He certainly is understated in this role, for sure. I can’t quite wrap myself around his seemingly sporadic drinking problem and the nightly calls to his ex-wife, but I like the crime detection and resolution and his approach to crime - punch the sucker out.....I like them. The “I’m just a small town cop......” and his “I’m the police chief, I’m supposed to know everything....” are likeable recurring quips that are fun.
From the two or three books I've read, I prefer the calls to having his ex sleeping around Boston (and with Stone) as a tv weather girl.
She calls him. In fact I don’t recall Jesse ever calling Jenn. She can’t move on. He drinks to forget the past but she won’t let him.