The Taken Ones

J.P. Beaumont #27

by J.A. Jance

In this twisty, fast-paced mystery spanning from Alaska to Washington, young girls are going missing, and private investigator J. P. Beaumont is the only one who can find them, from New York Times bestselling author J. A. Jance.

Despite her name, Twinkle Winkleman is as tough as nails. A skilled mechanic and certified spitfire, she has a nose for trouble. So when young women from Anchorage begin disappearing after heading to Seattle for “internships,” Twinkle is convinced that something dangerous is happening. But both the Anchorage and Seattle authorities dismiss her out of hand.

With nowhere else to turn, Twinkle calls on an old private investigator J. P. Beaumont. While Twinkle and J. P. investigate the disappearances, they stumble upon a plot more nefarious than they could have imagined. Can they put a stop to the kidnappings—and bring the girls home—before it’s too late?

368 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication November 10, 2026

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

[Charissa Wilkinson]

I received this book courtesy of NetGalley for the purpose of a fair and honest review.

Overview: J.P. Beaumont, Beau to his friends, had just been planning a retirement bash for Melissa "Mel" Soames, his wife and former police chief. It was just supposed to be a relaxing vacation, until he got a call from an old friend. Twinkle Winkleman--yes, that's her real name--is calling on behalf of her old friends/clients the Holts. It turns out that Gina Holt has disappeared after she left for a paid internship. But, in the course of the investigation, Gina appears to be the latest in a series of girls that have gone missing. They all seem to be rather talented and ambitious. Who could be after these girls? Will Gina and the others be found alive? And where will J.P. Beaumont find some allies in this search? Let's find out.

Dislikes: The missing persons lieutenant is an awful man, or just plain lazy. Either way, I hope he feels bad about all of the handwaving he did when Gina's case came across his desk. They could have found the girls sooner if he had taken it seriously.

Fabian's Madame, and all of the greedy souls that she had working on her little plot are monsters. I'd be willing to bet that her Daddy is so proud of the way she utilized his teachings.

Likes: Twink is a strong woman. She even faced her greatest fear just to be what the Holt family needed at the time.

And speaking of Gina, she managed to save her sanity by reminding herself of Grandpa Lars and how he survived World War II.

Mimi Washington was able to bend the rules, where needed. It helps that Beau and Mel didn't try to hijack her investigation.

Twink and Mel had the best shopping trip ever.

Conclusion: This was a great book. If you enjoy private investigator stories, or just like J.P. Beaumont, then this book is for you. Enjoy the read.

[Julianne Harkleroad]

Beautiful and bright, Regina Holt goes missing without a trace. Four days later, loved ones begin asking questions, but the trail is already cold with zero clues or starting point. How do you find a ghost?

The 27th installment of the JP Beaumont series by JA Jance, this kidnapping case spans the nation and pulls in both professionals and community members. These selfless individuals band together to find a woman, "Gina" Holt, who isn't responding to loved ones messages and is potentially missing. They make bone chilling discoveries along the way that are terrifying: could there be other girls missing with these similar case notes? Why were these woman taken and do they have anything in common that can help find their location now? If they can find Gina, will she be alive? Hurt? Psychologically traumatized? How can a kidnapped woman keep the faith in the midst of such a terrible crime and an unknown future?

Local mechanic, Twinkle Winkleman, helps lead the investigation into this interstate abduction from the SeaTac airport with her buddy, private investigator Beaumont. Full of family connections and friends that have each other's backs, this tale is less of a mystery or suspense and more of a community adventure as readers know the fate of Gina the entire time. Forming a ragtag team of determined individuals, their combined skills and available tech track down this kidnapping ring and attempt to bring the bad guys to justice.

Unfortunately, it was very frustrating that law enforcement agencies did not step in to rescue Gina even though they claimed to be watching the RV's progress through license plate readers. Why wait? I suppose it allowed the story to progress, but in real life, a woman's life would never be risked in that way.

And as for other factual errors, there were many that distracted more from the narrative. A few of which were:
- real ID is not only free, but mandatory, so there is no additional cost to 'spring for'.
- Americanos are espresso and water, not "coffee".

And I'm struggling to understand where the money to pay for everything came from, which took away from the suspense and enjoyment of the story.

