J.P. Beaumont Books in Order

The Recommended J.P. Beaumont Reading Path

For readers diving into the long-running J.P. Beaumont series, the recommended path is simple: read the books in publication order. Unlike some crime fiction series where chronological order differs wildly from the release schedule, Jonas Piedmont Beaumont’s life progresses in real time. Reading the books sequentially allows you to experience his personal development, his relationships, his struggles with addiction, and the modernization of his home city of Seattle naturally as they unfold.

If you prefer to jump straight to the best starting point, begin with the very first book, Until Proven Guilty (1985). This introduces a raw, hard-drinking homicide detective and establishes the baseline for his entire multi-decade journey.

J.P. Beaumont Books in Publication Order

This master list follows the publication order of the J.P. Beaumont novels and novellas as tracked in the series continuity:

1. Until Proven Guilty (1985) – The debut novel that introduces J.P. Beaumont, his daughter Kelly, his son Scott, and his first wife Karen, alongside the pivotal character Anne Corley.
2. Injustice For All (1986) – Beau investigates a murder on a beach that leads to a conspiracy involving the judiciary.
3. Trial by Fury (1986) – A high school coach is lynched, exposing dark secrets in a small Washington community.
4. Taking the Fifth (1987) – Beau tackles a complex case involving corporate greed and cover-ups.
5. Improbable Cause (1988) – A dentist's murder pulls Beaumont into a web of professional jealousy and familial secrets.
6. A More Perfect Union (1988) – Beaumont goes undercover at a steel mill to investigate suspicious workplace deaths.
7. Dismissed with Prejudice (1989) – The suicide of a Japanese computer graphics designer hides a darker crime.
8. Minor in Possession (1990) – Following a stint in rehab, Beaumont travels to Arizona and finds himself accused of murder.
9. Payment In Kind (1991) – Two bodies found in a school bus lead Beaumont into a complicated investigation with the Seattle PD.
10. Without Due Process (1992) – When a fellow officer and his family are murdered, Beau must clear his colleague's name.
11. Failure to Appear (1993) – Beau searches for his runaway daughter, Kelly, leading him into the world of theatrical festivals.
12. Lying in Wait (1994) – A cold case from the Vietnam War era resurfaces, forcing Beaumont to confront his own military past.
13. Name Withheld (1996) – A high-tech executive is murdered, exposing biotechnology secrets and corporate warfare.
14. Breach Of Duty (1999) – Beau investigates an elderly woman's death, exposing a decades-old insurance scam.
15. Birds of Prey (2001) – While on a cruise, Beau is forced to investigate a series of strange deaths on the high seas.
16. Partner in Crime (2002) – The first major crossover novel where Beau teams up with J.A. Jance’s Arizona sheriff, Joanna Brady.
17. Long Time Gone (2005) – A cold case hits close to home when a woman seeks Beau's help regarding her mother's murder forty years prior.
18. Justice Denied (2007) – Beaumont investigates a public defender's murder while dealing with political interference.
19. Fire and Ice (2009) – The second major crossover with Joanna Brady, taking place in both Seattle and Cochise County, Arizona.
20. Betrayal of Trust (2011) – Beau investigates a snuff film ring involving the children of powerful state politicians.
21. Second Watch (2013) – While undergoing knee replacement surgery, a heavily medicated Beaumont relives his traumatic experiences during the Vietnam War.
22. Ring In the Dead (2013) – A transitional holiday novella following Beau as he deals with a missing person case during Christmas.
23. Stand Down (2015) – A novella bridging the gap as J.P. Beaumont transitions further into retirement.
24. Dance of the Bones (2015) – A crossover novel that brings Beaumont together with Jance's Walker Family series protagonist, Brandon Walker.
25. Still Dead (2017) – A novella dealing with unresolved family drama and a sudden disappearance.
26. Proof of Life (2017) – When Beau’s old nemesis is killed in a house fire, he is pulled out of retirement to find the truth.
27. Sins of the Fathers (2019) – Beau is hired to look into a cold case that reveals shocking secrets about his own family tree.
28. Nothing to Lose (2022) – A private investigation takes Beau into the wilderness of Washington state to locate a missing man.
29. Girls' Night Out (2024) – A novella focusing on mechanic Twinkle Winkleman, serving as a setup for future investigations.
30. Den of Iniquity (2024) – Beau works a case in Ashland, Oregon, uncovering a complex conspiracy behind a suspicious death.

Chronology, Career, and Life Changes

One of the elements that makes the J.P. Beaumont series so compelling is the realistic progression of Beau’s life. Unlike typical static detectives, Beau ages, changes jobs, and experiences life-altering events:

The Battle with Alcoholism

In the early books, Jonas Piedmont Beaumont is a heavy-drinking detective whose personal life is in shambles. He is divorced from his first wife, Karen, and has a strained relationship with his children, Kelly and Scott. His struggle with alcoholism is a core theme, culminating in his decision to get sober in Minor in Possession. His ongoing recovery remains an important part of his identity throughout the entire run.

The Corley Inheritance

In the first novel, Until Proven Guilty, Beau meets the wealthy Anne Corley. Their connection leads to a brief romance. Although she dies tragically, she leaves her entire multi-million-dollar fortune to Beaumont. This inheritance makes him independently wealthy, allowing him to purchase a luxury penthouse overlooking Elliot Bay and drive a sleek Porsche. Despite his wealth, his dedication to justice keeps him working cases.

Career Transitions

Beau's professional life evolves significantly across four decades. He begins as a traditional homicide detective with the Seattle Police Department. After retiring from the local police force, he joins the Special Homicide Investigation Team (S.H.I.T.) under the Washington State Attorney General's office, where he meets Melissa "Mel" Soames, who later becomes his third wife. In the later novels, he works as a private investigator, taking on cases that interest him or touch his personal history.

Crucial Crossovers and the Extended Universe

J.A. Jance has created a shared literary universe across her major book series, and J.P. Beaumont is at the center of several crossover events:

The Joanna Brady Crossovers

Sheriff Joanna Brady of Cochise County, Arizona, is the protagonist of another major Jance series. She and J.P. Beaumont team up in Partner in Crime (2002) and Fire and Ice (2009). These crossovers are highly popular because they contrast Beaumont's rainy Pacific Northwest city style with Brady's dry desert-town sheriff sensibilities.

The Brandon Walker Connection

In Dance of the Bones (2015), Beaumont crosses over with Brandon Walker, the retired Arizona sheriff from Jance's Walker Family series. They collaborate on a decades-old murder case with ties stretching from Seattle to the Tohono O'odham reservation in Arizona.

Twinkle Winkleman and Beyond

In the 2024 novella Girls' Night Out and the upcoming novel The Taken Ones (scheduled for late 2026), Jance introduces and expands on the character of Twinkle Winkleman, a tough-as-nails mechanic who partners with Beaumont to solve human trafficking and disappearance cases between Anchorage and Seattle.

What to Know Before You Start

Before diving into the world of J.P. Beaumont, here are a few practical tips to keep in mind:

• The Shifting Setting: Because the series began in 1985, the early books depict a very different Seattle: rainy, gritty, blue-collar, and pre-internet. As the series progresses, the city transforms into a modern, high-tech, coffee-centric metropolis, which is reflected in the crimes and technology Beau uses.
• Reading the Novellas: Shorter works like Ring in the Dead and Stand Down provide additional color but are not essential to follow the main plots. However, reading them in their publication slots fills in minor details of Beau’s life.
• Crossover Placement: If you are also reading the Joanna Brady series, it is best to read the crossovers in publication order to avoid spoilers for either character's life timeline.