Jesse Stone Books In Order
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After his wife, Jennifer, files for divorce, Jesse’s life goes spiraling out of control. He becomes an alcoholic and loses his job as a homicide detective for the Los Angeles Police Department. In the beginning of this book series, Jesse starts out to be about 35 years old.
With no light at the end of the tunnel to be seen, Jesse is surprised when he is hired as chief of police for the small town of Paradise, Massachusetts (based on the actual town of Swampscott, Massachusetts.) After showing up to the interview intoxicated, Jesse is unaware that he was only hired because the corrupted president of the town council felt he would be easily controlled.
It doesn’t take long for Jesse to realize just how corrupted this seemingly innocent town has become. Seeing this as an opportunity to turn his life around, Jesse battles with his alcoholism and the corruption of his town, starting with the town council president.
Writing Career
From what readers know, Jesse Stone has played in the minor leagues which he had to retire from due to injuring his shoulder, worked as a detective for the LAPD for which is was forced to resign, and the Chief of Police for the Paradise Police Department.
After the final book written by Parker, the films take Jesse’s career in yet another direction. Throughout the beginning of the series, Jesse carries a .38 Special Smith and Wesson Model 36 snub-nosed revolver. However, in the films Jesse, played by Tom Selleck, carries a Smith and Wesson Model SW1911SC .45 pistol.
Awards and Nominations
Tom Selleck, received two nominations in the year 2007 for the film Sea Change; nominations for the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie, and the Satellite Award for Best Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television.
The film itself also received nominations for the year 2008 American Society of Cinematographers Award for Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography and the 2008 Canada Society of Cinematographers award for Best Cinematography in TV Drama.
Both of these nominations were received by Rene Ohashi. In 2010, Rene was once again nominated for these awards for the film Thin Ice, and won both of them. Also in 2010, No Remorse, was given the American Society of Cinematographers award for Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography. This award was received by David Gribble.
Night Passage
Night Passage is the first of the Stone novels, written by Robert B. Parker. It introduces Jesse as a thirty five (35) year old detective who had been laid off by the Los Angeles Police Department, lost his chances to play minor league baseball due to a shoulder injury, being left by his wife, and on the verge of becoming an alcoholic.
With a bleak looking future ahead of him, Jesse moves across the country to accept the position of Chief of Police for the Paradise Police Department in Massachusetts. He soon discovers that Paradise is not as heavenly as it sounds when corruption begins to rear its ugly head. Jesse has to stand up for justice and become the local hero.
Trouble in Paradise
In the second part of this series, Jesse has settled well into his new life and career in Paradise. His wife is back in the picture when she moves to Massachusetts. They begin dating again but Jennifer does not seem willing to commit to Jesse.
Trouble in Paradise tells how Jesse attempts to take down ex convict Jimmy Macklin after he is released from prison. Macklin and his gang attempt to rob Stiles Island, an island off the coast of Paradise where mainly the wealthy reside.
Other Novels Starring Jesse Stone
Jesse goes on to play the lead role in ten other novels written by Robert B. Parker, including Death in Paradise, Stone Cold, Sea Change, High Profile, Stranger in Paradise, Night and Day, Split Image, Robert B. Parker’s Killing the Blues, Robert B. Parker’s Fool Me Twice, and Robert B. Parker’s Damned if You Do.
Jesse Stone on Film
In February of 2005, CBS released the very first Jesse Stone film, Stone Cold on television with Jesse Stone played by Tom Sellick. Although it is the fourth novel of the Stone series, it was the first to be made into a film. The prequel to Stone Cold, Night Passage was filmed in January of 2006.
The year 2006 also brought Jesse’s next film Death in Paradise. In the year 2007, Sea Change was filmed, receiving the first nomination for awards of any of the films. The Stone film continued on through 2012 with Thin Ice, No Remorse, Innocents Lost, and Benefit of the Doubt.
At this point CBS decided not to make another Stone film despite the popularity of the series. This was due to the fact that television was leaning more in the direction of shorter-episode television series, and that its primary audience was the older generations.
The Man behind Jesse Stone
Robert Brown Parker was born on September 17, 1932 in Springfield, Massachusetts. He married his life long friend Joan in 1956, and they had two sons, David and Daniel. Parker earned his Bachelor’s of Arts Degree from Colby College in Waterville, Maine, his Master’s Degree in English literature and his PhD in English literature from the prestigious Boston University.
