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Joanna Brady #18
Field of Bones
Sheriff Joanna Brady’s best intentions to stay on maternity leave take a hit when a serial homicide case rocks Cochise County, dragging her into a far-reaching investigation to bring down a relentless killer in this chilling tale of suspense from New York Times bestselling author J. A. Jance.
This time Sheriff Joanna Brady may expect to see her maternity leave through to completion, but the world has other plans when a serial homicide case surfaces in her beloved Cochise County. Rather than staying home with her newborn and losing herself in the cold cases to be found in her father’s long unread diaries, Joanna instead finds herself overseeing a complex investigation involving multiple jurisdictions.
Filled with the beloved characters, small town charm, vivid history, intriguing mystery, and the scenic Arizona desert backdrop that have made the Joanna Brady series perennial bestsellers, this latest entry featuring the popular sheriff is sure to please J. A. Jance’s legion of fans.
This time Sheriff Joanna Brady may expect to see her maternity leave through to completion, but the world has other plans when a serial homicide case surfaces in her beloved Cochise County. Rather than staying home with her newborn and losing herself in the cold cases to be found in her father’s long unread diaries, Joanna instead finds herself overseeing a complex investigation involving multiple jurisdictions.
Filled with the beloved characters, small town charm, vivid history, intriguing mystery, and the scenic Arizona desert backdrop that have made the Joanna Brady series perennial bestsellers, this latest entry featuring the popular sheriff is sure to please J. A. Jance’s legion of fans.
Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2018
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About the author
J.A. Jance
117 books4,154 followersJudith Ann Jance is the top 10 New York Times bestselling author of the Joanna Brady series; the J. P. Beaumont series; three interrelated thrillers featuring the Walker family; and Edge of Evil, the first in a series featuring Ali Reynolds. Born in South Dakota and brought up in Bisbee, Arizona, Jance lives with her husband in Seattle, Washington, and Tucson, Arizona.
Series:
* J.P. Beaumont
* Joanna Brady
* Ali Reynolds
* Walker Family
Series:
* J.P. Beaumont
* Joanna Brady
* Ali Reynolds
* Walker Family
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 765 reviews
October 30, 2018
Field of Bones by J. A. Jance is a 2018 William Morrow publication.
Joanna flunks maternity leave again-
When a skull is found, it leads to the discovery of a body- and then more bodies. Obviously, Cochise County has a serial killer on their hands. Deputy Chief Tom Hadlock feels out of his depth and before long Joanna, the newly elected sheriff, is in the middle of this disturbing, tricky investigation.
Meanwhile, Butch is off on a book tour promoting his cozy mystery series, and Joanna delves into her father’s journals, discovering things she finds helpful in understanding her parent’s complex marriage.
While Joanna and other members of law enforcement work to catch a killer, the reader follows, Latisha, one of the women the killer is holding hostage, as she recounts her descent into this living hell and her fight to stay alive.
This eighteenth installment in the Joanna Brady series may be the grittiest, most harrowing, one to date! There is a lot going on in this one, with several law enforcement units involved, Joanna’s encounters with journalist, Marliss Shackelford, and the revelations discovered in her father’s journals, as well keeping up with the killer’s thought processes, as well as Latisha’s.
Like psychological thrillers today, at one time the serial killer plot line was so over saturated they lost their shock value and thus became rote and powerless. However, recently, I’ve seen a few stellar serial killer series out there, which have begun to breathe new life into the tired old trope. I have found myself turning to them for - wait for it- a change of pace!
So, when Jance brings a serial killer to Cochise County, instead of groaning, I was ready to dive in with enthusiasm. I was not disappointed! The story did slow down in some places as Joanna is taking on the role of Sheriff, and is supposed to be on maternity leave, giving more time to characters we have not gotten to know yet. Jance spends a bit of time detailing these character's backstories, which did mess with the momentum a bit. But!
