Fire and Ice

October 26, 2009
Two of Jance's most acclaimed characters, Arizona sheriff Joanna Brady and Seattle homicide investigator J. P. Beaumont, are brought together for this intriguing mystery. Beaumont is dealing with his sixth murder victim, the latest in a series of women wrapped in tarps and set on fire. Brady is working on a murder of her own: an ATV park caretaker who was run over several times and left to die. When one of Beaumont's victims ties back to a member of Brady's department, the two law officers are brought together to solve the case and stop the killings. Both Hillary Huber and Erik Davies give fine performances. Davies, in his first-person narration, brings a pleasant gentleness and humor to Beaumont. Hillary Huber gives a more no-nonsense delivery to her Brady and does a deft job differentiating between various characters. A Morrow hardcover (Reviews, June 15).

Starred review from June 15, 2009
Bestseller Jance brings together her two most popular characters, Seattle homicide investigator J.P. Beaumont and Cochise County, Ariz., sheriff Joanna Brady, for a gripping tale that's easily one of her best. While their first dual outing, 2002's Partner in Crime
, stagnated with clichéd professional and sexual tension, this time the combination excels with a focus on parallel investigations that naturally—and chillingly—intersect. In Seattle, Beaumont looks into the burned bodies of six unidentified women. In Arizona, Brady handles the murder of an ATV park caretaker. Beaumont and Brady pool their information when a murdered woman links back to the missing sister of Jaime Carbajal, one of Brady's detectives. While Brady stays in Arizona, Carbajal's arrival in Washington sets off a chain of events with fatal consequences. Brady's side investigation of a substandard nursing home adds punch. 10-city author tour.

Hillary Huber and Erik Davies skillfully portray homicide investigators Joanna Brady and J.P. Beaumont as they chase down murder suspects, Brady in Arizona and Beaumont in Seattle. Huber's careful pacing and understatement capably match Brady's charm and down-to-earth investigative style. Likewise, Davies's vocal personality captures the edgy panache of the handsome Beaumont as he pursues a gruesome serial killer. The narrators excel at portraying the subtle attraction between Brady and Beaumont, which adds romantic tension when their cases cross state lines and jurisdictions. The production includes excellent characterizations of secondary characters, including those of a crime boss and an undocumented Mexican, and chillingly depicted autopsies. First-rate narrations and authentic sound effects make this a great pick for aficionados of mysteries and forensic science. G.D.W. (c) AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine