In Lost in Paradise, it’s been two years since the events of Benefit of the Doubt and Jesse Stone now lives alone following the passing of his dog Reggie. Over the past two years, Jesse has kept himself busy with police work and has cleaned up any major problems in the town of Paradise.
Keen to dive into more work, Jesse heads to Boston to continue his on/off consultancy role for the Boston Police Department. Here he picks up a collection of cold cases, including a file detailing the crimes of the Boston Ripper, aka convicted murderer Richard Steele.
Steele was convicted of the murder of three people, but has long been associated with a fourth. After meeting with Steele in prison, Jesse isn’t convinced he was involved with the fourth death and is interested in finding out who was.
Meanwhile, back in Paradise, Jesse crosses paths with a troubled teenager. He becomes concerned for her welfare, and asks officer “Suitcase” Simpson to keep an eye on her.
Directed by Robert Harmon, Lost in Paradise stars Tom Selleck, Kohl Sudduth, William Sadler, William Devane, Gloria Reuben, and Luke Perry. The movie is the ninth instalment in the Jesse Stone TV movie series and at present it is also the final entry.
Lost in Paradise made its debut in 2015, ten years after the first Jesse Stone movie, Stone Cold, hit television screens. Across this ten year period the movie series has built up a strong degree of consistency in terms of its tone, quality, and cast, and this is something which doesn’t get abandoned with this ninth film.
Sure, a few of the long-running cast members (Kathy Baker, Stephen McHattie, Saul Rubinek) aren’t involved this time around, and neither is Jesse’s dog Reggie, but everything else is present and correct. Jesse is back on a case, he’s balancing his alcoholism with his police work, and the crime/mystery element has exactly the right hook to keep things interesting.
Lost in Paradise also returns to the format of showcasing twin plot lines, something that was present in the majority of the previous films, but was abandoned for Benefit of the Doubt. The main plot line about the Boston Ripper is the strongest of the two stories in play, but the back-up plot line about the troubled teen is a great addition.
This plot line is a domestic case which revolves around alcoholism. It ties in well with Jesse’s battle with drinking, and it creates a good contrast to the Ripper story.
With regards to the cast, Selleck is top value as always, as is William Devane, while the late Luke Perry is excellent as Richard Steele. Perry only gets a small amount of screen time, but he sells the heck out of what he’s given.
As for the supporting players, it is a shame some of the aforementioned long-running cast members aren’t present this time around, but it doesn’t impact the movie. Kathy Baker was essentially written out in the previous film; Saul Rubinek’s exit was left open-ended; so it’s only Stephen McHattie’s Captain Healy that feels noticeably absent.
However, it’s important to note that Lost in Paradise was not written to be the final entry in this series so there’s always hope we’ll see some of those faces again. Whatever the future holds, Lost in Paradise leaves the door open for more adventures with Jesse Stone.
As with pretty much every Jesse Stone movie, Lost in Paradise hits the same level of enjoyment and entertainment that has become a mainstay of the film series. The combination of (director) Robert Harmon, (star, executive producer and co-writer) Tom Selleck, and (executive producer and co-writer) Michael Brandman, keep these films in safe hands, and continues to deliver for fans.
I know it’s becoming a cliché at this point to say it, but if you like the previous films there’s really no reason not to like Lost in Paradise. This film is good stuff, and it is on par with some of the earlier entries.
Hopefully a tenth film will materialise in the not-too distant future, but for now the Jesse Stone series comes to an end with another likeable instalment. The series stops (or possibly just pauses) in a good place, and that’s quite an achievement for the ninth film in a film series.
Should you wish to check it out, Lost in Paradise is available on DVD and digital download from all major retailers, including Amazon US.
—
Disclaimer: I earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.
—
__
Thank you for taking the time to read this review on It’s A Stampede!. For more reviews, check out the recommended reads below.
It's A Stampede! 
Leave a comment