Robert B. Parker's The Bitterest Pill

A Jesse Stone Novel, Book 18

By: Reed Farrel Coleman

Narrated by: James Naughton

Length: 9 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's Summary

The opioid epidemic has reached Paradise, and Police Chief Jesse Stone must rush to stop the devastation in the latest thriller in Robert B. Parker's New York Times best-selling series.

When a popular high school cheerleader dies of a suspected heroin overdose, it becomes clear that the opioid epidemic has spread even to the idyllic town of Paradise. It will be up to police chief Jesse Stone to unravel the supply chain and unmask the criminals behind it, and the investigation has a clear epicenter: Paradise High School. Home of the town's best and brightest future leaders and its most vulnerable down-and-out teens, it's a rich and bottomless market for dealers out of Boston looking to expand into the suburbs.

But when it comes to drugs, the very people Jesse is trying to protect are often those with the most to lose. As he digs deeper into the case, he finds himself battling self-interested administrators, reluctant teachers, distrustful schoolkids, and overprotective parents...and at the end of the line are the true bad guys, the ones with a lucrative business they'd kill to protect.

©2019 Reed Farrel Coleman (P)2019 Random House Audio

Critic Reviews

"Exceptional.... Coleman stays faithful to the spirit of Parker’s characters without sticking to the status quo." (Publishers Weekly (starred review)

I am glad Dr. Parker can't see this review,..

...though knowing him a bit, he'd likely have appreciated it. This particular book, for me, is the best thing Reed Farrel Coleman has done and again. for me, this is the best in the Jesse Stone series. Of course everything was set up by Dr. Parker but the faithfulness taken with the characters, the history and the whole atmosphere was remarkable. It is almost hard to imagine this wasn't done by Dr. Parker. All that aside it is a great stand alone novel. I am willing to bet James Naughton thought he was back in time. I hope the series continues.

The bitterestpill

Another excellent book by Reed Farrel Coleman. Also excellent narration. I look forward to the next bool in the Stone series!

The original Jesse Stone returns

Written as if Robert Parker was dictating. Many plots ,characters that keep you involved to the end. Hope the next book will follow soon.

Rock solid.

Well written & well read.
Jesse Stone & crew move forward while struggling with some of life’s pain.
All while sorting out a drug fueled mess, with bodies piling up in Paradise.

Heartfelt performance brings the story to life.

Excellent.

Different

Compared to previous books in the series it seems way more harsh (like detailed torture). It just feels depressing and twisted.

Robert Parker

Another very good book of the Jesse Stone series. The narrator did an excellent job on this Jesse Stone book.

Really good.

I read them anyway, but this is one of Colemans really good ones. I still think they are too dark

better than not having any more Robert B. Parker

certainly not as strong as the originals and it has a lot of the cliches of the genre BUT flawed is better than none.

Another great Jesse Stone book.

Needless to say, I love Jesse Stone books. Love the made for TV movies as well. The books are better. The tv movies help me visualize the books. I would give it five stars but that is reserved for truly outstanding books. Keep them coming.

Not up to par ...

Another good 7 hour listen ruined by an author's insistence on adding needless, irrelevant & distracting dribble stretching it to 9 + hours …

I've read all the Jesse Stone stories, this one is definitely not up to par ...