Today is release date for the new Jesse Stone novel, Robert B. Parker’s Debt to Pay by Reed Farrel
Coleman. And, the publisher is allowing me to give away one copy of the book. First, a little information.
About ROBERT B. PARKER’S DEBT TO PAY: All is quiet in Paradise, except
for a spate of innocuous vandalism. Good thing, too, because Jesse Stone is
preoccupied with the women in his life, both past and present. As his ex-wife,
Jenn, is about to marry a Dallas real-estate tycoon, Jesse isn’t too sure his
relationship with former FBI agent Diana Evans is built to last. But those
concerns get put on the back burner when a major Boston crime boss is brutally
murdered. Despite all evidence to the contrary, Jesse suspects it’s the work of
Mr. Peepers, a psychotic assassin who has caused trouble for Jesse in the past.
Peepers has long promised revenge against the Mob, Jesse, and Suit for their
roles in foiling one of his hits—and against Jenn as well. And though Jesse and
Jenn have long parted ways, Jesse still feels responsible for her safety. Jesse
and Diana head to Dallas for the wedding and, along with the tycoon’s security
team, try to stop Peepers before the bill comes due. With Peepers toying with
the authorities as to when and where he’ll strike, Jesse is up against the
wall. Still, there’s a debt to pay and blood to be spilled to satisfy it. But
whose blood, and just how much?
for a spate of innocuous vandalism. Good thing, too, because Jesse Stone is
preoccupied with the women in his life, both past and present. As his ex-wife,
Jenn, is about to marry a Dallas real-estate tycoon, Jesse isn’t too sure his
relationship with former FBI agent Diana Evans is built to last. But those
concerns get put on the back burner when a major Boston crime boss is brutally
murdered. Despite all evidence to the contrary, Jesse suspects it’s the work of
Mr. Peepers, a psychotic assassin who has caused trouble for Jesse in the past.
Peepers has long promised revenge against the Mob, Jesse, and Suit for their
roles in foiling one of his hits—and against Jenn as well. And though Jesse and
Jenn have long parted ways, Jesse still feels responsible for her safety. Jesse
and Diana head to Dallas for the wedding and, along with the tycoon’s security
team, try to stop Peepers before the bill comes due. With Peepers toying with
the authorities as to when and where he’ll strike, Jesse is up against the
wall. Still, there’s a debt to pay and blood to be spilled to satisfy it. But
whose blood, and just how much?
In Reed’s Own Words: As a
veteran author with more than twenty years of published novels under your belt,
how did you prepare yourself for the daunting task of taking over the
bestselling Jesse Stone series that has been extant since 1997? Fortunately,
I had previously read several of the novels in the Jesse Stone series. Then, in
preparation for my essay “Go East, Young Man: Robert B. Parker, Jesse Stone,
and Spenser” for the Edgar Award-nominated 2012 anthology In Pursuit of
Spenser edited by Otto Penzler, I went back and reread the Jesse Stone
novels I had read previously and the ones I’d missed. Great characters don’t come
along every day, but Bob Parker seemed to have the knack for creating them.
When the opportunity to continue the series was offered to me, I went back and
reread some more. But the truth is I didn’t know I could do it until I tried to
do it. It is one thing to look at a challenge and feel you have the talent and
the tools to do it. It is something else to try it. What I found when I sat
down to write Jesse for the first time was that Mr. Parker had so thoroughly
laid out the groundwork for me, he had so masterfully built Jesse Stone in
three dimensions, that I knew or at least felt I knew where to go next without
much trepidation. It helped that I had written several of my own series
characters and understood the mechanics and the pitfalls of long story arcs.
When I approached the writing I thought about how I would feel if someone took
over writing one of my series. How I would want him or her to respect what I
had done and the characters I had created. But that I wouldn’t want him or her
to do imitation or pastiche. So I came to the challenge with great deal of
respect for Mr. Parker and a love for the character, Jesse Stone, he had
created.
veteran author with more than twenty years of published novels under your belt,
how did you prepare yourself for the daunting task of taking over the
bestselling Jesse Stone series that has been extant since 1997? Fortunately,
I had previously read several of the novels in the Jesse Stone series. Then, in
preparation for my essay “Go East, Young Man: Robert B. Parker, Jesse Stone,
and Spenser” for the Edgar Award-nominated 2012 anthology In Pursuit of
Spenser edited by Otto Penzler, I went back and reread the Jesse Stone
novels I had read previously and the ones I’d missed. Great characters don’t come
along every day, but Bob Parker seemed to have the knack for creating them.
When the opportunity to continue the series was offered to me, I went back and
reread some more. But the truth is I didn’t know I could do it until I tried to
do it. It is one thing to look at a challenge and feel you have the talent and
the tools to do it. It is something else to try it. What I found when I sat
down to write Jesse for the first time was that Mr. Parker had so thoroughly
laid out the groundwork for me, he had so masterfully built Jesse Stone in
three dimensions, that I knew or at least felt I knew where to go next without
much trepidation. It helped that I had written several of my own series
characters and understood the mechanics and the pitfalls of long story arcs.
When I approached the writing I thought about how I would feel if someone took
over writing one of my series. How I would want him or her to respect what I
had done and the characters I had created. But that I wouldn’t want him or her
to do imitation or pastiche. So I came to the challenge with great deal of
respect for Mr. Parker and a love for the character, Jesse Stone, he had
created.
About the Authors:
Robert B. Parker was the author of seventy books, including the legendary Spenser
detective series, the novels featuring Chief Jesse Stone, and the acclaimed
Virgil Cole/Everett Hitch Westerns, as well as the Sunny Randall novels. Winner
of the Mystery Writers of America Grand Master Award and long considered the
undisputed dean of American crime fiction, he died in January 2010.
detective series, the novels featuring Chief Jesse Stone, and the acclaimed
Virgil Cole/Everett Hitch Westerns, as well as the Sunny Randall novels. Winner
of the Mystery Writers of America Grand Master Award and long considered the
undisputed dean of American crime fiction, he died in January 2010.
Reed Farrel Coleman, author of the New York Times–bestselling Robert B.
Parker’s The Devil Wins, has published twenty-four previous novels,
including nine books in the critically acclaimed Moe Prager series, three Jesse
Stone novels, and most recently, Where It Hurts featuring Gus Murphy. A
three-time winner of the Shamus Award, he has also won the Anthony, Macavity,
Barry, and Audie Awards. Coleman lives with his family on Long Island.
Parker’s The Devil Wins, has published twenty-four previous novels,
including nine books in the critically acclaimed Moe Prager series, three Jesse
Stone novels, and most recently, Where It Hurts featuring Gus Murphy. A
three-time winner of the Shamus Award, he has also won the Anthony, Macavity,
Barry, and Audie Awards. Coleman lives with his family on Long Island.
*****
If you would like a chance to win, email me at Lesa.Holstine@gmail.com. Your subject line should read “Win Debt to Pay.” Please include your name and mailing address. Entries from the U.S. only, please. The giveaway will end next Monday, Sept. 19 at 6 PM CT.
