Robert B. Parker's Fool Me Twice by Michael Brandman

Jesse Stone #11

Rating: ★☆☆☆☆

Dates Read: 5/29/23 - 5/29/23

    Autumn in Paradise, Massachusetts, is known for its peaceful charm, but this season is anything but serene. The arrival of a Hollywood movie company has stirred up trouble, bringing with it the troubled star, Marisol Hinton. She may be stunning and talented, but she's also filled with fear. Her estranged husband's jealousy has her on edge, worried that things could take a dangerous turn. When a death threat arrives, Jesse and the local police go into full alert mode. Little do they know, the danger extends beyond what Jesse can imagine. Lives are at stake, including his own.

    I really enjoyed how short the book was, which allowed me to finish it quickly. However, overall, I didn't like it at all. It felt juvenile and had too many different plotlines happening simultaneously. The writing style didn't resonate with me either. I hadn't realized who Robert B. Parker was when I bought the book at a thrift store, but judging by other reviews, it seems like I would have disliked it even more if I had known.

    The main character seemed overly fixated on a teenage girl, neglecting other important matters. Admittedly, the girl's reckless behavior and her parents' behavior were significant issues. However, when faced with other problems, Jesse chose to delegate most of the movie production responsibilities to one of his officers and arranged for a former criminal to be the actress's bodyguard. Even when he suspected the water commissioner of wrongdoing, Jesse didn't bring in experts for an audit or investigation but rather had casual conversations with people involved in the fraud at the water company. He didn't even check his own water bill for any signs of irregularities.

    Instead of focusing on more pressing matters, Jesse's attention and actions were primarily directed towards dealing with the young lady who was a chronic texter while driving. While I understand that it's a serious problem, I felt that Jesse had more important tasks to attend to. As a result, it's no surprise that everything ended up going wrong for him.

    Overall I just did not enjoy this, and I unhauled it once I had finished it.