First published 2018
Jesse Stone steps back into his role as Paradise police chief after completing rehab. His return to duty begins with the murder of an African American woman, the first in what becomes a pattern of racially charged crimes. The situation escalates when Deputy Alisha, the department's first black female officer, finds herself framed in an elaborate scheme. Jesse suspects these incidents connect to a larger conspiracy with devastating potential. Meanwhile, Cole Slayton arrives in Paradise carrying resentment and defying Jesse's authority at every turn. Despite the young man's hostility, Jesse recognizes something worth saving in the troubled twenty-something and decides to mentor him. Cole harbors secrets that could transform Jesse's world. As Jesse investigates the crimes targeting his department, he must navigate both external threats and internal challenges while supporting a deputy under attack and reaching out to a young man who might hold the key to everything.
Genres: african-american, mystery, crime
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: mentor-mentee, redemption
Setting: Paradise
368 pages · Hardcover · G.P. Putnam's Sons
Content warnings: racism