Jesse Stone is a former L.A. homicide detective who left behind the big city and an exwife to be the police chief of the quiet New England fishing town of Paradise. Stone's old habits die hard as he proceeds to indulge his favorite things--ladies and scotch. When a number of murders takes place and also a high school girl is banged, to be able to address the crimes he is forced to face his own demons. And, since these are the initial murders Jesse must train his in experienced staff of police to aid in the investigation before they are able to hit to find the offenders and the rapist.