Lying in Wait

J.P. Beaumont #12

by J.A. Jance

The sky above Puget Sound blazes orange, as a burning fishing boat fills the air with acrid smoke . . . and the sickening odor of charred flesh. The terrible death of a Seattle fisherman has raised more questions than answers, opening a Pandora’s Box of evil that was kept tightly closed for more than half a century. Now a dark cloud is descending over the dead man’s frightened widow, and she must turn for help to an old friend, Detective J.P. Beaumont, the one man who can free her from a web of murderous greed and oppressive terror. But the secrets that hold Else Didricksen prisoner are about to ensnare Beaumont as well . . . in ways he never dreamed possible.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Mystery Thriller, Detective, Audiobook, Suspense

400 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 1, 1994

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

[Joanne Farley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series just keeps getting better and better. J.P and his new partner are investigating a particularly gruesome murder on a fishing boat. What follows is a twisted tale I loved. J.P Beaumont has come along since the first book and he might just be my new favorite detective.

[Carl Brookins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one will give you chills. It’s now available in a variety of formats and while it was written more than ten years ago, it holds up extremely well. I don't think Jance has written a better book; here she's at the height of her narrative powers. Expertly blending family and personal relations with a historical reality, Jance first introduces the reader to Seattle detective J. P. Beaumont's grandmother, a delightful old lady. Then the world turns dark. A fisherman is found murdered in a peculiarly brutal way and his widow turns out to be a woman from Beaumont's teen-aged past. The case quickly develops odd and puzzling elements. Jance provides clues aplenty in this complex story of terror and greed, but you have to pay attention.

Woven into the tight fabric of the main plot Beaumont pursues a better relationship with his grandmother, assists his new partner with some domestic problems, and resolves some lingering questions from his own background. The characters for the most part are fully-rounded, and the pace of this complex mystery may keep you up past your bedtime.

[Megargee · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a whodunnit, Lying in Wait fails. Having the ultimate perpetrator(s) come from the planet Krypton would have been as believable as the actual outcome which I will not reveal. I also did not care for the gratuitous torture and violence. The story does advance J.P.'s story arc as he gets a new female partner who survives without experiencing the catastrophes that have befallen previous partners and women associated with him. He is also building his relationship with his grandmother and managing to stay on the wagon without the aid of AA. Overall disappointing.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good store. A fisherman is found dead and while looking into it JP and his partner, Sue, find out about lies that have been hiding for years. I did get a little confused at the end but very interesting information about a Nazi prison camp.

[Earl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m reading this series in order, it seems like as the books progress, Jance spends too much time focusing on personal aspects and neglects tying up loose ends of the case itself. Of course there’s nothing wrong with the development of Beaumont from loner alcoholic to maturity. But I don’t recall any discussion of the identity of the woman’s body - we’re left to assume it’s the neo-Nazi sympathizer who was out looking for Hans Gebhart (though it was not in his jurisdiction). I think Jance also did the series a favor in not having Beaumont be drug into another precipitous romance, as it seemed as though the old Beau might have took a pass at his new partner Sue. The plot was fine, just hope the next books in this series keep the mystery side of things on the front burner.

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seattle Homicide detective J.P. Beaumont is called out on a case involving a body on a burned fishing boat. With his new partner Sue Danielson, he soon uncovers several related crimes and a connection to Nazi gold from the teeth of holocaust victims.

[Emily Higgins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read the second time in December 2021. Detective J. P. Beaumont is working a gruesome murder case. It involves people he knows from his high school days, Nazi gold and more.

[Edward Amato · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gave this to my mother for Christmas 1n 1994. It is full of places that no longer exist in Seattle: The Hunt Club at the Sorrento, the Bon Marche, Minnies'. I think that the Five Star still exists in the Regrade but have not been there in decades. Fun story and JAJ was actually at the Barnes and Noble at Pacific Place in downtown Seattle signing her books. Another place (B&N at that location) that no longer exists. sigh.

[Nancy Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good addition to this series. This time Beau and team chase a Nazi war criminal.....always one of my favorite subjects. It took awhile for me to get to "like" Beau, but he really grows on you, and I'm glad I stuck with the series. Looking forward to more.....

[Phyllis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book enjoyed it very much

[Judith E.]

Bit of a slow read

Have enjoyed other Beaumont books more. Not very exciting and didn't keep my interest, put down easily and not anxious to read again.

[Cindy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Outlandish & rambling. I fell asleep three times during the process of listening to this book

[Jhmtan · Rating 3 out of 5]

readable, not too draggy

[Judy Evenson · Rating 4 out of 5]

So fun reading the early books in the series. Fun to see how much technology changes but other things like human behavior, doesn’t change. Interesting WWII Nazi connect in this plot.

