Robert B. Parker’s THE DEVIL WINS
Reed Farrel Coleman
G.P. Putnam
Sept. 8th, 2015
THE DEVIL WINS, book 14 in the Jesse Stone series, is Reed Farrel Coleman’s second novel since he has taken over the Robert B. Parker’s Jesse Stone series. Anyone that was a Parker fan and those new to the world of Paradise Police Chief Jesse Stone should enjoy these stories. Coleman expands on the supporting cast of characters he inherited from Parker, is able to create his own very well developed characters that add to the plot line, and allows the readers to learn more about the small town of Paradise, Massachusetts.
In this novel the Paradise’s residents allow readers to see how the town developed over the years. The reason for this is that the story is both a cold case and a new case having to do with the town’s occupants. After a storm three corpses are found, a man wrapped in a tarp along with the skeletal remains of two teenage girls. After being examined the girls are identified as Mary Kate O’Hara and Virginia Connolly, two 16-year-olds who vanished about 25 years earlier during a Fourth of July celebration. The crime predates Jesse’s arrival into Paradise and also involves one of his police officers, Molly Crane, who was good friends with the girls. Jesse is attempting to solve these murder mysteries but is stifled by the town’s tight lips and unsupportiveness.
For those readers new to the series Jesse Stone is a law enforcement officer in the mold of Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch. They both have insecurities, and will push the line to make sure the victims gain justice. With both Jesse and Harry, they see themselves as providing victims a voice. But, Jesse is his own character since his life is based on regrets. He is more of the mold of the old west sheriff, a combination of Matt Dillon and Wyatt Earp.
Coleman also gave a heads up that in January 2016 he is going to have his own book out. The main character, Gus Murphy, is a retired Suffolk County (Long Island, N.Y.) cop, who is happy with his life. Not an overly ambitious guy, he is satisfied to live a life of retirement, having a great pension, a wonderful wife, and two mostly grown children. But a family tragedy unravels his life. This first book begins two years after the tragedy. Gus finds his way back to life when he decides to help solve the murder of the son of someone he arrested years ago. The author is also busy with next year’s Jesse book, Debt To Pay, which will bring back Diana, the former FBI agent. She and Jesse are romantically involved and work on a case together as the villain Mr. Peppers makes a re-emergence.
Anyone looking for a good mystery should read Coleman. He has taken up the torch of Robert Parker and allowed Jesse Stone to grow as a character. His plots are action packed and fast moving while the characters are relatable and likeable. THE DEVIL WINS is a riveting and suspenseful novel.
Elsie Cooper
