What do you think?
Rate this book
Joanna Brady #16
Remains of Innocence
Librarian’s note: This is a previously-published edition of
Kindle ASIN: B00G29VYKS.
An old woman, both a hermit and a hoarder, is dying in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. While cleaning out her dilapidated house, her estranged daughter, Liza Machett, discovers a fortune in hundred-dollar bills. For Liza, the money seems like a blessing—until an elderly man she's never met appears at her mother's funeral, warning that she's in danger. Suddenly, Liza's quiet life is turned upside down. Terrified, Liza sets off on a perilous cross-country journey that will lead her to Cochise County, Arizona, where Sheriff Joanna Brady is embroiled in a personal mystery of her own.
Junior Dowdle, a developmentally disabled man in his sixties, is found dead in a limestone cavern near Bisbee. Inside the cave, the police also discover a badly injured kitten, as well as the remains of other mutilated pets. Though he'd always been kind and sweet, with the onset of dementia, he had begun having violent episodes. Could he have hurt those animals? Was his death an accident? Or is he a victim as well? Joanna and her modest staff have their hands full as another case rocks the department—a shocking murder involving Liza and the money. The undaunted sheriff must solve these two disturbing cases fast, before more innocent blood can be shed.
__________
12 hours 18 minutes 23 seconds
Kindle ASIN: B00G29VYKS.
An old woman, both a hermit and a hoarder, is dying in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. While cleaning out her dilapidated house, her estranged daughter, Liza Machett, discovers a fortune in hundred-dollar bills. For Liza, the money seems like a blessing—until an elderly man she's never met appears at her mother's funeral, warning that she's in danger. Suddenly, Liza's quiet life is turned upside down. Terrified, Liza sets off on a perilous cross-country journey that will lead her to Cochise County, Arizona, where Sheriff Joanna Brady is embroiled in a personal mystery of her own.
Junior Dowdle, a developmentally disabled man in his sixties, is found dead in a limestone cavern near Bisbee. Inside the cave, the police also discover a badly injured kitten, as well as the remains of other mutilated pets. Though he'd always been kind and sweet, with the onset of dementia, he had begun having violent episodes. Could he have hurt those animals? Was his death an accident? Or is he a victim as well? Joanna and her modest staff have their hands full as another case rocks the department—a shocking murder involving Liza and the money. The undaunted sheriff must solve these two disturbing cases fast, before more innocent blood can be shed.
__________
12 hours 18 minutes 23 seconds
352 pages, ebook
First published July 22, 2014
2327 people are currently reading
3291 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
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 784 reviews
April 20, 2020
REMAINS OF INNOCENCE by J. A. Jance is the sixteenth book in the Joanna Brady mystery series set in and around Bisbee, Arizona.. Two story lines make this novel more complicated than many. In Bisbee, Sheriff Brady has a missing man who is found dead. Was it murder or an accident? The second story line is split between Massachusetts and Arizona. In this case, a hoarder who is estranged from her children dies. While daughter Liza is cleaning out her mother's house, she finds hidden money which she uses to renovate the house in preparation for selling it. When arson and murder happen in Massachusetts and then the estranged son is murdered in Arizona, these two distant cases become linked.
The dual cases put a strain on the police forces and became very complex. The characters felt real and three-dimensional, with distinct voices, flaws and virtues. The motivations seemed believable and well-drawn. There are several plot twists that are believable, but I did not expect a couple of them. The prose was well-written, moving, and suspenseful. The plot was perfectly-paced, absorbing, entertaining, and absorbing. There are several themes and triggers in this including murder, animal cruelty, family estrangements, rodeo competitions, torture, family support and much more.
Overall, this is a well-done mystery, police procedural and family drama novel. I am looking forward to reading my next book in the series. I recommend it to mystery fans.
The dual cases put a strain on the police forces and became very complex. The characters felt real and three-dimensional, with distinct voices, flaws and virtues. The motivations seemed believable and well-drawn. There are several plot twists that are believable, but I did not expect a couple of them. The prose was well-written, moving, and suspenseful. The plot was perfectly-paced, absorbing, entertaining, and absorbing. There are several themes and triggers in this including murder, animal cruelty, family estrangements, rodeo competitions, torture, family support and much more.
Overall, this is a well-done mystery, police procedural and family drama novel. I am looking forward to reading my next book in the series. I recommend it to mystery fans.
March 1, 2021
3.5 stars
In this 16th book in the 'Joanna Brady' series, the sheriff investigates geographically distant crimes that seem to be connected. The book can be read as a standalone, but knowledge of the characters is a plus.
*****
Massachusetts resident Selma Matchett, a cantankerous, mean-spirited hoarder, is estranged from both her children, Liza and Guy.
When Selma enters hospice care, Liza cleans out her mom's house and finds nearly $150,000 hidden in books and magazines. Liza proceeds to spend some of the cash to renovate her mother's decrepit house for sale. Then, at Selma's funeral, a man approaches Liza and tells her that be once knew her long-absent father and that Liza needs to be careful because some people 'don't forget'.
Murder and mayhem soon begin and Liza takes off across the country on the 'underground railroad' operated by long-haul truckers, which is meant for abused women.
Liza's plan is to get to her older brother Guy in Bisbee, Arizona to see if he can explain what's going on.
Meanwhile, across the country in Bisbee, Sheriff Joanna Brady has a lot to deal with. Junior, a handicapped man beloved by his adoptive parents and the community, is found murdered - his body lying in a cave with the remains of several abused animals and a live but tortured kitten. Joanna fears a budding serial killer might be responsible.
