by J. A. Jance
Part of Joanna Brady, book 3
First published 1996
JoAnna Brady thought winning the sheriff's election in Cochise County, Arizona would mean desk work and administrative duties. She discovers the job demands skills she lacks. Brady decides to attend a law enforcement training seminar to learn what being sheriff really requires. The educational retreat turns deadly when someone murders one of the instructors. Brady must apply her new training immediately, but this time the stakes are real. She faces her first major case as an elected official while still learning the basics of police work. The investigation tests whether Brady can handle the violence and complexity that come with wearing the badge. Her political future and personal confidence depend on solving a crime that strikes at the heart of law enforcement itself.
Genres: mystery, crime, thriller, action
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: first-case, fish-out-of-water
Setting: Cochise County, Arizona
Period: Contemporary
388 pages · Mass Market Paperback · Avon