[Barbara B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Am playing catch up with one of my all time favorite characters---J P Beaumont, a Seattle police detective, who also happens to have a ton of money.This one was written in 1994, so you can imagine how outdated some things are, compared to now---16 yrs. later.

[Cindy B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good plot, well written, enjoyed the post-WWII, anti-Nazi theme. Foul language (a J.A. Jance staple - don't know why though, the author actually can write well defined characters within an interesting plot). Audiobook edition well done by Gene Engene, also, per usual for Jance novels. ©1994 text

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A particularly good JP Beaumont, with the usual pluses and also an interesting plot related to the Holocaust, with ample supplies of suspects and plot twists.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like J. A. Jance's mysteries and I thought this one was especially good. It kept me guessing the whole time and was thoroughly enjoyable.

[Lyda Van Den Bos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leest makkelijk weg, spannend verrassend einde.

[Lynette Barfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Working on my list of Jance books, the Beaumont series. Always good entertainment.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

THIS SUMMARY/REVIEW WAS COPIED FROM OTHER SOURCES AND IS USED ONLY AS A REMINDER OF WHAT THE BOOK WAS ABOUT FOR MY PERSONAL INTEREST. ANY PERSONAL NOTATIONS ARE FOR MY RECOLLECTION ONLY
**
Beau gets involved with his old high school pals who call him BoBo with his new partner Sue. He is called to the harbor where he finds a man on a boat who has been burned and had his fingers cut off. Soon a woman is found in the same way in her house. Beau and Sue find out that their are Nazis and Nazi hunters sniffing around their case because Else's husband (the dead man) was involved in bringing Nazi gold to the U.S. with the help of his dead father. Else, her daughter, and mother are all in danger. Good story.
**
Expertly blending family and personal relations with a historical reality, Jance first introduces the reader to Seattle detective J. P. Beaumont's grandmother, a delightful old lady. Then the world turns dark. A fisherman is found murdered in a peculiarly brutal way and his widow turns out to be a woman from Beaumont's teen-aged past. The case quickly develops odd and puzzling elements. Jance provides clues aplenty in this complex story of terror and greed, but you have to pay attention.

Woven into the tight fabric of the main plot Beaumont pursues a better relationship with his grandmother, assists his new partner with some domestic problems, and resolves some lingering questions from his own background.
**
There is a fire on a private fishing boat and once it is put out the firefighters make a grisly discovery. Found in the cabin, handcuffed to the galley table is a burned body. What's even worse is the pie plate that is setting on the man's stomach that at first looks like it contains the remains of hot dogs. Not hot dogs though. Fingers and toes.

So begins JP Beaumont's next case. With temporary partner of Sue Danielsen he finds himself following clues that he never in a million years would lead him to what he eventually finds.
**
When Detective J. P. Beaumont and his new partner, Sue Danielson, are called to the scene of a fire on a fishing boat, they are horrified by the condition of the body, showing that the dead man had been tortured. The widow of the murder victim turns out to be an old school mate of Beau, who calls him BoBo, to the amusement of Sue. The book ends on Thanksgiving with a huge Thanksgiving dinner at the condo building where Beau lives, a nice finishing touch.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

The sky above Puget Sound blazes orange, as a burning fishing boat fills the air with acrid smoke . . . and the sickening odor of charred flesh. The terrible death of a Seattle fisherman has raised more questions than answers, opening a Pandora’s Box of evil that was kept tightly closed for more than half a century. Now a dark cloud is descending over the dead man’s frightened widow, and she must turn for help to an old friend, Detective J.P. Beaumont, the one man who can free her from a web of murderous greed and oppressive terror. But the secrets that hold Else Didricksen prisoner are about to ensnare Beaumont as well . . . in ways he never dreamed possible.

Heather's Notes
I liked J.P., but in this story he kept jumping to ridiculous conclusions. I don't know why. It was still a good story, but he needed to slow his roll. I can't say I am sorry Ingrid died she was simply awful. Still I hope Al and Else get a second chance. Still waiting for J.P. to met Nell.

[MaryCatherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another addition to the Beaumont series, with a burned and tortured corpse on a boat, Nazis, Nazi hunters, grumpy Norwegians, old high school acquaintances, missing Nazi gold from WWII concentration camp victims, and a scruffy AA buddy who may be a suspect. The story takes place in Seattle, with lots of local landmarks, and Beaumont is sort of a displaced person, since his favorite diner, The Dog House, is closed, so the reader gets to visit a few other establishments as our favorite Seattle detective has to vary his routine a bit! The waterfront crime scene and Ballard connections make us Northwest natives happy, and this book even throws in some scenes at the Ballard Locks, and a frantic helicopter chase through the San Juan Islands. Okay, these are just really fun books, and J.P. Beaumont is an endearing character. I'm a fan.

