Sheriff Joanna Brady’s best intentions to stay on maternity leave take a hit when a serial homicide case rocks Cochise County, dragging her into a far-reaching investigation to bring down a relentless killer in this chilling tale of suspense from New York Times bestselling author J. A. Jance.This time Sheriff Joanna Brady may expect to see her maternity leave through to completion, but the world … completion, but the world has other plans when a serial homicide case surfaces in her beloved Cochise County. Rather than staying home with her newborn and losing herself in the cold cases to be found in her father’s long unread diaries, Joanna instead finds herself overseeing a complex investigation involving multiple jurisdictions.
Filled with the beloved characters, small town charm, vivid history, intriguing mystery, and the scenic Arizona desert backdrop that have made the Joanna Brady series perennial bestsellers, this latest entry featuring the popular sheriff is sure to please J. A. Jance’s legion of fans.
more
J.A. Jance has done it again! A fast-paced gripping novel of suspense that pulls you in on the first page and holds your interest until the final page. Sheriff Joanna Brady has another challenging puzzle to solve and she’s on maternity leave while solving.
Another winner from J.A. Jance! Joanna Brady fans are going to love Field of Bones. As a fan of literature with strong female characters and contemporary themes and issues, I especially enjoyed the collision of Brady’s re-election campaign and childbirth with the biggest case of her career, as well as the glimpse into the plight of women on the fringes of society and the risks they face. I can’t wait to have Ms. Jance on my podcast to talk about the book.
I’ve been a fan of J A Jance for years and really enjoy her series-JP Beaumont a Seattle WA detective, the series-Allison Reynolds, the series-Joanna Brady, but not so much the series of Diana Ladd & Brandon Walker. (But I did read most of that series before I decided it wasn’t my cup of tea) Now to the review of Field of Bones.
This story brought me right back into the life of Joanna Brady, Sheriff and her family, deputies and murders to be solved. It was a gripping suspenseful story about a seriral killer who keeps his prey captive until….If you don’t like stories about abuse to children and/or murder don’t pick this but if you like to read about the interworking’s of how an investigation is operated, then this one will keep you on the edge of your seat to the end.
Joanna, who is suppose to be on maternity leave finds herself guiding from the sidelines while balancing a newborn, another child, the dogs, the ranch, and now a murder (or murders). Take a breath and read on.
Thanks for another great book. Looking for to the next installment of Joanna and Butch, Sage, and Denny.
Sheriff Joanna Brady is back and sassy as ever! She and Butch are expecting their second child as she is running for office again and he is going on a book tour. Next thing you know, she’s had her daughter, Butch is traveling and a young man has brought in a human skull….so much for maternity leave.
You meet and respect her small band of deputies, each with their own set of skills and see just how a small police department is run. Including the feds, the witness profiler, search and rescue and police sharing are the efforts to keep a wifi signal in areas where your life may be in danger. You see the autopsy, you feel the despair of the team as more graves are found and just how hard the job really is on a person.
What adds to this particular book,
is Latisha, a teenager, caught in a fight for her life. Latisha introduces you to the other captives and reminisces about “before” and “now”. The dog kibble, the toliet, the shackles are all shown in detail, thankfully, the abuse is not.
Joanna and her people are shown in uniform and out, raising families, learning when to let go off the job and when to buckle down and give it all you can. Her feud with her mother’s best friend, a reporter, continues and makes you very aware of how leaked information can ruin a case or even a person’s life.
The scenery in Arizona is on display as are the harsh conditions and acres of desolate land, patrolling these areas are hard and scary. Not enough deputies to search all the areas, losing your police frequency, and the fact an awful lit of people own guns makes for a dangerous job. Latisha as a young woman about to be killed, pulls you into the case. You want her found alive, you want to save her, and you worry that by the time information is processed that it might be to late. Latisha prays and reflects back with gratitude rather than bitterness on her life, making her a very smart young person.
Love the series, and can be read out of order. But if you have the time, start with the first and see a young widow with a child take over as sheriff and grow into the job. And each case is unique and well worth your reading time. The author just keeps getting better!
Great read! This is the 18th book in the Joanna Brady series. Fantastic story. Very well written. J.A. Jance does a great job of telling a tale that includes details from current events as well as the story itself. I love how she writes. Each book could be a stand alone. The story line keeps you wondering what’s going to happen next. The people are believable and you feel like you could fit into the town of Bisbee. I’ve got to take a trip there to see the area she’s talking about. If you haven’t read any of her books, now is a great time to start.
always enjoy her books
One of the best writers ever…
J.A. Jance can keep you on the edge of your seat. I have read almost all of her books and I really enjoy them.
I love the Joanna Brady novels by J.A. Jance. Great suspense novels they never disappoint
Enjoyable read! This author is always good. Keeps you turning pages to find out what is going to happen next!
SHE ALWAYS WRITES AN ENTERTAINING MYSTERY THAT KEEPS ME INTERESTED TO THE END AND WANTING TO READ THE NEXT BOOK ON THE CHARACTERS LIFE. LIKE A LETTER FROM FAMILY.
This is the Joanna Brady mystery series where there is a strong female character. She is sheriff in Arizona and trying to stay home on maternity leave. However, events are not going to work out for her.
Not your usual procedural — realistic characters in believable situations doing the everyday tasks that make characters real. I’ve been reading J.A. Jance for many years, starting because the books were based in Seattle and have never been disappointed.
This book was a little more gruesome than most of Ms Jance’s books, and difficult for me, as a woman to read some parts. However, her characters are very realistic, the story line mysterious and I was happy with the ending, seeing justice done. I have never been disappointed buying a book of hers and will continue to do so at every opportunity.
I recommend reading this series in order. This story does not disappoint.
Always enjoy reading one of J A Jance’s books
Love all the Sheriff Joanna Brady novels (as well as Jance’s Ali Reynolds novels, set around Sedona AZ). Sheriff Brady is based out of Bisbee AZ, and the author’s depiction of SE corner of AZ is part of the enjoyment for me in these novels, having visited both areas and enjoying them. Her characters and the story line add to the enjoyment. I’ve read most all of both series, and eagerly await the next, which says it all.
Field of Bones (#18) is the most exciting novel to date! I love the characters, their family life, and the small town ‘doings’ of Cochise County , AZ. This is a really good series.
I’ve been reading JA Jance for years and was delighted when I read the lastest Joanna Brady book – it didn’t disappoint.
J.A. Jance is one of my favorite authors. The evil in this book is quite realistic and made me too aware of the horror of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. It’s a cautionary tale for young women everywhere.