In this 4th book in the 'J.P. Beaumont' series, the Seattle homicide detective investigates two suspicious deaths. The book can be read as a standalone.
*****
This is an early book in the 'J. P. Beaumont' series, and the homicide detective is a jackass 🤨, unlike later books where he's more mature.
In any case, Beaumont (Beau) investigates when two gay lovers die in suspicious circumstances. One man is bashed with a high-heeled shoe near Seattle railroad tracks and the other dies in his bed, supposedly from AIDS.
The two deaths occurring so close together is too much of a coincidence, and Beau suspects two murders. Moreover, the apartment the men shared contains illegal drugs, which may figure in the deaths somehow.
Beau's investigation leads him to a pop singer on tour, who employed one of the victims as a stage hand.
Beau questions the singer and her entourage and other people who knew the victims, including the nurse who cared for the AIDS patient; relatives; etc.
There's a good bit of homophobia in the story, from Beau (mild homophobia) to Beau's police partner (strong homophobia) to the parents of one of the victims (rabid homophobia - they disowned their son). In addition, Beau can't keep it in his pants and actually gets sexually involved with a potential suspect in the case!!
The book is set in the 1980s when anti-gay sentiments, and horror at the idea of AIDS (which was basically a death sentence) were more prevalent and open. Still, it's uncomfortable to read the book today.
In addition, the case is so convoluted that Beau's resolution - and how he got there - has to be explained in detail at the end of the story. (Completely inorganic story-telling.)
Unless you're determined to read this series in its entirety, you can skip this book without missing much.
Rating: 2 stars
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