by J. A. Jance
Part of Joanna Brady, book 21
First published 2025
Sheriff Joanna Brady prepares to celebrate her daughter Jenny's police academy graduation when a grim discovery interrupts the holidays. A murdered boy lies beneath a flooded bridge in the Arizona desert. The crime scene reveals disturbing evidence that this killer has struck before and will kill again. Brady's investigation uncovers connections between cold cases spanning multiple states, including a body found near Devil's Lake, North Dakota. What begins as a local murder becomes a complex web of mysterious deaths and missing persons cases. Brady must track dangerous leads while a persistent journalist circles her investigation and someone leaks privileged information. She cannot determine who deserves her trust. A prolific killer may be operating in plain sight, and this person will go to extreme lengths to protect their secrets. Brady faces mounting pressure to deliver justice for the victims and protect Bisbee from a predator whose crimes stretch across decades and state lines.
Genres: suspense, mystery, crime, detective
Vibes: atmospheric, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: amateur-detective, complex-mystery, multiple-storylines
Setting: Arizona, Bisbee, Devil's Lake, North Dakota
Period: Contemporary
336 pages · Kindle Edition · William Morrow
Content warnings: murder