When Detective J.P. Beaumont is given his latest assignment it seemed to be almost routine. His job was to find out what really happened to LaShawn Tompkins who was shot to death at his mother’s home. LaShawn is an ex-drug dealer who was recently released from prison.

As Beaumont starts to investigate this murder, he realizes that it is not just a routine case and much more is involved. Much to everyone’s surprise, LaShawn dedicated much of his time to the King Street Mission where he was helping others.

Beaumont met his lover, Mel, when they were both working for the Washington State Attorney General’s Special Homicide Investigation Team, better known as the SHIT Squad. Mel started out staying in Beaumont’s guest room but over a period of time that changed.

Mel was given an assignment of creating a catalog of the whereabouts of released Washington State sexual offenders. She wasn’t too thrilled with this assignment because it seemed like a job to just keep her busy – that is until it is discovered that there is some connection between what Mel is doing and the case Beaumont is investigating. What is it?

As if all of this isn’t enough, there are several other personal problems going on in Beaumont’s life right now that add to the problems.

Is Beaumont successful at finding out what really happened to LaShawn?

J.A. Jance has written 18 books involving Seattle Detective J.P. Beaumont. One might think by now that he might start to get a little boring. That is not the case. His character has changed over the years, there are always new problems in his life and J.A. Jance really does a tremendous job with blending his character with an exciting plot. There are several subplots in this book, which will keep the reader at the top of their game in trying to figure out what happened. J.A. Jance is a skillful mystery writer. If you have not read any of her books, you will want to read more of them after reading “Justice Denied”. This book is highly recommended.

REVIEWED BY NANCY EATON