Robert B. Parker vs. Robert B. Parker

[hermetic]

as written by Michael Brandman. I've only read one book by each so this comparison is based on that small sampling. For those that don't know, Robert B. Parker passed away in 2010 and Brandman was hired by his estate to carry on Parker's tales of Police Chief Jesse Stone. As I have just finished Night and Day, I don't think I could go back to any Brandman novels now. This one was so much funnier and much more intriguing than Killing The Blues. Brandman writes Stone's dialogues in a similar staccato pattern but takes it to the point of annoying. Not so Parker, I immediately noticed a big difference. There were the same themes in both books, like Stone being kind of a hero for teenagers, but then Brandman turned him into a bit of a rogue cop which I never would have expected from Parker's Stone. While I did enjoy Killing The Blues, I don't think it was nearly as good as Parker's original work.

[Little Star]

1. I got spoiled with Parker's 'Spencer' series.....

I've read the whole series (until he passed away) more than once and will probably read it again. I like reading a series from first to last. I could never get into his Jesse Stone series try though I might. Nor do I like any of the Spencer ones done by someone other than Parker after his death (I tried).

[Number9Dream]

2. Hermetic - Thanks for this review.

Over the years, I've enjoyed reading a lot of Robert B. Parker's books (Spenser, Jesse Stone, others). I thought the Brandman / Selleck written "Jesse Stone" movies weren't very good. It seemed the basic personalities of the main characters changed post-Parker. It was interesting to read someone else's comparison.