The Hangman's Sonnet

Starred review from July 10, 2017
Coleman’s heartfelt fourth contribution to Parker’s Jesse Stone series explores the meaning of a haunting line from the eponymous sonnet: “The mirror has revealed my hangman’s face.” Jesse, the police chief of Paradise, Mass., has been deeply scarred by the tragic death of his significant other, who was murdered in front of him at the end of 2016’s Debt to Pay. Several months later, Jesse is still taking refuge in the bottle, and despite his colleagues’ efforts to cover for him, his diminished capacity has come to the attention of the town’s mayor, Constance Walker, who was already not a fan of his. As he struggles to cope with his loss and his self-destructive response to it, Jesse must investigate the death of an elderly town resident during the course of a burglary. He also cooperates with private security on an upcoming birthday gala honoring a reclusive singer and songwriter who was once considered the “Boston Bob Dylan,” a responsibility that becomes progressively more complicated. Coleman balances plot and character perfectly. Author tour. Agent: Esther Newberg, ICM Partners.