A Japanese businessman whose business is bankrupt is found dead, an apparent suicide in a time-honored suicidal event. But another Japanese man says it’s not so, citing important discrepancies. It’s enough to make Beau look for a murderer. As with most of his cases, one thing leads to another, and more crimes are committed against this man’s family. It’s an interesting mystery, but equally interesting are the lives of the characters. Beau has awakened with broken fingers after a wedding of a friend, with no idea how it happened. Eventually, he puts two and two together . . . after all, he IS a detective! And he gets more news from his doctor, which Beau probably didn’t expect, but astute readers probably did. The writing in the series may seem dated by today’s standards, but it’s still well written. Beau’s lawyer friend is dragging him into the technological world little by little. It’s a nice - and realistic - aspect to the series. ( )

JP has a blackout and an enlarged liver. Will be interesting to see how this plays out. The Japanese plot arc was interesting. ( )

First time reading this author. Was a good read, kept my interest till the end. ( )

After a couple of disappointing reads, it was so nice to get one that I really liked.

JP Beaumont is a hard-boiled, hard-drinking cop. At least on the outside. On the inside, it's another story. He just broke his fingers, and they really hurt a lot - he just wishes he could remember how it happened. Then the murder case takes him back and forth across the state of Washington, and he's too busy to look into his own mystery.

I plan to read this on again. ( )

When Tadeo Kurobashi, a respectable Japanese-American businessman, appears in these pages, he is already a corpse. However, the reader gradually learns more about him from the perspective of his loyal friends, sworn enemy, reclusive and mysterious wife, and estranged daughter. Did he commit suicide (hara-kiri) because of impending bankruptcy or was he murdered? Seattle police detective J.P. Beaumont undertakes to find out and to solve intertwining mysteries as well.

J.A. Jance is an author I enjoy reading. Once I find an author I like I will usually read everything they write. If they already have 10-20 titles out by the time I discover them, I will usually read them straight through in order. She is a solid writer in a genre that I enjoy. I don't like to evaluate one title as being superior to another. I just experience it as another solid offering in a series that I enjoy. ( )