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Jesse Stone has problems in Pardise. A man who has known connections to the mob is found murdered in the back of his van. Jesse soon realizes that the man is working for a local mobster. Interestingly enough, the mobster is married to a twin. The twin is also married to a mobster. The woman have been playing the twin game for years, even swapping partners, all the way into adulthood. Jesse isn't sure just how but he thinks their game may have been deadly for several men. In the meantime, Sunny Randall is tracking down a girl who seems to be part of a religious commune in Paradise.

This is one of Robert Parker's last books before his death. I'll miss his wit and sarcastic characters. For once, Jesse seems past all of his constant brooding over Jenn. Sunny is devasted when Richie and his new wife have a baby, but it seems that she, too, is ready to move on. What a pleasant change of pace and maybe for once, these two characters have actually decided on a future together. A nice way to end this enjoyable series.

Rating - A-

STORM PREY

Weather Davenport has alot on her mind. She is part of a surgical team that are separating Siamese twins. The surgery is complicated and the twins have health issues that are delaying the procedure. As Weather comes in early one morning, she inadvertantly sees a man who has been involved in the burglary of the hospital pharmacy. During the burglary, a man is killed and soon the hunt is on to locate the killers. The really scary part is that one of them is already working in the hospital and he has plans to kill Weather before she realizes what she has seen.

Lucas Davenport is awesome in this latest installment of the series. I love Lucas but the last book seemed kind of week with lots of voodoo type stuff. Lucas is real, he is gritty and he is at his best as he runs down the murderers. He has his old cast of pals working with him, including Virgil Flowers. Sandford is at his best in this book and as usual, I can't wait for the next.

Rating - A

ROUGH COUNTRY

All that Virgil Flowers really wants to be doing is fishing. However, a murder at a nearby resort calls him away from his fishing tournament. A woman has been killed out on the lake. As Virgil investigates, it becomes clear that the motives are quite complicated. The woman was a lesbian, spending time at a resort that caters to women only, especially lesbian woman. Virgil soon finds out that the murdered woman had become involved with a local woman in a band. Several other people seem to have motives, too, including the woman's lover and members of the band leader's family.

I didn't like the last Virgil Flowers book as much but I really liked this one. There were so many possible motives and Virgil stumble bumbles his way around, casually talking to all of the locals and sharing the information he has freely. At times, he seems way to casual in his approach to catching killers but it works for Virgil. I'll be looking forward to the next in the series!

Rating - A-

JUNKYARD DOGS

We are back in Absaroka County with Walt Longmire. The sherrif is trying to stay warm in the very cold Wyoming winter and still solve the crimes that go on in the county even in the dead of winter. An old man getting drug through the snow like a human sled by the family car because he had been tied to the bumper while he was cleaning the chimney is only the beginning of the Walt's troubles. Soon several men are dead and Walt and the gang are trying to get some answers. Sancho is making plans to quit the department and Vic is in a tizzy buying a house.

I have loved everyone of Craig Johnson's books and this one was especially fun. The Cherokee Nation is back but he doesn't play as big of a part as sometimes and we don't hear much about Cady either. Still, Walt's determination to solve the crime and do the right thing make this one of my favorite series.

Rating - A