Robert B. Parker is the creator of the well-known Jesse Stone detective and criminal mystery novel series, which saw its first motion picture adaptation in 2005. The main series comprised the first nine books, from Night Passage to Split Image, that Parker penned before his passing in 2010 — many of which were adapted into motion pictures. Following his death, other writers continued his work, and the novel series is still ongoing.
Robert B. Parker is the creator of the well-known Jesse Stone detective and criminal mystery novel series, which saw its first motion picture adaptation in 2005. The main series comprised the first nine books, from Night Passage to Split Image, that Parker penned before his passing in 2010 — many of which were adapted into motion pictures. Following his death, other writers continued his work, and the novel series is still ongoing.
‘Jesse Stone: Night Passage’ (2006)
Night Passage kicks off the series as a prequel to Stone Cold, introducing us to the whiskey-sipping former LAPD detective who has just taken on the job of police chief in a sleepy coastal town. Jesse Stone relocates to Paradise, Massachusetts, with his devoted hound dog, Boomer. Stone and his brand-new employees, Luther Simpson (Kohl Suddoth), Molly Crane (played by Viola Davis), and Anthony D’angelo (Vito Rezza), quickly find themselves investigating the death of a departmental colleague, with the newly-appointed Chief of Police suspecting dangerous mobsters are to blame.
‘Night Passage’ Features an Early Appearance by Viola Davis
As if a personal murder case wasn’t enough, Stone begins a mostly sexual connection with a neighborhood attorney called Abby Taylor (Polly Shannon) as he struggles with his divorce and drinking issues. Night Passage is based on the 1997 novel of the same name, and it features a strong performance by then rising talent Viola Davis, who would go on to reprise her role as Molly for two additional adaptations in the crime dramas. The movie lays the tonal foundation of the series, and while it’s not flashy, fans cite it as the most emotionally felt entry.
‘Jesse Stone: Stone Cold’ (2005)
Stone Cold is set five years after Jesse Stone got divorced from his wife Jenn (voiced by Sylvia Villagran in this film only), whom he still talks to regularly. In this installment of the series, Stone is fully settled into his role as chief of Paradise PD, but the town is anything but peaceful. He investigates a brutal shooting, but it doesn’t end there, as multiple killings happen with the same techniques. There is also a separate sexual assault and a separate stalking of two of the residents of the small town, one of whom is Stone’s lover, Abby Taylor (Polly Shannon), leaving him to figure everything out before it’s too late.
‘Stone Cold’ Is the Start of Everything
Stone Cold is based on the 2003 novel of the same name and launched Selleck’s tenure as the savvy New England police chief, a character he would go on to portray for a decade. The veteran actor was in fine form as the determined lawman, whose strength and tenacious attitude helped make him extremely root-for-worthy for audiences as he became swept up in a deadly cat-and-mouse game. The direction by Robert Harmon is taut, and the Nova Scotia locations double convincingly for Massachusetts. The success of the first film helped effectively spawn the thrilling made-for-TV movie franchise.
Lost in Paradise Marks the End of the Saga
Lost in Paradise is a respectable conclusion to the film series that is more mystery movie-like than earlier iterations, likely as a result of being aired by Hallmark rather than CBS (who showed all the other films). It is a bittersweet adaptation for fans of both Selleck and the franchise, and gave the resilient character the proper send-off he and devoted viewers deserved. The dual narrative gives Jesse a purpose, and Selleck is pitch-perfect here.
The Future of ‘Jesse Stone’ Films
Selleck said that he was working on a tenth film in the series, but that it would be different from the previous films, and so far, nothing has emerged regarding it. While discussing the ending of Blue Bloods with TVInsider back in October 2024, Selleck was asked, “What’s next for you [Tom Selleck]? A final Jesse Stone movie, perhaps?” To which he replied,
“It looks like now I might have to write [a script for another movie]. It wouldn’t be a final one because everybody loves it. Jesse is a great character, and it would be fascinating to find out where he is quite a few years later.”
The Future Is Unknown For Jesse Stone
It is also possible that, in this day of remakes and reboots, recasting the role with a more youthful actor might actually be more accurate to the novel’s representations than the first film of Selleck’s run was; he was 60, playing a 35-year-old. Whatever happens with both the novels and films after this, fans of crime dramas and mysteries will always be around to support Jesse Stone, even if he never completely quits drinking.
Death in Paradise’ Is a By-the-Book Mystery
In addition, this movie adds a few fresh faces, such as Sister Mary John (Kerri Smith), who plays an interesting role in the engrossing drama. Jesse’s therapy sessions with Dr. Dix are some of the most revealing in the series as they offer a glimpse into the guilt and grief experienced by the protagonist. This film is a more straightforward, by-the-book mystery that is fun for fans to watch unfold, a departure from the intense personal setbacks and heartaches Stone experienced in Night Passage.
