Five Stars — Jigsaw & Jane surpassed expectations as the narrative becomes a memoir and true crime story in equal measure. Their friendship becomes the dominant element of this moving book — a memorable read for 2025 and beyond.
— Philip Zozzaro, Los Angeles Book Reviews

An unlikely friendship sets the stage for a touching true crime memoir…a heroic account of a celebrated homicide detective, a memoir of an odd couple friendship, and, most of all, a book about writing a book…the pair are as mismatched as they are engaging, but their bond is undeniable. — BookLife

This true-crime memoir details the surreal journey of a suburban housewife who spends 13 years shadowing one of the Los Angeles Police Department’s top homicide detectives. A sharply written account of a veteran cop’s murder investigations. — Kirkus Reviews

“Every legend needs a worthy Bosworth – an intelligent Watson with the skill and insight to tell the legend’s story without hyperbole or hero worship. The unlikely Jane Howatt brilliantly fills this role in Jigsaw & Jane, the extraordinary story of her unprecedented journey alongside the biggest law enforcement legend, LAPD Homicide Detective John St. John – the man they call Jigsaw…A tour de force.” − Paul Bishop. LAPD Detective Ret. Author, Lie Catches and Admit Nothing

“The simple fact Jane had such unprecedented real-time access to a major homicide unit and the top cop completely amazes me. That fact alone makes her book different from almost any other true-crime book I’ve seen. And the very professional site certainly promises that she’s brought the same quality to her writing.” – Ron Franscell, best-selling author of Alice and Gerald and The Darkest Night and Shadow Man.

Peek Inside

Step into the shadowy world of murder investigations, where every clue tells a chilling story, and justice hangs by a thread.

When suburban housewife Jane Howatt met LAPD Homicide Detective John “Jigsaw” St. John, neither anticipated the journey ahead. Over 13 years, Jane became an unlikely partner to the legendary detective, documenting his relentless pursuit of truth in some of Los Angeles’ most harrowing cases. From serial killers to cold cases, they navigated the depths of human depravity, bringing justice to victims and solace to grieving families.

Alongside Jigsaw, Jane delves into the minds of killers like Bill Bradford and Bill Bonin, uncovering the twisted motives behind their crimes. But this is more than a chronicle of darkness—it’s the story of an extraordinary partnership and how Jane’s courage to follow an unconventional path transformed her life.

Jigsaw & Jane is a riveting true-crime memoir that goes beyond headlines. With unparalleled access to the LAPD’s elite Robbery-Homicide unit, Jane reveals the brilliant mind and compassionate heart of the legendary detective whose Badge Number One symbolized excellence. The book is a testament to courage, tenacity, and the friendship that defied convention.

This is the untold story of a woman determined to uncover the truth and a man whose life’s work redefined justice.

Upcoming

Events

Book Launch Party & Signing

March 22,1 to 3 pm

Barnes & Noble
Ventura Gateway, 4820 Telephone Rd, Ventura, CA 93003

Jane Howatt

My life as a housewife and mother was ready for a change. The boys were eight and ten, and my husband was devoted to his career as a physician. The time had come for me to follow my dream and write.

The journey took an unexpected turn one morning when I read a newspaper article about how Detective John “Jigsaw” St. John had just won a medal for solving a major murder case. Here was the story I wanted to write. After several phone calls, he finally agreed to meet me.

For the next thirteen years, he led me into a world I imagined existed only in crime novels: dingy motels, scary crime scenes, startling autopsies, and maximum-security prisons. Along the way, I grew to know and be fascinated by not just murder business, but a man whose compassion for victims, passion for justice, and unmatched sleuthing ability earned him the LAPD’s Badge Number One.

Blog

The Cop & Me

Detective John St. John was a nationally recognized serial murder expert. He not only solved over one-thousand murders but also worked on twelve serial murders, including the Trash Bag Murders, the Freeway Killer, the Elderly Women murders, and was one of the original detectives on the Black Dahlia case. When we met, I was a neophyte writer, a woman half his age who’d never seen a dead body. Slowly, as I earned his trust, he led me into Dante’s Inferno, where I learned much more about life than death. Both of us were forever changed.

Learn More About John St. John

The Killers & Their Victims

They were young adults with their lives still ahead of them. Steven was sixteen, Tracey was fifteen, and Shari was twenty-one. John took me to each of their crime scenes, introduced me to mothers whose stories I chronicled, and the District Attorneys who prosecuted the Bill Bonin and Bill Bradford cases.

Blog

Best Man in a Bow Tie

May 5, 2020 | 0 Comments

The detective who worked with John on the Bradford case – a hard-working, diligent, bachelor –finally found the girl of his dreams,...

Riding and Writing with Jigsaw

Sep 5, 2025 | 0 Comments

September 1, 2025. Looking back at the photo I took of Detective John “Jigsaw” St. John driving his sky-blue undercover car through LA...

Two Killers. Two Different Crime Scenes. Why?

Jul 30, 2025 | 0 Comments

July 25, 2025. I sit at my desk, forty-one years after I wrote about the Bill Bradford and Bill Bonin serial murder cases, and remember...

Looking Back on Florence: How a Knock on the Door Can Change Everything

Jul 11, 2025 | 0 Comments

September 2023. My good friend and travel companion and I had a two-week trip to Florence planned for months. We researched the Santa...

Home Sweet Home: Four of my favorite Bird Nests

May 30, 2025 | 0 Comments

A tender reflection on what it means to return home after years of travel — and how memory, identity, and the stories we carry shape the people we become. From the author of Jigsaw & Jane, this post bridges past and present in a heartfelt journey home.