by J. A. Jance
Part of J.P. Beaumont, book 2
First published 1990
J.P. Beaumont expects a quiet getaway on the Washington coast. Instead, he discovers a blonde woman screaming over a corpse on the beach. The Seattle Homicide detective tries to comfort the distraught witness, but his vacation quickly dissolves into a complex murder investigation. Politics and personal vendettas drive the case as Beau uncovers motives rooted in passion and power. The killer grows bolder with each move, turning what began as a random beach discovery into a personal hunt. Beau must navigate dangerous political waters while tracking a murderer whose appetite for violence intensifies. His holiday becomes a race against time as the investigation pulls him deeper into a web where official corruption meets deadly obsession. The case tests Beau's skills as both detective and survivor when he realizes the killer has made this investigation deeply personal.
Genres: mystery, crime, thriller, detective
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: amateur-detective, race-against-time
Setting: Washington, Seattle
368 pages · Mass Market Paperback · Avon Books