Parker had also enlisted in the Army and served as an infantryman in Korea. He wrote his very first novel in 1971, became a professor in 1976 and became a full time writer in the year 1979. He is well known for his Spencer series about a Boston Private Eye. Spencer’s first name was never revealed throughout the series.
Throughout his career, Parker had over 60 novels published, mostly in the detective and western genres. He passed away of a sudden heart attack at age seventy seven (77), in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on January 18, 2010.
Book Series In Order » Characters »
Any issues with the book list you are seeing? Or is there an author or series we don’t have? Let me know!
I agree with John about Lupica and the swearing and not reading #20. It doesn’t enhance a good story.
Enjoying & trying to read in order the list of Jesse Stone books. Have seen the movies available on Amazon. Confused & curious why there is no book title matching some Movie titles, e.g. Thin Ice, Lost in Paradise, No Remorse, Innocence Lost, Benefit of Doubt.
Some of the movies weren’t based on specific books. Just that universe.
Started the films about 4 months age and just finished the last of them all ,today with the – S.C. , N.P. , D.i.P. , S.C. !! Next stop is Amazom for the Books !! Wish me LUCK ,I loved them !!
JP>
I have been a Tom Selleck fan ever since his Magnum, PI days. the radio station I worked for in the 80’s even held a Tom Selleck Look alike contest. We had 105 entries. he is a great Jesse Stone, totally different from Magnum’s character. I have not read the books but love the movies. would love to see more.
I’ve read all his Jesse Stone and Sonny Randall books. Looking forward to more books. Tom Selleck is a great Jesse Stones. Wished they made more movies.
Started reading the Spenser novels when I was in my 20’s. Saw him as kind of an American James Bond. The James Bond from the books not the films. When I reached my 40’s Spenser started to be less approachable to me, too perfect. Then came Jesse Stone. A flawed character but nonetheless heroic. His flaws made him more approachable to the 40 something me. Jesse Stone also allowed me to get back into the Spenser novels.
Great information, a huge Parker fan and own thirty-one, soft and hard bound books-mostly Spencer but love Jesse Stone and Sunny Randall as well.
The best part about seeing all the movies is – I have a clear picture of the characters in my head when I’m reading the books.
I probably won’t bother with #20 by Lupica – he seems to think Jess uses the F word more than others (Parker included of course). I’m not a prude – but it detracts from the story.
And, FYI, I’ve now started on the Spenser (with an S) books. Good stuff!!
My sister always talked about the Spenser audiobooks narrated by Joe Mantegna. So I decided to begin at the beginning of the series by reading the books. Thank goodness for the Public Library as I zoomed through all 50 e-books. Not since I graduated from college in 1969 have I looked up so many historical and literary references. My sister is missing out by just listening because as I learned Robert B. Parker had a PhD. in literature.
Anyway, Spenser is not just a “gumshoe thug”. Or at least not an illiterate one!
I have seen all the movies and read all the books on Jessie Stone. Ready for more!!!!!!! Movies and books!!!!!
Jesse Stone is a great character and Tom Selleck does an excellent job bringing Jesse Stone to Life.
I have read 14 of Parker’s Jesse Stone and Hitch/Cole novels, thanks to the inspiration of first Jesse Stone movie and the big screen movie western Appaloosa. I have many more to read and I’ll squeeze them between the Sandford, Patterson, Childs, Connelly, Grisham, Baldacci, Box, Thor, etc. books. So happy that other fine writers have continued the Stone and Hitch/Cole legacy.
Since you have read them all, i have a question for u. Which movie did Jesse get fired and the son-in-law of a selectman take over for him? I started reading his books a few months ago and I’m hooked. But I am a bit confused by the plots.
After
He gets sacked, I think I saw one of the episodes that the selectman son-in-law is killed.
Thanks
Larry
Benefit of the Doubt was the episode where Jesse was replaced by Carter Hansen’s son in law
I totally agree, Tom Selleck was great as Jesse Stone and would enjoy more movies made.
Devouring the Jesse Stone novels after seeing two of the movies. Tom Selleck is perfect in the role.
I love the Jesse stone films so decided to read the books. So far, I have read that night passage and stone cold , love the books
Who cares if Jesse stones not attracking younger group we older generation really enjoy Jesse stone and want more Tom selleck . will there be another movie I enjoy blue bloods but the stone films are great
Agree. Jesse Stone movies featuring Tom Selleck are guaranteed slam dunks. Glad that Hallmark has picked up the ball and we have another movie to look forward to.