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Until Proven Guilty (J.P. Beaumont #1)
by
J.A. Jance (Goodreads Author)
The little girl was only five, much too young to die -- a lost treasure who should have been cherished, not murdered.She could have been J.P. Beaumont's kid, and the determined Seattle homicide detective won't rest until her killer pays dearly. But the hunt is leading Beaumont into a murky world of religious fanaticism, and toward a beautiful, perilous obsession all his ow...more
ebook, 336 pages
Published
October 13th 2009
by HarperCollins e-books
(first published June 1st 1985)
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I have now read two mysteries by J. A. Vance, Hour of the Hunter and this one, Until Proven Guilty. While the former was different due to its setting in Arizona tribal lands and its use of tribal legends, Until Proven Guilty is a more straight-forward detective novel and high on the adrenaline meter. It has a interesting plot involving a religious cult and plenty of false trails that eventually lead to the surprising ending. I enjoyed the straight-forward style and Jance pulls off a nice thrille...more
The audiobook version of this detective story kind of threw me because the same man narrates Michael Connelly's superior Harry Bosch detective novels so my brain wanted to make J.P. Beaumont into Harry Bosch.
Not going to happen.
Not a bad start for the detective series, though. I liked the setting (Seattle) a lot and I liked the simplicity of the character who didn't have a lot of emotional baggage as so many characters do these days, but I dislike it when a character is introduced at being goo...more
Not going to happen.
Not a bad start for the detective series, though. I liked the setting (Seattle) a lot and I liked the simplicity of the character who didn't have a lot of emotional baggage as so many characters do these days, but I dislike it when a character is introduced at being goo...more
3 likes · like · see review
Book number One in the J.P. Beaumont series by J. A. Jance - 3 stars. Beaumont investigates the murder of a 5 year old girl whose family is part of a religious cult. The easy suspect is the child's mother or the preacher - who teaches extreme physical punishment for personal sins, but in short order, both of those suspects have also been murdered. Now the child's father (mother's estranged husband) becomes the prime suspect and is arrested even though there is no evidence connecting him to the c...more
Feb 09, 2013
Deon Stonehouse
added it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
books-set-in-pacific-northwest
Set in Seattle, the Beaumont Series by J.A. Jance is hugely popular, Until Proven Guilty is the first book in the series. Beaumont is that standard of the mystery genre, a troubled cop, battling alcoholism but trying his best to get it right. Jance uses the Seattle setting well giving this mystery series a very northwestern feel. Until Proven Guilty opens with Beaumont and his partner called to the scene of a little girl’s murder. Her body was discovered by a trucker in the Magnolia neighborhood...more
i think this is the first in the j. p. beaumont series. i've read some, including books from later in the series. from reading early and late, it seems this one series where the character develops over the series into a deeper, more complex character. that makes reading each new book, adds character development as well as a new plot.
i will continue to seek out and read other books in the series.
i will continue to seek out and read other books in the series.
2 likes · like · see review
Sep 17, 2011
Mack
added it
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
parmecium
Recommended to Mack by:
accident
Some names appear on the bestseller lists and every once in a while I decide to give a new author a shot hoping to discover somebody new and fresh. I have no illusions almost inevitably it falls into the guilty pleasure pile at best. But this book stunned me! I was able to finish the book because I was fascinated by the possibility that I might be reading the worst piece fiction ever created. I have no words for the juvenile level of word craft. It hurts to think back and to try and recapture th...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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Downloaded this book on my iPad for $1.99, I have read quite a few books by J.A. Jance and enjoyed them all. This book continues a series with J P Beaumont, who is a police detective in Seattle. This story involves a religious cult, where a young girl is found murdered, her mother is in the cult and Beaumont needs to solve the homicide. At the girl's funeral, a beautiful woman in red shows up who fascinates Beaumont. Her name is Anne, they end up meeting and falling in love within days. She want...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I was no more than 10 pages into this one when I realized I had read it before. I went ahead and skimmed/finished it the same day. At some points, I had to laugh at the implausibility of some of it (mainly the relationship btwn JP and Anne). But what I also realized was that Until Proven Guilty is a highly entertaining read...flaws and all.
