by J. A. Jance
Part of Joanna Brady, book 13
First published 2008
Sheriff Joanna Brady sits at her desk surrounded by stacks of reports while her newborn sleeps fitfully in the carrier beside her. The demands of new motherhood clash with the pressures of law enforcement as two complex cases land on her desk. A woman fired her gun in self-defense against a stalker but struck an innocent bystander instead. The shooter claims she had no choice, but the victim's family wants justice. Meanwhile, what appears to be a tragic car accident shows signs of deliberate staging. Joanna must untangle the truth behind the crash while navigating the legal and moral complexities of the shooting case. With little sleep and mounting paperwork, she struggles to balance her duties as a mother with her commitment to her community. The cases force her to confront difficult questions about justice, protection, and the price of doing what's right when the lines blur between victim and perpetrator.
Genres: suspense, mystery, crime, thriller
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: moral-dilemma, work-life-balance
Setting: Sheriff's Office
374 pages · Hardcover · William Morrow