I’m thinking we are going to see some of these folks in future installments, so this book is a little like a transition book, as Joanna’s life has once again taken a new and interesting turn. In fact, if you have been curious about the Brady novels, but felt overwhelmed by the sheer volume of books in the series, this book will give you plenty of information so that you won’t feel lost going forward.
But, after a few lulls, the story becomes absolutely riveting. The serial killer, known as ‘The Boss’ is one mean, creepy, evil dude. His inner thoughts are hard to read and are genuinely the stuff nightmares are made of. But the star of the show is Latisha! It’s been a long time since I’ve found myself cheering on a character with such passion. Latisha's fighting spirit and sheer tenacity stayed with me for days after finishing this novel.
While this installment is quite a bit darker than usual, and long- time fans may be somewhat frustrated by the long winded backstories, I thought this was an exceptional chapter in the series.
I’m looking forward to seeing the series continue to grow and adapt. I hope to read Joanna Brady mysteries for a long time to come!
*I won a copy of this book on Goodreads.
Joanna flunks maternity leave again-
When a skull is found, it leads to the discovery of a body- and then more bodies. Obviously, Cochise County has a serial killer on their hands. Deputy Chief Tom Hadlock feels out of his depth and before long Joanna, the newly elected sheriff, is in the middle of this disturbing, tricky investigation.
Meanwhile, Butch is off on a book tour promoting his cozy mystery series, and Joanna delves into her father’s journals, discovering things she finds helpful in understanding her parent’s complex marriage.
While Joanna and other members of law enforcement work to catch a killer, the reader follows, Latisha, one of the women the killer is holding hostage, as she recounts her descent into this living hell and her fight to stay alive.
This eighteenth installment in the Joanna Brady series may be the grittiest, most harrowing, one to date! There is a lot going on in this one, with several law enforcement units involved, Joanna’s encounters with journalist, Marliss Shackelford, and the revelations discovered in her father’s journals, as well keeping up with the killer’s thought processes, as well as Latisha’s.
Like psychological thrillers today, at one time the serial killer plot line was so over saturated they lost their shock value and thus became rote and powerless. However, recently, I’ve seen a few stellar serial killer series out there, which have begun to breathe new life into the tired old trope. I have found myself turning to them for - wait for it- a change of pace!
So, when Jance brings a serial killer to Cochise County, instead of groaning, I was ready to dive in with enthusiasm. I was not disappointed! The story did slow down in some places as Joanna is taking on the role of Sheriff, and is supposed to be on maternity leave, giving more time to characters we have not gotten to know yet. Jance spends a bit of time detailing these character's backstories, which did mess with the momentum a bit. But!
I’m thinking we are going to see some of these folks in future installments, so this book is a little like a transition book, as Joanna’s life has once again taken a new and interesting turn. In fact, if you have been curious about the Brady novels, but felt overwhelmed by the sheer volume of books in the series, this book will give you plenty of information so that you won’t feel lost going forward.
But, after a few lulls, the story becomes absolutely riveting. The serial killer, known as ‘The Boss’ is one mean, creepy, evil dude. His inner thoughts are hard to read and are genuinely the stuff nightmares are made of. But the star of the show is Latisha! It’s been a long time since I’ve found myself cheering on a character with such passion. Latisha's fighting spirit and sheer tenacity stayed with me for days after finishing this novel.
While this installment is quite a bit darker than usual, and long- time fans may be somewhat frustrated by the long winded backstories, I thought this was an exceptional chapter in the series.
I’m looking forward to seeing the series continue to grow and adapt. I hope to read Joanna Brady mysteries for a long time to come!
*I won a copy of this book on Goodreads.
September 17, 2022
'Field of Bones' (book #18 of the fabulous Joanna Brady series) takes us on a nonstop thrill ride filled with nonstop suspense and excitement around every corner. Joanna gave birth to her second child, Sage and was on maternity leave for much of the book. While caring for (with the recent new edition) two young children, she was also tasked with micromanaging a huge serial killer case - and all from home.
