ROBERT B. PARKER'S STONE'S THROW

5 stars out of 5

There's big trouble in Paradise - Paradise, Massachusetts, that is - when Police Chief Jesse Stone learns that his good friend and boss, town Mayor Neil O'Hara, turns up dead. At first blush, it appears to be a suicide; but closer inspection raises Jesse's suspicion that somebody did him wrong.

At the heart of the matter is that the land on which the body was found is for sale to the highest bidder - and two hotshot (and filthy rich) potential buyers are in winner-takes-all contention, determined to build a casino on the property. Complicating matters is that Jesse's right-hand policewoman, Molly Crane, thinks she saw an old "friend" near the crime scene - and she's not happy about it.

Then, a young woman - a member of the so-called tree-hugger protesters who want to quash the sale - reports her boyfriend missing. That sends Jesse out to contact some of his gangster acquaintances in the hope that they can provide some clues about the two powerful men who would, in all likelihood, do just about anything to make sure his bid is accepted by the town council at an upcoming meeting.

The investigation brings Jesse into contact with some gangster-like characters who will be familiar to readers not only of the Jesse Stone series, but of Spenser and Sunny Randall. One of my faves, Jesse's trusty officer Suitcase Simpson, doesn't show up here quite as much as I'd like - he's a pretty cool guy - but the somewhat slippery (but surprisingly likable) Wilson Cromartie, or "Crow," gets plenty of page space.

The details of the investigation are neatly tied up by the end, complete with a sort of surprise that I must say didn't please me much. Very entertaining, as expected - and another one down (the 20th in the series) in fine fettle. Good job!

Robert B. Parker's Stone's Throw by Mike Lupica (G.P. Putnam's Sons, September 2021); 336 pp.