In this 17h book in the 'Sheriff Joanna Brady' series, Joanna investigates the death of two women while dealing with tragedy in her personal life. The book can be read as a standalone.
*****Background: Sheriff Joanna Brady of Cochise County, Arizona became a law enforcement officer almost a decade ago, when her husband Andy Brady - who was sheriff at the time - was killed.
A lot has changed since then, and Joanna is now married to a supportive man named Butch; is sending her daughter Jenny off to college; has a 5-year-old son named Denny; and is pregnant.
As the story opens, Joanna is at Higgins Funeral Chapel, planning services for her mother Eleanor and stepfather George, both of whom died after a sniper shot their vehicle on the highway. Joanna had a difficult relationship with her mother, and is grieving and sad because she won't get a chance to make amends.
Just as Joanna is completing the funeral arrangements, Chief Deputy Tom Hadlock calls to report two dead women at the base of a twin limestone peak called Geronimo, just east of Bisbee. Tom says the women either jumped or were pushed, and Joanna hurries to the scene to investigate.
It turns out the incident was a double homicide, and the victims are Desirée Wilburton - a teaching assistant and Ph.D. student at the University of Arizona;
and Susan Nelson - an instructor and debate team coach at the Sierra Vista School For Scholastic Excellence.
When Joanna's team interviews people acquainted with the victims, they learn Desirée was a dedicated researcher camping in the area to study hedgehog cacti;
and Susan was a preacher's wife who had a reputation for philandering.
For this case, Joanna gets assistance from her former deputy Frank Montoya, who's now Chief of Police in Bisbee;
and FBI Agent Robin Watkins, who makes a discovery that helps breaks the case open.
Joanna's life is endangered before things are resolved, but as fans know, Joanna is clever and resourceful.
Against the backdrop of the murder investigation, Joanna must write eulogies for her mother and stepfather; prepare for the upcoming sheriff's election; be a mom to 18-year-old Jenny and 5-year-old Denny; maintain a healthy pregnancy; navigate resentment about Bob Brundage, whom she just recently learned was her out-of-wedlock brother; and deal with her long-time nemesis Marliss Shackleford, a journalist who goes out of her way to write critical articles about Sheriff Brady.
Luckily, Joanna has her solicitous husband Butch as backup...and he's even a great cook!
I like strong women characters, and Joanna Brady certainly fits the bill. 😊
Rating: 3.5 stars
No comments:
Post a Comment