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Joanna Brady #21
The Girl from Devil's Lake
Arizona County Sheriff Joanna Brady solves her biggest case yet, from a body in the desert to crimes spanning decades and countries, in the thrilling latest installment in the New York Times bestselling suspense series.
Sheriff Joanna Brady is looking forward to the holidays with her busy family, and to celebrating her daughter Jenny’s graduation from the police academy. But the family is interrupted when a body is discovered beneath a flooded bridge in the Arizona desert, and Joanna is called onto the case. A young boy was murdered, and the details of the crime scene tell Joanna two This was not the killer’s first murder. And it’s only a matter of time before he kills again.
As Joanna digs deeper into the case, she begins to understand this murder is just one piece of a much, much bigger puzzle. She uncovers unlikely connections between cases of mysterious deaths and missing persons, having long since gone cold, that extend far beyond the confines of her small town and include the discovery of a body near Devil’s Lake, North Dakota. To get justice for the victims and to save the town of Bisbee from a predator, Joanna must chase down every dangerous lead.
Meanwhile, as a dogged journalist is circling the case and privileged information is leaked, Joanna can’t be sure who to trust. Could a prolific killer be hiding in plain sight? And how far will that person go to keep his many crimes hidden?
Sheriff Joanna Brady is looking forward to the holidays with her busy family, and to celebrating her daughter Jenny’s graduation from the police academy. But the family is interrupted when a body is discovered beneath a flooded bridge in the Arizona desert, and Joanna is called onto the case. A young boy was murdered, and the details of the crime scene tell Joanna two This was not the killer’s first murder. And it’s only a matter of time before he kills again.
As Joanna digs deeper into the case, she begins to understand this murder is just one piece of a much, much bigger puzzle. She uncovers unlikely connections between cases of mysterious deaths and missing persons, having long since gone cold, that extend far beyond the confines of her small town and include the discovery of a body near Devil’s Lake, North Dakota. To get justice for the victims and to save the town of Bisbee from a predator, Joanna must chase down every dangerous lead.
Meanwhile, as a dogged journalist is circling the case and privileged information is leaked, Joanna can’t be sure who to trust. Could a prolific killer be hiding in plain sight? And how far will that person go to keep his many crimes hidden?
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 30, 2025
About the author
J.A. Jance
127 books4,308 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
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 559 reviews
November 13, 2025
A serial killer is in the midst and its close to Joanna's home. When a young boy's strangled boys is discovered; Joanna races to find his killer. Also Jenny; Joanna's daughter now a newly minted officer may just have settling down on her mind 😉.
Solid 4.5 stars!!!!
Solid 4.5 stars!!!!
October 16, 2025
Excellent!! If you like the Joanna Brady series, you will love this book! I think it’s one of the best books of the series! It’s a great storyline, told from the viewpoints of Joanna Brady and the bad guy.
The suspect is a serial killer who has been killing for decades across the US, and finally in Mexico, which is when Joanna gets involved. The action really picks up as Joanna investigates and determines who the suspect is. The whole capture and arrest setup part of the story is absolutely excellent.
This book also provides a deeper look into the character of journalist Marliss Shackleford, Joanna’s annoying archnemesis. I even felt a little compassion towards her
in this book.
Great storyline, fast paced, really a great read!!
Thanks to William Morrow Publishers and NetGalley for providing the opportunity to read and review this book!
The suspect is a serial killer who has been killing for decades across the US, and finally in Mexico, which is when Joanna gets involved. The action really picks up as Joanna investigates and determines who the suspect is. The whole capture and arrest setup part of the story is absolutely excellent.
This book also provides a deeper look into the character of journalist Marliss Shackleford, Joanna’s annoying archnemesis. I even felt a little compassion towards her
in this book.
Great storyline, fast paced, really a great read!!
Thanks to William Morrow Publishers and NetGalley for providing the opportunity to read and review this book!
November 1, 2025
I just finished reading “The Girls from Devi’s Lake” by J. A. Jance, book twenty-one in the Sheriff Joanna Brady series. Of the four series Jance has written, this one remains my favorite. Perhaps it is because it was my introduction to her work, or maybe it is the familiarity I have with the setting that makes it feel so personal.
