by J. A. Jance
Part of J.P. Beaumont, book 6
First published 1990
Detective J.P. Beaumont stares at the tabloid photograph that has shocked Seattle. A woman plunges from an unfinished skyscraper, her face twisted in terror. The image tells Beaumont everything he needs to know. This was no suicide. The victim didn't jump. Someone pushed her to her death. Beaumont begins his investigation expecting the usual motives and suspects. Instead, he uncovers something far more dangerous. His search for the killer leads him into the shadowy world of a corrupt labor union where loyalty is enforced through violence and dissent is silenced permanently. The deeper Beaumont digs, the more bodies pile up. Union bosses guard their secrets with deadly force, and anyone who threatens their power becomes a target. Beaumont realizes he's not just hunting one murderer but taking on an entire criminal organization. The case becomes personal as the union's enforcers close in around him. Beaumont must expose the truth before he becomes the next victim of their blood-soaked justice.
Genres: suspense, mystery, crime, thriller, detective, action
Vibes: dark, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, investigation, personal-stakes
Setting: Seattle
352 pages · Mass Market Paperback · Avon Books
Content warnings: violence