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Desert Heat  (Joanna Brady, Bk 1)
Desert Heat - Joanna Brady, Bk 1
Author: J. A. Jance
A cop lies dying beneath the blistering Arizona sun - a local lawman who may well have become the next sheriff of Cochise County. The police brass claim that Andy Brady was dirty, and that his shooting was a suicide attempt. Joanna Brady, his devoted wife and mother of their nine-year-old daughter knows a cover-up when she hears one... and a mur...  more »
ISBN-13: 9780380765454
ISBN-10: 0380765454
Publication Date: 2/1/1993
Pages: 384
Rating:
  • Currently 3.9/5 Stars.
 201

3.9 stars, based on 201 ratings
Publisher: Avon
Book Type: Paperback
Members Wishing: 1
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

algernon99 avatar reviewed Desert Heat (Joanna Brady, Bk 1) on + 418 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 5
I've been reading (well, actually listening to them on tape) Jance's Joanna Brady series for years. I've probably read 5 or 6 of them, all from later in the series. It's no secret that in the later books, she's the sheriff of Cochise County, Arizona, living in the old mining town of Bisbee.

This is the first in the series, and I loved it. As someone else said in their comments, it connects all the dots for those who have read later books in the series, which makes it very satisfying. If you haven't read any of the series, by all means start here. You do want to read this series.

The blurb above tells you about the plot. It's a good story. For most of the book, everyone but Joanna believes that her husband, the deputy sheriff that died of a gunshot wound, killed himself because his crooked dealings with drug dealers were unraveling. Joanna knows that's not possible, but she's the only one who believes it.

If I didn't know things from reading later books, I might have found the depth of the conspiracy against her and her husband too depressing to enjoy the story. Luckily, I know that it all turns out all right, so I could stand it. Things get pretty dark for Joanna before the light comes on in the end.

It's a sign of an excellent writer when the troubles of the characters in the story have that kind of an effect on the reader. Jance is a top-flight, first class mystery writer. Read the book.
reviewed Desert Heat (Joanna Brady, Bk 1) on + 5 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I was hesitant to read a book with a female cop, because I normally don't like them, but after reading this book, I can't get enough of Joanna Brady,(the main character). Fast paced and exciting. Just as good as the JP Beaumont series by the same author. J.A. Jance in now on my list of favorite authors.
reviewed Desert Heat (Joanna Brady, Bk 1) on + 52 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
good book. i thoroughly enjoyed this read.
reviewed Desert Heat (Joanna Brady, Bk 1) on + 3 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Having read most of the other Joanna Brady books, I found that this one connected all the dots. If you are just starting this series, this is the first one.
Read All 48 Book Reviews of "Desert Heat Joanna Brady Bk 1"

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reviewed Desert Heat (Joanna Brady, Bk 1) on
Good book, fills in the details nicely
reviewed Desert Heat (Joanna Brady, Bk 1) on
I really love all J.J. Jance book's so far that I had read. This one was a good mystery, even with a murder without all the graphic bloody details, you still know a murder happened. That's the main thing. I love her character studies in all her books and adds so much to the story.
reviewed Desert Heat (Joanna Brady, Bk 1) on + 5 more book reviews
Excellent introduction to the character of Joanna Brady.


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