Stand Down audiobook

Stand Down by J.A. Jance is a 2015 Witness Impulse publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. I have read books in each of J.A Jance's series. I enjoy all of them, but I have to admit I have soft spot for old J.P. Beaumont. This novella brings us up to date on what Beaumont has been doing since the special homicide team he worked for was disbanded and his wife became a police chief. Currently, Beaumont finds himself in the unique position of being the spouse who has to wait at home while the other one goes off to work in what could be a life or death job. But, that doesn't mean Beaumont has gone soft on us. When he senses his wife may have made a few enemies, his antennae goes up immediately. While this book is basically the set up for the next full length novel featuring our favorite detective, I have to say this was a pretty tense short story which doesn't sugarcoat how politics and fear of scrutiny by the press can prevent true justice from taking place. It was great to touch base with Beaumont again and I am really intrigued by what the future might hold for him. I am glad his nice wife gave him a little nudge in the right direction. 4 stars

I wondered what happened to the Special Crimes unit Beau and Mel belonged to and this tell what happened. The unit is gone and then we see Mel in her new job. Beau is at loose ends but that does not keep him from springing into action when Mel is in danger. A nice bridge novella that tells two stories in a very short time.

Having finished Jance's "Proof of Life" too early in the evening to turn the lights out, I was lucky to find this novella available to load to my iPad from my local library's eBook service...It fills in the backstory of the tragic elimination of the state of Washington Special Crime Unit the both J.P. Beaumont and Mel Soames worked for and her early days as Bellingham's Chief of Police...Jance quality as always!!!

There are many ways that J.A. Jance shows herself to be a remarkably good writer and Stand Down is one of the best examples. This is a short work but, in just these few words, Ms. Jance paints a living picture of Beau and Mel and their lives. When she takes us through the ungodly hours when everything changed for them, I had tears in my eyes and that just doesn't happen to me when I'm reading a short because I don't usually get invested without a full-length novel. Not so this time. My emotions were right out there on my sleeve.And then Ms. Jance throws out a line like this, guaranteed to make me smile:It was enough to piss off the Good Fairy.Ah, yes, back on track again, this time Beau's search for a missing person who just happens to be his police chief wife. No longer a working homicide detective---not by his choice---Beau reverts to character immediately and, by the time this case is resolved in an odd sort of way, his future is laid out for him. Next on the horizon is a new venture, Dance of the Bones, coming in September 2015. and I can hardly wait to see where life will take this died-in-the-wool cop.Reviewed by Lelia Taylor, July 2015.

This is the story of J.P. Beaumont, a career cop who was forced into retirement when his unit was disbanded. When his wife was offered the job as chief of police in another city, he goes along and oversees the renovation of their home. Since she's a creature of habit, he automatically gets concerned when her routine is suddenly broken. He follows up on every clue and tracks her down. This is a man who really has his wife's back.

This is one of my all time favorite series by JA Jance. I also read her Joanna Brady and Ali Reynolds series.In this novella, Life has shifted for J. P. Beaumont. After a tragic accident that devastated disbanded his Special Homicide Investigation Team, he accepts that he has left homicide detection behind at this point, but he has a lot of unanticipated free time on his hands. He's keeping busy with renovations on the new house that he and his wife, Mel Soames, the newly appointed chief of police in Bellingham, Washington, have bought. But that can occupy only so much of Beau's daily life, and Mel is encouraging him to return to investigating crimes. In the meantime, Mel is struggling to gain control of her new situation. It's been a few months, and the tension in the police department is rising, but Beau realizes Mel has to tackle things in her own way, so he refrains from advising. But when Beau shows up one afternoon to survey the construction at their new house and finds Mel's car there but no sign of her, his investigative instincts kick in. Suddenly he's back in the game—except this time, his heart is on the line as well as his professional dignity.

J. A. Jance is one of my favorite novelists. Her books always draw me into her characters' world's. Stand Down is a novella with a familiar character, J. P. Beaumont. The only negative thing I can say is that it wasn't long enough! I wasn't ready to say goodbye to the characters yet. That being said (yes, I'm greedy with characters I like), the ending is satisfying, although it's not the ending I wanted. The ending the author chose is more realistic than the one I wanted, but that's satisfying in itself. It's a delightful, quick read, and I hope to see more novellas with her characters. For me, a novella is the perfect length to take with me to a doctor's appointment. I do like having a nice mix of novels and novellas on my Kindle at all times. Kudos to Ms. Jance for another great read.

** spoiler alert ** Refreshing short read in a local setting, by a Seattle author. Unpredictability due to lack of plot twists. But didn’t have a lot of expectations going into a novella, so no worries. Author shines in picturing the city and suburbs really well, especially the bank robbery pursuit. Tempts a day trip to Bellingham, soon as sun shines.

J.P. Beaumont and his wife Mel, newly appointed chief police, live in Bellingham, Washington. Then Mel is gone. Kidnapped.Surprising twists and a shocking ending. I loved this story, as I've enjoyed each book with J.P. Beaumont. Not sure what makes him so interesting, probably because he's real and flawed.

A great little story!!!What will Beau do after S.H.I.T. Is disbanded? Mel has a new job as Police Chief in Bellingham, Washington but Beau is at loose ends. When Mel disappears Beau sets out to find her. Will it open a new career for him? All the answers are in this excellent story. An easy read. Highly recommended.

A novella. Tells the end of Special Homicide Investigation Team and Beaumont and Mel's employment there. Highlights there move to Bellingham were Mel is appointed chief of police and Beau is busy renovation a new house for them. Even in this small book there are several stories and lots of action. Another great one that can be read in one setting.

I only read Jance’s J.P. Beaumont novels, which are set in western Washington. This is a novella that covers a change of life and venue as the AG’s S.H.I.T squad gets shut down and Mel becomes chief of police in Bellingham.

I am not sure why J.A. Jance writes these small novellas but they are good and enjoyable. This was short and sweet. I don't know why she wouldn't put this in another of novels as it is background for the next books.