Night Passage (novel)

Last updated
Night Passage
Robert B. Parker - Night Passage cover.jpg
Author Robert B. Parker
Country United States
Language English
Series Jesse Stone
Genre Crime novel
Publisher Putnam
Publication date
 1997
Pages 322
ISBN 978-0-399-14304-5
Followed by Trouble in Paradise

Night Passage is a crime novel by Robert B. Parker, the first in his Jesse Stone series.

Robert B. Parker American crime writer

Robert Brown Parker was an American writer of fiction, primarily of the mystery/detective genre. His most famous works were the 40 novels written about the private detective Spenser. ABC television network developed the television series Spenser: For Hire based on the character in the mid-1980s; a series of TV movies based on the character were also produced. His works incorporate encyclopedic knowledge of the Boston metropolitan area. The Spenser novels have been cited by critics and bestselling authors such as Robert Crais, Harlan Coben, and Dennis Lehane as not only influencing their own work but reviving and changing the detective genre. Parker also wrote two other series based on an individual character: He wrote nine novels based on the character Jesse Stone and six novels based on the character Sunny Randall. Mr. Parker wrote four Westerns starring the duo Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch. The first, Appaloosa, was made into a film with Ed Harris.

Plot summary

LA homicide detective Jesse Stone, who already has a penchant for drinking, really begins to hit the bottle after he discovers his wife, actress Jenn Stone, is having an affair with her agent. They divorce and after his drinking leads to his termination from the LAPD he decides to get as far away from his now ex-wife as possible. Despite showing up to the interview intoxicated, he is hired as chief of police for the small town of Paradise, Massachusetts. He later learns that this is because the corrupt Board of Selectman chair, Hasty Hathaway, is looking for a lush that they can push around. They get more than they bargain for in Stone.

Massachusetts State of the United States of America

Massachusetts, officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is the most populous state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It borders on the Atlantic Ocean to the east, the states of Connecticut and Rhode Island to the south, New Hampshire and Vermont to the north, and New York to the west. The state is named after the Massachusett tribe, which once inhabited the east side of the area, and is one of the original thirteen states. The capital of Massachusetts is Boston, which is also the most populous city in New England. Over 80% of Massachusetts's population lives in the Greater Boston metropolitan area, a region influential upon American history, academia, and industry. Originally dependent on agriculture, fishing and trade, Massachusetts was transformed into a manufacturing center during the Industrial Revolution. During the 20th century, Massachusetts's economy shifted from manufacturing to services. Modern Massachusetts is a global leader in biotechnology, engineering, higher education, finance, and maritime trade.

The novel begins with Stone’s cross country road trip to Paradise during which the disintegration of his marriage is detailed through flashbacks. Shortly after arriving in Paradise, he meets Jo Jo Genest while responding to a domestic dispute. Genest is a huge body builder, who assists local gangsters in a money laundering operation and also provides muscle for Hathaway. During the confrontation, Stone kicks Genest in the groin. Soon after, Genest proceeds to taunt Stone by vandalizing a police car and killing the station cat as well as writing the word "slut" on both.

Along with being the Board of Selectman chair, Hathaway is also a wealthy bank owner and leader of "The Freedom’s Horsemen", a local militia group. It is Hathaway who orchestrates the payoff and termination of the previous police chief, Tom Carson, after Carson learns of the money laundering operation. Carson then moves out west. Hathaway later becomes concerned that Carson will talk and dispatches corrupt police officer Lou Burke to kill Carson. Hathaway also orders Jo Jo Genest to murder Carson's mistress, Tammy Portugal, after she demands he leave his wife for her. However, Genest can’t help but leave his calling card by writing the word "slut" on Tammy’s corpse to further taunt Jesse.

Jesse begins to investigate Tom Carson’s murder, and discovers that Lou Burke had traveled out west at the time of the homicide. He responds by suspending Burke while he continues to investigate. Fearing that Jesse is learning too much, Hathaway orders Genest to kill him, but Genest convinces Hathaway to let him kill Burke instead. Hathaway agrees, and Genest throws Burke off a cliff in an attempt to make it look like suicide.

While all these events are taking place, Genest organizes a weapons deal between Hathaway’s militia and gay Boston mob boss Gino Fish. When Fish rips off Hathaway, he responds by blaming Genest and demands that he get his money back. Genest retaliates by sending nude Polaroids of Hathaway’s wife (and town slut), Cissy, to her priest, town selectmen and others. When the priest calls Chief Stone about the photo, Stone confronts Cissy about it. Cissy admits to having an affair with Genest, among others, and confirms that he took the photos. She also reveals that Genest confessed to murdering Tammy Portugal. Stone then arrests Genest.

