The corpse of an ex-con is found in the Arizona desert, and
the fingers of both of his hands have been cut off. The
victim is eventually identified as Bradley Evans, who had
been released from prison just months ago after serving 20
years of a 25 to life sentence on a charge of second degree
murder. The arresting officer twenty years ago was
Cochise County Sheriff Joanna Brady's late father, Deputy
D. H. Lathrop. Bradley was convicted of killing his wife
and unborn child even though neither body was ever
recovered. Bradley had led an exemplary life in prison
and since his release, and was working with the Cochise
County jail ministry.
Joanna's animal control officer, Jeannine, is finding dead
and severely injured dogs thrown in garbage cans and along
the highway. She is convinced there is illegal dog
fighting being held at the ranch owned by the O'Dwyer
brothers, a couple of mean, nasty hombres who have no
regard for the law. Since the county is short on funds
and manpower, Jeannine stakes out their ranch on her own
time and gets into serious trouble.
Joanna's plate is more than full right now since her
husband, Butch, is in El Paso at a mystery writer's
convention promoting his upcoming first novel, and Jenny,
Joanna's teen-aged daughter, is behaving like a teen-
ager. Add to the mix that Joanna is nine-months
pregnant, and Butch's parents pick this time to pop in for
a surprise visit. The Sheriff should be on maternity
leave, but just doesn't have the time right now! The law
is more than a job to her, it is who she is, and she wants
justice for the victims.
DEAD WRONG is J. A. Jance's twelfth story about Joanna
Brady, and the mystery and suspense keep getting better and
more complex with each book. Joanna is the epitome of a
strong heroine and the ensemble of characters in both her
private and public life are superb. This rich whodunit is
a fast moving, page-turning tale masterfully told in a
loud, clear voice.
Juggling a family and a career has never been easy for
Cochise County Sheriff Joanna Brady. Now the impending birth
of her second child only adds to her burden, especially when
two brutal crimes fall under her jurisdiction.
A
corpse is discovered in the Arizona desert with the fingers
severed from both hands�the body of an ex-con who served
twenty years for a murder he claimed not to remember. Soon
after, one of Joanna's female officers is savagely assaulted
and left for dead while on an unauthorized stakeout. Since
the victim is one of their own, the department directs the
bulk of its resources toward finding her attacker. But the
desert slaying haunts Joanna as well, and neither her
pregnancy nor family concerns will keep her from doing her
duty, no matter how perilous. Because justice must be
served. And enforcing the law has become more than what
Joanna Brady does�it's what she is.
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