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30th out of 233 books
—
306 voters
Desert Heat (Joanna Brady #1)
by
J.A. Jance (Goodreads Author)
Life is good for Joanna Brady in the small desert community of Bisbee. She has Jenny, her adored nine-year-old daughter, and solid, honest, and loving husband, Andy, a local lawman who's running for Sheriff of Cochise County. But her good life explodes when a bullet destroys Andy Brady's future and leaves him dying beneath the blistering Arizona sun.
The police brass claim...more
The police brass claim...more
Paperback, 373 pages
Published
February 1st 1993
by Avon Books
(first published 1993)
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Joanna Brady's life is turned inside out when she finds her policeman husband fatally wounded in a ditch near their home. Initially, it looks a lot like murder, but when the cops investigate, it seems more like suicide. Joanna cannot accept this interpretation, and sets out to discover the truth. Anyone would be distraught under such circumstances, and the picture becomes muddier and muddier when she finds that only recently, her husband secretly garnered a sizable financial windfall. He was als...more
First book in the Sheriff Joanna Brady series - recommend reading them in order. Takes place in Bisbee, AZ. in places I am personally familiar with so both my husband and I loved it. The 2nd one is Tombstone Courage. In this one, Joanna is not the sheriff yet, but her husband is a deputy sheriff who is running for the big job against the current sheriff who has been in office a long time. Circumstances (which this book is about) prevent him from getting elected, so I won't spoil this for you by...more
I read this book about a decade ago and remember liking it then. I know that I read several more in the series but couldn't recall where I stopped, so I decided to read the series in its' entirety from the beginning. I thought this book was an enjoyable, quick read. I like the main character because she is different from many other female leads in mystery series. She is tough, quick-witted and independent. She has a country upbringing and raises farm animals. She's not afraid to tackle problems...more
This is a fast read that could nearly be classified as a modern Western. Takes place in Bisbee, AZ (near border with Mexico) and Bisbee includes a few grizzly old cowboys, redecorated saloons, etc. This came out approx 1997 and is dated in a few ways. The main character spends a fair amount of time looking for a payphone (in what is now the age of cell phones). In some ways this is a formulaic story where a young women gets hit hard by life, yet manages to turn things around. This is the first i...more
It was fun to read about the beginning of Joanna and how she became the sheriff. I've read some of the later books in this series and so this was nice. There are some pretty violent sex scenes that were disturbing but all in all it was well written. I'm only giving it three stars because it's not a great piece of literature and didn't make me think or ponder life at all. Just a quick fun mystery. I read it in one day and it's easy easy. I had pretty much figured out the mystery and who was invol...more
When Joanna Brady's husband is killed in the Arizona desert he is in the midst of running for the office of sheriff. So Joanna takes over, wins the election, and solves the mystery of his murder. Good series set in the country area where my daughter, Jana, lives. I like the characterization and the ideals. The mysteries are good puzzles, realistic, with a hint of jeopardy and adventure. They are for mature readers, with some language and frankness about feelings and sexuality (very tasteful and...more
This is the book that introduces us to Joanna Brady (subsequently Sheriff Joanna Brady). Joanna works for an insurance company and has a really good life with her husband, Andy, a deputy sheriff and her 9 year old daughter Jenny. Andy is a deputy sheriff for Cohise County Arizona. He is also running for Cochise County sheriff.
On the night of their 10th wedding anniversary, Joanna finds her husband, Andy, shot and lying dying in the Arizona desert. Andy's subsequent suspicious death in the hospit...more
On the night of their 10th wedding anniversary, Joanna finds her husband, Andy, shot and lying dying in the Arizona desert. Andy's subsequent suspicious death in the hospit...more
This was a brand new series to me, and I was pleasantly surprised by it. Joanna is an interesting character. Younger than you would expect, strong-willed, smart, and dedicated to her family. They rally around her, even though they're grieving too. The mystery is compelling, though there are a lot of pieces that have to be woven together. The reader knows rather early who actually killed Andy Brady, but what we don't really get until the end is the why. The end is a nice lead-in to the rest of th...more
Typically I like strong female characters, however, I felt the females in this book portrayed extremes of "types", either too overwrought or too controlled. Most disturbing was the nine-year-old daughter who didn't seem to understand or feel any depth of sad reality at her father's death. Johanna herself acted as if she were just having a bad hair day. The storyline was interesting enough. The characters weren't.