The medical examiner, Dr. Guy Matchett (Liza's brother), is scheduled to do Junior's autopsy but he is soon found brutally murdered himself, his body showing evidence of torture. Joanna thinks the Junior and Guy deaths are unrelated and - when she's contacted by authorities in Massachusetts looking for Liza - concludes there's a connection between the crimes in Massachusetts and what happened to Liza's brother Guy.
The story skips back and forth between Liza's trek across the U.S. and Joanna's investigations in Arizona. Liza is handed off from one long haul rig to another and meets a series of interesting personalities along the way.
In the Arizona sections, Joanna has a competent team of deputies and crime scene analysts and their work is well-described and informative.
Joanna's family also plays a part in the story, including her supportive husband Butch, rodeo-loving daughter Jenny, and the family dogs and horses. This adds a homey touch to the book.
Joanna solves Junior's murder with the help of forensic evidence and the Matchett case with the help of federal authorities. The Machett solution, however, didn't quite ring true for me. This book is a fine addition to the Joanna Brady series and recommended for mystery fans.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....
August 14, 2017
Very good mystery.
Like this strong self made sheriff. Joanna is real woman with the same issues of working women. Killings in Massachusetts and Arizona is came together and she has to solve this mystery also find the evil in her town. Killings of the innocent people and torture of animals.
Like this strong self made sheriff. Joanna is real woman with the same issues of working women. Killings in Massachusetts and Arizona is came together and she has to solve this mystery also find the evil in her town. Killings of the innocent people and torture of animals.
August 14, 2014
We’re long-time Jance fans; ironically though we dislike her Ali Reynolds series, her JP Beaumont and Sheriff Joanna Brady books are definite favorites, of which we would never miss her latest. We marvel that after over 50 novels, and at just a few months shy of 70 years on the planet, her standards have slipped nary a notch – as well evidenced by the terrific dual plot of “Remains”.
Perhaps the plot closer to home is that Junior Dowdle, a long-running minor local character, and a mentally disabled man, has gone missing. When he's found dead in a dark cave, along with dead and mutilated animals, a homicide is suspected to say the least. Meanwhile, we’re entertained by another set of disturbing developments arising in Massachusetts. A woman named Lisa Manchett is handling the affairs of her late mother, a hoarder; and discovers a lot of cash in the house. When her neighbor turns up dead and Lisa’s apartment ransacked, her boss helps her escape using a cross-country “system” of transportation set up to help abused women escape their situations. It took us a while to connect her to Guy Manchett, the surly Medical Examiner in Brady’s hometown (and Jance’s in real life) of Bisbee Arizona. Then when Guy turns up dead as well, the tale really heats up.
We have no doubt Joanna will find Junior’s killer, but that outcome surely came as a surprise. The Manchett matters didn’t get quite the detailed solutions one might have suspected, yet generated considerable suspense along the way. While we typically enjoy every book in this set, this one was quite compelling and definitely a tribute to an author whose flame hardly flickers!
Perhaps the plot closer to home is that Junior Dowdle, a long-running minor local character, and a mentally disabled man, has gone missing. When he's found dead in a dark cave, along with dead and mutilated animals, a homicide is suspected to say the least. Meanwhile, we’re entertained by another set of disturbing developments arising in Massachusetts. A woman named Lisa Manchett is handling the affairs of her late mother, a hoarder; and discovers a lot of cash in the house. When her neighbor turns up dead and Lisa’s apartment ransacked, her boss helps her escape using a cross-country “system” of transportation set up to help abused women escape their situations. It took us a while to connect her to Guy Manchett, the surly Medical Examiner in Brady’s hometown (and Jance’s in real life) of Bisbee Arizona. Then when Guy turns up dead as well, the tale really heats up.
We have no doubt Joanna will find Junior’s killer, but that outcome surely came as a surprise. The Manchett matters didn’t get quite the detailed solutions one might have suspected, yet generated considerable suspense along the way. While we typically enjoy every book in this set, this one was quite compelling and definitely a tribute to an author whose flame hardly flickers!
November 18, 2015
This book tells two stories that take a long time to intersect: Liza Mattern is a young woman with a mentally ill mother growing up in a filthy home in Great Barrington, Massachusetts; Sheriff Joanna Brady is a red-headed law enforcement official in a small town in Arizona investigating the perplexing death of a developmentally delayed adult named Junior after he is found at the bottom of a cave ledge beside a mewling kitten that has been tortured.
I haven't read any books by J.A. Jance or any other books in this series. My aunt gave this one to me because I was looking for a mindless escape. But neither storyline really grabbed my attention until over 170 pages into the book when the two plots finally come together. I found myself unable to keep track of all the characters (there are dozens) and not very compelled by what was happening in their lives. I imagine regular readers of these Brady novels would not have this problem.
But even if you already know them from previous books, the characters in Remains of Innocence are not well developed. The narrator keeps her distance, never giving us any real insight into the psychology of someone who grows up with a hoarder. Liza's personality is flat. There is no emotion on her part or the reader's as the people around her are murdered. Sheriff Brady spends a lot of time on her Bluetooth while driving. We see her giving orders, eating peanut butter sandwiches, and thinking through the "and thens" of her day, but her personality seems woefully underdeveloped as well. She overcomes every obstacle put in her way (there aren't many) with ease, and never has to prove herself or get herself out of a bad situation. With no real conflicts to overcome in this book besides solving a small-town murder, there is not that much to keep the reader engaged.
Though things finally pick up in the last third of the book, we never understand what the killer's motivation is in one of the storylines (being "evil" does not explain it). The writing, like the characters, is a little flat. And the loose ends aren't tied up very well. I had more questions than answers when the book ended: How was the extortion carried out for so long? Was the son part of it? Where would the main character who lost everyone to murder go now?
