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Joanna Brady #13
Damage Control
At first glance, it appears to be an accident . . .A car carrying an elderly couple goes off the side of a mountain and tumbles into oblivion on a beautiful sunny day in the Coronado National Monument. A note pulled from the twisted wreckage suggests the tragedy may have been a double suicide—but an autopsy later suggests something different. A deadly fire and a fatal home invasion may or may not have some connection to the terrible crash. And miles away in the desert, a savage rain has revealed something grisly and two trash bags filled with human remains.It's just another day in the life of Cochise County sheriff Joanna Brady, who must somehow balance the rigors of police work with a newborn, a teenager, a writer-husband, and a difficult mother. But Joanna will not allow murder to go unpunished in her jurisdiction—even if her path to the truth is twisting and dangerous . . . and leads to shocking revelations about those entrusted with caring for the helpless.
464 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2008
841 people are currently reading
1931 people want to read
About the author
J.A. Jance
117 books4,191 followersJudith 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
* Joanna Brady
* Ali Reynolds
* Walker Family
Series:
* J.P. Beaumont
* Joanna Brady
* Ali Reynolds
* Walker Family
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 478 reviews
October 12, 2021
In this 13th book in the 'Sheriff Joanna Brady' series, Joanna has a new baby at home and a tough caseload at work. The book can be read as a standalone.
*****
Sheriff Joanna Brady of Cochise County, Arizona is having a hard week. An elderly couple - Alfred and Martha Beasley - drove off a cliff in an apparent double suicide.
A fire in a rented trailer killed an old man and left his daughter and grandchildren homeless.
Detective Jaime Carbajal's nephew found a human skull while scavenging for abandoned possessions around the United States-Mexico border.
And a disabled man named Wayne, who lives in a group home, is missing.
When Joanna and her detectives look into the incidents they learn that the Beasley couple's 'suicide' is suspicious; the trailer owner is accusing the dead man's grandkids of starting the fire; and the skull (and accompanying skeleton) belong to a murdered, mentally challenged woman named Wanda Mappin. Moreover, Wanda, who also lived in a group home, may have known the missing Wayne.
During their inquiries, the cops interview the Beasley's daughters - sexagenarian twins who hate each other, create chaos, and threaten to sue Sheriff Brady for (bogus) police brutality.
In addition to other inquiries, the police also question personnel associated with the group homes - who turn out to be less than forthcoming.
In Joanna's personal life, her husband Butch - a thriller writer who helps run the house, raise teen daughter Jenny, and care for baby Dennis - needs to go on a book tour to promote his first novel. So who's going to help out at home?
Joanna's mother is having an emotional crisis and is hardly speaking to her second husband, who happens to be Joanna's favorite medical examiner.
And Joanna reads her deceased father's journals and learns disturbing things about him.
The story is filled with drama and tragedy, and Joanna sheds some tears and shows her 'Irish temper' before the novel comes to a satisfactory conclusion.
By the end, Joanna must deal with changes both at home and at work, and it will be interesting to see how this plays out in subsequent books.
This is an enjoyable mystery, recommended to readers who like suspense novels, especially fans of Sheriff Joanna Brady.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....
February 14, 2020
This is one of my favorite Joanna Brady (#10) episodes to date.
It is often not possible to checkout episodes in series order @ the library (without a wait). As a result, I have finished multiple newer releases before the older ones. Visiting some of the earlier episodes - (such as Damage Control) after finishing more recent ones - provides a fresh perspective to observe Sheriff Joanna Brady's younger years and character development, as well as some of the influences pertinent to her current trajectory.
It is often not possible to checkout episodes in series order @ the library (without a wait). As a result, I have finished multiple newer releases before the older ones. Visiting some of the earlier episodes - (such as Damage Control) after finishing more recent ones - provides a fresh perspective to observe Sheriff Joanna Brady's younger years and character development, as well as some of the influences pertinent to her current trajectory.
June 2, 2019
An excellent entry in the Joanna Brady series (J.A. Jance's best series) deals with many difficult deaths, a suicide pact, the care of the developmentally disabled in group homes, long term sibling rivalry and with her overbearing mother. A lot of irons in the fire makes for an excellent and thought provoking read. Recommended.
