This is another in Jance's series with retired Seattle PD detective J.P. Beaumont as the protagonist. He's married now to Mel Soames who is Chief of a police department near Seattle. They're out to dinner and an old acquaintance stops by the table, looking awful, with medical issues. He's not a friend but was an old fraternity brother and is now a retired crime reporter who wants to talk to Beaumont and phone number is given out. The reporter is writing a book and has stumbled onto something sinister and wants to talk about it, but, dies that night in an 'accidental' fire. Beaumont questions it and starts putting pieces together. They lead to a criminal empire of sorts.

It's a good read if you have an interest in crime fiction. 352 pages.

Thanks!

I will put Ms Jance back on my list of "to read" authors. I read several of her Joanna Brady series (Arizona sheriff) books a few years ago along with more than a handful of her J.P. Beaumont series of books. Beaumont is an intriguing character if you read several of her books. Thanks for calling this new book to mind as it reminds me of a forgotten source of good reads in prior years.