proof of Life

Proof of Life: J.A. Jance

Boredom can really take its toll on your mind except if you are J.P Beaumont who can find a way to get into the groove of things even when he’s just looking to spend time with his wife, Chief of Police Melissa Soames. A former homicide detective at 72 he’s still on the ball and yet needs a serious diversion. His wife is inundated with cases at work, murder, cold cases and more while Beau at times is asked to work at a volunteer cold-case center in order to have something other than watching television or reading to pass the time of day. But, wishful thinking sometimes comes from a direction you won’t expect. Maxwell Cole is a crime reporter and columnist for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer and someone who Beau really can’t stand. At one time they were in the same fraternity but when Beau used his charm and handsome ways and stole Max’s girlfriend the war was one and the friendship went south. Something happens to connect them in a different way when Max dies in what appears as an accidental fire that killed him but was it an accident or murder? Erin Kelsey Howard inherited all of Max’s money and worldly possessions and wants to hire Beau to look into the death of someone she called Uncle Max. Max was her godfather and his death bothers her since she was in a dangerous situation when someone tried to kill her and Beau saved her life. Erin is straightforward, to the point and although Beau might not be her favorite person, Max left a letter instructing her to call on Beau in case anything happened to him. Added in we learn that before his death he was working on a book focused on corruption at the highest level and the letter would be a start for him to find out what happened. Max’s letter specifically says NO POLICE!