I’ve generally enjoyed J.A. Jance’s mysteries, although I have always preferred the series featuring J.P. Beaumont (Seattle-based detective) to those with Joanna Brady or Ali Reynolds (which kind of surprises me, given my usual preference for well-written female protagonists). Possibly it’s the fully developed, well-rounded though flawed character of recovered alcoholic Beau and my relating to his struggle — Jance has done an amazing job creating a PERSON. We know this man! 

Anyway, Nothing To Lose is the latest in almost two dozen adventures featuring Beaumont. Beau gets a surprise visit from Jared, one of his late partner Sue Danielson’s grown sons, who asks Beau for help. Jared wants to find his younger brother Chris, in order to facilitate a reunion with their maternal grandmother in Ohio. Years before,  the two boys went to Alaska where they had relatives after their father failed to murder them. When Chris disappeared as a semi-rebellious  teen, the consensus was that he went back to Ohio…but the two sets of relatives don’t speak, and the Ohio side assumed Chris was still in Alaska. 

Beau feels both guilt over his role in the tragedy that took his partner’s life and responsibility to help her sons. So he’s off to Alaska (in the winter!) where he follows the threads in an attempt to untangle the family mystery and prevent further tragedy. As usual, Beau relies on his solid relationship with his wife Mel Soames as well as his lengthy list of connections in the law enforcement communities in Washington and Alaska. This is like comfy flannel pajamas – familiar and nice to get into after long hours dealing with the world. Four stars, and thanks to William Morrow/Custom House and NetGalley for providing a copy in  exchange for this honest review.