Normally, I steer clear of stories involving serial killers, but Jance focused more on Sheriff Brady’s investigation than on the killings themselves. The narrative was balanced with uplifting moments, including Joanna’s daughter’s wedding, which helped soften the weight of the decades-long crimes. I am already looking forward to the next installment.
I listened to this as an audiobook from Audible. It runs nine hours and fifty-two minutes, and Hilary Huber delivers a strong performance that complements the story beautifully.
Normally, I steer clear of stories involving serial killers, but Jance focused more on Sheriff Brady’s investigation than on the killings themselves. The narrative was balanced with uplifting moments, including Joanna’s daughter’s wedding, which helped soften the weight of the decades-long crimes. I am already looking forward to the next installment.
I listened to this as an audiobook from Audible. It runs nine hours and fifty-two minutes, and Hilary Huber delivers a strong performance that complements the story beautifully.
March 2, 2026
Thoughts to come
Rating posted: 2/28/26
This is not going to be one of my better reviews, fair warning.
I think I might have enjoyed this more with a different narrator. I used to really like Hillary Huber, but some of her character voices have started to sound a bit whiney (which I don’t think is the intent at all) to me which becomes a distraction to me because of my darn picky ears.
I saw on Libby that I had previously checked out a book in this series but did not finish it a few years ago. I am pleased to say that missing all of the previous books didn’t make it too difficult to follow along at all. Enough background was given throughout the book to read this one without feeling completely lost.
This books takes us from Fertile, MN all the way to Bisby, AZ. The Fertile timelines confused me a little bit because the past seem to jump around a little bit with the timeline and a few times I was like, wait, but I just heard about him starting college and now we are back to the spring before he graduates from high school? Probably a me thing.
The Bisby (not sure of spelling) timeline was much easier because we were given what day we were on and it went in order.
Joanna Brady, sheriff, is called to the scene where a little boy has washed up in a duffle bag during a heavy rainfall. As the investigation progresses, she starts to think a serial killer might be responsible. The reader already is very well aware of this. This serial killer definitely knows how to get away with murder.
A few parts dragged and lagged for me. But overall it was a good book. I do wonder how much the narration distracted me from the story.
Thoughts posted: 3/2/26
Rating posted: 2/28/26
This is not going to be one of my better reviews, fair warning.
I think I might have enjoyed this more with a different narrator. I used to really like Hillary Huber, but some of her character voices have started to sound a bit whiney (which I don’t think is the intent at all) to me which becomes a distraction to me because of my darn picky ears.
I saw on Libby that I had previously checked out a book in this series but did not finish it a few years ago. I am pleased to say that missing all of the previous books didn’t make it too difficult to follow along at all. Enough background was given throughout the book to read this one without feeling completely lost.
This books takes us from Fertile, MN all the way to Bisby, AZ. The Fertile timelines confused me a little bit because the past seem to jump around a little bit with the timeline and a few times I was like, wait, but I just heard about him starting college and now we are back to the spring before he graduates from high school? Probably a me thing.
The Bisby (not sure of spelling) timeline was much easier because we were given what day we were on and it went in order.
Joanna Brady, sheriff, is called to the scene where a little boy has washed up in a duffle bag during a heavy rainfall. As the investigation progresses, she starts to think a serial killer might be responsible. The reader already is very well aware of this. This serial killer definitely knows how to get away with murder.
A few parts dragged and lagged for me. But overall it was a good book. I do wonder how much the narration distracted me from the story.
Thoughts posted: 3/2/26
October 13, 2025
4.25 stars
Joanna Brady is a sheriff in southern Arizona and is looking forward to the upcoming holiday season. However, the body of a young boy is discovered after a flash flood. This case takes priority over Joanna's personal life, especially when evidence shows the killer has other victims and will strike again if not caught. The format of this book is a little different and there are multiple timelines for chapters told from the killer's point-of-view as he has killed through the years. This killer has no remorse, so some of those chapters are hard to read.
This is the 21st book in the Joanna Brady series and is available now. Even though this series has been going on for a while, I still think it would work as a standalone.
There is pressure on Joanna and her team to solve the case and local reporter and Joanna's nemesis, Marliss Shackleford, is right in the middle of the investigation. The book is suspenseful, but I thought the case wrapped up a bit too quickly to be realistic. However, I enjoy this series and liked catching up with Joanna and her family in this book. Most of the story is focused on the case, but there are some important developments included in the book.
