Dance of the Bones

Publishers Weekly ★ 07/27/2015 Bestseller Jance’s 51st novel brings together two of her popular series characters—Seattle detective J.P. Beaumont and Arizona sheriff Brandon Walker—in a highly entertaining plot that honors both of these now-retired cops. Grounded in the legends and lore of the Tohono O’odham people, the story also delivers a solid look at the vagaries of justice. In 1970, Walker arrested John Lassiter for the shooting murder of Lassiter’s foster father, prospector Amos Warren. Still in prison after all these years and suffering from MS, Lassiter refuses a plea deal that might release him. Instead, Lassiter wants Walker to find the real killer, using the work Walker does with Last Chance, a volunteer organization of retired law enforcement experts. When a link is found to an unsolved Seattle case, Walker gets in touch with Beaumont. The kidnapping of two boys ratchets up the suspense. Jance (Cold Betrayal) satisfies fans of both series with an energetic plot resplendent with believable twists, leaving readers eager for Beaumont and Walker’s next outing. Agent: Alice Volpe, Northwest Literary Agency. (Sept.)