The greatest asset to this series (based on a number of the other reviews) is JP Beaumont. He is a likable lead character, and his development over the years...more
The greatest asset to this series (based on a number of the other reviews) is JP Beaumont. He is a likable lead character, and his development over the years...more
May 10, 2012
Sheila Beaumont
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
adult-fiction,
mysteries-suspense-thrillers
This is the first book in J.A. Jance's J.P. Beaumont series. I've already been reading her Joanna Brady and Ali Reynolds mysteries, set in Arizona, and I'm delighted to find that this series, set in Seattle, looks to be just as enjoyable as the others. I've heard that it's important to read the series in order, and after finishing this book, I can see why, as we find out who Anne Corley is and how homicide detective Beaumont can afford to live the way he does. It was a terrific read, with a fasc...more
I got this from the library through the digital system and thought it was OK. It was writted in 1985 and is therefore pretty dated, so for that I bumped it from 2 1/2 stars to 3. Initially I didn't realize it was written so long ago, and couldn't figure out why the detective didn't just go to the internet and google things---or use a cell phone (that is what tipped me off to check the publishing date, I mean who drives to find a pay phone?). Even though it was predictable, the characters are pre...more
This book was a bit difficult to get into. It seemed dated but i didnt read any reference of dates. I picked up this book for $1 on Nook and it was listed on B&N's "Top Choice" so I figured, why not? Half way thru is when i figured out that it was published in 1985!!!!! Now i understood the reason it was dated. The story was good, and since it centered around a polygamist cult, I just couldnt help myself! The story was like watching an episode of SVU or CSI so it kept my interest. There is s...more
I'm not sure if I can try reading another of these books, even though so many seem to love them. At first I was really enjoying the tenor of the writing and then . . . . *groan* . . . in comes this very stupid love interest. I groaned every time they had a conversation or "more". Seems like the love interest was some kind of fantasy fulfillment for the author and I absolutely hate that in a book especially when it doesn't seem to enhance the narrative. Plus, I thought we were trying to solve a c...more
Jun 27, 2011
Marcy Skala
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Marcy by:
mom
Shelves:
mystery
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Jul 26, 2010
Stormcloud
rated it
1 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Stormcloud by:
Library
It's more like a romance novel--strike that, Disney fairy tale with descriptions of sex and mentions and actions of murder and domestic abuse--and a sad ending, OF COURSE.
Somebody on Goodreads noticed that J.P. behaved and thought like a woman. I think that person was right, and that fact makes the narration . . . not work. I got tired of learning about why J.P. did weird things, like start his dishwasher once a week whether there were dishes or not. Boring details like that. I'm all for details...more
Somebody on Goodreads noticed that J.P. behaved and thought like a woman. I think that person was right, and that fact makes the narration . . . not work. I got tired of learning about why J.P. did weird things, like start his dishwasher once a week whether there were dishes or not. Boring details like that. I'm all for details...more
1 like · like · see review
Got this book off the nook $.99 download section just for fun, and it was that -- fun. Skip the sex scenes, they do nothing for the plot, are full of cliches, and at times are just plain awkward. Ugh. Who wants to feel that kind of uncomfortable? But, the twist at the end is cool (though not unexpected), and the pace is great for a mindless summer beach read. I like the main character -- he seems like a stand-up guy, sort of an all-American cop who just wants to do right by the victims he encoun...more
Well, I thoroughly enjoyed this!! I stumbled on a more recent book of this series and decided before reading that one, I should begin at the beginning (a very good place to start). I'm very glad I did. I will definitely read the remainder of this series and will go NOW to see if I can get it at the library. The author has just the right amount of humor (not as much as say Sue Grafton, but still...) and interesting characters. A few outlying characters are a bit stereotypical (the loud, shouting...more
I was told that JP Beaumont was a wonderful character that I should get to know. So, I started from the beginning. I'm thinking that was a mistake. Being introduced to JP Beaumont being a dupe did not win me over at all. Even though there was a tie in the ending to the relationship, I felt like too much time was spent on the relationship and not enough on the investigation. I know, that was also part of the plot. I guess what I'm trying to say is, I didn't care for this book. Will I give JP Beau...more
This is a good start to J.A. Jance's J.P Beaumont series. Although it was written in the 80's it isn't too dated to put the reader off. The reader is introduced to J.P. as a divorced Seattle cop with an arch-nemesis in the press, Max Cornwall. There is a child found dead off the side of the road and J.P is on the case. It turns out that the victim, Angela, is a child of a local cult member. Beaumont is thoroughly frustrated when he can't get a lead in the case. At Angela's funeral he meets Anne...more
A five-year-old girl is dead and Seattle police detective J.P. Beaumont will not let that stand. When his investigation leads him into a cult of religious fanaticism, he finds that nobody wants to help him and his new partner bring the killer to justice. But while Beau is battling the silence of a cult and his partner’s checkered past, in walks a mysterious woman in red that J.P. is suddenly obsessed with. But is she really interested in love, or does she have her own agenda?
Until Proven Guilty...more
Until Proven Guilty...more
I got this as part of Barnes and Noble Nook's free book Fridays before I even had a Nook!! My friend, Laura explained I could download the books to an account and read on the computer until I got my Nook lol. I thought it looked interesting and took place in Seattle, which I love, so i finally got around to reading it.
