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Night Passage (Abridged) Audiobook
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(3.01) - 2,857 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
After a busted marriage kicks his drinking problem into overdrive and the LAPD unceremoniously dumps him, 35-year-old Jesse Stone's future looks bleak. So he's shocked when a small Massachusetts town called Paradise recruits him as police chief. He can't help wondering if this job is a genuine chance to start over, the kind of offer he can't refuse. Once on board, Jesse doesn't have to look for trouble in Paradise: it comes to him. For what is on the surface a quiet New England community quickly proves to be a crucible of political and moral corruption - replete with triple homicide, tight Boston mob ties, flamboyantly errant spouses, maddened militiamen, and a psychopath-about-town who has fixed his violent sights on the new lawman. Against all this, Jesse stands utterly alone, with no one to trust; even he and the woman he's seeing are like ships that pass in the night. He finds he must test his mettle and powers of command to emerge a local hero - or the deadest of dupes.
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"Night Passage is Parker's first book in the Jesse Stone series. Although Spenser is Parker's best-known character, Jesse Stone's series is also excellent. As the police chief in the north shore town of Paradise, MA, Stone is a somewhat flawed character, struggling with his relationships to his ex-wife, his job and his drinking. Written in Parker's usual short chapters, the Jesse Stone series is similar to the Spenser series in its recurring characters and gripping plots. I have read the other Jesse Stone novels and would recommend them all. The series has also been made into a few movies starring Tom Selleck."
— Cerji (5 out of 5 stars)
Night Passage Listener Reviews
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" Loved. Parker's writing is very spare, so I'm glad I saw a few of the movies before I read this. Can't wait to read more! "
— Hilary, 2/20/2014 -
" A new Parker character, He seems a shadow of Spenser, but he will develop his own personality. Good quick read "
— Ginny, 2/11/2014 -
" I don't like Jesse Stone as well as Spenser but his series of books are quick reads and fairly entertaining. He is a mixed up character and I do not like his ex wife that keeps showing up. "
— Kay, 1/31/2014 -
" I have to admit I can only picture Tom Selleck when I read this novel. It is about a down as his luck city detective getting a second chance as a small town police chief. It was entertaining but it could have had some more "justice" doled out in terms of violence inflicted by Jesse Stone. "
— Pat, 1/6/2014 -
" I am thinking I found a new set of books to read. i really liked this book. too bad the movie changed the premis so much because I can picture what the ending would have looked like far easier than the ending they chose for the movie. Onto the next one! "
— Heather, 12/27/2013 -
" A good introduction to the Jesse Stone series. Just getting into Parker's stuff, thanks to the Tom Selleck movies. A more complicated character than what I usually think of in a crime noire protagonist. "
— Chris, 12/23/2013 -
" Excellent; Continuing character: Jesse Stone; first in the series; cop drinks himself out of LAPD and heads east to take over as police chief of small, and corrupt, town. "
— Joe, 11/30/2013 -
" This is a really good introduction to a new crime fighting character. The plot is just a little over the horizon but still a little believable. Thieves take over an entire island. Too many women for Jesse and his ex-wife comes to town. More trouble than he knows what to do with. "
— David, 11/10/2013 -
" Love the Jesse Stone series.... "
— Tracy, 10/8/2013 -
" I enjoyed reading his Spenser books, so I gave this one a try. I really enjoyed it and really liked the new character. Jesse is a no nonsense guy that I can relate to. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good story with good characters. "
— Mason, 9/19/2013 -
" I like Parker's style in writhing the Jesse Stone books had to start from the beginning and read them all. Still looking for a woman in one of his novels that don't throw themselves at him. "
— John, 9/8/2013 -
" First in the Jesse Stone series. Enjoyed it and will read more. Vintage Parker. "
— Lino, 8/7/2013 -
" I love Robert Parker! "
— Beverly, 7/15/2013 -
" A typical Parker, enjoyable, not too dark. "
— Gerrie, 4/5/2013 -
" I enjoyed this book. There is no real mystery, we know most of the bad guys from the start, but Jesse is a likable character, and it's a pleasant read. "
— Randall, 11/13/2012 -
" I have watched the Jesse Stone movies on Netflix so it was like Tom Selleck was reading this novel to me :-) Reading this book was like chewing really great entertaining bubble gum. The fizzy delicious pink lemonade kind. "
— Jill, 8/10/2012 -
" Really enjoyed the first book in this series, I will continue reading the Jesse Stone series. "
— Buddy, 5/30/2012 -
" all the robert parker books are good and read fast. I love his 3 series-Jesse stone, sunny randall-, and spencer "
— Nola, 5/27/2012 -
" I liked this book a lot. I could picture Tom Sellick saying all of the dialog from the book. "
— Warren, 2/10/2012 -
" Fast reading, held my interest "
— Daniel, 11/22/2011 -
" You just have to read it to the end very quickly! "
— Tony, 11/11/2011 -
" First Jesse Stone book I've read, I enjoyed it. Little more meat than the last 10 or so Spenser books. (Although, the "couple that can't live together, or apart" theme is getting very stale.) "
— Tom, 8/26/2011 -
" I have watched the Jesse Stone movies on Netflix so it was like Tom Selleck was reading this novel to me :-) Reading this book was like chewing really great entertaining bubble gum. The fizzy delicious pink lemonade kind. "
— Jill, 3/30/2011 -
" If you like the late Robert B. Parker, you'll like this one. This is the first in the Jesse Stone Series. This is a good read. "
— Laurie, 3/22/2011 -
" Great book, love the characters and they way they interact! "
— Mary, 3/4/2011 -
" Read in 2 1/2 days. Very good all the way through "
— Karen, 1/22/2011 -
" I want to read the latest Jesse Stone book, and decided I better read #1 first. It starts slowly for my taste, but the character is so interesting that it makes up for it. About 2/3 of the way through, I was thoroughly hooked. "
— Mhd, 12/20/2010 -
" I had not read the first Jesse Stone book--so I figured I'd give it a shot. Loved it, loved it, loved it! I hate Jenn though; she's shallow, self-centered, and immature. Time for Jesse to dump her once and for all! "
— Georgia, 11/4/2010 -
" It was a good book. "
— Chris, 10/15/2010 -
" liked it a lot...fun, fast, easy to digest. liked the characters a lot. i'm not sure there's not much parker didn't do. now to tackle spenser... "
— K, 10/4/2010 -
" I've been a big fan of the Spencer and Hawk series for years. Hadn't read any of the Jesse Stone--not bad. "
— Lee, 8/14/2010 -
" I always love a mystery. Became interested when Tom Selleck played the lead in some of the Jesse Stone mysteries. It did not disappoint. I enjoyed and intend to read more of this series. "
— Jerry, 7/27/2010 -
" Enjoyed the characters and the easy flow of the story. Would have given 5 stars but some offensive language popped through several times. This one has been made into a movie with Tom Selleck in the title role. "
— Janell, 7/20/2010
About the Authors
Michael Palmer (1942–2013) authored twenty-one novels of medical suspense, all international bestsellers, including The First Patient, The Second Opinion, and The Last Surgeon. His books have been translated into thirty-five languages. Extreme Measures was the basis for a movie starring Hugh Grant and Gene Hackman.
Robert B. Parker (1932–2010), long acknowledged as the dean of American crime fiction, was the New York Times bestselling author of the Spenser mysteries, as well as the Jesse Stone novels. He was named Grand Master at the 2002 Edgar Awards by the Mystery Writers of America, an honor shared with earlier masters such as Alfred Hitchcock and Ellery Queen. He has more than fifty books to his credit.