Blue Screen

Robert B. Parker, Dean of American Crime fiction is still cranking them out. I, as a mystery-thriller-suspense reader have read maybe a half dozen Parkers, but the guy has written over 50 books. I feel as a reader, I'm not living up to my end of the bargain. But you know what? Blue Screen is a really good book. The guy's still got it. His protagonists include his most well know hero, Spenser, of course. And now there are a half dozen Jesse Stone books, a Chief of Police in a small New England town. And my new favorite sleuth, the heroine of this one, Sunny Randall. A really likable, sexy but tough private eye. The book has movie stars and mobsters, prostitutes and pimps, and baseball. Sunny is hired as a bodyguard for superstar Erin Flint, quite possibly the first professional woman baseball player, a female version of Arnold Schwarzenegger. In an interesting romantic twist, Sunny finds herself working with Jesse Stone, the Chief of Police of Paradise, Massachusetts, on loan from another Parker series. Jesse confides in Sunny he was fired from the L.A.P.D. for his drinking problem which he now has under control. Sort of. But what a great combination these two make. Both are dealing with recent break ups in their respective relationships. Neither care to make the same mistake again. Both want to take it easy. Let it happen, but Sunny does shave her legs before her date with Jesse. I suppose you ought to read the book to see what happens. "I'm not easy," says Sunny, "but I'm fun."

If you are a Spenser fan, you'll love Sunny Randall, Parker's female Private detective character. She's tough, witty, well basically a female Spenser. Blue Screen is the best Sunny Randall book thus far, with her character being more fully developed. Parker does it again! This book is a must read for Robert Parker fans!

I've been reading Robert B. Parker novels for over 20 years now. When I learned that he was going to write about a female detective, I was concerned that he would not be capable of writing with an authentic voice. I shouldn't have worried -- Sunny Randall is the perfect female detective. Robert B. Parker managed to create a tough character that still retains her feminine side. His descriptions of the other characters in her stories, such as Spike, are so clear that I feel as though I've known them for years. With this novel, Parker takes on the the additional challenge of introducing two of his main characters to each other, forcing him to write with two voices. As always, he does not disappoint. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has enjoyed Parker's novels over the years -- he's only getting better.

Sunny Randall and Jesse Stone - two, great, series-headlining characters team-up to sleuth a murder case and explore budding romance. Great fast paced fun, replete with clever Parker humour and insight. In this book there are few crime scene clues so the sleuthing necessarily explores the personalities and motivations of the suspects: Erin Flint, an untalented but painfully, beautiful actress with a dark past. Buddy Bollen a sleazy, self-aggrandizing producer. Gerard Basgall, a major player in the Los Angeles flesh trade. Moon Monaghan, a brutal, loan shark. The plotting is entertaining, resolved with the help of some of Parker's recurring characters. (Susan Silverman, Healy et al.) Intertwined with the murder investigation, Randall and Stone struggle with difficult decisions in their personal lives.(read - gratuitous sex and continued character development) I enjoyed the multi-dimensional characters and the intriguing balance between good people acting badly and bad people displaying some good qualities. Parker in Blue Screen once again fullfills most reader's need for a little less law and a little more justice. I read Blank Screen in 2 days - I could scarecly put it down. Reading Parker's books is more satisfying than listening to the audio books. Someone has to make an effort to solve the "he said, she said" issue that drives everyone crazy. Make sure you check out the novels in the Spenser series - they are my favorites. Caslo

Don't miss reading this book! But if you have not read any Sunny Randall novels or Jesse Stone novels by Robert B Parker, read all the other ones first! Sunny's: 1>Family Honor <br />2>Perish Twice <br />3>Shrink Rap <br />4>Melancholy Baby <br />Jesse's: <br />1>Night Passage <br />2>Trouble in Paradise <br />3>Death in Paradise <br />4>Stone Cold <br />5>Sea Change <br />THEN READ THE SUNNY RANDALL: <br />5> BLUE SCREEN <br />Maybe you have seen the fab TOM SELLECK on tv playing JESSE STONE! 2 of the books are tv movies!