Second Watch

There's that case that lingers in the mind of every single cop. The one that will never go away. The one in which the victim can never rest. For Detective J.P. Beaumont, that is the case that happened forty years ago. The one that was simply tagged at the Girl in the Barrel. The only reason that it remains on J.P.'s mind is that while undergoing double knee replacement surgery, he's been haunted by the ghost of Monica Wellington, the girl in the barrel. She reminds him of the promise he made to her mother, Hannah, that they would never rest until the case was solved. And they hadn't solved it.

Like another cold case, this one torments the sleeping hours while J.P. recovers in the hospital. Taken back to that time period in rich detail through his dreams he remembers the case as if it just happened. Yet something besides the ghost of Monica is plaguing his sleep. It is why they were never able to solve that case. Taking into consideration, that things like DNA testing and technology were not as prevalent as they are today, he's hoping that he can finally solve the case and lay both Monica's spirit and his conscience to rest.

Now his only issue with not being able to walk or drive is how to reopen a case that was sealed forty years ago while he remains in the hospital? Just what would be his reasoning? He knew that sharing that the ghost of Monica was haunting his dreams wouldn't pass, so he opted for the case that was never solved that every cop wants to see come to a resolved end. J.P. only ghost however isn't just Monica, he's also seeing Lt. Lennie Davis or Lennie D as his friends referred to him. Lennie has something he needs J.P. to do and he can't rest until there is peace in his life, the one he never was able to return home to after serving in Vietnam. So J.P. is once more transported back to Vietnam and that fateful day that changed both of their lives forever.

I received Second Watch by best selling author J.A. Jance compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for a favorable review. This is a first for me, reading J.A. Jance's novels but I absolutely LOVED this one. It truly is a must read for fans of crime murder mystery's or shows like Criminal Minds. In fact while reading it I heard Jack Webb (Dragnet) as the narrator's voice so it really made the novel that believable for me. The flash backs into J.P.'s past were well done and gave you insight into what is the character's motivation to find have absolution and resolution in his life in each of this situations, with one being personal with his past in Vietnam, one he hasn't even shared with his wife and fellow cop, Mel. This is one of those novels that you will think about long after it's over primarily because it's that real. I rate this one a 4.5 out of 5 stars and look forward to reading more from J.A. Vance in the near future.

For more information about Second Watch, J.A. Jance or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click the links below:

Second Watch by J.A. Jance

You can also read more about the novel through the publishers website as well as an excerpt from the novel by clicking here.

You can also find J.A. Jance on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.