Robert B. Parker's Killing the Blues

A Jesse Stone Novel

By: Michael Brandman

Narrated by: Robert B. Parker, James Naughton

Length: 4 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

Paradise, Massachusetts, is preparing for the summer tourist season when a string of car thefts disturbs what is usually a quiet time in town. In a sudden escalation of violence, the thefts become murder, and chief of police Jesse Stone finds himself facing one of the toughest cases of his career. Pressure from the town politicians only increases when another crime wave puts residents on edge. Jesse confronts a personal dilemma as well: a burgeoning relationship with a young PR executive, whose plans to turn Paradise into a summertime concert destination may have her running afoul of the law.

When a mysterious figure from Jesse's past arrives in town, memories of his last troubled days as a cop in L.A. threaten his ability to keep order in Paradise-especially when it appears that the stranger is out for revenge.

©2011 Michael Brandman (P)2011 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“It's a doozy…Michael Brandman shows that the standard that Parker set is still there…it all moves at a very fast pace.” (Lincoln Journal Star)

“The mysteries are solved in Jesse's inimitable style, and he even has a little time for a new romantic interest…I love it! Killing the Blues will join the other favorites on my Robert B. Parker bookcase.” (Bookreporter.com)

“[An] impressive continuation of [Parker’s] series…easy, banter-filled writing, balanced with the lead's apparently limitless compassion, informed by bitter experience.” (Publishers Weekly)

Huge fan

Love the story and even love the reading... But I can not deal with all the swallowing and gulping sounds that come with the narrator, something must be done about this. If you have any problem with someones reading and hearing noises their they make while reading. DONT buy this book.

Bland by Brandman

What disappointed you about Robert B. Parker's Killing the Blues?

The story is lifeless, wandering and has a predictable outcome.

What could Michael Brandman have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Handed it off to someone else to write. The last two Jesse's by Parker, and the last two TV adaptations by Brandman (and Selleck, as co-writer, co-producer) have lacked the energy and the interest of those that began the series. In Killing the Blues, Jesse wanders through without any passion whatsoever. The action is dull and formulaic and Brandman's effort to bring the books into the same setting as the TV show (Jesse moves to that house on the bay) is useless housekeeping.

What does James Naughton bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I like his wry style. Others have complained that he doesn't give each character a separate voice but he actually does. It's subtle but enough for me. Cracked me up to hear him doing a Cialis commercial the day after I finished the book.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Disappointment. If the rest of the series is like this, I won't stick with it.

Don't expect Parker's prose

I "bought" this book (actually, a free offer) thinking that it was a Parker novel. However, it isn't. And although I have read some books which were continuations of series established by someone else that were done well enough, this doesn't maintain Parker's tone. Moreover, it is a continuation of the TV movies, not the books -- this in itself isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it is something you should be prepared for. I can't say that this is a bad book, but it is a bad Parker book. This is the first book-on-tape I've tried, and it is a taste I haven't yet acquired; however, Naughton's performance was certainly acceptable.

Narration was too distracting to the story.

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

Teens and young adults.

What was most disappointing about Michael Brandman’s story?

Hard to follow the characters and what was occurring.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

After each character spoke he identified each speaker by saying Jesse said or Hanson said, etc. Detracted from the smooth flow.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

Not many.

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