DESERT HEAT - G
Jance, J.A. - 1st in Joanna Brady series
Life is good for Joanna Brady in the small desert community of Bisbee. She has Jenny, her adored nine-year-old daughter, and solid, honest, and loving husband, Andy, a local lawman who's running for Sheriff of Cochise County. But her good life explodes when a bullet destroys Andy Brady's future and leaves him dying beneath the blistering Arizona sun.
The police brass claim that Andy was dirty--up to his neck in drugs and smuggling--and that t...more
Jance, J.A. - 1st in Joanna Brady series
Life is good for Joanna Brady in the small desert community of Bisbee. She has Jenny, her adored nine-year-old daughter, and solid, honest, and loving husband, Andy, a local lawman who's running for Sheriff of Cochise County. But her good life explodes when a bullet destroys Andy Brady's future and leaves him dying beneath the blistering Arizona sun.
The police brass claim that Andy was dirty--up to his neck in drugs and smuggling--and that t...more
So far, I like Jance's Joanna Brady books a bit better than the JP Beaumont ones: the woman protagonist is more up my alley (and we don't have to see beautiful women falling inexplicably for Beau in every other book). The small town Arizona setting is nicely drawn, though it is probably a sign of the times that I frequently found myself thinking of how different these stories would be if people had cellphones.
I got pulled out of the story completely when a minor character who is otherwise likable and portrayed as a very upstanding guy used an ethnic slur about Mexicans as a matter of course, and the protagonist said nothing about it. I know it was written in 1993, and I know he's an old white dude from Arizona, but still. I remembered that I was reading a book, and realized it was a book whose politics I found upsetting.
Though I prefer JA Jance's detective JP Beaumont, this wasn't a bad story. Unfortunately, for her to run as sheriff, her husband has to be out of the picture. She does sound rather like a paragon--can shoot well, and knows how to handle herself in uncomfortable situations. There is a separate narrative about a former prostitute living with a hitman, but then the stories come together.
Apr 23, 2013
Vannessagrace Vannessagrace
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
j-a-jance
Joanna Brady was told that Sheriff Andy Brady, Joanna’s husband, death was a suicide. Joanna wouldn’t believe it and neither did Sheriff Andy’s father. After realizing that the Chief of Police of Cochise County wasn’t going to investigate the case as a murder, Joanna went in search of her husband’s murderer. Ellen Travola did an okay job in storytelling.
First in the Joanna Brady series.
Set in Bisbee, Arizona.
Brady's husband is a police officer who is killed under odd circumstances. His wife, Joanna, uncovers dirty business in law enforcement when she attempts to clear his name.
An enjoyable, if bland, mystery set in lovely desert country. I look forward to reading more of Brady's adventures.
Set in Bisbee, Arizona.
Brady's husband is a police officer who is killed under odd circumstances. His wife, Joanna, uncovers dirty business in law enforcement when she attempts to clear his name.
An enjoyable, if bland, mystery set in lovely desert country. I look forward to reading more of Brady's adventures.
The first in a series. Joanna Brady's husband, a deputy sheriff, is found wounded and later dies. The sheriff's office decides it was a suicide and that he was involved in drug activity. Joanna refuses to believe it and investigates on her own. The book felt like an amateurish effort, but I'll be curious to read the next in the series.
I checked this out as an audiobook and even though I enjoyed it I felt that as an audio performer Ellen Travolta leaves a lot on the table. She went through the book at breakneck speed! I enjoyed the book for what it was, not expecting great literature just good escapist fun. The writing reminds me of B film noir, which I enjoy.
This is the second J.A. Jance book I have read and I did enjoy the book a lot. In fact, I sat down to read a few chapters and ended up reading the whole thing in one evening.