This review also appearing on the Smitten by Books review site. I received an advance copy of this ebook from William Morrow Books and NetGalley for review consideration. My review is voluntary and unbiased.
Joanna Brady is a sheriff in southern Arizona and is looking forward to the upcoming holiday season. However, the body of a young boy is discovered after a flash flood. This case takes priority over Joanna's personal life, especially when evidence shows the killer has other victims and will strike again if not caught. The format of this book is a little different and there are multiple timelines for chapters told from the killer's point-of-view as he has killed through the years. This killer has no remorse, so some of those chapters are hard to read.
This is the 21st book in the Joanna Brady series and is available now. Even though this series has been going on for a while, I still think it would work as a standalone.
There is pressure on Joanna and her team to solve the case and local reporter and Joanna's nemesis, Marliss Shackleford, is right in the middle of the investigation. The book is suspenseful, but I thought the case wrapped up a bit too quickly to be realistic. However, I enjoy this series and liked catching up with Joanna and her family in this book. Most of the story is focused on the case, but there are some important developments included in the book.
This review also appearing on the Smitten by Books review site. I received an advance copy of this ebook from William Morrow Books and NetGalley for review consideration. My review is voluntary and unbiased.
December 1, 2025
This book was a bit of a compliment sandwich for me. The opening wasn’t necessarily slow, but the writing style just didn’t capture me at first. Some of the dialogue felt stiff or unrealistic—not exactly juvenile, but there were moments where I thought, people don’t really talk like this.
But I kept going, and I’m glad I did.
The middle section is where the story really hits its stride. The dual POVs and dual timelines worked well, shifting between a boy’s first kill and how he evolves into a serial killer over decades, and the present-day investigation into the murder of a young boy. I especially appreciated that the book dives into the after of catching a serial killer—the full scope of the investigation, arrest, confessions, and evidence. Those details made the story feel grounded and genuinely engrossing.
My only real complaint is the ending. It felt a bit rushed, almost abrupt—I turned the page on my Kindle and genuinely thought there had to be more. I wanted just a little more closure. But this is part of a long-running series, so maybe that’s to be expected.
For context, this is the first Joanna Brady book I’ve ever read, and I had no issue following along without reading the previous installments.
Overall, a solid read with a strong core story and an ending that left me wanting a bit more. 3.75 stars.
But I kept going, and I’m glad I did.
The middle section is where the story really hits its stride. The dual POVs and dual timelines worked well, shifting between a boy’s first kill and how he evolves into a serial killer over decades, and the present-day investigation into the murder of a young boy. I especially appreciated that the book dives into the after of catching a serial killer—the full scope of the investigation, arrest, confessions, and evidence. Those details made the story feel grounded and genuinely engrossing.
My only real complaint is the ending. It felt a bit rushed, almost abrupt—I turned the page on my Kindle and genuinely thought there had to be more. I wanted just a little more closure. But this is part of a long-running series, so maybe that’s to be expected.
For context, this is the first Joanna Brady book I’ve ever read, and I had no issue following along without reading the previous installments.
Overall, a solid read with a strong core story and an ending that left me wanting a bit more. 3.75 stars.
October 25, 2025
The Joanna Brady series has been a solid 4 stars for me, and this 21st installment fits right into that range. I like Joanna. She is strong, confident, and gets deeply involved in her cases, as well as deeply involved in her family and community.
The story moves at a blazing pace when a murdered little boy is discovered. As Joanna searches for the killer, she stumbles onto something much larger, a slew of unsolved murder cases spanning decades.
The mystery is gripping as we get the lay of the land, but two things pulled me out of the story a bit. First, the killer's confession came far too fast and easy. For someone portrayed as cautious and intelligent, that moment didn't fit. The second thing is small but it's a pet peeve. The title did NOT fit. Sure, it sounds alluring but that is not what this book is about. It was annoying and felt a little lazy.
Still, I like this series and the characters. This one was creative and definitely not boring. So 4 stars.
The story moves at a blazing pace when a murdered little boy is discovered. As Joanna searches for the killer, she stumbles onto something much larger, a slew of unsolved murder cases spanning decades.