Troupes: Multiple POV, amateur sleuth, PI, found family, missing persons, secret society, big reveal,
Spice: 0/5 🌶️
Gore: 2/5 🩸
Language: 2/5 👀
Triggers: Kidnapping, nonconsensual medical procedures

Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for this ARC!

[Cheryl]

Retired now with his wife, also retired as well as a former police chief, J.P. Beaumont is still hard at work solving crimes. After being contacted by his Alaskan friend, Twinkle Winkleman about her concerns over a missing young woman from Anchorage, he and his wife jump into action, using their widespread contacts to try to find the girl. He knows Twinkle well enough to understand her disappointment with the local police is justified. Gina, the missing woman

Beaumont discovers four other missing young women over the past few months, all with similar stories. They each left home to pursue a promising opportunity. According to friends and family, an opportunity that sounded too good to be true. Beaumont and Twinkle work together with their sources to try to solve the mystery of the missing young women. All are intelligent and stand out among their peers for one reason or another--swimming ability, leadership, or other abilities that bring them public notice.

Though Jance has been writing stories for this character for years, readers will find it tough to put down this latest entry into the series.

Recommended for all Jance fans, and mystery lovers.

Note: i had the pleasure of reading an ARC, courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. (And I would have said more, but no spoilers here!)

[Shereadbookblog]

When the granddaughter of a friend in Anchorage vanishes from Seattle airport on her way to an internship, Twinkle Winkleman reaches out to Washington State private investigator J.P. Beaumont. His wife, a former police chief now retired, teams up with him in the investigation, which uncovers a chilling pattern of disappearances involving other young women in similar circumstances. Initially, they face resistance from local authorities, but soon the FBI joins their quest, turning it into a race against time to unravel the mystery and locate the missing girls.

This is the twenty-seventh installment in the J.P. Beaumont series. I have read only one before, and that was a few years ago. This works fine as a stand-alone.

I can understand why the Beaumont books have garnered such a devoted following. The story is narrated from multiple perspectives, weaving a well-crafted plot that keeps readers engaged and eager to discover the truth. I thoroughly enjoyed all the protagonists in the book and eagerly anticipate reading more in this series.

Thanks to @NetGalley and @WilliamMorrowBooks for the DRC.

[LibraryNinja_Beritk]

J.A. Jance takes us by the throat with her latest J.P. Beaumont thriller. Heading up into the wilds of Alaska and Seattle, we find a young woman missing after seemingly landing her dream internship. Twinkle Winkleman (yes, say it fast three times) is a mechanic in the same town the girl lives in and used to have a bit of an investigative nose. When her friends are distraught over their missing daughter, Twinkle calls her old pal Beaumont, which sets the train rolling downhill. Is the girl playing hooky or is there something more sinister afoot?

With her usual love of twists and turns, Jance takes us down a dark path where there's not only one girl missing, but several across the U.S. The M.O. is the same, but Beaumont wonders- are they still alive or still in the U.S.? What happens next will leave you gasping and hugging your kiddos tight.

Thank you to the fabulous J.A. Jance and William Morrow for letting me read this arc early and for free for an honest review.

#TheTakenOnes #MissingGirls #thriller #libraryninja📚

[Kathleen]

In the next book in the J.P. Beaumont series, THE TAKEN ONESvby J.A. Jance, JP Beaumont is a private investigator. Gina (Regina) travels to Seattle, supposedly for eight weeks on an architectural internship, and is abducted. I want to know what happens next.

This book can be read as a standalone, but it might be best to read previous books in the series before reading this novel. At times the history of JP Beaumont’s family seems difficult to understand. I feel bogged down by so many characters. This story is told through more than one point of view and seems to skip around a lot. Once the mystery gets going, I am taken on quite a ride. I like Jance’s conversational style of writing, making the book an enjoyable reading experience. Thank you, William Morrow and NetGalley, for the chance to read and review an advance reader copy of THE TAKEN ONES.

[Robin]

I'll write more as we get closer to the November 2026 publication date, but in the meantime, please add this to your want list. This is the 27th book in the JP Beaumont ("Beau") series, and I honestly don't know how Jance keeps these fresh and continues to develop the characters into such likable, smart people who, using their crackerjack investigative skills, solve the mysteries.

Thanks to HarperCollins for the advance digital reading copy.

[Suzie]

Always love a JA Janice book..thankful she is still churning them out. Lots of good detective work to figure out the missing girls, and an unexpected reason! Fast and fun read.