J. Jance: Partner In Crime

Because it is uncontrolled, it can be purchased by the barrelful by anyone who wants it. Even prior to 9/11, this struck me as dangerous. A barrelful of this stuff dumped into a city’s water supply could prove absolutely catastrophic.

Intrigued, I contacted Professor Betterton. His research into this readily available substance and his efforts to publicize the underlying dangers had already brought him several death threats and the unwelcome attention of the Justice Department. Not surprisingly, he was somewhat wary of meeting with a mystery writer, but he did meet with me, and I’m grateful.

Partner in Crime grew out of that meeting. I hope that, in pointing out the dangers of sodium azide, the novel will raise public awareness and gain the attention of lawmakers and George W. Bush’s new Department of Homeland Security as well. When used to inflate air bags, sodium azide is a useful substance, but in unlawful hands, it poses a real and present danger.

As for getting Beaumont and Brady together, I had heard suggestions to that effect from the time the first Brady novel was published. I resisted the idea because I thought it was “unbelievable.” Then, a real-life Cochise County murderer ended up being captured in Tacoma. So much for my unwilling suspension of disbelief. Since something similar had already happened in real life, it couldn’t very well be unbelievable.

The Joanna Brady books are written in an omniscient third-person. Most of the action is revealed through Joanna’s point of view although other points of view occasionally surface. The Beau books are written in a strictly first-person format. The reader (and writer) learn things only as they are revealed to J.P., and we hear about them in Beau’s crusty, curmudgeonly voice.

Partner in Crime is written in that same fashion. Joanna’s parts of the story are revealed in third person narration. Beau tells his parts of the story himself. Joanna isn’t thrilled at the idea of having Beau interfering on her turf and in her case. When they meet for the first time in the lobby of the Cochise County Justice Center, Joanna is mad enough to chew nails. From the moment I heard Beau’s first comment about that initial meeting (“I didn’t think she would be so short – in every sense of the word”), I knew I could make the book work.

It was fun bringing J.P. to Bisbee and watching this dyed-in-the-wool Northwesterner fall headlong into southern Arizona. Will Beau and Joanna meet again? I don’t know. Sparks certainly flew this time, but right this minute it’s far too soon to tell.

– J.A. Jance

June 2002

J.A. Jance is the author of the J.P. Beaumont series, the Joanna Brady series, and two standalone thrillers. Born in South Dakota and brought up in Bisbee, Arizona, Jance lives with her husband in Seattle, Washington.