Later that evening, Cissy tells her husband what she confessed to Chief Stone and Hathaway panics. He organizes the militia and convinces them to storm the police station, kill Chief Stone and free Genest, whom he intends to kill also. During the standoff, Chief Stone refuses to release Genest and the militia retreat when local and state police arrive. Hathaway is then arrested.

The novel also details Jesse’s relationship with local DA, Abby Taylor. They begin a sexual relationship, but she becomes frustrated with him and breaks it off by the end of the novel. His relationship with her and his Scotch consumption are attempts to forget Jenn. However, Jenn does not make this easy as they talk regularly on the phone. Jenn becomes fearful for Jesse’s life as the events in Paradise unfold and she realizes she still loves him. The novel ends with Jesse coming home to find Jenn in his apartment. [1]

Film adaptation

The second film in the series starring Tom Selleck differs from the novel in several ways. First, although Hathaway is still a money launderer, he is portrayed as an unwilling accomplice in the other crimes, as opposed to the hard-nosed extremist he is in the novel. Lou Burke and Tom Carson are blended into the single character Lou Carson, and it is Genest who murders him on his own in an attempt to extort more money from Hathaway. Furthermore, instead of throwing Lou off a cliff, Genest uses a van to push Lou’s car off the cliff sideways with him in it. It is these car tracks that cause Chief Stone to conclude Lou was murdered and lead him to investigate further. The investigation leads to Hathaway who organizes a late night meeting with Stone. During this meeting Hathaway murders Genest by shooting him in the back with former police chief Lou Carson's revolver that Hathaway had stolen earlier. He then plans to murder Stone to make it look like Stone and Genest killed each other. However, Jesse brings backup to stop Hathaway and he arrests him. The backup is Luther "Suitcase" Simpson, who is given the nickname "Suitcase," or "Suit" for short, by Jesse in the film. However, in the novel the nickname is bestowed by his coach in high school. Next, the novel describes Jesse several times drinking Johnnie Walker Black Label scotch, while in the film the character is shown drinking Red Label. It is also stated several times in the novel that there are no black people in Paradise; however in the film Molly’s character is portrayed by Academy Award nominee Viola Davis [2] who is black. There is no mention of Tammy Portugal or the Freedom’s Horsemen, and Jesse’s relationship with Jenn is not detailed as much. In the film their relationship is relegated to short phone calls, and she does not come to Paradise in the end.

Tom Selleck American actor

Thomas William Selleck is an American actor and film producer and United States Army veteran. He is known for starring as private investigator Thomas Magnum in the television series Magnum, P.I. (1980–1988) and as Peter Mitchell in Three Men and a Baby. Selleck had a recurring role as Lance White, the likeable and naive partner of Jim Rockford on The Rockford Files. He also played Police Chief Jesse Stone in a series of made-for-TV movies based on Robert B. Parker novels. Since 2010, he has starred as NYPD Commissioner Frank Reagan in the hit crime drama Blue Bloods on CBS.

Johnnie Walker Scotch whisky

Johnnie Walker is a brand of Scotch whisky now owned by Diageo that originated in the Scottish town of Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire. The brand was first established by grocer John Walker. It is the most widely distributed brand of blended Scotch whisky in the world, sold in almost every country, with annual sales of the equivalent of over 223.7 million 700 ml bottles in 2016.

Viola Davis American actress

Viola Davis is an American actress and producer. She is the first black actor to have won an Academy Award, an Emmy Award, and a Tony Award in acting, named the Triple Crown of Acting.

Another significant difference in the film is that Jesse was not drunk in his interview. He makes a point several times of clarifying that he had too much to drink the night before, and made the mistake of having one scotch in the morning to steady himself. This is portrayed in the film when he initially arrives in Paradise. However, in the novel the initial interview is in Chicago, well before Stone travels to Paradise. Furthermore, Stone is extremely intoxicated during the interview and this is what draws Hathaway to him. Hathaway figures if he's drunk during the interview he'll be drunk on the job and easy to push around.

In the film there is a subplot about Jesse having an old dog that he puts down. Jesse does not have a dog in any of the novels. Also, in the novel, the police department already employs a medical examiner. In the film Jesse recruits the local pediatrician for this position, and has him put down his dog because he doesn't like the local vet. Finally, in the novel Jesse lives in a condo on the beach, while in the film Jesse buys an old house on the water.

