In this 16th book in the 'Joanna Brady' series, the sheriff investigates geographically distant crimes that seem to be connected. The book can be read as a standalone, but knowledge of the characters is a plus.
*****
Massachusetts resident Selma Matchett, a cantankerous, mean-spirited hoarder, is estranged from both her children, Liza and Guy.
When Selma enters hospice care, Liza cleans out her mom's house and finds nearly $150,000 hidden in books and magazines. Liza proceeds to spend some of the cash to renovate her mother's decrepit house for sale. Then, at Selma's funeral, a man approaches Liza and tells her that be once knew her long-absent father and that Liza needs to be careful because some people 'don't forget'.
Murder and mayhem soon begin and Liza takes off across the country on the 'underground railroad' operated by long-haul truckers, which is meant for abused women.
Liza's plan is to get to her older brother Guy in Bisbee, Arizona to see if he can explain what's going on.
Meanwhile, across the country in Bisbee, Sheriff Joanna Brady has a lot to deal with. Junior, a handicapped man beloved by his adoptive parents and the community, is found murdered - his body lying in a cave with the remains of several abused animals and a live but tortured kitten. Joanna fears a budding serial killer might be responsible.
The medical examiner, Dr. Guy Matchett (Liza's brother), is scheduled to do Junior's autopsy but he is soon found brutally murdered himself, his body showing evidence of torture. Joanna thinks the Junior and Guy deaths are unrelated and - when she's contacted by authorities in Massachusetts looking for Liza - concludes there's a connection between the crimes in Massachusetts and what happened to Liza's brother Guy.
The story skips back and forth between Liza's trek across the U.S. and Joanna's investigations in Arizona. Liza is handed off from one long haul rig to another and meets a series of interesting personalities along the way.
In the Arizona sections, Joanna has a competent team of deputies and crime scene analysts and their work is well-described and informative.
Joanna's family also plays a part in the story, including her supportive husband Butch, rodeo-loving daughter Jenny, and the family dogs and horses. This adds a homey touch to the book.
Joanna solves Junior's murder with the help of forensic evidence and the Matchett case with the help of federal authorities. The Machett solution, however, didn't quite ring true for me. This book is a fine addition to the Joanna Brady series and recommended for mystery fans.
*****
Massachusetts resident Selma Matchett, a cantankerous, mean-spirited hoarder, is estranged from both her children, Liza and Guy.
When Selma enters hospice care, Liza cleans out her mom's house and finds nearly $150,000 hidden in books and magazines. Liza proceeds to spend some of the cash to renovate her mother's decrepit house for sale. Then, at Selma's funeral, a man approaches Liza and tells her that be once knew her long-absent father and that Liza needs to be careful because some people 'don't forget'.
Murder and mayhem soon begin and Liza takes off across the country on the 'underground railroad' operated by long-haul truckers, which is meant for abused women.
Liza's plan is to get to her older brother Guy in Bisbee, Arizona to see if he can explain what's going on.
Meanwhile, across the country in Bisbee, Sheriff Joanna Brady has a lot to deal with. Junior, a handicapped man beloved by his adoptive parents and the community, is found murdered - his body lying in a cave with the remains of several abused animals and a live but tortured kitten. Joanna fears a budding serial killer might be responsible.
The medical examiner, Dr. Guy Matchett (Liza's brother), is scheduled to do Junior's autopsy but he is soon found brutally murdered himself, his body showing evidence of torture. Joanna thinks the Junior and Guy deaths are unrelated and - when she's contacted by authorities in Massachusetts looking for Liza - concludes there's a connection between the crimes in Massachusetts and what happened to Liza's brother Guy.
The story skips back and forth between Liza's trek across the U.S. and Joanna's investigations in Arizona. Liza is handed off from one long haul rig to another and meets a series of interesting personalities along the way.
In the Arizona sections, Joanna has a competent team of deputies and crime scene analysts and their work is well-described and informative.
Joanna's family also plays a part in the story, including her supportive husband Butch, rodeo-loving daughter Jenny, and the family dogs and horses. This adds a homey touch to the book.
Joanna solves Junior's murder with the help of forensic evidence and the Matchett case with the help of federal authorities. The Machett solution, however, didn't quite ring true for me. This book is a fine addition to the Joanna Brady series and recommended for mystery fans.
Rating: 3.5 stars
Jance is a good all-around writer. I saw her at a conference and loved how she organized her writing.
ReplyDeleteJacqui, I like that Jance's regular characters have relationships that evolve over time.
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