Until Proven Guilty: J. P. Beaumont Series, Book 1

This is book one in the Beaumont series. I have read some of the newer books in the series, so it was great to read the first book. It answers a number of questions about people that were briefly mention in passing in the new books such as Ann, and how Beaumont got his money. This book had more sex than the usual Jance novel I am glad she toned that down in the newer books. Liked the description of Seattle it like a mini trip to the city. Over all enjoyed the book now I will look for number two in the series.

I admit I have not read the JP Beaumont book series in chronological order, having read four other books before the first one: Until Proven Guilty. The other books alluded to the tragic backstory of Beaumont's relationship with Anne Corley, all of which is told in Until Proven Guilty.

This turns out to be my least favorite of the books so far, and it's a good thing this is fiction because it strains anyone's ability to believe something like this story could ever happen. Without putting in spoilers, let me say that the Anne Corley that Beau fell in love with was a well-drawn character, beautiful, intelligent, courageous, charming, wise, gentle and passionate. She made a fine match for Beaumont and the story worked right up until the time she became "the other Anne". I do not think "the other Anne" could have co-existed in the same person with the one fleshed out in the first 9/10 of this book, certainly without revealing herself many times over. The few feeble "hints" J.A. Jance laid down for the reader in no way raised any suspicion of what was supposed to be there. This was not a virtue -- it just made the end of the story seem a trumped up ridiculous soap opera that made me want to throw the book into the trash. It was like listening to a top-notch singer who sings the entire last number of a performance badly off-key.

There was no way Anne Corley could have had the past attributed to her in the book; she would have been revealed long ago and become celebrated for it, kind of like the Unabomber was. I so wished for a different resolution of the mystery. If this had been my first Beaumont novel I might not have continued reading the later ones, which are much less melodramatic and make far better detective novels. To his credit, Gene Engene did his usual excellent job of reading all the characters. His reading style makes all the J.A. Jance books all the more enjoyable.

The reading was awful. The later ones are much better.

The plot is good.

I've read all of Jance's books. That's what made me download the next one.

The plot and the author.

I've read and listened to a bunch of the JP Beaumont stories. It was a pleasure to listen to the first in the series, filling in background for the other ones.

It was a moving and riveting story.

So, I love the tough guy, as long as he is honest and respectful of women. And J.P. Beaumont fits the bill perfectly. This series centers around a crime and J.P. Beaumont and his pals. There is usually a drop-dead gorgeous woman involved. But in spite of these cliched elements, the stories are good and the narration is excellent.

I highly recommend this series.

I have tried other books by J.A. Jance and they are ususally quite good. Good plot and well written. This one was not the most ecxiting, but being the first in the series, it provides some background info that is usefull (but not imperative), when listening to other books in the series.

yes

He has a good voice and doesnt' overdo it, when portaying the different characters.

I thought I could handle the book (from listening to the sample) even though the performace wasn't highly rated by others. Should have listened to them - not the sample. The reader is really awful. I kept wanting to give him an allergy pill - he is so nasel!

The character is Seattle based and the author knows his Seattle landmarks and older Seattle history. I'm looking forward to listening to the whole series.