Related Research Articles

Jesse Stone is the lead character in a series of detective novels written by Robert B. Parker. They were among his last works, and the first series in which the novelist used the third-person narrative. The series consists of nine books, starting with Night Passage (1997) and ending with Split Image (2010), which Parker completed before his death in January 2010 but did not live to see published. The series was initially continued by Michael Brandman. In April 2014, Reed Farrel Coleman assumed the writing of the series. The novels have been adapted as nine TV films. The first eight films were commissioned by CBS, and aired from 2005 to 2012.

<i>Sea Change</i> (Parker novel) novel by Robert B. Parker

Sea Change is a crime novel by Robert B. Parker, the fifth in his Jesse Stone series.

<i>Jesse Stone: Sea Change</i> 2007 television film directed by Robert Harmon

Jesse Stone: Sea Change is a 2007 American made-for-television crime drama film directed by Robert Harmon and starring Tom Selleck, Kathy Baker, and Kohl Sudduth. Based on the novel Sea Change by Robert B. Parker, the film is about the police chief of a small New England town who investigates the unsolved murder of a bank teller shot during a robbery, and an alleged rape that draws him into conflict with the town council. It hopes to preserve the town's reputation as an ideal seaside resort. Filmed on location in Nova Scotia, the story is set in the fictitious town of Paradise, Massachusetts. Jesse Stone: Sea Change is the fourth in a series of nine television films based on Parker's Jesse Stone novels.

<i>Trouble in Paradise</i> (Parker novel) novel by Robert B. Parker

Trouble in Paradise is a crime novel by Robert B. Parker, the second in his Jesse Stone series.

<i>Death in Paradise</i> (novel) novel by Robert B. Parker

Death in Paradise is a crime novel by Robert B. Parker, the third in his Jesse Stone series. It was made into a film in 2006.

<i>Stone Cold</i> (Parker novel) novel by Robert B. Parker

Stone Cold is a crime novel by Robert B. Parker, the fourth in his Jesse Stone series.

<i>High Profile</i> novel by Robert B. Parker

High Profile is a crime novel by Robert B. Parker, the sixth in his Jesse Stone series.

<i>Blue Screen</i> (novel) novel by Robert B. Parker

Blue Screen is a crime novel by Robert B. Parker, the fifth in his Sunny Randall series.

<i>Jesse Stone: No Remorse</i> 2010 television film directed by Robert Harmon

Jesse Stone: No Remorse is a 2010 American made-for-television crime drama film directed by Robert Harmon and starring Tom Selleck, Kathy Baker, and Kohl Sudduth. Written by Tom Selleck and Michael Brandman, it is based on the Jesse Stone novels written by Robert B. Parker. This film is about the police chief of a small New England town who investigates a series of murders in Boston for a state police colleague and uncovers evidence that leads to a notorious mob boss. Filmed on location in Nova Scotia, the story is set in the fictitious town of Paradise, Massachusetts.

<i>Stranger in Paradise</i> (novel) novel by Robert B. Parker

Stranger in Paradise is a 2008 crime novel by Robert B. Parker, the seventh in his Jesse Stone series.

<i>Night and Day</i> (Parker novel) novel by Robert B. Parker

Night and Day is a crime novel by Robert B. Parker, the eighth in his Jesse Stone series. It was the last in the series to be published before his death in 2010.

<i>Split Image</i> (novel) novel by Robert B. Parker

Split Image is a crime novel by Robert B. Parker, the ninth and final novel in his Jesse Stone series. It was published a month after his death.

<i>Jesse Stone: Thin Ice</i> 2009 television film directed by Robert Harmon

Jesse Stone: Thin Ice is a 2009 American made-for-television crime drama film directed by Robert Harmon and starring Tom Selleck, Kathy Baker, and Kohl Sudduth. Based on the characters from the Jesse Stone book series created by Robert B. Parker, the film is about the police chief of a small New England town who investigates a cryptic letter sent to the mother of a kidnapped child who was declared dead. Filmed on location in Nova Scotia, the story is set in the fictitious town of Paradise, Massachusetts. Jesse Stone: Thin Ice is the fifth in a series of nine television films based on the characters of Parker's Jesse Stone novels. The film received an American Society of Cinematographers Award for Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography, as well as a Canadian Society of Cinematographers Award for Best Cinematography in TV Drama for Rene Ohashi.

