by J. A. Jance
Part of Joanna Brady, book 1
First published 1993
Joanna Brady's world shatters when her husband Andy dies from a gunshot under the scorching Arizona desert sun. Andy was a local lawman running for Sheriff of Cochise County, and Joanna had built a happy life with him and their nine-year-old daughter Jenny in the small desert town of Bisbee. The police department claims Andy was corrupt, involved in drug smuggling, and killed himself. Joanna refuses to believe their story. She knows her husband was honest, and she recognizes a cover-up when she hears one. Determined to find Andy's real killer and restore his reputation, Joanna begins her own investigation. Her search for the truth puts both her and Jenny at risk. Someone wants the official story to stick, and they will go to dangerous lengths to stop Joanna from uncovering what really happened in the desert.
Genres: suspense, mystery, crime, thriller
Vibes: emotional, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: amateur-sleuth, cover-up, family-drama
Setting: Arizona, Bisbee, Cochise County
Period: Present Day
246 pages · Mass Market Paperback · Avon