April 10, 2013
An elderly couple drive their car off a cliff, apparently in a suicide pact. But when their daughters show up, fighting over the inheritance, it seems there's more to this case than meets the eye. Meanwhile, there's a fire in a mobile home and human remains are found in a trash bag that washes up after a storm. All this in a weekend in a small town.
This book is really ridiculous.There's so much going on at once; isn't one mystery enough for a mystery novel? I didn't really see the point in having multiple unrelated cases. None of them get at all interesting until right near the end. And I only made it that far because I was reading this for the Out of Your Comfort Zone Challenge, so it seemed wrong to give up on a book that's out of my comfort zone. But this book is just really boring.
Also, the writing had me laughing frequently, and not in a good way. I can be pretty forgiving of writing that's not very eloquent as long as the storytelling is good (I always argue that if I can't put the book down, that's a good writer, even if not by technical standards), but since I was bored through most of this book, I was painfully aware of every instance of "as you know, Bob".
1 star. I'm not giving up on mysteries altogether, but this one definitely wasn't for me.
This review is copied from my blog, The Towering Pile. It was originally published here.
This book is really ridiculous.There's so much going on at once; isn't one mystery enough for a mystery novel? I didn't really see the point in having multiple unrelated cases. None of them get at all interesting until right near the end. And I only made it that far because I was reading this for the Out of Your Comfort Zone Challenge, so it seemed wrong to give up on a book that's out of my comfort zone. But this book is just really boring.
Also, the writing had me laughing frequently, and not in a good way. I can be pretty forgiving of writing that's not very eloquent as long as the storytelling is good (I always argue that if I can't put the book down, that's a good writer, even if not by technical standards), but since I was bored through most of this book, I was painfully aware of every instance of "as you know, Bob".
1 star. I'm not giving up on mysteries altogether, but this one definitely wasn't for me.
This review is copied from my blog, The Towering Pile. It was originally published here.
February 12, 2021
An engaging mystery with interesting characters. I would read more of this series!
January 19, 2020
I have been reading Jance's Joanna Brady and J. P. Beaumont novels in parallel and in order from time to time since 2014. I am now up to Beaumont #24 and, with this book, Jance #13. In the early years when I read them in rapid succession, I was frustrated by Jance's apparent need to fill in the backstory on every continuing character in every book. In recent years as the books have accumulated, the back stories have been reduced to a brief paragraph or two reminding us readers of who is who and my enjoyment has increased. That said, this would be a difficult book for a reader new to the series.
Damage Control, has a multiplicity of characters, many of whom are new to the series or were just minor figures in the earlier entries. The common theme is relationships, married couples, dating couples, parents, grandparents, siblings, and children, work partners, and proteges. Some are close and intimate, some professional and businesslike, others bitter enemies to the point of homicide, of which there are several, all of which are duly solved.
In addition with dealing with several homicides, Joanna is caring for her newborn son, Dennis, with husband Butch about to go on a book tour. Her newlywed mother, Ellie, who is having issues in her own marriage, wants to assist which arouses Joanna's suspicions. Even the dead are not exempt as Joanna reevaluates her feelings about her father and first husband, both long since deceased. There is much less of the minor hassles that have exasperated Sheriff Brady in the past such as petty politics and snagged pantyhose, although budgets are a continuing concern.
All in all Damage Control more complex and nuanced than some of the recent Jance novels, some of which seemed to be driven more by the need to get the next book to the publisher than by intricacies of plot or explorations of character.
Damage Control, has a multiplicity of characters, many of whom are new to the series or were just minor figures in the earlier entries. The common theme is relationships, married couples, dating couples, parents, grandparents, siblings, and children, work partners, and proteges. Some are close and intimate, some professional and businesslike, others bitter enemies to the point of homicide, of which there are several, all of which are duly solved.
In addition with dealing with several homicides, Joanna is caring for her newborn son, Dennis, with husband Butch about to go on a book tour. Her newlywed mother, Ellie, who is having issues in her own marriage, wants to assist which arouses Joanna's suspicions. Even the dead are not exempt as Joanna reevaluates her feelings about her father and first husband, both long since deceased. There is much less of the minor hassles that have exasperated Sheriff Brady in the past such as petty politics and snagged pantyhose, although budgets are a continuing concern.
All in all Damage Control more complex and nuanced than some of the recent Jance novels, some of which seemed to be driven more by the need to get the next book to the publisher than by intricacies of plot or explorations of character.
