Stranger in Paradise

Robert B. Parker

Approximately ten years earlier a hostage situation/heist resulted in Wilson "Crow" Cromartie escaping with $20 million from Paradise. Sheriff Jesse Stone had been frustrated at the time but couldn't prevent the escape. He also can't prove that Crow was involved in the murders that occurred during the crime. In fact, the women who were held hostage only had praise for Crow as he protected them from the other crooks.

Now, after the statue of limitations on the theft has passed, Crow returns to Paradise. His first stop is to see Jesse as a matter of courtesy. Crow is a man for hire in the underside of society but manages to avoid being caught and arrested. He is a bad man who gets away with it. Jesse knows it but again,has no proof. Crow is letting Jesse know he's in town but they shouldn't need to worry.

The head of the Florida mob has hired Crow to locate his run-away wife, kill her, and bring back his 14-year-old daughter Amber. Crow respects and likes women - he does not plan to kill Amber's mother. He's able to find them. There is a problem, though. Amber has taken up with a gang from the next town over. She doesn't want to be with either of her parents. She wants the gang to be her family instead.

Jesse becomes officially involved when Amber's other is found dead. Amber doesn't want to go back to her father. Crow and Jesse agree that she shouldn't go to him either. But others in her life are willing for her to go back. Jesse and Crow look for a plan that will save Amber, save Crow from a paid assassin, and catch the other bad guys.

Stranger in Paradise features Jesse Stone, Robert B. Parker's flawed sheriff. He's an alcoholic who barely controls it, is still in love with his ex-wife although they can't live together, and is willing to skate the edges of the law. Yet his ethics compass runs strong. When Crow needs help, Jesse is willing. He knows Crow is a murderer. Even so, he believes in Crow's sense of ethics as well. He believes helping Crow is the best solution to save Amber.

I like the Jesse Stone books. Stranger in Paradise is not one of the strongest books in the series. Even so, it's an enjoyable read, a bit of escape. The human tangles in the lives on the ongoing characters - Jesse, Molly Crane, Suitcase Simpson, Jesse's ex-wife Jenn, and other characters from Paradise that keep appearing. Robert B. Parker adds more to their stories, keeping the characters real.

I had to appreciate Crow's character. Yes, he's a hired thug. Even so he has his own rules and ethics that he sticks to. He's an interesting character that I wouldn't mind seeing again - you know, the Butch Cassidy type of bad-guy you have to like.

Notice:  Non-graphic violence, Strong indecent language, Suggestive dialogue or situations

Night Passage
Trouble in Paradise
Death in Paradise
Stone Cold
Sea Change
Blue Screen
High Profile
Stranger in Paradise
Night and Day
Split Image
Robert B. Parker's Killing the Blues (by Michael Brandman)