Jesse is fighting the opioid epidemic, his desire for a drink, and to connect to his newly found son in Robert B. Parker’s The Bitterest Pill.
I read each of Robert B. Parker’s novels as they were released. I’ve only read one of the books by Michael Brandman, which I didn’t care for at all. This is my first book in the series by Reed Farrel Coleman. He does a better job making the writing style sound similar to Mr. Parker’s writing. However, I feel that Jesse’s highly controlled alcoholism was what made him unique. By removing that trait, Jesse doesn’t feel genuine. I also thought the addition of a long lost son was kind of a stretch. It seemed like a plot device rather than a natural shift in Jesse’s world.
Overall, I would recommend Robert B. Parker’s The Bitterest Pill to readers new to the series. The mystery was good and the writing style excellent. But it may be a disappointment to longtime fans of the original author. 3 stars.
Thanks to G.P. Putnam’s Sons and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.