In addition, I especially appreciated learning insight into Joanna's father was through the detailed journals he kept all the way back through her childhood. I found these insightful into understanding what helped Joanna become the woman she is today, and very nicely threaded within the plot. In summary, 'Field of Bones' was an exceptional installment to the series, and, (in my humble opinion) leaves lots of room for more exciting episodes to come. . .
Narrator Hillary Huber delivered (as always) an epic listening experience. When I see her name listed as a/the performer I know listening will be tons better than reading.
In addition, I especially appreciated learning insight into Joanna's father was through the detailed journals he kept all the way back through her childhood. I found these insightful into understanding what helped Joanna become the woman she is today, and very nicely threaded within the plot. In summary, 'Field of Bones' was an exceptional installment to the series, and, (in my humble opinion) leaves lots of room for more exciting episodes to come. . .
Narrator Hillary Huber delivered (as always) an epic listening experience. When I see her name listed as a/the performer I know listening will be tons better than reading.
October 31, 2018
How does this book have such a good rating? I must officially be a book snob now, because I hated this book. I have never read a book with so many character back stories. I am pretty sure that was one for every single person she talked about. I had to read this for book club which is why I started on book 18, but I don't actually need to read the other books since she also fills you in on anything that has ever happened to Sheriff Brady ever. Who, is also a super annoying character. I get that she is supposed to be an independent woman, doing it all and fitting in with the old boys club... but everything she does is perfect! I mean who could expect her to take more than 2 weeks maternity leave! Also.... I did not need to hear about Laticia's ingrown toenails NEARLY that often.... seriously... like 50 mentions... I am pretty sure that being locked up with a serial killer for 6 months could have given her some more interesting/ less weird injuries.
Ok. I'm done.
Ok. I'm done.
April 20, 2019
“Field of Bones” is the 18th book in the long-running Sheriff Joanna Brady mysteries series by J.A. Jance. This is the first one I have read, but I very much enjoyed this story and had no issues with the fact that I had not read the previous books. Having said that, I will go back and read as many as I can. I enjoy J.A. Jance's writing and have been reading other books written by her for awhile now. This book finds Joanna Brady off work on maternity leave. Like many law enforcement personnel, leaves are meant to be broken, and when Joanna finds out about the most recent bodies found in the dessert, she can't stay out of it. She does not take front and center in this one, but is a mentor and coach for most of the story and that works well. There is more than one body out there, an when they stumble upon a girl who has been held captive for quite a period of time, the investigation takes on a life of its own.
This was a rather descriptive thriller, with some graphic descriptions. I would definitely not recommend this one to people who are looking for a light mystery or police procedural. The story is told from several POVs, the captives, the captor/serial killer and some of the investigators. The captive sections are hard to stomach sometimes. Having said that, this was a page turner. I stayed up way too late reading this one and thought about the victims for a few days after I finished this book. It was well-paced and the investigation was very interesting. I really enjoyed this story. I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Hillary Haber. She is a voice-over artist and audiobook narrator who did an excellent job narrating this book. I would recommend it to those who enjoy mystery/thrillers and do not mind graphic descriptions in a story.
This was a rather descriptive thriller, with some graphic descriptions. I would definitely not recommend this one to people who are looking for a light mystery or police procedural. The story is told from several POVs, the captives, the captor/serial killer and some of the investigators. The captive sections are hard to stomach sometimes. Having said that, this was a page turner. I stayed up way too late reading this one and thought about the victims for a few days after I finished this book. It was well-paced and the investigation was very interesting. I really enjoyed this story. I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Hillary Haber. She is a voice-over artist and audiobook narrator who did an excellent job narrating this book. I would recommend it to those who enjoy mystery/thrillers and do not mind graphic descriptions in a story.
