Very disappointing...

A film with more than the usual spoiler issues. Talking about it in any detail feels akin to handing you a gift-wrapped present and saying, "I hope you like it -- It's a thriller about a diabolical secret experiment."

Blistering performances.

The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.

A couple of truly sad cases come across the desk of police chief Jesse Stone of Paradise, Massachusetts. The first involves the appearance of the body of a 14 year old girl who had been in the water for a few weeks. The second is an ongoing domestic dispute between an abusive husband and his battered wife. Patient and methodical as always Tom Selleck gets the job done. The domestic couple is John Diehl and Debra Christofferson who steals acting honors here in a scene with Selleck where she talks sadly about how few options she has in life other than stay in this relationship with this dirtbag. One of Selleck's officers is nearly killed because of the volatility of the situation.The second after long search because she was never reported missing turns out to be Mae Whitman whom we see in flashback. She was the school tramp for the past couple of years. Again someone you can weep for because had she lived she would have had a really horrible life with lots of issues. Of no help is her parents especially her father who actually kicked her out of the house. She was also a few weeks pregnant.Going through her relationships is what eventually leads Selleck to a conclusion he was supposed to arrive at. But actually it's the knot that came loose that allowed her body to rise is what ultimately leads him to her murderer.A fine film with one bad slice of humanity for Stone to deal with.

The third film in the Jesse Stone series which was based on the third book by Robert B. Parker. The most complete film, for me it is the best from the first three. You will find it a lot different than the previous two, it's filled with a lot of suspense moments till the last minute. I think retaining the same director so far for the series worked so well. It was just a 90 minute film, but feels it runs for very long and that is not in a boring way, but from the development wise, it is a well made film.In a small town, like what Jesse says who he mostly gives out parking tickets gets a new case to get engaged. This time it is a death of the young teen girl whose body was washed up on the river's edge, but completely unidentifiable. Jesse follows where all the clues lead and after getting the details about the missing children around the town of Paradise, he moves on one step closer to identify the victim as well as to mark the suspect. But then again, the twist and turns brings more interesting aspect of the story and his big city experience comes into effect after his co-worker was badly hurt in a shootout.In this, it was Mae Whitman as in a guest appearance, but it was too short as she stays for only a couple of minutes. The other one was Stephen Baldwin, whose character adds more flavour like abolishing one film one case kind of mindset in a cop theme. Because in the real police work, they deal multiple cases at a time.In this, as well in the lead Tom Selleck was awesome. But while his character over obsessed with the case, the film reveals his psychological side of the desperation to bring the justice to the dead girl. Like the girl appearing in his dream and particularly in the station, he hallucinates about her which describes him in a completely different angle for a second. Besides, there's slight sentiments in it and so it also digs on his new romance interest for a school principal, but the Jesse is very clear on what he's seeking after leaving the LA that his job comes first."This job in Paradise is my last job. I get off the bus here."In some case, finding the suspect alone is not valid to prove someones crimes, so what this story's notion is to find the motive which automatically going reveals everything rest behind the crime. I think very smartly written story, I was fascinated by all the development like step by step how a death enquiry takes place. Released in the same year as the previous film, this is another wonderful detective film made for the television.Solid performances, particularly Davis Viola and Kohl Sudduth who are the regular cast did not fail to deliver in their small screenspace. But I expected the big contribution, and I hope in the following film they would achieve that. So in this you are going to witness the Jesse's job commitment, his personal life was sidelined to a marginal. Particularly his ex-wife never calls which I thought kind of annoying in the first two films to taking over than the usual. Jesse does not drink in this, but can be seen him with a coffee mug in most of the parts.If you like murder-mysteries, then this is the film to pick, but I suggest to go for the whole series, begin with the first. I have seen only three films, but I think it is worth giving a try. There's only small clichés like how the police department works, but the narration was very good with the full details. The pace was excellent against the strong story and the character developments. Jesse's courage was another highlight. He always takes risks his life, especially dealing the situation when men are armed and pose a serious threat.Sure, the film will live up to anybody's expectations and also it can be watched by everyone. You probably have seen many cop films, but this is one of those must not miss. I'm happy for this part to focus on the child molestation topic. Like I said in my last review, so far so good and particularly standing up to this film's standard is quite what I'm looking for in the next one. Anyway, it won't too long for another review in the Jesse Stone series.9/10

Mr Tom Selleck has often been sold short,particularly in the early stages of his career when he appeared to be just another good - looking big guy,albeit one with a sense of humour.More recently he has been flexing his acting chops and in the "Jesse Stone:Death in Paradise" he gives a performance well beyond the call of duty. Chief of a four person police department on the Massachusets coast,he is a man to inspire loyalty and confidence,respect and obedience;a remnant,if you like of all our distant memories of what we would like small - town cops to be. He is not a perfect man by any means,arriving in Paradise on the back of a marriage break up and he has a drink problem that he seems unable to resolve. He is stubborn,principled,brave and flawed,not unlike Robert B.Parker's more famous character,Spenser. He does not show emotion but he is not emotionless. Mr Selleck portrays these complicated and contrary characteristics with very little indications other than the eyes.Mostly he looks impassive but his true feelings are visible through his eyes.It is an exceedingly impressive performance of a depth rarely seen in TV productions. The story is almost ancillary to the character development,Mr Selleck is obviously in this for the long run. Mr W.Devane is excellent as the cop - turned - shrink who dishes out tough love to Jesse at $180 per hour. Lovers of Mr Parker's novels will appreciate the characters that cross from the Spenser series,Commander Healey of the State Police and Gino Fish the Boston mobster with a whimsical turn of mind. I have just read the first post - Parker Jesse Stone and the character has made the difficult transition between the authors quite flawlessly. I wholeheartedly recommend the "Jesse Stone" series to all lovers of joined - up TV cop shows.

Like the film before this one, "Jesse Stone: Night Passage", "Death in Paradise" is a flawless, highly entertaining television movie that is so powerful and so realistic that it almost looks like something you would have to go see in the theaters. When a low-budget television show becomes that, then you know that you are really looking at a true masterpiece of film-making. I've seen big budget Hollywood mysteries that weren't as good as this. It stars Tom Selleck in another fabulous performance as Chief Jesse Stone, a troubled cop in a small town called Paradise on the eastern seaboard if I'm not mistaken.What I liked a lot about "Death in Paradise" was how it didn't just focus on one single case by itself. Instead of just Tom Selleck and his team trying to solve the main mystery, the death of a girl, they also tries to handle a second case at the same time, which enhances the power and overall authentistic atmosphere of the movie.I'll keep my review short and just end it by stating that "Jesse Stone: Death in Paradise" is like "Night Passage" and the sequel after this one, "Sea Change", a fantastic mystery movie and a delightful discovery to find. It's really impressive that a movie this magnificent could have been made on such a small budget, if it was. Most television movies are like that, but I can't be sure. If it was made on a higher budget, I can believe it. It's highly recommended by me.