If you're a fan of gritty detective stories, watching the Jesse Stone movies in order is a must for experiencing the full depth of this compelling series. Based on Robert B. Parker's bestselling novels, the films follow Jesse Stone, a former LAPD detective turned small-town police chief, as he solves crimes and battles his inner demons in the quiet town of Paradise, Massachusetts. Tom Selleck brings Stone to life with a nuanced performance that resonates with authenticity and complexity. To fully appreciate the character's evolution and the overarching narrative, here's a guide on how to watch the Jesse Stone movies chronologically, ensuring a seamless and enriching viewing experience.
Jesse Stone and an Overview of the Movie Series
Jesse Stone is the leading character in Robert B. Parker’s books and is the protagonist of the movie adaptations. He’s a homicide detective in his 30s and has a drinking problem. Stone used to work for the LAPD, but he was fired after boozing too much, which is directly caused by him finding out that his beautiful wife Jenifer is cheating on him. Nevertheless, detective Stone starts over in the small town of Paradise, Massachusetts, where the local police chief hires him, as the influential local bank teller Hathaway thinks he’s easy to control. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. After realizing what kind of town he found himself in, Stone quickly builds a case against the town council president and arrests him. All this sets the chain of events in the Jesse Stone book series. From dealing with seemingly small-time cases as well as chasing serial killers to his relationship with alcohol, new friend Captain Healy, and his ex-wife, Stone is one of the most interesting characters out there. So, let’s take a look at the chronological order of the Jesse Stone series.
Jesse Stone: Stone Cold (2005)
Stone Cold is the first TV film adaptation of the Jesse Stone book series. The movie follows our protagonist as he’s investigating a homicide and rape case. However, when a few more murders happen in a similar fashion, Stone finds out who the killers are but can’t prove it without enough evidence. As such, he is forced to wait for them to try to kill again.
Jesse Stone: Night Passage (2006)
Directed by Robert Harmon and produced by CBS, Night Passage is the second film in the Jesse Stone series. The plot revolves around the titular character, who becomes chief of police in a small town in New England while investigating a domestic abuse case involving the local mob. Things only worsen when his predecessor gets assassinated.
Jesse Stone: Death in Paradise (2006)
The third film in the series finds the protagonist finally setting down in Paradise, Massachusetts, as new police chief Jesse Stone sees Dr. Dix (William Devane), a therapist. However, he’s faced with investigating the murder of a teenage girl found in the local lake. After a brief investigation, Stone finds out that the once bright student was on a self-destructive path for quite some time, as she was estranged from her parents.
Jesse Stone: Sea Change (2007)
In the fourth film of the series, Sea Change, Jesse’s relationship with his ex-wife becomes more and more complex. Yet, in an attempt not to start drinking again, he tries to go back and solve a case from his past that has been troubling him all this time. Sea Change introduces the character of Gino Fish, who also appears in other novels by Robert B. Parker.
Jesse Stone: Thin Ice (2009)
In Thin Ice, Stone is looking into reopening an old kidnapping case when the mother of the missing child confronts him. Her darling child is declared dead by the local authorities, but she knows that this isn’t the case. The mother’s only hope is Jesse Stone—a detective struggling with alcoholism.
Jesse Stone: No Remorse (2010)
Not everyone likes Jesse Stone. In fact, he gets suspended by the town council. Once this happens, he sets out to investigate a number of murders in Boston as a favor for his old buddy. In his absence, Stone tasks Rose (Kathy Baker) and Suitcase Simpson (Kohl Sudduth) to fight local crime in their town of Paradise, Massachusetts.
Jesse Stone: Innocents Lost (2011)
Directed by Dick Lowry, Innocents Lost is the seventh Jesse Stone film. Although replaced as the police chief by William Butler—the son-in-law of the town council president—Jesse Stone has no other option but to go about his business unofficially. He sets out to investigate two criminal cases, seemingly of no importance to one another, creating a feud between his new boss and himself.
Jesse Stone: Benefit of the Doubt (2012)
In Benefit of the Doubt, we find Jesse Stone retired. However, after a shocking crime that renders the Massachusetts state police without a chief in Paradise, Jesse has to get back to his old job and find the wrongdoers before they cause more harm.
Jesse Stone: Lost in Paradise (2015)
The ninth film in the Jesse Stone series is the first to be produced by Hallmark. Nevertheless, its move from CBS doesn’t disrupt the quality. Lost in Paradise is still a great movie, and its storyline revolves around Stone working as a consultant to Sydney Greenstreet in Boston, trying to catch the Boston Ripper.
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Jesse Stone movies are some of the best TV adaptations of books in recent times. However, Robert B. Parker’s and Michael Brandman’s books aren’t the only detective stories that will make you fall in love with the crime and detective genre. Speechify is full of crime thrillers and murder mysteries in audiobook form that will quench your thirst for a good murder mystery, including The Best New True Crime Stories, Crime and Punishment, or the Agatha Raisin series. Sign up for Speechify Audiobooks and enjoy your first premium audiobook for free.
