Split Image by Robert Parker

Recently a movie aired on television taken from a crime novel by a well-known author. If one had actually read the book, they would have hardly recognized the plot or the main characters. While impossible to exactly follow a book, one hopes to view a movie that somewhat resembles what was originally intended.

One exception are the made-for-tv movies featuring police chief Jesse Stone. Even the author, Robert B. Parker has been pleasantly surprised by the accurate filming of his works. Jesse Stone is played by the classic hunk, Tom Selleck, and Parker stated that Selleck portrayed Stone perfectly. While probable that more people have watched the movies than actually read the books, the Stone novels are an enjoyable experience also.

Jesse Stone is the police chief the Boston suburb of Paradise. He is plagued with a history of alchol problems which led to the end of a career as a detective in Los Angeles.

In "Split Image" Stone is still troubled by a failed marriage. A private investigator friend, Sunny, visits him seeking help involving a cult-like religious group. Parents of a girl involved with the group hired Sunny to get their daughter out. While the girls appears to be in no danger, the investigation leads to some interesting facts.

Then an employee of a suspected organized crime honcho is found dead. Two former mob leaders have built identical homes on the beach, and interestingly, have married beautiful identical twins. When one of the crime lords is also murdered, Stone must look into the past of all those involved.

The Jesse Stone books are always good for a fun time. Light-hearted and funny, with no heavy evil or gross crime scenes, they are good to pick up when you just want to read a fast-paced entertaining novel. The snappy dialogue is always good for a chuckle or two. You may not be intellectually challenged, but you will enjoy "Split Image" When the movie is made, we will all know what's happening next! On a scale of 1 to 10, a 5 might be about right.