March 22, 2020
Joanna has a new baby while trying to do her job as sheriff. The latest is an elderly couple that drove over a cliff and died and a handicapped woman who wondered away from the home she lived, is found dead. Before her death she kept talking about a man, when he turns up dead Joanna is sure three is some connection. A very interesting story that kept you wanting to read it.
June 27, 2025
Finish date: June 26, 2025
An engaging story featuring Arizona Sheriff Joanna Brady who has her hands full at work and at home. Simultaneously, Joanna is dealing with what appears to be a suicide pact involving an elderly couple and the discovery of skeletal remains that need to be identified. Meanwhile, her hubby, a stay-at-home Dad and budding author has his hands full too.
Just when things start to quiet down, it comes to light that rather than a suicide, it seems that the old married couple died due to nefarious actions.
An engaging story featuring Arizona Sheriff Joanna Brady who has her hands full at work and at home. Simultaneously, Joanna is dealing with what appears to be a suicide pact involving an elderly couple and the discovery of skeletal remains that need to be identified. Meanwhile, her hubby, a stay-at-home Dad and budding author has his hands full too.
Just when things start to quiet down, it comes to light that rather than a suicide, it seems that the old married couple died due to nefarious actions.
October 24, 2025
One of the better books in the series
December 21, 2014
I am not fond of novels with prologues, so really annoyed with the one in Damage Control by J.A.Jance. As new characters were introduced, I would flip back to the prologue to check names, finding that the woman was not showing up in the story.
It was only towards the end of the story that readers hear another word about her. It may have been a ploy to get readers to keep reading to find out what the prologue had to do with the story. I lost interest in the book and would not have finished it if it had not been by Jance.
Hard for me to explain, except to say the conversations were stilted and I knew I was reading a novel, not involved in it. Perhaps there were too many homicide investigations going on at once for anyone of the murders to be fully expanded. Implausible might be another way of describing Damage Control.
It was only towards the end of the story that readers hear another word about her. It may have been a ploy to get readers to keep reading to find out what the prologue had to do with the story. I lost interest in the book and would not have finished it if it had not been by Jance.
Hard for me to explain, except to say the conversations were stilted and I knew I was reading a novel, not involved in it. Perhaps there were too many homicide investigations going on at once for anyone of the murders to be fully expanded. Implausible might be another way of describing Damage Control.
July 1, 2023
This was such a great addition to the series.
Joanna Brady is such a normal person and a great sheriff in an environment that is dominated by men. She has normal problems and juggles normal life events with her family.
J. A. Jance is so gifted at delivering a story and characters that have so much depth that you feel invested in the lives of the characters. I really enjoyed the many directions that the story took in this one. By the end I had forgotten how the story began. It was all brought together in a great conclusion.
Joanna Brady is such a normal person and a great sheriff in an environment that is dominated by men. She has normal problems and juggles normal life events with her family.
J. A. Jance is so gifted at delivering a story and characters that have so much depth that you feel invested in the lives of the characters. I really enjoyed the many directions that the story took in this one. By the end I had forgotten how the story began. It was all brought together in a great conclusion.
October 17, 2021
another great book by j.a. jance. all of her books are quick reads and very hard to put down because yu cant wait to find out what happens next. in this book, sheriff joanna brady investigates a fatal car accident involving an elderly couple and a missing teen.
March 24, 2013
Damage Control is the first novel I've read by J.A. Jance and it was an okay read.
I was particularly drawn to this book for three reasons, 1) because Ms. Jance is a NYT Best Selling author, 2) because so many people praise her work and 3) the prologue.
**Spoiler alert, sorry**
Like a lot of other reviewers I was immediately drawn to Damage Control from the prologue, and just like the other reviewers, I too was disappointed to realize that the prologue had little to do with the story line. Sadly, that initial scene unraveled only in the last twenty pages of the book.
