About the Author

J. A. Jance is the New York Times bestselling author of the J. P. Beaumont series, the Joanna Brady series, the Ali Reynolds series, and five interrelated thrillers about the Walker family, as well as a volume of poetry. Born in South Dakota and brought up in Bisbee, Arizona, Jance lives with her husband in Seattle, Washington, and Tucson, Arizona.

Reviews

J.P. Beaumont, "Beau," is back from the hiatus imposed by creator Jance while she focused on her Joanna Brady series. In this 14th mystery, the sensitive Seattle police detective, a recovering alcoholic, juggles several mysteries, including the arson-induced death of an older woman and a series of crimes related to the stolen bones of a Native American shaman. Meanwhile, partner Sue Danielson is hounded by her ex-husband, and all three "cases" move to violent conclusions almost simultaneously. Readers with an aversion to the supernatural may be put off by the curse of the shaman, but series fans will surely want this. [Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 10/15/98.]

"A dillusioned, cynical hero in the classic hard-boiled tradition."--Journal-American
"Credible and entertaining."--Orlando Sentinel
"J.A. Jance does not disappoint her fans."--Washington Times
"Jance has brought us yet another winner!"--Dallas Morning News
"One of the country's most popular mystery writers."--The Oregonian (Portland)
"Suspenseful, action-packed."--Dallas Morning News
"Taut . . . entertaining."--Entertainment Weekly
Praise for J.A. Jance: "Jance delivers a devilish page-turner."--People

In his 14th outing (and first in three years), Seattle homicide detective J.P. Beaumont (Name Withheld, etc.) finds, along with his new partner, Sue Danielson, that seemingly ho-hum investigations grow in grim complexity even as personal distractions multiply. The pair has been assigned to investigate the arson death of Agnes Ferman, a woman disliked by just about everyone; the more than $300,000 found tucked away in her garage points to plenty of suspects. In Seattle's Seward Park, meanwhile, a group of costumed, role-playing teens have been using human bones in their games. Beau is warned that the bones may be those of Quinault shaman David Half Moon, and that anyone handling them is in grave danger. Beau scoffs, but when some of those associated with the investigation meet violent ends, he and Sue develop open minds. Adding texture to the doings are Sue's troubles centering around the sudden reappearance of her violent ex-husband, who, uncharacteristically, wants to take their sons on a dream trip to Disneyland. A coincidence‘that most of the Seward Park suspects regularly congregate at one of Beau's haunts‘stains the narrative, but otherwise Jance, as usual, relates a clean and tightly woven plot distinguished by authentic dialogue, honest emotions and characters readers will care about. (Feb.)