[Ski Croghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The horrors of the death camps in WW2!!!

The death camps are still a poorly hidden secret in the world today. Most Germans will tell you it never happened. I had an opportunity to visit Auswicitz (spelling may be wrong) when I lived in Germany. I knew they happened but knowing and seeing are two totally different things. Reading about the camps and actually standing in front the ovens hits you where in hurts; in the heart!! It's not for everyone. Although it made me physically sick for several days, I'm glad I went. This book is about the horrors that still crop up occasionally. Where did a solid gold wrench come from? What does it have to do with Beau's homicide case? What reason could someone have to torture and burn alive a fisherman in Seattle. Read this outstanding book to find out. Highly recommended.

[Kristen Lewendon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well. That was perfectly mediocre. Nothing stands out for me from the book. No stunningly brilliant revelations, not deeply horrifying twists of evil. It’s all just… meh. It doesn’t help that the true villains in the plot appear suddenly at the end from out of nowhere. There wasn’t even anything to suggest this was the way it would go until we were well into the fourth quarter of the story. I prefer plots that give me at least a few breadcrumbs earlier in the story. Though I’m beginning to see what a fine balance is necessary to keep it appropriately relevant without being glaringly obvious – my other pet peeve. I like this new JP and the way he’s interacting with his family, friends, and coworkers. He’s not just getting older, he’s finally growing up too.

[Tracie Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lying in Wait by J A Jance

BIBLIOGRAPHIC DETAILS:
-Print: COPYRIGHT: 6/1/1994; PUBLISHER: William Morrow & Co; 1st edition; ISBN 978-0688114596; Unabridged (Amazon Hardcover)
-Digital: COPYRIGHT: (6/1/1994) July 2006; PUBLISHER: Harper-Collins e-books; ISBN 978-0061747168; PAGES 388; Unabridged (Libby, LAPL, Kindle edition)
*Audio: COPYRIGHT: (6/1/1994) 1/20/2005; ISBN: not included in library details this time; PUBLISHER: Books in Motion; DURATION: 11 hours (approx..); Unabridged (Libby, LA Public Library)
-Feature Film or tv: No

SERIES: J. P. Beaumont Series, Book 12

CHARACTERS: (Not comprehensive)
Jonas Piedmont Beaumont-J.P. Beaumont (Beau)—Seattle Washington Detective
Sue Danielson – Beau’s partner
Jared Danielson – Sue’s 12-year-old son
Ralph Ames – Beau’s friend and lawyer
Al Lindstrom (Big Al) – Beau’s partner (only mentioned once this time)
Sergeant Watkin (Watty) – Seattle Police Sergeant
Captain Lawrence Powell – Seattle Police Captain
Anne Corley – Beaus late wife
Ron Peters – Beau’s former partner
Amy Peters – Ron’s wife
Heather Peters – Ron Peterson’s daughter
Charley – (Afghan) Dog in residence of Beau’s Belltown Terrace building.
Gail – Charley’s owner
Else Didricksen Gebhardt – A cheerleader from Beau’s school days as a basketball player
Inge Didricksen – Else’s mother
Gunter Gebhardt – Else’s husband
Kari Gebhardt – Else’s daughter
Michael Morris – Kari’s boyfriend
Alan Torvoldsen (Champaign Al) – Beau’s former acquaintance from his high school days

SUMMARY/ EVALUATION:
-SELECTED: This was the next one in the series.
-ABOUT: A brutal murder discovered on a boat, and the victim’s wife turns out to be an old acquaintance of Beau’s.
OVERALL: I liked that the author brought in some history for this one.

AUTHOR: J. A. (Judith Ann) Jance -- (born October 27, 1944) "Jance was born in Watertown, South Dakota,[2] and raised in Bisbee, Arizona (the setting for her Joanna Brady series of novels). Before becoming an author, she worked as a school librarian on a Native American reservation (Tohono O'Odham), and as a teacher and insurance agent." -- Wikipedia

NARRATOR: Gene Engene -- "Gene Engene is an award-winning reader with an astounding catalog of audiobooks to his credit. He is best known as J.P. Beaumont in the J.A. Jance mystery series. Gene is a veteran stage actor, director, and is a retired Professor of Drama at Eastern Washington University." -- Books in Motion

GENRE:
Fiction; Mystery

SUBJECTS:
Washington’s Norwegian citizens; Jewish history; Nazi history

LOCATIONS:
Seattle, Washington

TIME FRAME:
Contemporary (1993)

DEDICATION:
“To Dirty Dick and the other displaced regulars. And to the good-sport charity auctioneers and attendees who make Seattle a great place to live and write. But most of all, to Thomas Blatt, a survivor and an inspiration.”

