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.

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.

1ST OF THE JOANNA BRADY SERIES. IT GETS YOU STARTED AND ITS HARD TO STOP FROM THERE. READ THEM ALL.

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First book of Jance for me. I will be reading more of her work

Think that this has to be one of the best Mystery series ever. Couldn't put it down and couldn't wait to read the next book

Good book, an easy read with alot of excitment.

This is the first book I have read by J A Jance, but it will certainly not be the last. The storyline held my interest from the 1st to the last page. Can't wait to start on book 2

this book is very good it ie about a woman who trys to clear her husband's name while dealing with his death It flows well and shows the human emotions well

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 murder when she sees it. But her determined efforts to hunt down an assassin and clear her husband's name are placing Joanna and her surviving family in harm's way-because in the desert, the one thing more lethal than a rattler's bite... is the truth.
My first J.A. Jance read and I loved it!

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 atttempt. Joanna Brady, his devoted wife and mother of their nine-year-old daughter, knows a cover-up when she hears one...and murder when she sees it. But her determined efforts to hunt down an assassin and clear her husband's name are placing Joanna and her surviving family in harm's way - because in the desert, the one thing more lethal han a rattler's bite...is the truth.

From back of book:

Andy Brady was an honest lawman, a good husband and candidate for Sheriff of Cochise County -- until a bullet abruptly destoryed his future. Now the police brass are claiming he was a maverick whose involvement in drug-running drove him to suicide. But Andy's strong-willed wife, Joanna, knows a cover-up when she hears one ... and murder when she sees it. And she is relentlessly determined to clear her husband's name. But her obessive hunt for a killer threatens to place both Joanna and her nine-year old daughter Jenny in serious jeopardy. Because, in the desert, the truth can be more lethal than a rattlesnake's bite.

Sheriff Andy Brady is killed and Joanna Brady works to find his killer and clear Andy's name. A good read!!

Love Jance

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