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Robert. B. Parker’s
Debt To Pay by Reed Farrel Coleman ingeniously creates
a cat and mouse story. In bringing back the serial killer,
assassin, and terrorist Mr. Peepers the plot reveals more
of Police Chief Jesse Stone’s personality, as he must
chase down his nemesis while saving those he loves.
Two books ago, The Devil Wins, Jesse struggled to
capture Mr. Peepers who eventually escaped. Now, after a major
crime boss is murdered, Jesse suspects it’s the work
of Mr. Peepers, a psychotic assassin who has threatened to
avenge Jesse’s broken promise by targeting those close
to the Chief. Figuring that the allusive sadistic serial killer
will strike at Jenn’s wedding Jesse and Diana agree
to travel to Dallas to be a part of the wedding, and to hopefully
stop Peepers. Jesse and Diana, the former FBI agent who has
turned private security consultant, hope to put closure to
his relationship with his ex-wife as they also covertly try
to protect her from the psychological and physical torture
of Peepers. As he tries to find Peepers Jesse wonders is he
going after Jenn, Diana, deputy Molly, or deputy Suitcase
Simpson?
Coleman describes Mr. Peepers as “a sadist, control
freak, part serial killer, and part hit man, but also a little
human because he has great affection for Jenn. I think he
is creepy like Hannibal Lechter. They are both bright, very
controlling, one step ahead of most people, condescending,
a feeling of superiority, and has affection for a particular
person. I think anyone who writes a mystery with a serial
killer has some influence of the Hannibal character. I think
I was influenced unconsciously, but not consciously.”
What is intriguing is how Coleman shows the differences in
personality between Diana and Jen. Diana seems to appear to
be more of Jesse’s soul mate who is very independent,
smart, good at her job, and comfortable in her own skin. Compared
to Jenn who is manipulative, wussy, dependent, and clingy.
Both women have Jesse’s devotion, but with Diana he
feels he has found an equal.
The author hopes to show “Diana is more self fulfilled
and does not need anyone to complete her. Could you imagine
Jenn jumping out of a car and chasing a mugger as Diana did
in this book? Jenn would have told Jesse to do it. One of
the things fans of the series have asked me is to kill Jenn
off. I found their relationship as annoying as the fans. I
hope in this book I rehabilitated her. Jesse is a guy who
needed to fix things and Jenn needed the help in getting things
fixed. Jesse knew she was manipulative, but with Jenn’s
new husband she does not seem so whiny or needy.”
The underlying theme has something readers can relate to:
be careful how you react to people because that can have dire
consequences. How many times has someone been offended by
a person’s actions whether being cussed out, cut-off
by a car, or someone just being downright uncaring.
Having people think before they react is important to Coleman.
“We encounter that in our everyday life. Readers did
not want the rude person in the story to be tortured. Yet,
we have all thought someone rude and wish they would get their
due. Someone who says, ‘F--- You’ even though
they did the rude act. Its crazy. I want people to think that
they should not be rude to someone else because you never
know if that person will take out a gun and shoot you.”
Debt To Pay does not have a dull scene. It is action-packed,
tension filled, and riveting. Because Coleman has such well-developed
characters people will find Peepers creepy, Jesse as the knight
in shining armor, Jenn as the damsel in distress, and Diana
as the self assured partner to Jesse both personally and professionally.
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