The mystery is gripping as we get the lay of the land, but two things pulled me out of the story a bit. First, the killer's confession came far too fast and easy. For someone portrayed as cautious and intelligent, that moment didn't fit. The second thing is small but it's a pet peeve. The title did NOT fit. Sure, it sounds alluring but that is not what this book is about. It was annoying and felt a little lazy.
Still, I like this series and the characters. This one was creative and definitely not boring. So 4 stars.
October 26, 2025
I guess I’m in the minority here, but this novel just didn’t work for me. It felt like one long run-on sentence that never stopped — constantly repeating details that didn’t need to be repeated. So much focus was placed on the victims and the murders, yet the killer’s character was barely developed at all.
It also stretched credibility that the suspect was found so easily, and that after discovering multiple victims across state lines, the FBI was never involved. We’re supposed to believe a small-town sheriff solved the entire case in just a couple of weeks? It all felt pretty far-fetched.
On top of that, the story kept rehashing the victims’ causes of death and the killer’s M.O., to the point where it became tedious. There were even random mentions of people dying from COVID — three or four times — with no real purpose or connection to the plot. And honestly, I can’t understand why the book dragged on for another three hours after the suspect was arrested.
It also stretched credibility that the suspect was found so easily, and that after discovering multiple victims across state lines, the FBI was never involved. We’re supposed to believe a small-town sheriff solved the entire case in just a couple of weeks? It all felt pretty far-fetched.
On top of that, the story kept rehashing the victims’ causes of death and the killer’s M.O., to the point where it became tedious. There were even random mentions of people dying from COVID — three or four times — with no real purpose or connection to the plot. And honestly, I can’t understand why the book dragged on for another three hours after the suspect was arrested.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 18, 2025
Sheriff Joanna Brady is busy with her family preparing for the holidays and the upcoming marriage of her daughter. All that is put on hold when the body of a young child is discovered. Clues suggest that this is not the first time the perpetrator has killed. As the mystery unfolds, Brady uncovers a nationwide trail of murders spanning decades.
I haven’t read a Jance novel in years, and despite this being the twenty-first Joanna Brady story, it is the first in the series that I have read. Credit the author that despite what must be a lot of background history for the repeating characters, this worked well as a standalone, and I really liked it.
This fast-paced and riveting read is a journey through different timelines, providing insight into the background and mind of a serial killer. That narrative parallels the police procedural, solving a murder that unexpectedly spirals into a much larger and more complex mystery. Throughout the story, the humanity of the victims and their families is never forgotten.
This reads like a true crime novel. I had to keep reminding myself that it was fiction. A five star read for me.
Thanks to #NetGalley and @WilliamMorrowBooks for the DRC.
I haven’t read a Jance novel in years, and despite this being the twenty-first Joanna Brady story, it is the first in the series that I have read. Credit the author that despite what must be a lot of background history for the repeating characters, this worked well as a standalone, and I really liked it.
This fast-paced and riveting read is a journey through different timelines, providing insight into the background and mind of a serial killer. That narrative parallels the police procedural, solving a murder that unexpectedly spirals into a much larger and more complex mystery. Throughout the story, the humanity of the victims and their families is never forgotten.
This reads like a true crime novel. I had to keep reminding myself that it was fiction. A five star read for me.
Thanks to #NetGalley and @WilliamMorrowBooks for the DRC.
January 1, 2026
Another great plot by acclaimed author J.A. Jance!! Non stop action, great characters, and a plot involving a serial killer who began acting out his twisted activities as a child?! The author did a fantastic job keeping readers turning pages! Looking forward to the next installment! 4/5
June 11, 2025
My NetGalley Review on the latest Joanna Brady (series), "The Girl From Devil's Lake".
Pub date: 30-Sep-2025. Rating: 5 stars.
A NetGalley review is one where the publisher provides an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) of a to-be-published book to an approved reviewer. No compensation. No requirement for a "certain rating". The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
One of my favorite "police story" authors is J.A. Jance. She has several series in this genre, but my favorite is the Joanna Brady series. Twenty-first in the series is "The Girl From Devil's Lake". The synopsis is tantalizing. Two murders so much alike, but hundreds of miles apart. My first thought was a serial killer before I turned the first page.