EXCERPT: From Chapter 1
" “Thank you, Jonas,” she said in a voice that was surprisingly quaver-free. “Thank you very much.”
Most of the time I go by the name of Beau or by my initials, J. P. Only two people in the world have ever called me Jonas—my mother, who has been dead for many years, and now my grandmother. It was only in the course of the last few months, after accidentally encountering my estranged grandparents’ name and address in the phone book, that my mother’s mother had emerged from the shadows of the long-buried past into the present. At eighty-six, Beverly Piedmont came into my life as both a puzzle and a blessing.
Now she was also a widow.
My grandfather and namesake, Jonas Logan Piedmont, was dead at age ninety-one.
I turned the key in the ignition, and the Porsche’s powerful engine roared to life. With headlights slicing through sheets of slanting raindrops, we headed for Newton’s Family Mortuary off Aurora Avenue, where Mr. Lloyd Newton, III, at age sixty or so, had been genuinely dismayed when my grandmother had told him in no uncertain terms that there would be no services for my grandfather.
“Absolutely not,” she had announced determinedly. “At our ages, there aren’t that many people still around that we know, and we only see them at weddings or funerals. These days there are a lot more funerals than weddings. Each time, someone else turns up missing. It’s too depressing.”
Her decree had brooked no argument. Mr. Newton had been forced to comply with reasonably good grace.
“Are you taking care of yourself?” I asked, glancing in her direction as I threaded through evening traffic made worse by the steady downpour. A rain-slicked layer of newly fallen leaves covered the gutters and blocked Seattle’s storm drains, leaving the streets awash. “Are you eating properly? Getting enough rest?”
“Mandy’s the one you should be worried about,” my grandmother returned with a shake of her head. “That crazy old dog won’t eat a thing.”
I remembered how Mandy used to sit for hours in mute companionship with my stroke-silenced, wheelchair-bound grandfather. She usually stuck close enough to his side that the slightest movement of his faltering hand would bring his flesh into contact with her patiently waiting head.
“Try bread and peanut butter,” I suggested. “That’s how Kelly and Jeremy get their dog, Sunshine, to take her arthritis medicine. Kelly claims there isn’t a dog in the world that doesn’t love bread and peanut butter.”
Six months earlier, it would have been inconceivable to me that my daughter—Kelly, the complete airhead, as I once disparagingly called her—would end up passing out dog-care advice to her great-grandmother, but Beverly Piedmont nodded as though granting Kelly’s suggestion serious consideration. “That sounds like a good idea,” she said. “I believe I’ll give it a try.”

RATING:
4 stars

STARTED READING – FINISHED READING
7-7-2023 to 7-17-2023

[Darlene Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The sky above Puget Sound blazes orange, as a burning fishing boat fills the air with acrid smoke . . . and the sickening odor of charred flesh. The terrible death of a Seattle fisherman has raised more questions than answers, opening a Pandora’s Box of evil that was kept tightly closed for more than half a century. Now a dark cloud is descending over the dead man’s frightened widow, and she must turn for help to an old friend, Detective J.P. Beaumont, the one man who can free her from a web of murderous greed and oppressive terror. But the secrets that hold Else Didricksen prisoner are about to ensnare Beaumont as well . . . in ways he never dreamed possible.

[Kat · Rating 2 out of 5]

library ebook

beau is called to a murder on a boat that had caught on fire. the wife had gone to his high school as had the man in the boat across the dock.

there were natzi elements to this book

the man on the boat was connected to a girlfriend in another town, also died in a fire and fingers and toes cut off. but dental records showed it wasnt her

the widow , her daughter and mom disappeared from the house. a moving van took all the stolen gold. the man on the neighboring boat took the stuff in the van on his boat and left. beau looking for the missing people

beau found the missing women on the boat, the man he thought had taken them was actually helping rescue them by making the boat go on a sandbar so beau could rescue them

[Leslie Conner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This tale weaves through so many characters. The reading process was engaging and kept a good pace. JP Beaumont is an entertaining character, &
the story flows around his thinking in general concerning case decisions. His character is not arrogant, tends towards making his own decisions, and steadily works problem solving throughout his day. WW II horror, convoluted & difficult family relationships and history, genuine caring and positive personal connections sprinkle the book with variety and humor as well as addressing complexity of personal understanding between generations within families.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a fire on a private fishing boat and once it is put out the firefighters make a grisly discovery. Found in the cabin, handcuffed to the galley table is a burned body. What's even worse is the pie plate that is setting on the man's stomach that at first looks like it contains the remains of hot dogs. Not hot dogs though. Fingers and toes.

So begins JP Beaumont's next case. With temporary partner of Sue Danielsen he finds himself following clues that he never in a million years would lead him to what he eventually finds.