In this 18th book in the 'J.P. Beaumont' series, the Seattle police detective looks into a cold case and a murder. The book can be read as a standalone.
*****
The Washington State Attorney General, Ross Alan Connors - who's preparing for an election - wants to beef up his record and get some cases solved. Thus Connors creates the 'Special Homicide Investigative Team' (SHIT), composed of a group of reliable, discreet detectives. The SHIT squad includes detective partners J.P. Beaumont and Melissa (Mel) Soames, who also happen to be a romantic couple.
(Note: In my opinion, SHIT is a ludicrous acronym. Can you imagine newspaper headlines screaming 'SHIT gets a commendation from the Governor.')
Beaumont is looking into an old missing persons case when Connors gives him an additional assignment: to investigate the deliberate shooting of LaShawn Tompkins. Tompkins, a former drug dealer convicted of rape, was imprisoned for seven years before being cleared by DNA analysis. Tompkins was doing good works at the King Street Mission at the time of his murder, so who would want him dead? Connors suspects 'people with connections', and tells Beaumont to conduct VERY hush hush inquiries.
For his missing persons case Beaumont is looking into the disappearance of Anthony David Cosgrove, an aircraft engineer who vanished 25 years ago - on the day Mount St. Helen's erupted. Though Cosgrove's death was tentatively attributed to the volcanic explosion, no trace of his remains were found in the debris.
Cosgrove's daughter still hopes her dad will be found, but the engineer's former wife and her (now) husband DON'T WANT the case re-opened. This seems suspicious to Beaumont, and much drama ensues.
Meanwhile, inquiries into the LaShawn Tompkins murder brings Beaumont to the home of LaShawn's grandmother, Etta Mae Tompkins - a fierce, wheelchair bound lady who dearly loved her 'Shawny.' Though Etta Mae applauded her grandson's good works at the mission, she doesn't think much of its founder, Pastor Mark.
Etta Mae's feelings seem justified when Beaumont tries to interview employees at the mission and a lawyer shows up to shut him down.....while Pastor Mark stands by with a satisfied smile.
While Beaumont goes about his business, Mel Soames is looking into the suspicious deaths of men who committed sex crimes, most of whom were registered sex offenders. These scumbags are dying at an alarming rate, sometimes from outright murder.....and sometimes from 'accidental causes.' Suspecting vigilante justice, Soames is determined to nab the killer.
In addition to their detective duties, Beaumont and Soames have personal concerns. Beaumont's beloved grandmother Beverly just died, and a funeral is being planned; Beaumont's daughter Katie, mother of a newborn, is behaving oddly; and Mel Soames is being secretive about her reasons for joining an organization dedicated to convicting sex offenders. Beaumont is especially apprehensive about Mel, since he's had disastrous relationships with women in the past - and actually had to shoot his first wife.
There are some mild surprises in the book, and satisfactory resolutions of all the mysteries. I enjoyed the suspense part of the book but got bored with the minutiae related to the detectives' romance - the wining, dining, loving gazes, little tiffs, etc. To me this seemed extraneous to the story and I could have done without it. I know some readers like this kind of thing, though, so 'nuff said. 🙂
I'd recommend the book to readers who like mysteries, especially fans of J.P. Beaumont.
Rating: 3 stars
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