November 4, 2018
J.A. Jance has been writing mysteries for a long time. Since the 1980’s she has been busy, producing three successful ongoing series with strong leading characters battling crime, including Seattle Detective J.P. Beaumont, Los Angeles news anchor Ali Reynolds, and Arizona County Sherriff Joanna Brady. All three series have built-up a consistent audience and stayed strong over time.
I have always enjoyed reading the Beaumont and Brady books, especially Brady for several reasons. First, there seems to be few females in lead mystery roles, and she is an outstanding lead investigator. Second, I love reading about her family development from the beginning of the series when her first husband was killed. I enjoy watching her children growing up and her multi-talented second husband become a successful novelist. And third, I love visiting with the rest of the citizens of Joanna’s home town of Bisbee and all of the connected relationships that go on in a small-town setting.
“Field of Bones” is the 18th book in the long-running Sherriff Joanna Brady mysteries series by J.A. Jance. When the book begins, Joanna has just won her third election as Sherriff of Cochise County, a mostly desert area of Southwest Arizona. Joanna has also gone into unexpected labor and rushed to the hospital to deliver her third child.
Skip forward in time a bit and we find Sherriff Brady at home trying to stay on maternity leave and focus on her family while her husband. Butch, is on a two-week book tour to promote his newest mystery novel. Unfortunately, some local boys stumble onto what appears to by a graveyard of bones for an active serial killer. Once the investigation begins, it doesn’t take long to realize there are most likely other victims being held and brutalized by the unknown killer, and time suddenly becomes a critical factor. Sherriff Brady has to call her maternity leave short and help her team oversee one of their most complex investigations involving multiple jurisdictions and federal profiling assistance.
Since her introduction in 1993, Sherriff Brady has always had a special place in my heart for another more important reason. Each time I read her books, I get to sit right up from as Sherriff Brady takes on what seem like impossible challenges and she finds ways to overcome them, often with the help of others in a team manner. In early books, Brady faced the challenge of being a female in a man’s world of law enforcement as well as a single mother. In later books, she faced the challenge of beginning a new family and sharing her life with another person. In recent books, she has faced the revealing of crushing family secrets and the loss of lost ones.
In this book, whether intentional or not, Jance demonstrates her strong writing skills by not allowing Brady to be the onsite, hands-on leader of the investigation. Instead, Jance forces Brady to provide support and mentoring from the sidelines for most of the book. Brady has to rely on her team to perform the work without her and uses her networking and relationship-building skills to get help for the team, like a cadaver dog team and an FBI profiler. This time out, key parts of the story were shared by other characters like Latisha Marcum, a current kidnap victim of the serial killer, and Garth Raymond, a new member of Sherriff Brady’s law enforcement team. It was especially nice to see Tom Hadlock, Acting Sherriff, come through in the moments that mattered. Jance did a great job of highlighting the strengths of other characters around Sherriff Brady, which added to the tension of the story.
In my opinion, J.A. Jance has created and successfully raised the bar over and over again with her Sherriff Brady mystery series. Brady’s world of Bisbee and Southwest Arizona is filled with beloved and memorable characters, a small Hallmark like town charm with western history, and intriguing mysteries that keep your attention. It's a special kind of mind candy that delivers a different colored gem each time out.
Overall, this was the kind of read I expected and it delivered in a pleasing manner. I enjoy spending time with Sherriff Brady, her team, her family, and the rest of the citizens of Bisbee. I cannot until we meet again next year. Hopefully you will make a visit too. It will be enjoyable and well-worth it.
I have always enjoyed reading the Beaumont and Brady books, especially Brady for several reasons. First, there seems to be few females in lead mystery roles, and she is an outstanding lead investigator. Second, I love reading about her family development from the beginning of the series when her first husband was killed. I enjoy watching her children growing up and her multi-talented second husband become a successful novelist. And third, I love visiting with the rest of the citizens of Joanna’s home town of Bisbee and all of the connected relationships that go on in a small-town setting.