I did like Brady's husband who uncomplainingly tended to the kids, sleuthed for his wife, and held down the fort while she was out investigating murders. I suspect other books in this series are better than this one. This is not a suspense novel I would recommend.
I haven't read any books by J.A. Jance or any other books in this series. My aunt gave this one to me because I was looking for a mindless escape. But neither storyline really grabbed my attention until over 170 pages into the book when the two plots finally come together. I found myself unable to keep track of all the characters (there are dozens) and not very compelled by what was happening in their lives. I imagine regular readers of these Brady novels would not have this problem.
But even if you already know them from previous books, the characters in Remains of Innocence are not well developed. The narrator keeps her distance, never giving us any real insight into the psychology of someone who grows up with a hoarder. Liza's personality is flat. There is no emotion on her part or the reader's as the people around her are murdered. Sheriff Brady spends a lot of time on her Bluetooth while driving. We see her giving orders, eating peanut butter sandwiches, and thinking through the "and thens" of her day, but her personality seems woefully underdeveloped as well. She overcomes every obstacle put in her way (there aren't many) with ease, and never has to prove herself or get herself out of a bad situation. With no real conflicts to overcome in this book besides solving a small-town murder, there is not that much to keep the reader engaged.
Though things finally pick up in the last third of the book, we never understand what the killer's motivation is in one of the storylines (being "evil" does not explain it). The writing, like the characters, is a little flat. And the loose ends aren't tied up very well. I had more questions than answers when the book ended: How was the extortion carried out for so long? Was the son part of it? Where would the main character who lost everyone to murder go now?
I did like Brady's husband who uncomplainingly tended to the kids, sleuthed for his wife, and held down the fort while she was out investigating murders. I suspect other books in this series are better than this one. This is not a suspense novel I would recommend.
August 22, 2014
Liza Machett cleans out her mother’s home in Great Barrington, Massachusetts when she finds money hidden everywhere. All she remembers that they were poor growing up. Soon, the house is burned to the ground, her landlord is murdered and she is on the run to her brother is Bisbee, Arizona. But in Bisbee, the Sheriff, Joanna Brady is dealing with the death of a local who was found at the bottom of a hole. When Liza reaches Bisbee, Joanna hands her hands filled with more than the Sheriff’s department can handle.
This story is riveting filled with enough suspense to keep me guessing. And situations that move quickly and efficiently that I didn’t want to put the book down. I though the characters were well developed and the mystery of the money satisfactory. It is an enjoyable summer read.
This story is riveting filled with enough suspense to keep me guessing. And situations that move quickly and efficiently that I didn’t want to put the book down. I though the characters were well developed and the mystery of the money satisfactory. It is an enjoyable summer read.
September 30, 2014
Another very enjoyable read from J.A Jance! Sheriff Brady has two murders to solve and this keeps the reader's attention from start to the end. I love Jance' s three series and if you haven't read her,do yourself a favor and start!
August 4, 2014
It had been a Very Long Time since I had treated myself to an actual hardcover book. I went to a book-signing that J.A. Jance was having at the Puyallup Library and a local bookstore was selling her newest book. Truly an extravagance I shouldn't have afforded,but I did. If you ever have the opportunity to go hear Ms. Jance speak, do it. She is engaging, witty, and delightful. Exactly the kind of person one would love to have over for dinner to discuss things like family, travel, and the best ways to dispose of a pesky dead body.
If you are already a fan of the Joanna Brady series, you won't be disappointed with this latest installment. If you have yet to become a fan, this is a good one to jump in with--it is jam-packed with opportunities to become filled with righteous indignation (harm to animals and the handicapped) and to thoroughly rally behind Our Heroine Joanna. I shan't include any spoilers, but let's say that Ms. Jance is adept at keeping the True Identity difficult to discern whilst laying out clues obvious in hindsight. To my mind, just the way a mystery should be. Figure-out-able but not blatantly obvious.
Technical note: My copy, at the end of chapter 12 notes that a character is receiving 'just deserts' which I believe should be 'just desserts'. This is in no way a knock on Ms. Jance, but her publisher should make the correction prior to the next run. And consider themselves duly whacked with a wet noodle.
If you are already a fan of the Joanna Brady series, you won't be disappointed with this latest installment. If you have yet to become a fan, this is a good one to jump in with--it is jam-packed with opportunities to become filled with righteous indignation (harm to animals and the handicapped) and to thoroughly rally behind Our Heroine Joanna. I shan't include any spoilers, but let's say that Ms. Jance is adept at keeping the True Identity difficult to discern whilst laying out clues obvious in hindsight. To my mind, just the way a mystery should be. Figure-out-able but not blatantly obvious.
Technical note: My copy, at the end of chapter 12 notes that a character is receiving 'just deserts' which I believe should be 'just desserts'. This is in no way a knock on Ms. Jance, but her publisher should make the correction prior to the next run. And consider themselves duly whacked with a wet noodle.
March 2, 2020
Definitely one of my favorite Joanna Brady episodes to date. Fantastic who-dunnit mystery with lots of suspense and drama. Ending was spectacular!!
January 30, 2020
Amazing story that Joanna has to figure out, a dying woman, hoarders house, battered woman, and the mob. they all fit together to make a good story.
July 25, 2014
My introduction to J. A. Jance was a book in the middle of the Joanna Brady series. I enjoyed it so much I read the entire series then started on the Beaumont series. I was so glad to see a new book in the Brady series; I thought she had forgotten about. The book starts out in Great Barrington, Massachusetts where a daughter of a hoarder is forced to return to her mother’s house. Lisa Machett’s mother Thelma is dying and Lisa needs to deal with Thelma’s affairs. In cleaning the house she discovers a large amount of cash. People who help Lisa are killed; Thelma’s house is burned down on the day of her funeral. Dr. Machetts is found murdered and tortured in his home in Bixby, Arizona. He is Lisa’s half brother.
