this novel, I felt he carried Parker's legacy nicely. The plot is thinly given, with a stoic Jesse Stone and his clipped dialogue; short chapters that move the plot quickly; a love interest; a reminder that I love Jesse Stone's flawed character.As with Parker's writing, we have Stone dealing with several issues at once. While in the films he seems to juggle one major issue, in the novels the juggling is a lot more layered with several cases keeping him up at night.Jesse Stone has a mess on his hands in Paradise - someone is killing dogs, setting fires, and hellbent on revenge. Could it be a man Stone put in jail years ago while in L.A.?And what about the mysterious cat that seems to have popped into Stone's life? To me, this was the ultimate shift from Parker to Brandman. My husband said, "Parker would never kills dogs nor have Jesse adopt a cat." That's true - but it is a signal to a different Jesse Stone, one who has been in Paradise for several years and has made a name for himself.
What do You think about Robert B. Parker's Killing The Blues (2011)?
A poor attempt to imitate the spare, raw style of Parker's Jesse Stone series. Disappointing.
—alee