“Field of Bones” is the 18th book in the long-running Sherriff Joanna Brady mysteries series by J.A. Jance. When the book begins, Joanna has just won her third election as Sherriff of Cochise County, a mostly desert area of Southwest Arizona. Joanna has also gone into unexpected labor and rushed to the hospital to deliver her third child.
Skip forward in time a bit and we find Sherriff Brady at home trying to stay on maternity leave and focus on her family while her husband. Butch, is on a two-week book tour to promote his newest mystery novel. Unfortunately, some local boys stumble onto what appears to by a graveyard of bones for an active serial killer. Once the investigation begins, it doesn’t take long to realize there are most likely other victims being held and brutalized by the unknown killer, and time suddenly becomes a critical factor. Sherriff Brady has to call her maternity leave short and help her team oversee one of their most complex investigations involving multiple jurisdictions and federal profiling assistance.
Since her introduction in 1993, Sherriff Brady has always had a special place in my heart for another more important reason. Each time I read her books, I get to sit right up from as Sherriff Brady takes on what seem like impossible challenges and she finds ways to overcome them, often with the help of others in a team manner. In early books, Brady faced the challenge of being a female in a man’s world of law enforcement as well as a single mother. In later books, she faced the challenge of beginning a new family and sharing her life with another person. In recent books, she has faced the revealing of crushing family secrets and the loss of lost ones.
In this book, whether intentional or not, Jance demonstrates her strong writing skills by not allowing Brady to be the onsite, hands-on leader of the investigation. Instead, Jance forces Brady to provide support and mentoring from the sidelines for most of the book. Brady has to rely on her team to perform the work without her and uses her networking and relationship-building skills to get help for the team, like a cadaver dog team and an FBI profiler. This time out, key parts of the story were shared by other characters like Latisha Marcum, a current kidnap victim of the serial killer, and Garth Raymond, a new member of Sherriff Brady’s law enforcement team. It was especially nice to see Tom Hadlock, Acting Sherriff, come through in the moments that mattered. Jance did a great job of highlighting the strengths of other characters around Sherriff Brady, which added to the tension of the story.
In my opinion, J.A. Jance has created and successfully raised the bar over and over again with her Sherriff Brady mystery series. Brady’s world of Bisbee and Southwest Arizona is filled with beloved and memorable characters, a small Hallmark like town charm with western history, and intriguing mysteries that keep your attention. It's a special kind of mind candy that delivers a different colored gem each time out.
Overall, this was the kind of read I expected and it delivered in a pleasing manner. I enjoy spending time with Sherriff Brady, her team, her family, and the rest of the citizens of Bisbee. I cannot until we meet again next year. Hopefully you will make a visit too. It will be enjoyable and well-worth it.
September 17, 2018
A Joanna Brady novel was the first book I read in the J.A. Jance series. I was so impressed by Jance’s writing skills that I read all this series and the other two series. Jance is a master storyteller.
In this book, Joanna Brady is up for election for her 3rd term as sheriff. In fact, she delivers a baby girl on election night. She won the election, but her maternity leave is cut short by a serial killer. There is a new character in this book, Deputy Sheriff Garth Raymond. There is a lot of back story telling to bring readers up to date about Raymond.
The book is well written. I am unhappy about the serial killer subject. I am so tired of this subject. It is great to visit with all the regular characters and a pleasant visit to Arizona. Jance does a great job working descriptions of the Arizona scenery into the story. I am looking forward to the next episode.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is ten hours and 48 minutes. Hillary Haber does an excellent job narrating the book. Haber is a voice-over artist and audiobook narrator. She is a multiple Earphone Award winner as well as a multiple Audie Award Finalist. Haber won the Audiofile Magazine’s “Best Voice in Biography and Culture” in 2010.