Sheriff Joanna Brady is also dealing with the murder of Junior Dowdle, a long time character in the series, along with Junior’s body is a number of dead and mutated kittens, rabbit and small dog. Gradually the two plots weave together to form a compelling tale of family dysfunction and murder. This is a complicated read that moves forward at a rapid pace. As usual J. A. Jance has written an interesting tale. Hillary Huber did a good job narrating the book.
Sheriff Joanna Brady is also dealing with the murder of Junior Dowdle, a long time character in the series, along with Junior’s body is a number of dead and mutated kittens, rabbit and small dog. Gradually the two plots weave together to form a compelling tale of family dysfunction and murder. This is a complicated read that moves forward at a rapid pace. As usual J. A. Jance has written an interesting tale. Hillary Huber did a good job narrating the book.
February 21, 2021
Two-haiku review:
Handicapped man gone
Search and rescue out looking
Search dog finds body
Several plotlines
Everything comes together
Very good series
Handicapped man gone
Search and rescue out looking
Search dog finds body
Several plotlines
Everything comes together
Very good series
January 2, 2016
I think I must be the only person in the world, or at least S. Arizona who doesn't love J. A. Jance. This is the second book I've read. The first was out of curiosity, this one under the duress of a book club pick for January. I won't be posting this review to my Facebook page. Some of her biggest fans are in that book group and are also Facebook friends. Why don't I like her? Well, there are several reasons, starting with her need for a good editor. This book could have been cut by one-third without hurting the story. It's my belief that once authors becomes best sellers with huge fan bases, they begin to believe they don't need an editor anymore. Especially an editor who will point out certain weaknesses. If all you are worried about is the mechanics of using the language, there's a certain amount of truth in this. Jance writes competent, if boring prose. But, really, does *every* character, including the pets, need a backstory? Or incredibly boring minutiae? Can't the sheriff just leave home without our knowing that she puts down the coffee cup, collects her weapons from a gun safe (it has its own backstory, too—it was a gift from her husband), dons her uniform jacket, walks out to her car, gets in her vehicle, turns on the key and finally (thank God) drives away.
The sheriff/main character is too stupid to live. The first person to die is a developmentally disabled adult who is becoming demented. He wanders off into the night and falls (or was he pushed?) into a hole inside a cave, dying from the 40-foot drop. So far so good. The problem for me comes with the discovery of a tortured kitten, covered with cigarette burns. Everyone, include our intrepid sheriff, jumps to the conclusion that the dead man is the one who did this, but no one ever thinks to ask if he smokes, or check him or his room for cigarettes.
When the body is moved, there is no one there but the rescue personnel, because our brilliant sheriff has left the scene with no law enforcement present and is chatting up the rescue squad outside. Big surprise, they find things under the body.
She treats her husband like a live-in servant, never tossing him a word of gratitude or appreciation. One of the elements I disliked most in the first book I read was her treatment of her long-suffering husband. I have no clue why he puts up with her. He cooks, he cleans, he does the laundry and raises the kids so she can swan around as the sheriff. The good news is that she's never home, so he has the house to himself. Maybe he's writing his own series of murder mysteries. I'll bet they're better than this one. Her mother-in-law doesn't like her. I can see why.
Apparently she's never learned how to use a computer very well (the author is 71), she's all helpless and 'too busy' to Google something and calls on one of her staff to do what needs to be done.
In a physical confrontation with a suspect, she strikes him *on the head* with her heavy-duty flashlight. Even a rookie cop knows to aim for the shoulder or knee. You never hit someone in the head. It's not described as an accident, so I assume she was going for the head shot.
When a victim is taken to the local hospital she uses her uniform and badge to force her way in. Really? Do the hospital staff not know who the sheriff is? Besides, this patient is a victim of a murder attempt, why would law enforcement have finagle a way into conduct an investigation.
There is lots of smirking and sniggering about a nudist colony that makes me cringe. Generally these places are clothing-optional for nonmembers, and I definitely do not believe that the inhabitants helped to fight a wild fire wearing only hats and boots or that they actually requested the sheriff and her deputy to disrobe while on an official visit. I know for sure from personal experience that members do not 'strut around' (her words, not mine), but behave like adults going about their business. I wish I were at my favorite clothing-optional spa right now, enjoying the sun on my skin and the feel of swimming in the buff instead of spending hours I will never regain reading this book.
I could go on, but these are just the things I remember. The things a good editor would have caught. If you are a Jance fan, I'm sorry I don't share the love, and I don't mind that you do. Just don't ask me to read any more of her work.
So what is the allure? Is it the setting? We do get small glimpses of life in S. Arizona. Half a day at a barrel-racing event, some glimpses of history of the fascinating town of Bisbee with descriptions of its crazy layout on the side of a hill. It definitely cannot be the details of a police procedural, and the characters aren't interesting enough for a cozy. Maybe her earlier books were better. I will never know.
The sheriff/main character is too stupid to live. The first person to die is a developmentally disabled adult who is becoming demented. He wanders off into the night and falls (or was he pushed?) into a hole inside a cave, dying from the 40-foot drop. So far so good. The problem for me comes with the discovery of a tortured kitten, covered with cigarette burns. Everyone, include our intrepid sheriff, jumps to the conclusion that the dead man is the one who did this, but no one ever thinks to ask if he smokes, or check him or his room for cigarettes.
When the body is moved, there is no one there but the rescue personnel, because our brilliant sheriff has left the scene with no law enforcement present and is chatting up the rescue squad outside. Big surprise, they find things under the body.