I often wonder how an author does it. Write 21 books and keep the 'magic' of the story alive. But Jance does it. I could give you a taste of this well-written book ... sorry, I'm not gonna. You don't need it.
This one was a page-turner for me. A you-should-be-doing-stuff-not-reading book. Just about the time you *think* you know who or what or how? The story does a U-turn.
If you liked the Brady series, you're gonna love this one. Yes, I highly recommend "The Girl From Devil's Lake". Thank you to the publisher, William Morrow, for the advanced review copy.
Rating: 5 stars
Cover: Good — but could be a bit more spooky
Publish Date: 30 Sep 2025
#TheGirlfromDevilsLake #jajance #NetGalley #netgalleyreviewer
Pub date: 30-Sep-2025. Rating: 5 stars.
A NetGalley review is one where the publisher provides an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) of a to-be-published book to an approved reviewer. No compensation. No requirement for a "certain rating". The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
One of my favorite "police story" authors is J.A. Jance. She has several series in this genre, but my favorite is the Joanna Brady series. Twenty-first in the series is "The Girl From Devil's Lake". The synopsis is tantalizing. Two murders so much alike, but hundreds of miles apart. My first thought was a serial killer before I turned the first page.
I often wonder how an author does it. Write 21 books and keep the 'magic' of the story alive. But Jance does it. I could give you a taste of this well-written book ... sorry, I'm not gonna. You don't need it.
This one was a page-turner for me. A you-should-be-doing-stuff-not-reading book. Just about the time you *think* you know who or what or how? The story does a U-turn.
If you liked the Brady series, you're gonna love this one. Yes, I highly recommend "The Girl From Devil's Lake". Thank you to the publisher, William Morrow, for the advanced review copy.
Rating: 5 stars
Cover: Good — but could be a bit more spooky
Publish Date: 30 Sep 2025
#TheGirlfromDevilsLake #jajance #NetGalley #netgalleyreviewer
October 31, 2025
If you like police procedural and or small town mysteries this one could be something for you. If you also like serial murders then it's also for you. The Girl from Devil's Lake by J.A. Jance is the latest in her Joanna Brady series and it's a well told story with two timelines, told in an unusal way. You get to follow the culprit through his life from early teens up until now but sheriff Brady is only in 2023. I usually don't like serial killer stories but I do like the works from this author. I have read everything so far that she has written.
October 20, 2025
I have read every book in the Joanna Brady series. I liked the flow of this book and the character development through the years in her books.
May 18, 2026
4.5 rounded up
Really enjoyed the mystery and family side story.
Really enjoyed the mystery and family side story.
February 16, 2026
Stephen Roper = the devil himself! What I loved about this book is the nonuse of the F-bomb! Shocking, to say the least! Usually secular thrillers over use(imho)that word. This was the first book I read by this author and it won't be the last. Love her writing style. I liked the two POVs used.
April 7, 2026
The plot kept me interested enough to finish the book even though there were no plot twists or "wow" factors. You knew who the murderer was the entire time and was just along for the ride to learn how he killed each victim and what steps were taken by the detectives to catch up and make an arrest.
I found the prose to be frequently repetitive, lacking variation in both sentence structure and vocabulary. For example, the main character, Joanna Brady, repeatedly recounts the details of each murder victim’s cause of death and the talisman the murderer collected to anyone who asks – since the reader already learned all this once or twice, there is really no need to rehash it in elaborate detail each time, simply stating that “Joanna Brady described the details to so and so", would have more than sufficed. This repetition diminished the overall reading experience and at times made the narrative feel elementary and boring. It led me to question whether the book underwent a thorough editing, as certain passages felt like one long run-on sentence. If the author had streamlined the narrative and trusted readers to retain important details, the story would have been much stronger. With tighter editing to remove these repetitive sections, the book could have easily been 50% shorter without sacrificing substance.
One of the more frustrating aspects was the author’s tendency to elaborate on obvious points. For instance, after describing a character’s emotional reaction, the text would then explain the significance as if clarifying the punch line of a joke, which felt unnecessary and sometimes condescending. This style often made it seem as though the author didn’t trust the reader to make their own judgments.