In this book, Joanna Brady is up for election for her 3rd term as sheriff. In fact, she delivers a baby girl on election night. She won the election, but her maternity leave is cut short by a serial killer. There is a new character in this book, Deputy Sheriff Garth Raymond. There is a lot of back story telling to bring readers up to date about Raymond.
The book is well written. I am unhappy about the serial killer subject. I am so tired of this subject. It is great to visit with all the regular characters and a pleasant visit to Arizona. Jance does a great job working descriptions of the Arizona scenery into the story. I am looking forward to the next episode.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is ten hours and 48 minutes. Hillary Haber does an excellent job narrating the book. Haber is a voice-over artist and audiobook narrator. She is a multiple Earphone Award winner as well as a multiple Audie Award Finalist. Haber won the Audiofile Magazine’s “Best Voice in Biography and Culture” in 2010.
November 24, 2018
A good entry into the Joanna Brady series. Joanna is on maternity leave and a serial killer's field of bones is found. Her staff takes on the investigation but Joanna lends impressive aid. This one is a little more brutal than some of Joanna's previous entries. Recommended to Brady fans.
July 23, 2018
J.A. Jance has written an admirable book covering several social problems. You have the feelings of several parties as the sheriff's deputies, the victim, and the villain. It handles memories, maternity, cold cases, serial killers, kidnapping, religion, the inability of letting go, results of the actions of one person to others and the relatives of a victim.
Joanna's life has changed recently, she wins the election, and her daughter, Sage is born. A human skull is brought to the sheriff's department and a large congregation of sheriff's officers heads for the remote area where the skull was found. Joanna is on maternity leave and she is reading her father's diaries. At Canyon, the officers find a decaying body of a person. This began a major investigation of bones found in the canyon. Cadaver dogs are brought to the area to locate more bodies. At the same time, we follow the actions of a victim and killer. The department is looking for answers. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK AND SERIES.
Disclosure: Many thanks to HarperCollins for a review copy. The opinions are my own.
Joanna's life has changed recently, she wins the election, and her daughter, Sage is born. A human skull is brought to the sheriff's department and a large congregation of sheriff's officers heads for the remote area where the skull was found. Joanna is on maternity leave and she is reading her father's diaries. At Canyon, the officers find a decaying body of a person. This began a major investigation of bones found in the canyon. Cadaver dogs are brought to the area to locate more bodies. At the same time, we follow the actions of a victim and killer. The department is looking for answers. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK AND SERIES.
Disclosure: Many thanks to HarperCollins for a review copy. The opinions are my own.
December 8, 2018
I have always been a big fan of J.A. Jance but her latest in the Joanna Brady series (#18), is not her best work. While she handled the police procedural aspect of the main story which included serial kidnapping, rape and murder rather well if not slightly redundantly, it was the underlying political references that bothered me. There were numerous references to undocumented immigrants (being called UDA's), gun control, thinly veiled border security opinions and even mentioned a former AZ sheriff whose policies have cost taxpayers countless millions (yes, millions and still counting). I only bring these things up because I read books to be entertained and to take my mind of the disturbing political climate we seem to be finding ourselves in these past two or three years. I hope Ms. Jance finds a way to return to her former writing glory and leave heavy political references out of her works.
March 6, 2020
Admittedly I don’t read these in order, but I think this is the best Sheriff Brady story yet.
It is certainly the most dramatic, I think.
The reader of this series is excellent, too.
It is certainly the most dramatic, I think.
The reader of this series is excellent, too.
September 20, 2018
Holy cow. The Joanna Brady stories just keep getting better. Her family, friends and sheriff’s staff keep getting stronger and more nuanced. This one has so many layers. Loved it.
January 9, 2024
Havent read a J.A Jance book i havent enjoyed, this is no exception...... Solid 4.5 stars!!!!
