Character Relationship Map: Stone Cold

Characters

• Jesse Stone (played by Tom Selleck) — protagonist

  Chief of Police in Paradise, MA, and former LAPD detective. Methodical, honest, and deeply troubled by personal demons, particularly alcoholism and loneliness. Navigates complex local and state-level...

• Molly Crane (played by Viola Davis) — supporting

  Former Paradise PD deputy who serves under Jesse Stone early in the series. Resigns from the force to focus on starting a family, paving the way for Rose Gammon's appointment to the department.

• Andrew Lincoln (played by Reg Rogers) — supporting

  Middle-aged thrill killer who murders randomly with his wife, videotaping their crimes.

• Bo Marino (played by Shawn Roberts) — supporting

  Local figure and person of interest in early Paradise investigations. Linked to high school criminal activities and local underworld tensions that Jesse must navigate during his initial cases.

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Molly Crane → Bo Marino (Professional Case Associate) — Molly contributes to the investigation involving Bo.

  Molly assists Jesse in discovering the identities of the three boys who raped Candace, a group that includes Bo.

• Jesse Stone → Bo Marino (Professional Police Investigator And Suspect) — Jesse investigates Bo's involvement in the assault.

  After Bo is brought in on drug charges, Jesse discovers photographs of Candace's assault in Bo's possession and keeps him in custody overnight.

• Jesse Stone → Molly Crane (Professional Police Colleague) — Molly supports Jesse in investigations and police operations.

  Jesse investigates Candace's rape with assistance from Molly, and Molly later waits at the parking lot during Jesse's operation.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Andrew Lincoln → Molly Crane (Conflict Opposing Forces) — Molly is aligned with the police response against Andrew's crimes.

  Molly participates in the police operation designed to intercept the killers, while Andrew arrives as part of the attempted attack at Candace's house.

• Jesse Stone → Andrew Lincoln (Conflict Investigator And Suspect) — Jesse investigates Andrew as a serial murder suspect.

  Jesse connects Andrew to the parking-lot murder through vehicle photographs and the Paradise gun-owner list, then identifies Andrew and his wife as th...

Story Analysis

A troubled police chief investigates random murders while confronting local violence, personal loss, and a calculated killer.

Plot Progression

1. Shoreline Murders — Jesse Stone investigates a series of killings in Paradise. Vehicle photographs, gun-owner records, and an eyewitness gradually point toward Andrew Lincoln.
2. Two Dangerous Investigations — Jesse and Molly investigate Candace's rape while Jesse continues searching for proof against the Lincolns. Evidence found with Bo intensifies the pressure on the local police chief.
3. Loss and Retaliation — The killers stalk Abby and murder her in a park, devastating Jesse. He responds by confronting the Lincolns and designing a trap that will expose their next move.
4. The House Ambush — Jesse predicts that the killers will target Candace rather than attend the arranged parking-lot meeting. The recorded message turns Candace's house into a controlled ambush site.
5. After the Gunfire — Jesse survives the shooting because of his bulletproof vest and defeats the immediate threat. He returns home, rejects a phone message, and chooses to keep Reggie.