Payment in Kind

J.P. Beaumont #9

by J.A. Jance

It looks like a classic crime of passion to Detective J.P Beaumont: two corpses found lovingly entwined in a broom closet of the Seattle School District building. The prime suspect, Pete Kelsey, admits his slain spouse was no novice at adultery, yet he swears he had nothing to do with the brutal deaths of the errant school official and her clergyman-turned-security guard companion. Beau believes him, but there's something the much sinned-upon widower's not telling—and that spells serious trouble still to come.

Because the secret Pete's protecting is even hotter than extra-marital sex. . . and it could prove more lethal than murder.

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

384 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1991

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

[Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars for payment in Kind: J. P. Beaumont, Book 9 (audiobook) by J. A. Jance read by Gene Eugene.

Beaumont has his hands full with this murder case. He’s stuck with a partner that he doesn’t like and this crazy couple had an open marriage which really opens up the possibilities for who the murderer is.

[Lynette Barfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm on a J A Jance kick. This is a Beaumont novel. I like all of her novels and particularly Beaumont. The plot is good and Beaumont is quite a character. Will be reading more soon.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Joanne Farley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This might just be the best Beaumont book so far. So many twists and turns I had not idea where I was and the ending - oh man - that is how endings should be.
If you like Police procedural novels these ones are for you. Please remember when reading these books they were written in the late 80's early 90's. Some people may find some of the content a little off in these times.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gave a less positive review earlier because I got hung up on an admittedly small portion of the book which I found offensive.

I have just finished reading it, and I have to say it’s the best J.P. Beaumont book so far (I’m reading them chronologically). That’s the last time I leave a review before finishing a book.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story has so many twists in it, you will never figure out who done it. Ms. Jance leads us on a very complicated chase through Seattle Dect. Beaumont and his irritating partner plus his many friends.

[Betsy Barnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best

Best JP Beaumont adventure I have read-9 so far ! Probably because the ending was a total surprise for me. The mystery continued to twist and turn thru the pages. A must read!

[Nancy Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another wonderful entry in the J.P. series! I love the way she's developing his character. As always, there's a great plot.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this series. The characters are well developed and it is more than just a mystery. I am picking my way randomly through the series, so this was good background for later books I have read in this series. Highly recommend the whole series.

[Jhmtan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe just me but the story was very convoluted and took forever. Ending was incongruous.

[Yak233aol.Com · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not The Best JP Beaumont novel and the characters, other than JP, that well developed. Just a weak installment in the series.

I will still continue with series as she is a local author for me.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally after wading through 8 books in this JP Beaumont series, his character is a little more likeable and the plot much better.

[Jeff Dickison · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent murder-mystery in the J.P. Beaumont series. A woman and a security guard are found dead in a closet and J.P. and his skuzzy partner must figure out who did it. Even though I figured out early on who did it, it did not detract from the story which was full of personal touches concerning J.P.
Jance is a very good writer and this is her usual good work. Recommended.

[Cara W · Rating 5 out of 5]

A J.P. Beaumont novel (Seattle) - still a homicide detective. A double homicide in the Seattle School Districts administrative offices. The labor liaison (Marcia) and a security guard (Alvin) found on top of each other in a closet. JP's normal partner is out sick, so works with an ambitious, jerk detective. Despite that, the story leads on many different leads. Were the two having an affair? Marcia's husband Peter admitted they have an open marriage - but that didn't pan out. Then they find out that Peter is an alias, and he's a deserter from Vietnam 20 yrs ago. But how does that tie in? But Peter is a prime suspect.

