Paradise, Massachusetts, is gearing up for the summer season when a spate of car thefts places its tourist-friendly reputation in jeopardy. As the silver-tongued, heavy-handed police chief vows to put a stop to the activities, Jesse is forced to defend himself, his patch and - before long - his latest squeeze.

A Hollywood movie is shooting in Paradise - and its cast and crew prove to be a catalyst for crime.

Jesse Stone is an ex LA cop who has taken the job of police chief in Paradise, Massachusetts - and things are getting strange in Paradise. Stone is called to the junior high school when reports of lewd conduct by the school's principal, Betsy Ingersoll, filter into the station.

Spenser is approached by Ashton Prince, an art professor who wants him to help recover a stolen painting. The thieves will return the painting in exchange for a ransom, and so the professor wants Spenser along in case things turn nasty. The exchange seems to go to plan, until the painting explodes in the professor's hands

Spenser has never had any difficulty handling women, but when four stunningly beautiful trophy wives hire him to protect them against a blackmailer threatening to expose their infidelities, even he must admit they look like trouble.

In 'Promised Land' Spenser is hired by Harvey Shephard to find his wife. The case seems straightforward at first, but Spenser suspects that more dangerous forces are at work. 'Looking for Rachel Wallace' sees Spenser hired to protect a lesbian feminist activist. After his protection gets in the way of her protest, she fires him.