Written by J.A. Jance
SUMMARY:
First published as a 2001 hardcover, this 388-page Avon Books paperback edition was released in 2002. Narrated through his point-of-view, homicide detective Jonas Piedmont “J.P.” Beaumont is newly retired from the Seattle Police Department. Haunted by his past, Beaumont hasn’t decided on his next career move yet. Yet, he is cajoled into chaperoning his grandmother’s scenic honeymoon.
Aboard The Starfire Breeze for a posh Alaskan cruise, Beaumont inadvertently becomes involved in an undercover FBI investigation of a homicidal cult. Despite efforts to discreetly walk away, murder’s calling card forces Beaumont to rejoin a dangerous shipboard game where a cold-blooded killer could be anyone.
REVIEW:
Deftly blending all the elements of a first-class murder-mystery, J.A. Jance nails her Birds of Prey. At the outset, Jance’s style vividly conveying details of a luxury cruise liner, the Alaskan locales, and Seattle points-of-reference is high-caliber for the genre. With resorting to caricatures, her storytelling impressively brings to life the various characters, especially a world-weary Beaumont himself. Without any drags, Beaumont’s cynical wit and astute deductions also keep readers fairly attuned to the plausibly shifting plot twists. Occasional profanities, well-placed humor, and some adult-oriented sequences (i.e. a rural Alaskan strip joint) help keep the storyline down-to-earth without being trashy.
Birds of Prey makes for a refreshing one-and-done (or maybe two-and-done) read. Even if it isn’t a long-term keeper, this Alaskan murder cruise is a gem to find at the library or pass on to others.
ADDITIONAL FEATURES:
A fourteen-page preview of Jance’s next Sheriff Joanna Brady mystery: Paradise Lost is included.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 8 Stars