P.S. I didn’t realize this book was part of a series. I found the side story about Joanna’s daughter graduating from the police academy and getting married to be somewhat disconnected from the main plot and, for me, it didn’t contribute meaningfully to the overall narrative. However, readers who follow the series may appreciate these personal developments.
I found the prose to be frequently repetitive, lacking variation in both sentence structure and vocabulary. For example, the main character, Joanna Brady, repeatedly recounts the details of each murder victim’s cause of death and the talisman the murderer collected to anyone who asks – since the reader already learned all this once or twice, there is really no need to rehash it in elaborate detail each time, simply stating that “Joanna Brady described the details to so and so", would have more than sufficed. This repetition diminished the overall reading experience and at times made the narrative feel elementary and boring. It led me to question whether the book underwent a thorough editing, as certain passages felt like one long run-on sentence. If the author had streamlined the narrative and trusted readers to retain important details, the story would have been much stronger. With tighter editing to remove these repetitive sections, the book could have easily been 50% shorter without sacrificing substance.
One of the more frustrating aspects was the author’s tendency to elaborate on obvious points. For instance, after describing a character’s emotional reaction, the text would then explain the significance as if clarifying the punch line of a joke, which felt unnecessary and sometimes condescending. This style often made it seem as though the author didn’t trust the reader to make their own judgments.
P.S. I didn’t realize this book was part of a series. I found the side story about Joanna’s daughter graduating from the police academy and getting married to be somewhat disconnected from the main plot and, for me, it didn’t contribute meaningfully to the overall narrative. However, readers who follow the series may appreciate these personal developments.
July 9, 2026
This is the 21st episode of Jance’s Joanna Brady series, all of which I’ve read. Joanna is the sheriff of Cochise County, Arizona, near the Mexican border, where the body of a young boy has been found. There are two timelines in the novel, one of them chronological, and contemporary; the other follows the life of a now aging serial killer up through the time he is apprehended by sheriff Joanna. I always enjoy revisiting, the familiar characters, including her daughter, Jennifer (who now works in line enforcement also and is getting married), and the landscape and cultures of a border town.
September 29, 2025
Thank you for a copy of this book @williammorrowbooks
This was my first book from this authors and it will not be my last. This was an amazing thriller. The details in this story were top notch. I really enjoyed how the story was told through the killer Steve’s pov as well as Sheriff Joanna Brady’s pov. Learning how Steve grew up and how it all began was such a great part of the story. I was completely shocked with how easy everything was for him. He stuck to the same routine for years and never got caught. It was nice to hear about Joanna’s family life to break up the story a bit from the investigation. The cigar box was so detailed with each item that I was so impressed how it all came together at the end. Usually in stories once the killer is caught the book just ends. That was not the case in this one. I really loved how the author let us follow along to see what happens after the killer is caught. From the tip lines, news conferences and the arraignment, it was the perfect touch to wrap up the story. What a great book!
This was my first book from this authors and it will not be my last. This was an amazing thriller. The details in this story were top notch. I really enjoyed how the story was told through the killer Steve’s pov as well as Sheriff Joanna Brady’s pov. Learning how Steve grew up and how it all began was such a great part of the story. I was completely shocked with how easy everything was for him. He stuck to the same routine for years and never got caught. It was nice to hear about Joanna’s family life to break up the story a bit from the investigation. The cigar box was so detailed with each item that I was so impressed how it all came together at the end. Usually in stories once the killer is caught the book just ends. That was not the case in this one. I really loved how the author let us follow along to see what happens after the killer is caught. From the tip lines, news conferences and the arraignment, it was the perfect touch to wrap up the story. What a great book!
August 22, 2025
3.5⭐️ The Girl From Devil’s Lake was my first experience with the Joanna Brady series, and I was pleasantly surprised. Being from Arizona, I enjoyed all the Bisbee and Southern Arizona references. The mystery moved at a fast pace, and the final race against time had me hooked. I really appreciated the dual points of view, which offered great insight into both Sheriff Brady’s and Steven Roper’s motivations and thought processes. That said, Sheriff Brady did seem a little too lucky at times, which stretched believability. Overall, if you’re in the mood for a quick, engaging mystery, this new installment in the Joanna Brady series is worth picking up.
Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for sending me an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for sending me an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
July 29, 2026
J.A. Jance continues to author compelling novels. With The Girl from Devil's Lake I believe I’ve read seventy-three of them.
Of all the J.A. Jance characters, the Joanna Brady character was my least liked. Obviously, no one can beat J.P. Beaumont but I liked all the others far more than Brady.
In The Girl from Devil's Lake, I finally see Brady as an accomplished adult who grew into her unlikely position as the sheriff of Bisbee, Arizona.
The Girl from Devil's Lake is set in two time lines beginning in 1956 with a ten-year-old boy, Steve Roper, who is musing about his step-grandmother whom he killed. No one ever suspected anything but a terrible, accidental fall.
The second timeline begins in early November 2023 with Joanna Brady set to give the keynote speech for her daughter’s graduation from the APOA, and from there is the minutia of her days, until a body of a young dead boy, stuffed in a duffle bag, surfaces after the river he was in flooded then ebbed leaving him amongst its debris. It turns out he was from a refugee camp in Mexico.
Much of the book tells the story of Steve Roper and his life of crime. He eventually comes to Bisbee where he becomes a beloved teacher of English and Chemistry. Joanna was in his chemistry class.
Roper behaved when school was in session, but he hunted children and women every summer.
The Girl from Devil's Lake continues in this horrible but slow vein until the autopsy shows the boy in the duffle was murdered, by strangulation. The fact that his body was "bathed in bleach" led investigators to believe whoever killed the child was a serial killer.
From there more victims pile up from over 50 years of killing.
I think the killer’s denouement is cheap and infuriating, however there is a shocking event that stuns the entire community of Bisbee.
4.5 Stars shown as five for The Girl from Devil's Lake. J.A. Jance is a readers treasure but The Girl from Devil's Lake suffers from its Brady minutia.
Of all the J.A. Jance characters, the Joanna Brady character was my least liked. Obviously, no one can beat J.P. Beaumont but I liked all the others far more than Brady.
In The Girl from Devil's Lake, I finally see Brady as an accomplished adult who grew into her unlikely position as the sheriff of Bisbee, Arizona.
The Girl from Devil's Lake is set in two time lines beginning in 1956 with a ten-year-old boy, Steve Roper, who is musing about his step-grandmother whom he killed. No one ever suspected anything but a terrible, accidental fall.
"No one could possibly imagine that a kid that young could possibly be cold-blooded killer."The book holds no secret about his continued killing as he himself tells us of them in horrifying detail.
The second timeline begins in early November 2023 with Joanna Brady set to give the keynote speech for her daughter’s graduation from the APOA, and from there is the minutia of her days, until a body of a young dead boy, stuffed in a duffle bag, surfaces after the river he was in flooded then ebbed leaving him amongst its debris. It turns out he was from a refugee camp in Mexico.
Much of the book tells the story of Steve Roper and his life of crime. He eventually comes to Bisbee where he becomes a beloved teacher of English and Chemistry. Joanna was in his chemistry class.
Roper behaved when school was in session, but he hunted children and women every summer.
The Girl from Devil's Lake continues in this horrible but slow vein until the autopsy shows the boy in the duffle was murdered, by strangulation. The fact that his body was "bathed in bleach" led investigators to believe whoever killed the child was a serial killer.
"A perpetrator smart enough to dip his victim in bleach doesn't sound like an amateur."There are events that lead Brady and her investigators to suspect Roper and the case finally takes a turn more than halfway through the book, when the director of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Victims Task Force, Anna Rae Green, contacts Joanna to tell her an AFIS search matched a palm print on a soda can her detective pulled from Ropers trash with a murder in 1962. And then two more victims.
From there more victims pile up from over 50 years of killing.
I think the killer’s denouement is cheap and infuriating, however there is a shocking event that stuns the entire community of Bisbee.
4.5 Stars shown as five for The Girl from Devil's Lake. J.A. Jance is a readers treasure but The Girl from Devil's Lake suffers from its Brady minutia.
November 23, 2025
A Wild Ride with a Serial Killer
This book captured my attention from the beginning, particularly because of the different points of view. One of the POVs was the serial killer himself and the other was what was going on in the town and with the investigation by Sheriff Brady and her detectives. The pace was fast and the story maintained my interest from beginning to end. There are some twists and surprises that were unexpectedly sad, but they added to the story. The characters are relatable, even the villain who is made to show his humanity even though he is pure evil. This is a great read and a fantastic addition to the Joanna Brady series!
