Sins of the Fathers by J.A. Jance (Review by Missi Gwartney)

Rating:  4.3 out of 5 stars

With a simple knock on his door, J.P. Beaumont agrees to help in what he assumes will be a simple missing persons case.  Little does he know that this case will be a catalyst for unraveling secrets from his not so glamorous past.  He will quickly find out that past choices can always find you, even if they lead to consequences you didn’t know existed.  “Sins of the Fathers” by J.A. Jance is not only a great crime fiction story with some intriguing twists but also goes deeper allowing us to realize that everyone makes mistakes and sometimes the simple choice of patience and acceptance might just be the key to not only solving cases but to navigating through life as well.

Now a retired homicide detective and with a new career of private investigating, J.P. Beaumont is learning how to live a quiet life.  Enjoying puzzle books, his dog Lucy, and time with his still working wife, he’s in no hurry to dive back into his previous chaos.  However, when an old acquaintance, Alan Dale, shows up on his doorstep with a newborn and a request to help find his missing daughter, Beaumont has no idea that his quiet lifestyle could be instantly turned upside down and he may not be as “retired” as he thought.  Every step closer he gets to finding Alan’s daughter, he uncovers a new twist to the case and realizes this may be a little more complex than simply trying to find a missing girl.  Beaumont’s discoveries along the way will lead him down a path where he must decide just far he will go to try and fit all the pieces of the case (and his life) together.

I was a little hesitant about this book when I found that it was one of many in an already well-established series but am so glad I read it.  Jance does a phenomenal job of including just enough past details so you won’t be lost.  This is completely able to be read as a stand-alone book.  I enjoyed not only becoming a little bit of a private investigator but also the sweet relationships that formed as the story unfolded.  I would recommend this book and am ashamed to say that I had never even heard of this series until I got the chance to review it.  I will definitely be adding more of this series to my reading list.