by J. A. Jance
Part of J.P. Beaumont, book 26
First published 2024
Former Seattle homicide detective J.P. Beaumont has his hands full when his teenage grandson arrives unexpectedly, seeking refuge from his parents' crumbling marriage. The boy wants to finish his senior year living with Beau and his wife Mel in their quiet home. But peace proves elusive when an old friend approaches Beau with disturbing questions about a recent death. A young man has died from a fentanyl overdose, yet everyone who knew him insists he would never touch drugs. The official ruling calls it accidental, but the victim's loved ones smell something rotten. Beau takes on the case unofficially, digging into circumstances that don't add up. His investigation reveals a pattern of similar deaths, all pointing toward an unexpected killer. As Beau peels back layers of deception, he discovers a vigilante operating in the shadows. The case grows more dangerous than he anticipated, forcing him to confront both new threats and ghosts from his past while protecting his family.
Genres: suspense, mystery, crime, detective
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: found-family, personal-stakes
Setting: Seattle
Period: contemporary
368 pages · Hardcover · William Morrow
Content warnings: drug-use