August 17, 2018
J.A. Jance hits it out of the park in this latest Joanna Brady installment. It is simply amazing how much she crams into this book AND makes us love Sheriff Brady even more than we did already. There is, of course, murder (specifically a serial killer) and so much more. The book begins with election night, careens into childbirth and then we have a multiple perspectives including the acting sheriff, a young deputy, a kidnapped girl and the perp. Along the way we get insights on working in law enforcement, being a forgotten girl, dealing with a newborn and maternity leave, stalking prey, living in captivity, and so much more. I do have to take a tiny bit of a star off for the fact that the only librarian in the book makes a nasty pass at Butch! Surely he ran into some nice librarians on his book tour??? He would have if he came to our library!
A huge thank you to William Morrow and Edelweiss for a digital ARC of this wonderful new thriller. It was fantastic!
A huge thank you to William Morrow and Edelweiss for a digital ARC of this wonderful new thriller. It was fantastic!
September 5, 2018
Told for multiple points of view Field of Bones has it all. There is a great mystery, a unexpected birth, and several new characters. I loved seeing how Joanna handled being on maternity leave. The betting pool about how long she would stay home was a nice funny touch. The mystery is very complex and it looked like it would be hard to solve. As a reader we knew all the different players and Jance does a great job weaving all of that knowledge into a interesting and seat of your pants story. As the story progresses each characters comes up with the knowledge to solve the who, what, when and where.
I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.
I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.
October 14, 2019
This is the 18th book in the Joanna Brady series. I haven't read them all, but I have enjoyed the ones I have read. I like that there is evolution with the characters, and this one had that.
The story line had a nice pace. Joanna seemed like she was taking a back seat since she had just given birth, but I loved how she was easily drawn back into the thick of things with this new case of a serial killer in her neck of the woods. The other characters were well drawn. I liked that we got some backstory on some of them. That helped me to connect to them. Now I will say that the ending was a little "Hollywood". However, still 4 star worthy.
The story line had a nice pace. Joanna seemed like she was taking a back seat since she had just given birth, but I loved how she was easily drawn back into the thick of things with this new case of a serial killer in her neck of the woods. The other characters were well drawn. I liked that we got some backstory on some of them. That helped me to connect to them. Now I will say that the ending was a little "Hollywood". However, still 4 star worthy.
September 29, 2018
Jance has done a good job of providing readers with a character driven police procedure suspense novel. If one is not familiar with the Joanna Brady series, this would be a good place to start. Jance has provided a great deal of background information on Brady, her parents, how she became Sheriff, etc. Jance also provides a great deal of background information on each of the major characters so the emphasis is more on the characters than on the actual suspense.
The plot is good but a hard subject. The villain abducts teen girls, keeps them chained and abuses them. Some of the scenes included are hard to take but give a good idea the the horror the young women endure. It certainly reminds us how vulnerable teen girls are when they are runaways or otherwise on the streets.
I did notice a little repetition in this novel, such as the size of the county Brady sheriffs and that she turned down the helicopter. Other than that, this is a good police procedure novel dealing with a topic not very pleasant but all too real.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
The plot is good but a hard subject. The villain abducts teen girls, keeps them chained and abuses them. Some of the scenes included are hard to take but give a good idea the the horror the young women endure. It certainly reminds us how vulnerable teen girls are when they are runaways or otherwise on the streets.
I did notice a little repetition in this novel, such as the size of the county Brady sheriffs and that she turned down the helicopter. Other than that, this is a good police procedure novel dealing with a topic not very pleasant but all too real.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
September 13, 2018
Think I've given up on J.A. Jance. Every character has a long, narrative back-story, but very little current action or dialogue. In face, there is very little current action or dialogue period! Instead we get long narratives, very little suspense, and vaguely cliff-hanging "see me for the next book, for which I'll charge full price, even though it's actually the last half of THIS book". Nah, I'm passing on the rest.