I like the Johanna Brady character better than J.P. Beaumont, perhaps it is the western setting or that the author writes a better female lead than a male.
If you want a quick fun read, this one will fit the bill.
I like the Johanna Brady character better than J.P. Beaumont, perhaps it is the western setting or that the author writes a better female lead than a male.
If you want a quick fun read, this one will fit the bill.
May 18, 2008
Henrietta H
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anyone who enjoys a good mystery/thriller
Recommended to Henrietta by:
Just saw it in the stacks and picked it up.
Shelves:
finished
This is the first book I have read by J.A. Jance. It wasn't a difficult read. It moved along nicely and was one of those books you could pick up and put down and still remember what was happening. Close to the end, however, it kept me reading because I wanted to know if my own thoughts were accurate or not. I am happy to report I had not figured out the end to this book exactly.
The character of Joanna Brady is believable and how she handles things is also quite believable.
This book is the beginn...more
The character of Joanna Brady is believable and how she handles things is also quite believable.
This book is the beginn...more
This is a very fast paced thriller, it truly is a "page turner". Unfortunately for me, there is a bit too much gratuitous drama thrown in, one has the feeling that the lead character Joanna, revels in emotional turmoil and enjoys taking her emotional pulse all the time. Aside from that, it's a fun read.
I'm not mystery buff, so I don't know how great this book is compared to others of its kind. It was decent. I remember reading it quickly but not being impressed. Perhaps it's better than I recall. Either way, I won't be rereading it anytime soon. I read this in a mini-seminar class in college.
I have read this series out of order so I knew a little of Joana's origins before being elected sheriff before I read this story. However, this was a wonderful book and was a lovely beginning to a great series..I love Joana Brady and I am looking forward to reading another book in this series.
I've read several of the books in this series and really enjoyed them. My husband and I listened to an audio version, narrated by Ellen Travolta, while on a road trip and enjoyed that as well. They are well written and engaging. I definitely want to read more of the books in this series!
I love the characters most specially Joanna Brady. She is so convincing and very brave. Ms. Jance's writing makes you feel as if the scenes were happening right in front of you in reality and she's also very clever to jump easily from a dangerous situation to heart-warming moments.
This book was so terrible. Hundreds of pages of nothing happening at all then three pages of action right at the end and the whole story is wrapped up tight.
Completely implausible circumstances lead to more implausible events lead to yet more insane conclusions.
Don't bother.
Completely implausible circumstances lead to more implausible events lead to yet more insane conclusions.
Don't bother.
Fast read, but very easy to figure out. I am looking for some temporary fluff, but this book isn't strong fluff. The setting is Bisbee, Arizona, but there is never really a sense of place here. Unless you know the landscape, you will be lost on the landmarks.
I liked this series better before the heroine got remarried. Actually though Im always complaining about writers never taking chances with their characters and not having them grow so I guess I need to give the newer books in the series another chance.
Desert Heat was a pleasant surprise. The small town life and plot are interesting, but what I loved were the characters. All them were well developed and had feelings, like, really, they had credible feelings, which is not something you can take for granted in most murder mysteries nowadays.
Joanna Brady is a great character. She fills in for her husband after his murder, is elected Sherriff, then grows into the job. A very interesting and exciting series, you share her journey as Joanna matures as a law enforcement agent, a mother and a woman.
The first in the Joanna Brady mystery series, a very easy read following the adventures of a widdowed lady sherrif, her young daughter and meddling mother. Love the desert setting and the characters are great. Will be following this series to the end.
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Judith Ann Jance is the top 10 New York Times bestselling author of the Joanna Brady series; the J. P. Beaumont series; three interrelated thrillers featuring the Walker family; and Edge of Evil, the first in a series featuring Ali Reynolds. Born in South Dakota and brought up in Bisbee, Arizona, Jance lives with her husband in Seattle, Washington, and Tucson, Arizona.
Series:
* J.P. Beaumont
* Joann...more
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Series:
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Sep 30, 2012 08:12am