I checked out a copy of this book from the local library using the Libby App. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.
This book captured my attention from the beginning, particularly because of the different points of view. One of the POVs was the serial killer himself and the other was what was going on in the town and with the investigation by Sheriff Brady and her detectives. The pace was fast and the story maintained my interest from beginning to end. There are some twists and surprises that were unexpectedly sad, but they added to the story. The characters are relatable, even the villain who is made to show his humanity even though he is pure evil. This is a great read and a fantastic addition to the Joanna Brady series!
I checked out a copy of this book from the local library using the Libby App. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.
December 18, 2025
I enjoy all the books I read from this author. While a work of fiction, it reads like it’s ripped from the headlines and you are drawn in from the very first page. Steven Roper appears to be an upstanding and well-respected citizen. However, from childhood, he heard voices in his head that lead him to do unspeakable acts. With his job as a teacher, he has plenty of time and the means to travel the country plucking innocent victims and stealing their lives. Clever and cunning, he literally gets away with murder, many of them, until he doesn’t. Sheriff Joanna Brady has her hands full with this case. Can she unravel the mystery of who the killer is, give closure to the families of his victims and restore peace and justice to her jurisdiction? Read this book and see.
February 27, 2026
A serial killer lives among the residents of Bisbee, Arizona. Joanna Brady is celebrating her daughter’s graduation from the police academy and also her engagement when a little boy’s body is discovered. The story takes place in present day but goes back 60 years prior as you learn about the serial killer. I liked reading how they discovered who the killer was but how they discovered who many of the victims were. Also interesting to read was the cooperation between man law enforcement jurisdictions in capturing the killer.
September 6, 2025
The Girl From Devil’s Lake is another thriller in the Sheriff Joanna Brady series. A body of a missing child sends Joanna down a trail after serial killer that spans decades. Told in alternating timelines, Joanna faces one of her worst cases yet as connections click and the full picture is grim with a large body count. Wonderful characters and a capitulating thriller prove once again why the series has been around for so long and promises to continue being as good as always. My voluntary and unbiased review is based upon a review copy from NetGalley.
November 27, 2025
Having read every one of the this prolific author's novels, we certainly wouldn't care to miss the latest Sheriff Brady adventure. Unfortunately, the buildup on this one, nearly a third of the book, was rather dull, and then seemingly everything fell into place about a murder committed nearby; and the rest of the book was about identifying the serial killer involved for sure and could he be captured.
While as usual the writing was fine, the plot and tale in general seemed not as entertaining as in past Brady exploits...
While as usual the writing was fine, the plot and tale in general seemed not as entertaining as in past Brady exploits...
March 15, 2026
When I saw the title of this book on the library shelf I knew I had to read it as my brother-in-law and his family live in Devil's Lake, North Dakota. It was a good story with alternating chapters between the sheriff and the serial killer. And get this, talked to my mom this morning and she mentioned she had just finished the same book yesterday. Coinkydink!!
November 23, 2025
This book is missing that spark. The plot has a lot of promise but it gets stuck in a framework that still feels like an outline. It’s a very straight-forward murder mystery, a format which has worked well for this author in the past, however this one just doesn’t have the supporting elements to pull it off. There are character recaps, procedural fillers, and a couple of soft side-stories. They all start to feel like extraneous add-ons rather than meaningful layers. The writing is easy so I’ll try again, but this long-running series is now almost serial-like, the books are losing their power to stand alone.
January 26, 2026
Joanna Brady is the best!
This time it’s a serial killer…living in Joanna’s town. Tracing the killer all the way back to his first kill as a young child, Joanna must find the evidence to convict this prolific killer.
This time it’s a serial killer…living in Joanna’s town. Tracing the killer all the way back to his first kill as a young child, Joanna must find the evidence to convict this prolific killer.
October 25, 2025
Really good writing. Enjoyed the story even though the premise of solving the murders of so many people by one man, is pretty gruesome but glad for the way justice was done.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 22, 2025
Oh boy!!! This is a terrific book with a truly horrible muurderer.
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