After a lot of chasing, a bizarre story comes out - Marcia is having an affair with the teacher's union leader - Andrea. It looks like that will be exposed - motive for Peter. Then revealed - a very convoluted story - when Peter was in Mexico, he met Marcia's and her ex-husband. The ex was running drugs, and was using a baby (by a different wife) to get the drugs over the border. The ex was found murdered - so Peter found the fake ID for Peter; he and Marcia take the baby, and live with a false front with the daughter Erin and agree to stay together to keep the story solid. Turns out Erin's sister is setting everyone up (she's insane) - she tries to kill Erin but ends up dying (by jumping off a bridge). Peter is not prosecuted for desertion, and he and Erin can rebuild their lives.

JP goes to meet his long estranged grandparents. Grandfather had kicked JP's mother out when she had a baby out of wedlock. The father had died in a traffic accident and was never in the picture.

[MaryCatherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to the audio version of this one. I wasn’t a fan of the reader’s earliest JP Beaumont books, but since Beaumont’s sobriety, this voice of JP Beaumont has grown on me. I really enjoyed this book and the reader! I really like the growing thoughtfulness of Beau since he became sober! Now the detective is as complex and interesting as the mystery plots, as he is becoming more aware and patient. It is fun to see him becoming more responsible.

[Don Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

JP Beaumont and the lost family

Another great JA Vance read. In this JP Beaumont story, JP is teamed up with an ambitious partner who eventually drives him to resign from the Seattle PD. No idea when that happens, but I started with #24 where he opens with a quick career recap. It doesn’t happen in this book, #9. It’s full of twists and turns in what starts out like an open-and-shut case…but open-and-shut doesn’t really exist in homicide cases.

[Mary Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice and old-fashioned in a 90s kind of way, Reading this was a respite from grim and grizzly modern mysteries and the relentless news of fresh disasters in the real world. The setting in Seattle gave a strong sense of place and the characters seemed real and interesting. I will read more of these.

[Linda Lpp · Rating 5 out of 5]

This latest episode featuring Beau flowed much more smoothly on the what, who, how and why everything took place. No "save the day" heroics from Beaumont's lawyer or romps in the sack temptations, but who's to say that is needed?
Beaumont's personal background is explored a bit more, as he can say ahhh that's what happened.

[Murrel Lowry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Again, Author J. A. Jance has written a great one. This is book 9 in her J. P. Beaumont series, and for me personally, this one moves to the top of the list. From the opening bell, this one had me and I didn’t want to put it down even when my eyes wouldn’t stay open. And an awesome ending was the icing on the cake. Well done from this author. Looking forward to more.

[Jewett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book offers a look at interesting interplay between detectives that is different from the usual partners interaction. The mystery is good and the insight into the weather is different. You usually think about Seattle and rain not ice.

[K. East · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this audiobook. Pace was good, mystery full of twists and turns, the reader was easy to listen to, characters were likeable. Can't ask for much more than that. Already listening to the next one in the series.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

The bloody corpses in the broom closet of a Seattle School District building looked like a classic crime of passion, but 20-year-old clues pointed to something much more sinister.
This was a really good installment. It had lots of twist and turns that I really enjoyed.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

JP must work with his nemesis on a case that has many things that are not what they seem....a marriage that is very open; old Vietnam war wounds of the mental type; and reasons to bring old family secrets into the open. The ending is a healing for JP and a start of a new perspective,

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of the better books in the J.P. Beaumont series. The freshness of a new (temporary) partner, the different side to the post-AA lead, and an unexpected twist to the story had me engaged until the end.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book by J A Jance.

All that author's books that I have read are great but this is one of the best. Janice is one good story teller!

[Betty Ann Baer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A man and a woman end up dead in a closet at work. There are lots of buried secrets. After lots of digging, the truth comes out. It is quite the surprise.

[Richard K Simpson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jance and JP Beaumont are my favorites!!

Typical story line by Jance. Kept us guessing on the bad guy was until the end. JP Beaumont finally meets his grandparents!!

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Several tacos short of a combination plate. (Snort)

[Karen Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading (listening to) this book. Although it's a coupe of decades old, J.A. Jane's J.\P Beaumont books are always a pleasure!

[Amber Petersen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The end melted my heart 😍