‘Jesse Stone: Sea Change’ (2007)
In the 2007 installment Sea Change, Jesse Stone, lacking much of his squad from previous films, finds himself slipping deeper into emotional isolation. He distracts himself by reopening a cold case and looks into the unsolved murder of a bank teller who was shot during a robbery, in addition to a sexual assault accusation that causes him to clash against the municipal government. The objective is to maintain the town’s status as a top coastal getaway, even though a cold-blooded killer and violent offender roams the streets of Paradise, and Stone must quickly catch the culprits.
‘Sea Change’ Features Personal Struggles For Stone
‘Jesse Stone: Thin Ice’ (2009)
In the fifth film, Jesse is not just emotionally bruised, but physically wounded too. Thin Ice finds Captain Healy (Stephen McHattie), a friend of Jesse Stone’s for a number of years, nearly murdered in a shooting, and Stone, finding purpose again, decides to find out who was responsible by going undercover, much to the chagrin of his local government officials. Despite his noble intentions, Stone is told to stop and concentrate on other crimes by the city council, something he naturally disregards on his quest for the truth.
‘Thin Ice’ Is Based on an Entire Series
Thin Ice is a turning point for the tone of the series. It is more fragmented and raw, and that’s part of the charm. Tom Selleck brings a sense of defiance to Stone here, and the subplot involving the kidnapped child is handled with surprising tenderness. Moreover, unlike the earlier movies, this one is based on the entire book series rather than just one single novel and features the additional talents of stars like Kathy Baker, Camryn Manheim, and Jessica Hecht, with the latter actress having also had a recurring role on Friends like Selleck did on the groundbreaking sitcom.
‘Jesse Stone: No Remorse’ (2010)
No Remorse’ Features Stone in a New Role
No Remorse is Jesse Stone at his most stripped-down. With no badge and no jurisdiction, he’s more free and more dangerous than ever. Tom Selleck co-wrote the script, and it shows in the way Jesse speaks. The film also gives Suitcase (Kohl Sudduth) and Rose (Kathy Baker) more room to breathe, showing how Jesse’s leadership has shaped them. The Boston murder arc is tight and well-paced, and Jesse’s reluctant use of a cellphone (to avoid his ex’s calls) is a small but telling detail. It’s a quieter entry in comparison, but it deepens the lore.
‘Jesse Stone: Innocents Lost’ (2011)
Former police chief Jesse Stone is now a private investigator after being practically forced to retire from the department. In the movie Innocents Lost, Stone looks into a young acquaintance’s shocking, mysterious murder as police officers contend with the cocky new chief of police (Jeff Geddis), who happens to be a city council member’s son-in-law and a major thorn in Paradise’s side. Beginning his own off-the-books investigation, Stone finds himself in a maze of dead ends and shady acquaintances.
‘Innocents Lost’ Doesn’t Rely on the Source Material
Jesse Stone: Benefit of the Doubt’ (2012)
The penultimate movie in the Jesse Stone series, Benefit of the Doubt, puts Stone once again in the Chief of Police’s seat after a few movies in which he was a somewhat independent agent. Paradise is shaken when Jesse’s replacement as police chief is killed in a car explosion. Which means, formally, it is an interim position, so he can assist in the investigation into the deaths of two of the department’s own. But Stone thrives on solving problems, and consequently, he’s determined this will not be a temporary position.
Benefit of the Doubt Puts Stone in the Chief Seat
Stone sets out on his own to look into the shocking crimes and deaths that rocked Paradise, all the while dealing with a bruised ego and his own frustrations towards the department. So the movie is a comeback story where Selleck is playing a man who is tired but still sharp. The explosion that kicks off the story is one of the series’ most dramatic openings, and the investigation that follows is satisfyingly complex. Overall, Benefit of the Doubt was a hit upon its premiere, attracting 12.93 million viewers and garnering the highest viewership of the night.
‘Jesse Stone: Lost in Paradise’ (2015)
Lost in Paradise Marks the End of the Saga
Lost in Paradise is a respectable conclusion to the film series that is more mystery movie-like than earlier iterations, likely as a result of being aired by Hallmark rather than CBS (who showed all the other films). It is a bittersweet adaptation for fans of both Selleck and the franchise, and gave the resilient character the proper send-off he and devoted viewers deserved. The dual narrative gives Jesse a purpose, and Selleck is pitch-perfect here.
The Future of ‘Jesse Stone’ Films
Selleck said that he was working on a tenth film in the series, but that it would be different from the previous films, and so far, nothing has emerged regarding it. While discussing the ending of Blue Bloods with TVInsider back in October 2024, Selleck was asked, “What’s next for you [Tom Selleck]? A final Jesse Stone movie, perhaps?” To which he replied,
“It looks like now I might have to write [a script for another movie]. It wouldn’t be a final one because everybody loves it. Jesse is a great character, and it would be fascinating to find out where he is quite a few years later.”
The Future Is Unknown For Jesse Stone
It is also possible that, in this day of remakes and reboots, recasting the role with a more youthful actor might actually be more accurate to the novel’s representations than the first film of Selleck’s run was; he was 60, playing a 35-year-old. Whatever happens with both the novels and films after this, fans of crime dramas and mysteries will always be around to support Jesse Stone, even if he never completely quits drinking.
