Book Review: Breach of Duty

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Breach of Duty     Amazon US PB Amazon US ADOBE Reader eBook Amazon US MSReader eBook Amazon Canada PB
J. A. Jance
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Police Procedural   Classic
Series: J. P. Beaumont # 14
Avon, Jan 1999, $23.00, 352 pp.

After a brief vacation, the Seattle Detective team of Jonas Piedmont "J.P." Beaumont and Sue Danielson begin working two seemingly simple cases. They investigate the recent death of a senior citizen, Agnes Ferman, whom the fire department claims died when someone set her bedding on fire with an accelerent. The immediate motive seems to be the $300,000 the elderly individual hid in a refrigerator. Their other case involves role playing vampires and zombies, who found skeletal remains in Seward Park.

Reluctantly, J.P. and Sue begin inquiries into both cases even though the first case has to wait for the HAZMAT team to complete their work. With the latter, the dynamic duo learns that the bones belong to Native Americans, who claim contact with them by infidels could be deadly. The acting police chief interferes and removes them from the second investigation. Additionally, someone has set evil plans in motion. Still, J.P. and Sue continue their inquiries even if it means placing their own lives on the line.

"Beau is Back." That ad campaign is so accurate because anyone who has previously read any of the other thirteen novels will understand. Bottom line is that J.A. Jance has not lost a step with her latest Beau tale, BREACH OF DUTY. This book receives the highest recommendation just like the rest of the novels of one of the all time great police procedural series.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner