Stone Cold by
Robert B. Parker
hbk out October 03
Published by John Murray
at £17.99
Another Jesse Stone book is always welcome, as it means a nice laid-back,
easy read. Robert Parker, who has written over forty books, has a style
which is reminiscent of Ed McBain in its smooth, almost lazy prose which
has the ability to introduce some wry humour into tense and sometimes
shocking situations.
His lead character is Jesse Stone, the Chief of Police in a small
Massachusetts coastal town called Paradise, within commuting distance of
Boston. Jesse was a Los Angeles detective, but was thrown out over his
drink problem. This also cost him his marriage, but he remains in love with
his ex-wife, who seems to return the favour and has followed him from LA.
His drinking habits come and go, and in this book he seems to have kicked
it.
Two main strands form the plot, the primary one being a series of identical
and motiveless killings, in which the apparently random victims are shot
twice in the chest with .22 weapons, the circumstances suggesting two
simultaneous assailants. The other problem to beset Jesse is a gang-rape of
a girl by three of her school-mates. Fairly early in the story, he decides he
has identified the killers, but has no proof, until he finds that he is their next
target. Along the way, he has several one-night stands with various ladies,
but still hankers after his former wife.
This is as easy and pleasant a crime book as you could wish for and anyone
who claims to dislike Parker's writing needs a shrink!
(
Bernard Knight
ex Home Office Pathologist and author of the highly acclaimed Crowner John series)
Stone Cold by
Robert B. Parker