She treats her husband like a live-in servant, never tossing him a word of gratitude or appreciation. One of the elements I disliked most in the first book I read was her treatment of her long-suffering husband. I have no clue why he puts up with her. He cooks, he cleans, he does the laundry and raises the kids so she can swan around as the sheriff. The good news is that she's never home, so he has the house to himself. Maybe he's writing his own series of murder mysteries. I'll bet they're better than this one. Her mother-in-law doesn't like her. I can see why.
Apparently she's never learned how to use a computer very well (the author is 71), she's all helpless and 'too busy' to Google something and calls on one of her staff to do what needs to be done.
In a physical confrontation with a suspect, she strikes him *on the head* with her heavy-duty flashlight. Even a rookie cop knows to aim for the shoulder or knee. You never hit someone in the head. It's not described as an accident, so I assume she was going for the head shot.
When a victim is taken to the local hospital she uses her uniform and badge to force her way in. Really? Do the hospital staff not know who the sheriff is? Besides, this patient is a victim of a murder attempt, why would law enforcement have finagle a way into conduct an investigation.
There is lots of smirking and sniggering about a nudist colony that makes me cringe. Generally these places are clothing-optional for nonmembers, and I definitely do not believe that the inhabitants helped to fight a wild fire wearing only hats and boots or that they actually requested the sheriff and her deputy to disrobe while on an official visit. I know for sure from personal experience that members do not 'strut around' (her words, not mine), but behave like adults going about their business. I wish I were at my favorite clothing-optional spa right now, enjoying the sun on my skin and the feel of swimming in the buff instead of spending hours I will never regain reading this book.
I could go on, but these are just the things I remember. The things a good editor would have caught. If you are a Jance fan, I'm sorry I don't share the love, and I don't mind that you do. Just don't ask me to read any more of her work.
So what is the allure? Is it the setting? We do get small glimpses of life in S. Arizona. Half a day at a barrel-racing event, some glimpses of history of the fascinating town of Bisbee with descriptions of its crazy layout on the side of a hill. It definitely cannot be the details of a police procedural, and the characters aren't interesting enough for a cozy. Maybe her earlier books were better. I will never know.
August 18, 2014
I have read numerous J A Jance novels, so when I saw the opportunity to read and review Remains of Innocence, I jumped all over it. J A Jance writes an amazing mystery of murder, torture, abuse and the evil of human psychopaths. The writing keeps me on the edge of my seat as I try to figure out who is the murderer.
I can picture Lisa driving up to the dilapidated house that she had left so many years ago. Her memories are not good – an abusive mother who drove her and her brother away. Her mother had mental problems, not least of which was hoarding. Lisa grew up in poverty and filth. She had been teased at school and called stinky. A teacher stepped in and because of that, her life became bearable – she was able to shower, wash her clothes and had money to buy food That is why, now, her small apartment is spotless.
When Lisa’s mother ended up hospitalized, they called her. All her mother wanted was her “Joy To Cooking” book and was adamant about it. That’s how Lisa came to be standing at the door of her old house. A spider crawled on her hand as she retrieved the book and she dropped it. We both hate spiders. Who doesn’t? Money fell out. She started checking all the books and kept finding more. Where had it come from? Had she been using outhouses, no bathing or clothes washing and no food to eat while the money had been sitting there the whole time? Thirty thousand dollars.
In Arizona, Sherriff Joanna Brady was called from bed at 5AM to look for a developmentally disabled man. He had climbed out a bedroom window and was nowhere to be found.
Joanna had inherited the job of sheriff of Cochise County after her father died. She had proven herself and won the townspeople’s respect. She is married with two kids and pets that all seem to be damaged in some way. I love that her husband, Butch, who is a writer, handles most of the household duties. A man secure in his masculinity. Does he write crime novels? My hubby does the cooking too, so I can relate. When hubby’s not home, like Joanna, a PB&J sounds like a meal to me.
In her job as a waitress, Lisa knew people by what they ordered for dinner. They all chipped in to help her clean out and fix up her mother’s house with the money she found. Why would someone burn it down? Now she was on the run. She didn’t know from who, what or why.
I love J A Jance’s approach. Remains of Innocence is two separate storylines, until……
The reading is smooth and easy. Just enough suspense, mystery and tension to keep me reading page after page. The characters and plot are detailed and fully developed. No complaints. Even being an ARC, I found few things I would change and they were very minor and grammatical.
I am always happy and eager to pick up a J A Jance novel, especially if Joanna is in it. I love her. She takes no crap from anyone.
I feel J A Jance tried to trick me with the identity of the murderer. Whoa, a great twist. Where did that come from? No wonder I was vacillating back and forth. Most excellent and I can hardly wait to read the next one.
January 3, 2017
What a good book. The story centers on Junior's murder. He was found down a raven with dead animals (kittens and small dogs) under him. And Liza who is a waitress in Barrington, MA.
Junior is an adult with Alzheimer who is living with an older couple as their son. He found dead after he disappeared from his room and later found at the bottom of the cavern. The Sheriff and the rest of the town do not think that is was Jr. that killed the animals since he has no defensive marks on him. In the meantime across the country we have Liza who didn't have a great childhood and is a waitress at a local diner. Liza's mother is sick and ends up in a hospice where she dies. While cleaning her house Liza comes across a ton of money in books, magazines and other places in the house. Liza's mother dies and at the Cemetery and a man gives Liza a warning stating that her father's old friends never forgets. Liza's father has been gone since she was small.
The story moves fast and you are wondering if both of these deaths are connected.