<i>Jesse Stone: Innocents Lost</i> 2011 American television crime drama film directed by Robert Harmon

Jesse Stone: Innocents Lost is a 2011 American made-for-television crime drama film directed by Dick Lowry and starring Tom Selleck, Kathy Baker, and Kohl Sudduth. Based on the characters from the Jesse Stone novels created by Robert B. Parker, the film is about the retired police chief of a small New England town who investigates the suspicious death of a young friend while the police force deals with the arrogant new police chief who is the son-in-law of a town councilman. Filmed on location in Nova Scotia, the story is set in the fictitious town of Paradise, Massachusetts. Jesse Stone: Innocents Lost is the seventh in a series of nine television films based on the characters of Parker's Jesse Stone novels. The film first aired on the CBS television network on May 22, 2011.

<i>Back Story</i> novel by Robert B. Parker

Back Story is a crime novel by Robert B. Parker, the 30th novel in his Spenser series.

<i>Stone Cold</i> (2005 film) 2005 television film directed by Robert Harmon

Stone Cold is a 2005 American made-for-television crime drama film directed by Robert Harmon and starring Tom Selleck, Jane Adams and Reg Rogers. Based on the 2003 novel Stone Cold by Robert B. Parker, the film is about the police chief of a small New England town who investigates a series of murders that occur with the same modus operandi. Filmed on location in Nova Scotia, the story is set in the fictitious town of Paradise, Massachusetts. Stone Cold is the first in a series of nine television films based on Parker's Jesse Stone novels. The film first aired on the CBS television network February 20, 2005. Even though it was broadcast first in the series of films, it actually takes place after the second film of the series, Jesse Stone: Night Passage, which aired a year after this.

<i>Jesse Stone: Night Passage</i> 2006 television film directed by Robert Harmon

Jesse Stone: Night Passage is a 2006 American made-for-television crime drama film directed by Robert Harmon and starring Tom Selleck, Saul Rubinek and Viola Davis. Based on the 1997 novel Night Passage by Robert B. Parker—the first novel in the Jesse Stone series—the film is about a former Los Angeles homicide detective who is hired as the police chief of a small New England town and finds himself immersed in a series of mysteries. Filmed on location in Nova Scotia, the story is set in the fictitious town of Paradise, Massachusetts. Jesse Stone: Night Passage is the second in a series of nine television films based on Parker's Jesse Stone novels. The film first aired on the CBS television network January 15, 2006.

<i>Jesse Stone: Death in Paradise</i> 2006 television film directed by Robert Harmon

Jesse Stone: Death in Paradise is a 2006 American made-for-television crime film directed by Robert Harmon and starring Tom Selleck, Viola Davis, and Kohl Sudduth. Based on the 2001 novel Death in Paradise by Robert B. Parker, the film is about a small town police chief and struggling alcoholic who investigates the murder of a teenage girl whose body is found floating in a lake. The case brings the former LAPD homicide detective into the affluent world of a bestselling writer who exploits troubled teens, and the violent world of a Boston mobster. Filmed on location in Nova Scotia, the story is set in the fictitious town of Paradise, Massachusetts. Jesse Stone: Death in Paradise is the third in a series of nine television films based on Parker's Jesse Stone novels. The film first aired on the CBS television network April 30, 2006.

<i>Jesse Stone: Benefit of the Doubt</i> 2012 American television mystery film directed by Robert Harmon

Jesse Stone: Benefit of the Doubt is a 2012 American made-for-television crime drama film directed by Robert Harmon and starring Tom Selleck, Kathy Baker, and Kohl Sudduth. Based on the characters from the Jesse Stone novels created by Robert B. Parker, the film is about the police chief of a small New England town who returns from his forced retirement after his replacement is blown up in the town police car. Filmed on location in Nova Scotia, the story is set in the fictitious town of Paradise, Massachusetts. Jesse Stone: Benefit of the Doubt is the eighth in a series of nine television films based on the characters of Parker's Jesse Stone novels. The film first aired on the CBS television network on May 20, 2012.

<i>Jesse Stone: Lost in Paradise</i> 2015 television film directed by Robert Harmon

Jesse Stone: Lost in Paradise is a 2015 American made-for-television crime drama film directed by Robert Harmon and starring Tom Selleck, Mackenzie Foy, William Devane, and Luke Perry. Written by Tom Selleck and Michael Brandman, the film is about a police chief of the (fictional) small town of Paradise, Massachusetts, who investigates the murder of the apparent fourth victim of a brutal serial killer. Filmed on location in Lunenburg and Halifax, Nova Scotia, Jesse Stone: Lost in Paradise is the latest in a series of nine television films based on the characters of Robert B. Parker's Jesse Stone novels.

References

  1. ↑ Parker, Robert B. (1997). Night Passage. New York, New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons. ISBN   978-0-399-14304-5
  2. ↑ 81st Annual Academy Awards - Nominations: Actress in a Supporting Role - 2009 The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences & ABC, Inc.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.