Damage Control has several plots and sub-plots going on. The mystery itself might have been okay as a story line but some aspects of the book were a just a tad bit annoying. For example, too many characters...there at least a dozen, I think I stopped counting at twenty. Then some characters disappear (i.e. Luis Andrade, Marcella Andrade, Don Dietrich, etc.) for no apparent reason and we never hear another word about them. Joanna spends very little time with her infant son or her family for that matter. She gets calls at all hours of the night. I don't think I read more than two pages without Sheriff Brady get a `call' and of course Butch is really playing Mr. Mom because Joanna is rarely home. Also, about Jenny's character she didn't really come off as a fifteen year old girl, she talks like someone twice her age. And what about Joanna's suspicion that her first husband (who is already dead) had an affair; and Joanna gets this gut instinct just by staring a picture on the wall of the break room (?).
Now, I gave Damage Control three stars because I think J.A. Jance style of writing is great just the story line was over the top melodramatic. I would, however, venture to read another novel in the future.
I was particularly drawn to this book for three reasons, 1) because Ms. Jance is a NYT Best Selling author, 2) because so many people praise her work and 3) the prologue.
**Spoiler alert, sorry**
Like a lot of other reviewers I was immediately drawn to Damage Control from the prologue, and just like the other reviewers, I too was disappointed to realize that the prologue had little to do with the story line. Sadly, that initial scene unraveled only in the last twenty pages of the book.
Damage Control has several plots and sub-plots going on. The mystery itself might have been okay as a story line but some aspects of the book were a just a tad bit annoying. For example, too many characters...there at least a dozen, I think I stopped counting at twenty. Then some characters disappear (i.e. Luis Andrade, Marcella Andrade, Don Dietrich, etc.) for no apparent reason and we never hear another word about them. Joanna spends very little time with her infant son or her family for that matter. She gets calls at all hours of the night. I don't think I read more than two pages without Sheriff Brady get a `call' and of course Butch is really playing Mr. Mom because Joanna is rarely home. Also, about Jenny's character she didn't really come off as a fifteen year old girl, she talks like someone twice her age. And what about Joanna's suspicion that her first husband (who is already dead) had an affair; and Joanna gets this gut instinct just by staring a picture on the wall of the break room (?).
Now, I gave Damage Control three stars because I think J.A. Jance style of writing is great just the story line was over the top melodramatic. I would, however, venture to read another novel in the future.
September 5, 2010
Stock, cliche fiction. I got annoyed with how the author would randomly use jargon and then feel the need to define the terms for the reader - somewhat patronizing and pedantic. Oh is that what BOLO means? I've never read a police novel before, so I'm glad you clarified "be on the lookout" for me. And so on and so forth. There was also a lot of mention of prayer, and the Christian lingo thrown in was a bit jarring, because it was not obviously a Christian novel throughout, and thus the effect was to spring some of the author's own theology on the unsuspecting reader who really would just prefer a better developed crime mystery. But...it was a good enough read to occupy my time while I was out of town. It didn't hurt to read, since I didn't have to buy it.
September 20, 2018
Another great book
When Andy died you really didn't personally suffer to much because we didn't really know him. After now reading 13 books in this series I have come to know each character and feel what they feel. When one of their own officers die from a brutal murder you bet your going to feel it. I did. Other characters in the story announced they are leaving and it will be interesting to see where this all goes.
When Andy died you really didn't personally suffer to much because we didn't really know him. After now reading 13 books in this series I have come to know each character and feel what they feel. When one of their own officers die from a brutal murder you bet your going to feel it. I did. Other characters in the story announced they are leaving and it will be interesting to see where this all goes.
January 3, 2015
This was my first J.A. Jance and it was a good one. I really like Joanna Brady's character but I probably should go back and start with the first one. The book stands alone but it would be nice to get more background on the characters.
August 16, 2017
This is my first J.A. Jance novel. I did not realize at the start that I was reading the continuation of a series. I found the story compelling. I will start at the beginning of this series and work through it. I hope the rest are as good as this one was.
September 5, 2008
I really wish that Ms.Jance would write faster. I love her books and this one was interesting and fast paced. I am happy that I am not Joanna Brady. She has way to many irons in the fire!
May 1, 2015
JoAnna Brady continues to work as Sheriff and be a mother (who does that!!!???)
I would be worried if I lived in her little town. They find dead bodies everywhere!
I would be worried if I lived in her little town. They find dead bodies everywhere!
October 4, 2023
In Damage Control, Sheriff Joanna Brady has a few irons in the fire, a suspected double suicide, a longstanding sibling feud, human remains found in the desert and some personal reflections for Joanna herself. Combining police procedural content with regular family life, I always feel lke I've had a good visit in Cochise County, Arizona after reading the final page of each entry in this series.
