Night Passage

By: Robert B. Parker

Narrated by: Richard Masur

Length: 5 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

©1998 Robert B. Parker (P)1998 Bantam Doubleday Dell Audio Publishing, a division of Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, Inc.

Poor editing or poor performance

Good grief! I would be embarrassed if I were responsible for the quality of the audio. It’s as if the narrator was talking through a soup can.
Re: the story. I watched the movie first and as always, the book gives much more detail than the movie. The ending was different than the movie, but I’m good w that. It’s a simple “whodunit” which appeals to me. I can let my mind wander while listening and still not miss much.

Raincat

The Recording is older than most so could be why sound quality is not what it could be. It Took me a MINUTE but I finally stopped noticing it. Such a good character, that Jesse Stone.

Story is great, but presentation disappointing

I was hoping to hear Tom Selleck read the story, so I was probably disappointed anyway. I had never heard of Richard Masur.
Sadly, an "A" story read by a "B" actor.

Great book - too short

Good start to the series, Can't wait to get into the rest. Narration was great. Too bad the story was not long enough to last for my entire trip.

Ok

Came to book via the tv series with Tom selleck. The imagery of the book is not as strong as the TV series, and I believe the main characters are better defined in the TV series. In any event the book as okay and look forward in continuing the series.

This is a great start to a outstanding series I think Jesse stone is the best

I like the style and thy vulnerability of Jesse Stone
The TV movies are also excellent and are faiithful to the books

A good book in the series

a book that's different in alot from all the books I listen too but just started this series so let's see what the next book has to offer.

Disappointing Narration

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I always have enjoyed the Jesse Stone TV movies with Tom Sellack and my mother is enjoying some of the series books. I was looking forward to the audio book but what a disappoint. I am not even sure I can get thru this book and I am only on like Chapter 2.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Jesse Stone is my favorite of course the lay back guy with problems but yet extremely smart and get the bad guy.

How could the performance have been better?

The voice just is not working for me.

Terrible Audio quality

The story was good - but the recording quality was terrible. I also would have preferred an unabridged version.

Overall, a good story.

Overall, a good story. Good enough that there was a movie made from this book. Yes, the narration was a little off. I tolerated it and enjoyed the book for what it was. Kudos to the talented author.