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javamamanc's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
yorugua1891's review against another edition
4.0
Fun read with some unusual dynamics.
Usually I am highly entertained by the Beaumont mysteries, and this case was no exception. The detective has to investigate a crime in a school that initially looks like a murder suicide. Soon enough things become complicated and we get a whodunit with plenty of twists and turns and a thrilling conclusion with plenty of revelations.
I enjoyed the fact that the author keeps giving us more information about Beaumont's personal life and we get to see how he continues to deal with recovering from alcoholism and in this case also with a significant family grudge. The part that was interesting and different from any of the previous books is the relationship with Beau's arch-nemesis Max Cole. We are use to seeing the battle between the detective and the journalist, which in the past has become pretty heated. In this case however, due to Max knowing on of the the victims and being affected by the events, we end up with a very cordial relationship which threatens to become a friendship. I am not sure I liked this part, since I enjoyed the nature of the previous relationship between these characters.
I did like the decision by Jance to have Beau work the case with a different partner than the one he usually has. Especially because this guy is obnoxious and creates many situations that add flavor to the story. Besides that, we get the usual cast of supporting characters, which are always welcome.
Jance delivered another mystery that keeps us reading eagerly until finding out who the guilty party is and when we get there we are already looking forward to the next one. That in my book can be considered a success.
Usually I am highly entertained by the Beaumont mysteries, and this case was no exception. The detective has to investigate a crime in a school that initially looks like a murder suicide. Soon enough things become complicated and we get a whodunit with plenty of twists and turns and a thrilling conclusion with plenty of revelations.
I enjoyed the fact that the author keeps giving us more information about Beaumont's personal life and we get to see how he continues to deal with recovering from alcoholism and in this case also with a significant family grudge. The part that was interesting and different from any of the previous books is the relationship with Beau's arch-nemesis Max Cole. We are use to seeing the battle between the detective and the journalist, which in the past has become pretty heated. In this case however, due to Max knowing on of the the victims and being affected by the events, we end up with a very cordial relationship which threatens to become a friendship. I am not sure I liked this part, since I enjoyed the nature of the previous relationship between these characters.
I did like the decision by Jance to have Beau work the case with a different partner than the one he usually has. Especially because this guy is obnoxious and creates many situations that add flavor to the story. Besides that, we get the usual cast of supporting characters, which are always welcome.
Jance delivered another mystery that keeps us reading eagerly until finding out who the guilty party is and when we get there we are already looking forward to the next one. That in my book can be considered a success.
skiracechick's review against another edition
3.0
3 1/2 stars. Another entertaining enough JP Beaumont book. Each one progressively seems to get a little bit better. I’m kind of excited to get to ones that are more modern, although the technology in this entertains me endlessly. I like to read about Beaumont kind of coming to terms with his racism, sexism, etc, although there is a fair amount of all that in these books that wouldn’t fly in books written today. Not as prevalent in this one, but it’s been common enough in the series so far.
Oh right, there was an actually plot to this too (lol)! This one was better than some of the others.
Oh right, there was an actually plot to this too (lol)! This one was better than some of the others.
dontmissythesereads's review against another edition
4.0
Book #20 read in 2013
This one kept me guessing until the very end. That my Beau had to work with the undermining, condescending, and mean Kramer made me angry. There were some great character developments with Beau as well. Great!
This one kept me guessing until the very end. That my Beau had to work with the undermining, condescending, and mean Kramer made me angry. There were some great character developments with Beau as well. Great!
polywogg's review against another edition
4.0
PLOT OR PREMISE:
Beaumont's case with a up-and-coming ambitious partner focuses on a woman working at the local school board office who winds up dead -- semi-clothed in a closet with a clergyman-turned-security guard and the hints of an affair.
.
WHAT I LIKED:
The school board politics and the politics around the police station office are first-rate, and it is nice to see a positive side to the journalist character who constantly hounds J.P. A large cast of characters helps keep the story interesting.
.
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
The sub-plot is a bit obvious and while the cast of characters is good, it leaves a bit of a feel of happenstance rather than expert detecting.
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BOTTOM-LINE:
Solid but not quite awesome
.
DISCLOSURE:
I received no compensation, not even a free copy, in exchange for this review. I am not personal friends with the author, nor do I follow her on social media.
Beaumont's case with a up-and-coming ambitious partner focuses on a woman working at the local school board office who winds up dead -- semi-clothed in a closet with a clergyman-turned-security guard and the hints of an affair.
.
WHAT I LIKED:
The school board politics and the politics around the police station office are first-rate, and it is nice to see a positive side to the journalist character who constantly hounds J.P. A large cast of characters helps keep the story interesting.
.
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
The sub-plot is a bit obvious and while the cast of characters is good, it leaves a bit of a feel of happenstance rather than expert detecting.
.
BOTTOM-LINE:
Solid but not quite awesome
.
DISCLOSURE:
I received no compensation, not even a free copy, in exchange for this review. I am not personal friends with the author, nor do I follow her on social media.
booksuperpower's review against another edition
3.0
This is the 9th Beaumont novel in this series. It was copyrighted in the early 90's. I love this series and I personally think it is J A Jance's best series. I haven't read these in order, so it was fun going back and reading one of the older ones. For those unfamiliar these books, they are straight up detective novels. In this one, the bodies of a man and a woman are found together in a closet at a school. Beaumont's partner is ill and so he gets stuck with a new partner he doesn't care for. The woman murdered was married, but was known to have had numerous affairs. This makes her husband suspect number one, but Beaumont isn't so sure. The only complaint I have is that with the book being this old, the shocker was a plot line used a great deal during this period of time. It was on every cop show, lifetime movie, and in novels. But, these days that wouldn't really be all that much of a scandal. So, without giving too much away, it is still a good mystery, and still has the humor and dry wit we love about this series.
davidpaige's review against another edition
4.0
I don't normally like to read books out of order. You can miss character development when the character spans multiple titles. However, I am really glad I picked up this book. I like J.P. Beaumont.
Beaumont investigates the murder of two people in the Seattle School District office. The investigation takes many twists and turns along the way until the final dramatic ending. It's a book that was hard to put down. I was able to guess part of the plot, but the ending was a surprise.
Beaumont investigates the murder of two people in the Seattle School District office. The investigation takes many twists and turns along the way until the final dramatic ending. It's a book that was hard to put down. I was able to guess part of the plot, but the ending was a surprise.
raehink's review
3.0
J.P. Beaumont must solve a double murder in this hard-boiled procedural. Lots of secrets abound which makes things a bit contrived and somewhat unfair to the reader.
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