Breach of Duty

In this 14th. book in the J. P. Beaumont series, Beau and his partner Sue Danielson are investigating two separate cases. In the first one, an elderly women is found burned in her bed. Hints of blackmail and jealousy are turned up in the course of the investigation. The problem is deciding which one was the actual motive for the murder. The second case has to do with the bones of an Indian shaman which are discovered in a public park by some satanic, role-playing teenagers. There are many false leads and strange tales of fatal Indian curses which begin to have some basis in reality. In addition to working on these cases with Beau, Sue is dealing with an abusive ex-husband who is wooing their children with promises of a trip to Disneyland. When things don't go his way, he explodes into anger which effects both Sue and Beau in a life-changing series of events. This book has all the ingredients of a good mystery story, along with a developing relationship between two of its main characters. Faithful readers hope that Jance will continue this series with Beaumont headed in a new direction both professionally and personally.

J. A. Jance and her Detective Beaumont series are by far my favorite available at this point in time. Beau is not your average detective - not with his unlimited bank account and red Porsche that were the inheritance from both wife and murderess Anne Corley. Despite having enough money to spend the rest of his life on permanent vacation, Beau continues to work because putting away the bad guy and seeking justice for the good are what give his life meaning. J. A. Jance always manages to weave personal touches and storylines into the lives of her characters while never slowing down the plot of her mysteries. In "Breach of Duty" we are treated with not one but two seperate mysteries, and an ending which will leave J. P. Beaumont looking at a whole new direction in his life.Beau and his partner, Sue Danielson, are stuck with two mysteries: first, the discovery of old bones in Seward Park which end up belonging to a powerful Indian shaman some 10 years dead. Second, murder by arson of an older lady who happens to have $300,000 in cold, hard cash in her fridge. Beaumont and Danielson have to figure out where the money came from and where it should go to, as well as who might have murdered the old lady. Was it one of her poverty stricken relatives, or something to do with the rich and powerful Forrester family the lady once worked for? As for the shaman's bones, they have been disturbed from their ancient burial grounds, and all those responsible and those who have been in contact with the bones are at the mercy of the shaman's curse. As the body count starts rising, can Beaumont solve the mystery and save those who have been affected?The end of this story will bring about some dramatic changes in the life of J. P. Beaumont. I cannot wait for the next book in the series, to see where Beau's life leads him next, and to see if he can learn to let go of the responsibilities he's unfairly heaped on his own shoulders. I'm hoping that a new love interest for Beaumont - a real one with staying power and plenty of gumption and patience will turn up to reward Beau for all of the good he's done to everyone but himself. Come on Jance, let's give Beaumont the woman he deserves.

This book started out fast and when it was over your waiting for the next one. I mean right now. I was shocked, amazed and delighted with the ending. ...the book was a edge of the seat read. Once you start I can almost guarantee you won't put it down til your finished.

As an avid murder mystery reader, I find J. P. Beaumont to be a real page turner. As a Seattle resident who prides herself in knowing all the history of this area, Jance hits the mark with historical accuracy and city legends which makes the reading experience even more fulfilling. We want more J. P. Beaumont.....This book gives us hope as he moves to a new kind of work with the State. Thanks, Jance, I LOVED IT.

Having read all the other J.P.Beaumont books in the series, I found this one to be by far the best. Once I started reading I could not put it down. This is the first book I read that caused me to actually tear up at what was happening to the characters because thay were so real. I did not forsee the ending and was suprised at what happened. I would highly reccommend this book to anyone that likes "cop" stories.