Detective J. P. Beaumont and his wife Detective Mel Soams were hand-picked several years ago by Ross Connors, Washington State Attorney, to be part of a special homicide investigation team (jokingly referred to as the s.h.i.t. group). This team produced awesome results in closing criminal cases. Unfortunately, the team has recently been dispersed due to the horrific death of Connors.

Mel is the newly appointed police chief of Bellingham, Washington, and Beau is overseeing a house they have purchased and are remodeling that is situated midpoint between Bellingham and Seattle. Mel knows her husband isn't going to be happily retired forever, and is trying to get him to consider another job in the investigative field.

Mel's appointment by the Bellingham City Council didn't sit well with some of the senior police officers, and she's having some problems maintaining control with the trouble makers. She can certainly handle the situation if given time. However, Mel goes missing during her work hours, and her life is definitely at risk.

J. A. Jance has written a little story that packs a big wallop. Ms. Jance's flowing narrative, true to life characters and faultless pacing keep readers enthralled, and in some cases sentimental over the loss of good friends that have been made in this series. Hopefully, STAND DOWN is the prelude to future stories of Beau and Mel and not the finale of tales featuring the best crime solving couple since Nick and Nora Charles.