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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