Trouble in Paradise is the second of the Jesse Stone novels to be adapted for television—starring Tom Selleck. Set in the fictional town of Paradise, Massachusetts, this is a fast-paced, heavy-hitting novel that follows Stone, the police chief, as he battles his drinking problem while trying to prevent a heist that threatens the wealthy residents of nearby Styles Island—all while juggling the three women in his life, including an ex-wife. 

Challenging? Not for Selleck… uh, sorry, Stone. He’s a flawed character dealing with life and its disappointments—his failed marriage and his lost career in baseball—the best way he can. Despite his addictions to alcohol and his ex-wife, he maintains his commitment to his job, the only thing that still seems to be working for him. 

I really enjoyed this novel, but it did leave me with a couple of questions. Are there such things as men’s and women’s crime novels? And can a crime novel become dated because of the period in which it was written and the social attitudes of the time? Plenty for a book club to discuss. 

An oldie but a goodie.