J.A. Jance at Third Place Books on Tuesday

By Diane Hettrick

I remember a story about J.A. Jance that I am not finding online. But as I remember it, it was when serial arsonist Paul Keller was burning homes in four counties. In 1992-93 he set at least 76 fires and killed three people.

He would use whatever materials were near the house. My husband had just reorganized all the lumber in the carport when Shoreline Fire went door to door and insisted that all burnable materials be moved away from houses.

Jance had released a new J.P. Beaumont mystery. One of her fans started reading it and couldn't stop, so he was still up at 3am when he smelled smoke and discovered his house was on fire.

He told everyone that J.A. Jance had saved his life.

A few weeks later, she took him out to lunch - and I'm pretty sure she signed his book.

However, you don't have to have your house burn to get a J.A. Jance autographed book. She'll be talking about her newest release at Third Place Books on Tuesday. Town Center, intersection of Bothell and Ballinger Way in Lake Forest Park.

Authors this week

J.A. Jance
Man Overboard (Touchstone)
Tuesday, April 4 at 7pm

In New York Times bestselling author J.A. Jance's gripping new thriller, Man Overboard, two tech geniuses face off--one intent on saving lives, the other on ending them.

David Williams

Seattle Walks Discovering History and Nature in the City (UW)
Wednesday, April 5 at 7pm

In Seattle Walks, David B. Williams weaves together the history, natural history, and architecture of Seattle to paint a complex, nuanced, and fascinating story. He shows us Seattle in a new light and gives us an appreciation of how the city has changed over time, how the past has influenced the present, and how nature is all around us.

Ursula Werner
The Good at Heart (Touchstone)
Thursday, April 6 at 7pm

Based on the author's discoveries about her great-grandfather, this extraordinary debut, full of love, tragedy, and suspense, is a sensitive portrait of a family torn between doing their duty for their country and doing what's right for their country, and especially for those they love.

Gretchen S.B.
Berman's Chosen
Saturday, April 8 at 6:30pm

The Berman's Wolves series is about a group of college students that are turned to werewolves by a wayward science experiment. Join local author Gretchen S.B for the newest installation Berman’s Chosen.