Junior is an adult with Alzheimer who is living with an older couple as their son. He found dead after he disappeared from his room and later found at the bottom of the cavern. The Sheriff and the rest of the town do not think that is was Jr. that killed the animals since he has no defensive marks on him. In the meantime across the country we have Liza who didn't have a great childhood and is a waitress at a local diner. Liza's mother is sick and ends up in a hospice where she dies. While cleaning her house Liza comes across a ton of money in books, magazines and other places in the house. Liza's mother dies and at the Cemetery and a man gives Liza a warning stating that her father's old friends never forgets. Liza's father has been gone since she was small.
The story moves fast and you are wondering if both of these deaths are connected.
July 26, 2014
Remains of Innocence
by Jance, J. A. (William Morrow)
A mentally challenged man is found dead in Arizona. Led to his death by a sadist. In Massachusetts an old woman is dying of COPD, and is a hoarder. When her daughter cleans out the house after her mother's death, she finds hundreds of thousands of dollars hidden in books. These two storylines have a connection, and Sheriff Joanna Brady has her work cut out for her.
REMAINS OF INNOCENCE is an A-plus read, with real characters and a solid narrative. REMAINS OF INNOCENCE is J. A. Jance at her best.
Betty Cox, Reviewer
Good Reads
Reader to Reader
November 4, 2014
I love the way the author balances Joanna's home and work life, weaving in the small town quirks.
April 16, 2017
I thought this started a little slow but once it got going, it was pretty tense. I thought it was one of the better Joanna Brady books, most recent in the series but would also stand alone.
December 9, 2024
Liza Machett discovers a fortune in her estranged mother's house, but her life is soon turned upside down by threats and danger. Meanwhile, Sheriff Joanna Brady investigates the death of Junior Dowdle and the discovery of mutilated pets in a cave. As another murder connected to Liza and the money occurs, Joanna must quickly solve both cases to prevent further bloodshed.
This is the 16th book in the Joanna Brady series, and I will say, this one had some bite to it. I would like to clarify that it’s a me thing versus a J.A. Jance thing. I think the plot of the mutilated pets in the cave really got to me (mainly because I’m more sensitive to the death of animals, but I also just recently lost my 8-year-old dog). This part of the plot really made me overly emotional, but I stuck with it. I will say, as someone who has read 16 of these books so far, the death of Junior Dowdle and the idea that he did these unspeakable things to animals made me queasy. If you’ve read the previous books, you probably have the same thoughts and feelings about it.
This book has two different storylines, so you really get a bang for your reading buck. Liza’s mother dies, leaving her to clean up her mother's home, but has an unexpected twist that adds to the book. When arson and murder happen in Massachusetts and then the estranged son is murdered in Arizona, these two distant cases become linked put a strain on the police forces, and become very complex, fast.
This is the 16th book in the Joanna Brady series, and I will say, this one had some bite to it. I would like to clarify that it’s a me thing versus a J.A. Jance thing. I think the plot of the mutilated pets in the cave really got to me (mainly because I’m more sensitive to the death of animals, but I also just recently lost my 8-year-old dog). This part of the plot really made me overly emotional, but I stuck with it. I will say, as someone who has read 16 of these books so far, the death of Junior Dowdle and the idea that he did these unspeakable things to animals made me queasy. If you’ve read the previous books, you probably have the same thoughts and feelings about it.
This book has two different storylines, so you really get a bang for your reading buck. Liza’s mother dies, leaving her to clean up her mother's home, but has an unexpected twist that adds to the book. When arson and murder happen in Massachusetts and then the estranged son is murdered in Arizona, these two distant cases become linked put a strain on the police forces, and become very complex, fast.
July 11, 2018
I came close to giving this book five stars as it is a most interesting plot. The connection to a woman far away in Massachusetts, turns out to have a connection to Arizona-- as we knew it would. But Janice keeps us wondering what the resolution would be. One of the things I enjoy about this series is how the characters evolve and develop. I especially enjoy the audio versions.
August 22, 2024
Interesting to follow 2 crimes at the same time
October 18, 2023
Really enjoyed reading this book, but I found it difficult to keep track of all the names of the characters.
Kept me interested, just wanted to remember and all the character names.
Happy Reading!
Kept me interested, just wanted to remember and all the character names.
Happy Reading!
September 5, 2017
I read this book so fast I didn't have time to post I was reading it! Even tho this is the 16th in the series, it is still suspenseful and fast-paced. J.A. Jance never disappoints. This book involves two complicated cases that Joanna Brady, Sheriff of Cochise County, Arizona must solve:
1. Liza Machett's estranged mother, Thelma, is a mentally ill and abusive hoarder and hermit. After Thelma is hospitalized, Liza returns to her childhood home to retrieve a cookbook her mother has requested and discovers a fortune in hundred-dollar bills hidden in books and magazines through out the house. Infuriated that the money was there all the time Liza and her brother, Guy, were growing up poor without the necessities of life, she begins to renovate the house to sell. On the day of her mother's funeral the house burns down, her apartment is broken into, and her elderly landlady is murdered. Because an elderly man at the funeral warned her of impending danger, Liza's boss gets her into an Underground Railroad system for victims of domestic violence. She travels to Bisbee, Arizona to find her estranged brother, Guy, in the hope he can help her figure out what's going on. Guy also happens to be the medical examiner in Joanna's department. During the trip Liza finds out her boss have been brutally tortured and murdered; and when she arrives in Bisbee, she also finds out her brother has also been brutally tortured and murdered. Why is she being hunted? Where did the money come from? Who is after her? Does it have something to do with the big racketeering trial going on in Boston?
