About the Author

J. A. Jance is the New York Times bestselling author of the J. P. Beaumont series, the Joanna Brady series, the Ali Reynolds series, six thrillers about the Walker Family, and one volume of poetry. Born in South Dakota and brought up in Bisbee, Arizona, she lives with her husband in Seattle, Washington.

Reviews

"Jance delivers a devilish page-turner." -- People"Brady comes into her own in this book...making an already appealing character even more so." -- St Louis Post-Dispatch"The plotting is up to Jance's high standards...bracing." -- Cleveland Plain-Dealer"[A] page turner...builds suspense and throws in some surprises as well. Jance's sense of place remains strong." -- Publishers Weeekly"Joanna Brady is a delightful character." -- Chicago Tribune"J.A. Jance is among the best--if not the best--mystery novelists writing today." -- Chattanooga Times"A strong appreciation for the Arizona countryside...a stronger central character." -- Dallas Morning News"In the elite company of Sue Grafton and Patricia Cornwell." -- *Flint Journal

"Jance delivers a devilish page-turner." -- People"Brady comes into her own in this book...making an already appealing character even more so." -- St Louis Post-Dispatch"The plotting is up to Jance's high standards...bracing." -- Cleveland Plain-Dealer"[A] page turner...builds suspense and throws in some surprises as well. Jance's sense of place remains strong." -- Publishers Weeekly"Joanna Brady is a delightful character." -- Chicago Tribune"J.A. Jance is among the best--if not the best--mystery novelists writing today." -- Chattanooga Times"A strong appreciation for the Arizona countryside...a stronger central character." -- Dallas Morning News"In the elite company of Sue Grafton and Patricia Cornwell." -- *Flint Journal

In Cochise County (Ariz.) sheriff Joanna Brady's ninth outing, bestseller Jance verges on soap opera, but avoids the worst excesses of the type. Mother-daughter relationships get a real workout, as Joanna's brittle connection with her mother is always testy and the emotional fulcrum between Joanna and her 12-year-old daughter, Jenny, is always shifting. But plenty of other combinations of blood and bonding get a workout, too. Jenny and a camping partner discover the body of a naked woman while Joanna and new husband Butch Dixon are out of town to attend a sheriffs' convention and a wedding. Joanna's personal and professional lives collide heavily as concerns for her daughter, her department, her husband and her future intertwine. With a mix of old and modern police work (interviews, crime-scene analysis, sophisticated forensics) and intense personal problems (Jenny may be targeted by the killer, Butch may have cheated on Joanna, Joanna's mother's meddling may have gotten a girl killed), Jance keeps things roiling from start to finish. With more than two dozen mysteries to her credit, the author has learned a great deal about pacing and it's evident in this page-turner, which nicely builds suspense and throws in some nifty surprises as well. Jance's sense of place remains strong, whether here in the beautifully rendered rural Arizona setting or in the rainy Seattle of her J.P. Beaumont mysteries. (Aug. 7) Forecast: With a one-day laydown and strong marketing backing, including a 12-city tour and radio and print advertising, this book will hit the lists fast. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.