August 7, 2018
Enjoyable read in an entertaining series.
February 7, 2021
Two-haiku review:
Bones found in desert
And old couple drives off cliff
Joanna solves them
Really like series
Interesting characters
And plots draw me in
Bones found in desert
And old couple drives off cliff
Joanna solves them
Really like series
Interesting characters
And plots draw me in
June 29, 2024
Excellent series
December 4, 2025
I am glad that I have started reading this series again. It is a great read. The characters are so believable and the plot does not disappoint
November 4, 2012
I recently listened to a recorded book, one of those "A Short Period in the Life of ..." from a long-running series by a prolific author. I wondered if it was the lack of a driving plot (mystery OR suspense) that turned me off, or if it was because this was the first book in the series that I'd "read" and I couldn't appreciate the growth in characters I didn't know.
Well, J. A. Jance's "Damage Control" is a similar book. And my reaction couldn't have been more opposite! This book (at least the audio version) hooked me. Yes, I confess that I was very familiar with the supporting characters by now, and perhaps that played a role in my differing reaction. However, I think it was because the character development was intermingled with a few mysteries.
4 dead bodies discovered in a single 24 hour period stretched a small police staff to the breaking point. Each had some mystery behind him or her, at least to start. Each had family to grieve for them. Each had at least one dark cloud following them. And the police officers involved have their own issues to deal with, as well.
This series has been well established, but shows no sign of slowing down. Or even going off course.
Well, J. A. Jance's "Damage Control" is a similar book. And my reaction couldn't have been more opposite! This book (at least the audio version) hooked me. Yes, I confess that I was very familiar with the supporting characters by now, and perhaps that played a role in my differing reaction. However, I think it was because the character development was intermingled with a few mysteries.
4 dead bodies discovered in a single 24 hour period stretched a small police staff to the breaking point. Each had some mystery behind him or her, at least to start. Each had family to grieve for them. Each had at least one dark cloud following them. And the police officers involved have their own issues to deal with, as well.
This series has been well established, but shows no sign of slowing down. Or even going off course.
October 25, 2017
I normally enjoy the writing of J.A. Jance and the story lines created. This book started off with a twist and went into, what I thought was a pretty good story. As the body count rose, the story became more interesting. It was interesting to see just how they all would come together. However, the ending provided fell flat as far as I was concerned. Sheriff Brady has her own personal story going on with possible past indiscretions by her Dad, and previous husband, Andy. I am not sure that this sub-story enhanced this story or just added volume to this book. I was sorry to see the use of this cliché ending and only gave 3 stars out of respect for past books written by this author that had much better wrap ups.
May 26, 2014
I have read the other Joanna Brady books in the series by J.A. Jance and have generally liked them. I can't say the same for this one. Jance had her main character constantly explaining or expanding on the obvious and had her coming to wild, unsubstantiated conclusions in regards to the actions of her mother and also of her late first husband. This made listening to the audiobook on a long road trip maddening and sigh-worthy. My travel companion felt the same way and I had to assure her that Jance is usually a good read, just not this time.
March 25, 2017
I think I enjoyed this installment of the Joanna Brady series a little more that the past few. There was a lot going on and you had to keep up, but that kept it interesting. There were some past questions answered as well as several cases on Joanna's plate in this book, plus it looks like some changes are coming for the next book regarding Joanna's coworkers.
I also liked the narrator of this audio book much better than some of the previous ones.
I also liked the narrator of this audio book much better than some of the previous ones.
January 4, 2018
Of all of the books in this series, as well as the ones I have read in the Reynolds series (I am reading both simultaneously), this was by far the best. This is the first book which invoked such emotion in me that I actually cried.
My one issue is that I did not like the ending. It left a side story unresolved, and it's not a story big enough to be carried over into future books. I wish more had been explained with it.
My one issue is that I did not like the ending. It left a side story unresolved, and it's not a story big enough to be carried over into future books. I wish more had been explained with it.
May 17, 2017
Sheriff Joanna Brady has her hands full with her first husband, now deceased, who may have fathered a son who’s now nine years old, a murdered officer, a trash bag filled with bones, and a mother who gets on her nerves, but she manages to keep control while solving all her problems. This is a page-turner.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 478 reviews