It is a very good book. Lots of action and it keeps you guessing. I could not have predicted the outcome. However, there were certain plot points that I do not feel were developed...more
It is a very good book. Lots of action and it keeps you guessing. I could not have predicted the outcome. However, there were certain plot points that I do not feel were developed...more
Originally read = May, 22, 2007
Unfortunately, I don't remember enough of what went on, or Beaumont's back story to continue on with the series, so I must reread this one...sigh...the one thing I miss the most is my memory :-/
This was very good, and I am glad that I reread it because I did forget a lot! I actually had him confused with another male detective, so now I have that straight!
The brutal death of a 5 year old girl, a malicious, chauvinistic, controlling religious cult leader, a beautifu...more
Unfortunately, I don't remember enough of what went on, or Beaumont's back story to continue on with the series, so I must reread this one...sigh...the one thing I miss the most is my memory :-/
This was very good, and I am glad that I reread it because I did forget a lot! I actually had him confused with another male detective, so now I have that straight!
The brutal death of a 5 year old girl, a malicious, chauvinistic, controlling religious cult leader, a beautifu...more
I love J. P. Beaumont series.
Reading this series is great for me for many reasons.
I love that Seattle is part of the story.
I like the characters that Jance writes about, we have come to care about them almost as actual people.
This series is one that my husband and I can both read and enjoy and we can talk about. It has enough Manly Man stuff to keep him interested but the characters keep me coming back.
The stories are not for everyone I understand but, they work well for us.
Reading this series is great for me for many reasons.
I love that Seattle is part of the story.
I like the characters that Jance writes about, we have come to care about them almost as actual people.
This series is one that my husband and I can both read and enjoy and we can talk about. It has enough Manly Man stuff to keep him interested but the characters keep me coming back.
The stories are not for everyone I understand but, they work well for us.
There were times throughout this story that I didn't think that I'd like it very much. I was pleasantly surprised to find that overall I did enjoy it. I love books that take place in Washington so I can picture places much easier. Though the story line was a little far fetched, it proved to work overall. The only downside was that I listened to it on audio an the narration was terrible and distracted from the story. If I had read it on paper I'm sure I'd have a better reaction.
Dec 07, 2010
Betsy
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Betsy by:
Sandy Sapienza
I usually don't care for fiction written in the first person, but this series was recommended by a good friend and I was convinced to try it by the setting in Seattle, where I live. I actually read Long Time Gone first and liked it well enough to come back to the beginning of the series, and ended up reading all books in the series, as well as the Joanna Brady series.
These books are easy reads; not complex sophisticated mysteries, but very accessible. J.P. Beaumont is a gruff, experienced detec...more
These books are easy reads; not complex sophisticated mysteries, but very accessible. J.P. Beaumont is a gruff, experienced detec...more
. .I see that this book is the first in the JP Beaumont series. It is interesting in that there is a lot more personal involvement in the case of first a poor young girl found dead, and then the deaths of her mother and the cruel leader of the religious cult. The mysterious Lady in Red, who shows up at the funeral, adds quite a bit to the story as well. It takes place mostly in Seattle, with a few scenes in Snoqualmie Falls, and a mention of several other localities.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
This started out great, maintained a high "really good"-- then plunged into the land of "piece of crap" in the last 40 pages or so.
It's a mystery; the reader, with any good mystery, should have a chance of solving the mystery before the characters do. They should be given the necessary information, then left to it, just like the characters.
Instead, Jance took the "last second revelation" path, and it turned out to be a character who was never even a suspect until that last second.
Dreck. Won't be...more
It's a mystery; the reader, with any good mystery, should have a chance of solving the mystery before the characters do. They should be given the necessary information, then left to it, just like the characters.
Instead, Jance took the "last second revelation" path, and it turned out to be a character who was never even a suspect until that last second.
Dreck. Won't be...more
I have been enjoying reading the later J. P. Beaumont books, but decided to go back and start at the beginning, with the first book in the series, which I had never read. In this first book, Beaumont is working with the police, with his new partner, Ron Peters. When he attends the funeral of a murdered 5 year old girl, he first meets Anne Corley, "the woman in red", with whom he very quickly forms a bond. A very good, and very exciting read.
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Judith Ann Jance is the top 10 New York Times bestselling author of the Joanna Brady series; the J. P. Beaumont series; three interrelated thrillers featuring the Walker family; and Edge of Evil, the first in a series featuring Ali Reynolds. Born in South Dakota and brought up in Bisbee, Arizona, Jance lives with her husband in Seattle, Washington, and Tucson, Arizona.
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Sep 19, 2011 01:32am
Sep 19, 2011 07:01am