Bestseller Jance's enjoyable 25th J.P. Beaumont mystery (after 2019's Sins of the Father) finds the 74-year-old former homicide cop turned PI putting up Christmas decorations at the home he shares with his wife, Melissa, the police chief of Bellingham, Wash. He has no sooner distributed the various angels, nutcrackers, and Santas than Jared Danielson, whom he hasn't seen in 20 years, appears at his door. Jared asks J.P. to find Chris, Jared's brother who dropped out of sight 12 years earlier. Jared and Chris are the sons of Sue Danielson, J.P.'s partner during his time in the Seattle PD homicide unit, who was subsequently murdered by her husband. It's Sue's aging mother's wish to see Chris before she dies. J.P. accepts the case and heads off for Homer, Alaska, the last place Chris was seen alive. J.P. is a fully developed character, and his frequent calls to Melissa to discuss the case are both touching and insightful. They make a good team even at a distance. New readers will happily join the ranks of longtime fans. Agent: Alice Volpe; Northwest Literary Agency. (Feb.)

Retired homicide detective J. P. Beaumont is still reeling from the murder of his partner, Sue Danielson. Suffering from frequent nightmares, Beaumont revisits his memory of the night Sue's ex-husband killed her and took his own life. Beaumont still blames himself for not responding more quickly to a call for help from Sue's son Jared. Fortunately, Beaumont was able to help Jared and Sue's other son, Chris, escape before they came to any harm. Now, 20 years later, Jared arrives unannounced at Beaumont's house with another request for help. Chris is missing and Jared wants Beaumont to find him. Beaumont doesn't hesitate to take the case and makes the arduous journey to snowy Homer, Alaska. In his attempt to find Chris, Beaumont stumbles onto another case that just might give him the answers he needs. Jance's latest Beaumont novel is thoroughly addictive. The plot moves steadily forward, and Beaumont's encounters with many of Homer's colorful residents add humor and a touch of lightheartedness to the otherwise heavy subject matter. A treat for Beaumont fans, but those new to the series will have no trouble following along.