2. A recurring character from previous books, Junior Dowdle, a developmentally disabled man in his 60's is found dead at the bottom of a hole in a limestone cavern near Bisbee, Arizona. The police also discover a badly tortured kitten, barely alive, on a shelf in the cave and underneath the body the remains of other mutilated pets. Could Junior, with the onset of dementia and violent episodes, have murdered these animals? Most people think not. Was Junior a murderer or a victim? In interviewing neighborhood friends on Junior's street, the police talk to an alcoholic mother and her two home-schooled children named Ruth and Lucas and another boy named Jason who used to play checkers with Junior. What do they know about Junior's disappearance and death?
I like the step-by-step police procedural that is followed by the various agencies in discovering clues and solving the cases. Sometimes it is coincidence, accident, or chance that propel the investigation on and keep the police from hitting dead-ends. I also like how Joanna's personal life is intertwined with her exciting, dangerous life as a sheriff. You also feel like you are coming home again with each book Jance writes - the recurring characters, the descriptive desert landscapes, the small town atmosphere. A very good read.
1. Liza Machett's estranged mother, Thelma, is a mentally ill and abusive hoarder and hermit. After Thelma is hospitalized, Liza returns to her childhood home to retrieve a cookbook her mother has requested and discovers a fortune in hundred-dollar bills hidden in books and magazines through out the house. Infuriated that the money was there all the time Liza and her brother, Guy, were growing up poor without the necessities of life, she begins to renovate the house to sell. On the day of her mother's funeral the house burns down, her apartment is broken into, and her elderly landlady is murdered. Because an elderly man at the funeral warned her of impending danger, Liza's boss gets her into an Underground Railroad system for victims of domestic violence. She travels to Bisbee, Arizona to find her estranged brother, Guy, in the hope he can help her figure out what's going on. Guy also happens to be the medical examiner in Joanna's department. During the trip Liza finds out her boss have been brutally tortured and murdered; and when she arrives in Bisbee, she also finds out her brother has also been brutally tortured and murdered. Why is she being hunted? Where did the money come from? Who is after her? Does it have something to do with the big racketeering trial going on in Boston?
2. A recurring character from previous books, Junior Dowdle, a developmentally disabled man in his 60's is found dead at the bottom of a hole in a limestone cavern near Bisbee, Arizona. The police also discover a badly tortured kitten, barely alive, on a shelf in the cave and underneath the body the remains of other mutilated pets. Could Junior, with the onset of dementia and violent episodes, have murdered these animals? Most people think not. Was Junior a murderer or a victim? In interviewing neighborhood friends on Junior's street, the police talk to an alcoholic mother and her two home-schooled children named Ruth and Lucas and another boy named Jason who used to play checkers with Junior. What do they know about Junior's disappearance and death?
I like the step-by-step police procedural that is followed by the various agencies in discovering clues and solving the cases. Sometimes it is coincidence, accident, or chance that propel the investigation on and keep the police from hitting dead-ends. I also like how Joanna's personal life is intertwined with her exciting, dangerous life as a sheriff. You also feel like you are coming home again with each book Jance writes - the recurring characters, the descriptive desert landscapes, the small town atmosphere. A very good read.
April 14, 2014
Liza Machett walked away from her mentally ill and verbally abusive mother the day after her high school graduation and never looked back. Ten years later her mother enters hospice and she’s requested to go into the house to retrieve a cookbook. The house is a nightmare of highly stacked garbage and vermin—and a heck of a lot of moldy money stuffed in books; Liza had grown up dirt poor, even having to use an outhouse, so where did it come from? Spending that money to fix up the house so it can be sold brings unwanted attention, and she’s not safe. She decides to find her successful older half brother that bailed out of their lives years before she left, hoping between them they can figure out what to do.
At the other end of the country, Sheriff Joanna Brady really has her hands full this time, beginning with an early morning call to find Junior, a mentally challenged man of about 60 who went missing from his bedroom overnight, which evolves into an unrelated crime. Her department works with the Bisbee PD in trying to solve a number of things that come to light.
This story is jam-packed with things going on and various avenues to investigate with some surprising results. The story is told from 2 points of view. Obviously we have Joanna, but a good chunk of the story follows Liza, what she faces and learns, as well as her interesting escape across country to reach her brother.
Outside of the genre I normally spend money on, I’ve only read one other book by this author years ago, and jumped at the chance to get an ARC via Edelweiss/Above the Treeline. I’m going to have to go back and pick up other books in this series. The fast-paced mystery is tightly written and easily kept me absorbed. The characters and situations are interesting, as is the area and terrain, although at times the number of characters felt overwhelming to me. I don’t believe that would have been the case if I’d already been familiar with them from prior books. But it didn’t stop me from enjoying this story. 4.5 stars
At the other end of the country, Sheriff Joanna Brady really has her hands full this time, beginning with an early morning call to find Junior, a mentally challenged man of about 60 who went missing from his bedroom overnight, which evolves into an unrelated crime. Her department works with the Bisbee PD in trying to solve a number of things that come to light.
This story is jam-packed with things going on and various avenues to investigate with some surprising results. The story is told from 2 points of view. Obviously we have Joanna, but a good chunk of the story follows Liza, what she faces and learns, as well as her interesting escape across country to reach her brother.
Outside of the genre I normally spend money on, I’ve only read one other book by this author years ago, and jumped at the chance to get an ARC via Edelweiss/Above the Treeline. I’m going to have to go back and pick up other books in this series. The fast-paced mystery is tightly written and easily kept me absorbed. The characters and situations are interesting, as is the area and terrain, although at times the number of characters felt overwhelming to me. I don’t believe that would have been the case if I’d already been familiar with them from prior books. But it didn’t stop me from enjoying this story. 4.5 stars
August 3, 2018
J.A Jance's latest thriller starts on either end of the United States. Step-sister Liza Machett works in a diner in Great Barrington , Massachusets and she only knows that her step-brother, Guy has graduated medical school and now works as a Coroner in Cochise County, Arizona. Guy ran away from his dysfunctional mother, Selma when he was a teenager but Liza stuck it out until Selma's recent death. Her mother suffered from Dementia including a facet of it, hoarding. After her death, Liza discovers money hidden all over her house.....lots of money.
