by J. A. Jance
Part of Joanna Brady, book 6
First published 1999
Sheriff JoAnna Brady faces her toughest case yet when gun dealer Clyde Philips turns up dead and his assault weapons disappear. Two sniper murders follow quickly. Everyone suspects Alton Hosfield, a bitter rancher who hates the federal government and environmentalists. Brady thinks otherwise. Her investigation leads to a local resort mixing New Age beliefs, Native American rituals, and pure greed. Brady struggles with more than tracking a killer. Her demanding mother sets impossible standards. Marliss Shackleford spreads gossip through her newspaper column. Butch Dixon, who wants to court her, brings surprising news. As a single mother still grieving her murdered husband, Brady questions whether she belongs in the sheriff's uniform. She must prove to herself and others that she can catch this cold-blooded killer while managing the daily chaos of her personal life.
Genres: mystery, crime, contemporary, thriller
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: personal-life-vs-work-life, single-parent
Setting: Rattlesnake Crossing
385 pages · Mass Market Paperback · Avon