Books like Stranger in Paradise by Robert B. Parker

Police Chief Jesse Stone of Paradise, Massachusetts, faces a familiar foe when Crow, an Apache Indian hit‑man, appears after a decade of silence. Crow, who escaped a notorious bridge‑blowing heist years ago, seeks Stone’s assistance to recover a kidnapped girl, Amber Francisco. Amber, now a homeless youth involved with a Latino gang, is under threat from her father, Louis, who wants Crow to kill her mother, Fiona. Stone must protect Amber while navigating his tense re‑connection with ex‑wife Jenn, who is investigating the gang for her TV station. As the danger mounts, Stone, Crow, and Jenn must confront moral choices that could change their lives forever. The novel blends crime, mystery, and police procedural elements, set against the backdrop of Massachusetts’ coastal town and the complex dynamics of missing persons, gang violence, and strained relationships.

First publish date: 2008