Michael Brandman

G.P. Putnam's Sons

This is the first of the posthumous novels authorized by Robert B. Parker's estate after he died two years ago. Brandman, a longtime script collaborator with Parker, will be writing the Jesse Stone novels; the amazing Ace Atkins will do the Spenser novels (the first is due in May). This time out, Stone, police chief of the Massachusetts resort town of Paradise, deals with a ring of car thieves, a vengeful ex-con, and school bullying - all of which Brandman handles adeptly. The magic of Parker, though, was the rhythm of the prose, the concise wit of the dialogue, and the subtle development of character. To that end, Brandman is like a skilled session drummer trying to fill in for Ringo Starr. He does his job with professional precision - but can't quite duplicate the eccentricities that made Ringo unique and perfect for the Beatles. Still: absolutely readable if you're a Jesse Stone fan.

- RICK KOSTER