Meanwhile a sweet old man cared for and also suffering mental illness is discovered dead in a cave near Bisbee, Arizona. His caretakers are devastated and Sheriff Joanna Brady thinks that this was not an accident , abused pets are also found in the cave. At Selma's funeral , an old man issues a warning to Liza that someone may be after her because of her father...a man she hasn't seen in 20 years. After spending a lot of the found money to fix up her house in order to sell it, the house is the victim of arson. And now Liza is taking the threat seriously and she knows it must be tied to the found money.
Liza decides to head West to find her brother and warn him of the possible threat on their lives. Meanwhile in Bisbee, Sheriff Brady doesn't realized that she will soon be entangled in two cases and possibly tracking a serial killer.
J.A.Jance never lets the pace slow down as the reader races to a big surprise ending.
Meanwhile a sweet old man cared for and also suffering mental illness is discovered dead in a cave near Bisbee, Arizona. His caretakers are devastated and Sheriff Joanna Brady thinks that this was not an accident , abused pets are also found in the cave. At Selma's funeral , an old man issues a warning to Liza that someone may be after her because of her father...a man she hasn't seen in 20 years. After spending a lot of the found money to fix up her house in order to sell it, the house is the victim of arson. And now Liza is taking the threat seriously and she knows it must be tied to the found money.
Liza decides to head West to find her brother and warn him of the possible threat on their lives. Meanwhile in Bisbee, Sheriff Brady doesn't realized that she will soon be entangled in two cases and possibly tracking a serial killer.
J.A.Jance never lets the pace slow down as the reader races to a big surprise ending.
January 5, 2015
"Remains of Innocence" By J.A. Jance is the 16th book in the Sheriff Joanna Brady series. The plot revolves around murders committed in two different parts of the country. The book starts in Massachusetts where a waitress, Liza, supports her hoarding dying mother. Cleaning out the house, she finds a large sum of money tucked away in books and magazines. She attempts to clean up the place and sell only to have disaster strike and force her to flee the state.
In Arizona, a developmentally disabled man is missing and the town fears the worst. Engaged in an active search, Sheriff Joanna Brady and the police find abused, mutilated animals before being rocked by another horrible crime.
More bodies pile up as Liza travels across the country to find her brother, who happens to live in Cochise County, Arizona, the same county watched over by Sheriff Joanna Brady.
The book continues with two seemingly separate story lines that become permanently entangled as the book is brought to a conclusion.
I am a big fan of J.A. Jance but have missed a few of the latest books. What struck me is the character of Sheriff Brady has developed from an insecure sheriff to a tough, non-nonsense law enforcement officer.
If you love Jance and a serious killer storyline, you'll love Remains of Innocence.
In Arizona, a developmentally disabled man is missing and the town fears the worst. Engaged in an active search, Sheriff Joanna Brady and the police find abused, mutilated animals before being rocked by another horrible crime.
More bodies pile up as Liza travels across the country to find her brother, who happens to live in Cochise County, Arizona, the same county watched over by Sheriff Joanna Brady.
The book continues with two seemingly separate story lines that become permanently entangled as the book is brought to a conclusion.
I am a big fan of J.A. Jance but have missed a few of the latest books. What struck me is the character of Sheriff Brady has developed from an insecure sheriff to a tough, non-nonsense law enforcement officer.
If you love Jance and a serious killer storyline, you'll love Remains of Innocence.
November 16, 2014
A new one by one of my favorite authors. We start out in Great Barrington, MA with a young woman who comes back to the home she left on graduating high school to find a book that her mother requested from her hospital bed. She has been supporting herself at a local diner and has had little contact with her mother since leaving then home and when she goes to the house she finds it in disrepair and inside a hoarders nightmare. No water, no power and trash everywhere. Finding the book her mother asked for she discovers something, and looking further even more but it is also the beginning of her own nightmare as she finds herself on the run to Bisbee Arizona to find her estranged brother. Back in Bisbee Sheriff Brady is having her own troubles when longtime resident, disabled man an friendly face at the local eatery turns up missing overnight. The search finds him dead, having fallen down an abandoned mine shaft. Accident or murder, it is unclear and the ME is out of town for the weekend. Eventually the two threads converge with unexpected revelations.
November 5, 2014
Love the character of Joanna Brady. Joanna is faced with two murders in Cochise County. The first is Junior Dowdle, a character we met earlier, a developmentally disabled man who found a home with an older couple in Bisbee. Junior is found dead at the bottom of a cave. The second murder is related to Liza, a waitress clear across the country in Massachusetts, who is making her way to Bisbee via an Underground Railroad for abused spouses after her horrible mother dies. Joanna and staff burn the midnight oil to find the killers before they kill again. We get to see Joanna’s children grow and blossom and Butch is still a good guy. Jance does a great job of balancing the personal lives with the professional lives of her characters.
March 26, 2015
YAY I have missed having more novels in this series.
Again a great offering!
Although the cover seems to be about a desert fire it's about children and the loss of their innocence. Whether the child is in their teens or a grown adult.
YAY for JoAnna Brady
Again a great offering!
Although the cover seems to be about a desert fire it's about children and the loss of their innocence. Whether the child is in their teens or a grown adult.
YAY for JoAnna Brady
October 9, 2014
I just love Joanna Brady! Enough said...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 784 reviews