Den of Iniquity

by J.A. Jance

Former Seattle homicide cop J. P. Beaumont faces trouble in the small town of Ashland, as both his personal and professional lives are thrown into turmoil. Beau's daughter and son-in-law are having marital troubles, and his grandson, a senior in high school, shows up on his doorstep, wanting to live with Beau and his wife Mel as he finishes out the school year.

Meanwhile, a friend from his past asks for Beau's help in looking into what appears to be an accidental death. A young man died of a fentanyl overdose, but those closest to him are convinced that he would never have used the drug, and that something much more sinister has happened. Beau agrees to unofficially reopen the case, and his investigation leads him to uncover similar mysterious deaths that all point to a most unlikely suspect.

As the case becomes more complicated than he could have imagined, and past and present mysteries collide, it will take everything Beau has to track down a dangerous vigilante killer.

Genres: Mystery

416 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published May 27, 2025

About the author

Judith Ann Jance is the top 10 New York Times bestselling author of the Joanna Brady series; the J. P. Beaumont series; three interrelated thrillers featuring the Walker family; and Edge of Evil, the first in a series featuring Ali Reynolds. Born in South Dakota and brought up in Bisbee, Arizona, Jance lives with her husband in Seattle, Washington, and Tucson, Arizona.

Series:
* J.P. Beaumont
* Joanna Brady
* Ali Reynolds
* Walker Family

Reviews

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

J.A. Jance's Den of Iniquity is part of the J. P. Beaumont series with the former homicide cop now a grandfatherly private investigator. One of his current clients is his grandson Kyle. He has also taken on a client who is convinced her son's drug-related death was a murder, not a suicide. Both cases tap into current hot issues- fentanyl and scam artists- set against the background of an upcoming covid lockdown. If these aren't enough for a creative use of timely elements, hold on- wait for the serial killer who uses 100 dollar bills as a calling card. It may sound like mystery-thriller overload, but everything works. Family and relationship issues blend well with police and private detective procedural elements to result in a 5 star read. Jance knows how to keep adding surprise elements to balance action and suspense.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another quick, easy and fun read by Jance.

[Meiwilli · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ho hum…Den of Iniquity is the sixth book I’ve read by Jance and the third in the J.P. Beaumont series. I believe I’m done. The story following the prologue is nowhere near as interesting. Instead, it’s slow and mundane. I didn’t want to read about Beaumont’s personal life when there was a murder that needed solving. I wanted to know why Darius Jackson was dead. It felt like a bait and switch. Anywho, I trudged through the story about his, Mel, and his teenage grandson Kyle’s problem with his mother, father, and soon-to-be pregnant stepmother until finally chapter six gets back to the murder. Or so I thought. Chapter 6 gets briefly back to Jackson’s murder before diving into Kyle’s case full on while Jackson is pushed to the back burner and everything in between is investigated. Not what I was expecting, nor what I wanted to read. But by some sliver of imagination, Jackson's murder is linked to an unlikely serial killer and solved along with two others.

Den of Iniquity is a very disappointing read for me- nowhere near the suspenseful teaser from the prologue. I do not recommend this book if, like me, the reader thinks this is about an unsolved murder instead of mundane storytelling about Beaumont and his personal life.

[Janet Cheryl Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Former Seattle Police Homicide officer JP Beaumont now retired is a Private Investigator (PI). he has remarried, sold the condo in Seattle. He and his Wife, Mel, Chief of Bellingham Police Department now live in Bellingham.
Drama enters on two fronts. Beau's daughter and son-in-law have marital problems. Son-in-law has a girlfriend who is pregnant. Grandson, Kyle who was living in the family home in Oregon, leaves and drives up to Bellingham to crash with grandparents.
Meanwhile a friend from beau's past asks him to look into a possible drug overdose in Seattle.
Beau agrees to look into the death and comes across other drug overdose cases that have family members asking for help indicating that family members were not drug addicts.
Getting help from civilian advocates leads Beau into looking for a serial killer who leaves $200.00 in the wallets of the victims.

[Colette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book I've read by authour J.A.Jance. I loved it. It was very interesting. Without any spoilers my best quote is from her book, "Who'd a thunk it?" I enjoyed her writing, I've heard "read the riot act" my whole life but I've never read it in print. J.A. Jance's characters are believable. It makes me want to Google this story and see if it really happened. Since, I lived through the pandemic it's interesting to see it written about in a book. I will definitely have to read more of her books.

[Tian Berry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first JP Beaumont book and I loved it! Private investigator Beaumont enjoys a simple life with his wife in Washington State, but all that changes when his grandson shows up one day asking to stay due to concerns about his dad's girlfriend's behaviors towards his friend. Feeling uneasy about his grandson's report, Beaumont looks into his ex son-in-laws girlfriend only to discover she's not who she says she is and is actually involved in something much more complex. Through connections, persistence, and determination to get justice, Beaumont finds himself on a twisty adventure into the past to uncover an unlikely serial killer.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every time I read Janice I kick myself for taking so long to find her. I love JP Beaumont. I like his family as well. The way he can take a random comment from someone and unearth a clue, makes me look differently at everything as it is revealed to us. In this book we got the addition of Kyle. Given this story takes place at the beginning of the pandemic, I hope he will be in the next as well. Loved the interaction with the neighbor as well. Such a good read.

[Patty Emiliani · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave this 4 stars mainly for it being an easy and quick read. Since this is part of the Beaumont series, it is easily a stand alone which is also a plus. I felt it drug on at times but I was able to power through. It did not have any surprises for me and it had a lot of feel good moments in his personal life. This is my first novel by this author. While I did enjoy her writing, I probably will not read another one, at least of this series.

[Dave Delsigne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy the stories about J.P. Beaumont … I have friends that live in Kent, Washington and two of my children went to college in Ashland, Oregon … so I’m very familiar of both areas. These are easy reads for a weekend of no plans … and I enjoy the setting!

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was suspenseful, had characters that were real, and family dynamics. All made for an exciting read.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know how I missed this series. I loved it!! Fast paced, I didn't want to put it down.

[Michael Hirsch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very reasonable, but more of a soap opera about Beau's family than a good mystery.

[Sheila Chamberlin Welch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second book of this author I have reah and I love the mystery of who did it?? Great writer. Have "Nothing to Lose" to read next.

[Captain Basil · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an excellent J.P. Beaumont novel. Lots of twists and turns with great characters. Even if you have never read this series before, you can jump right in. Enjoy!

[Christie Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun read in this series.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sooo good ! I hope there are many more books in this series in my future.
So far I think I am up-to-date on this JP Beaumont series. Please write fast author. Bravo !

[Karen Cramer · Rating 4 out of 5]

very good story

[Georgia · Rating 3 out of 5]

31/2 stars! Too much dialogue for me!

[Diana Kolovos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audio

[Stacy Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

J. P. Beaumont, a retired Seattle homicide detective turned private investigator, jungles a family crisis and a baffling new case as the Pandemic shutdown looms over Seattle. Excellent read!