September 7, 2018
It was all I could do to get through the first half of the book. Don’t get me wrong. Field of Bones, set in Arizona, fulfills its promise of being a suspenseful novel, and it is very well written. The characters are appropriately developed, and I certainly understand the appeal of Sheriff Joanna Brady, mother of three, as the main character of the series. She is a strong woman, but portrayed realistically, not as a superwoman. Part mystery, part thriller, part police procedural, and all suspense fiction, Field of Bones runs the full gamut.
The “but” you can hear coming is because of the topic: violent, horrible, sex slavery. It makes for a combo of “I can’t stop reading, leaving characters in this torturous situation” and “I can’t read anymore; it is just too painful.” Kudos to the author J.A. Dance for the skills to put me in this situation. At the same time, I have to say Jance does not include details of the violence, but offers enough information that anyone with an imagination will get the picture. Given the number of books she has published, I think a lot of people admire her storytelling talent. This book is just too terrifying for me, and I doubt I will read any more of her books.
Although some of the tension is relieved in the last half of the book, the story is far from over. At that point, I did enjoy watching how the professionals from various fields perform their duties and work to put the pieces of the puzzle together.
I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to HarperCollins Publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
The “but” you can hear coming is because of the topic: violent, horrible, sex slavery. It makes for a combo of “I can’t stop reading, leaving characters in this torturous situation” and “I can’t read anymore; it is just too painful.” Kudos to the author J.A. Dance for the skills to put me in this situation. At the same time, I have to say Jance does not include details of the violence, but offers enough information that anyone with an imagination will get the picture. Given the number of books she has published, I think a lot of people admire her storytelling talent. This book is just too terrifying for me, and I doubt I will read any more of her books.
Although some of the tension is relieved in the last half of the book, the story is far from over. At that point, I did enjoy watching how the professionals from various fields perform their duties and work to put the pieces of the puzzle together.
I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to HarperCollins Publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 8, 2018
Sheriff Joanna Brady is on maternity leave when teenagers come across a skull, which leads to the discovery of a "field of bones", which points to a local serial killer. Juggling a new baby and a toddler, Joanna can't help but pitch in as her shorthanded staff struggles to deal with the ever-expanding investigation.
Joanna Brady is not my favorite of J.A. Jance's series, and this one fell a little flat for me. The point of view switches back and forth from Joanna and various investigators to one of the serial killer's victims and the killer himself. I like the way Jance gets the reader right there with her characters, but this one was solved too easily IMO, with things just happening to speed up the plot. I think it would have been better served as a longer story. I liked the character development of the newbie deputy; overall I enjoyed the book but it was just okay for me - I felt like some extra punch was missing but I don't know what or why. My actual rating is 3.5, but I'm inclined to round down instead of up.
Joanna Brady is not my favorite of J.A. Jance's series, and this one fell a little flat for me. The point of view switches back and forth from Joanna and various investigators to one of the serial killer's victims and the killer himself. I like the way Jance gets the reader right there with her characters, but this one was solved too easily IMO, with things just happening to speed up the plot. I think it would have been better served as a longer story. I liked the character development of the newbie deputy; overall I enjoyed the book but it was just okay for me - I felt like some extra punch was missing but I don't know what or why. My actual rating is 3.5, but I'm inclined to round down instead of up.
September 22, 2019
In all honesty, this book was not as enjoyable as the prior two reads from this author, but overall, the story was totally believable. In this book, Sheriff Brady who is on maternity leave gets caught up in what begins as a single suspected murder to a spate of killings. Her able co-workers take on the task of identifying human remains. I found myself cheering on one of the victims who had the mental and physical tenacity to survive the abuse of the man referred to as “The Boss”. The author offers the reader a glimpse into the world of sexual slavery if you will. What is most gratifying to see is the empathy Sheriff Brady and her fellow sheriffs extend to victims and their families. Something I hope goes on behind the stories involving kidnapping/human trafficking/serial murder scenes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 21, 2018
J.A Jance was a new author for me and I am so glad that I discovered her. I now have a lot of books that I need to buy!
Tense, shocking, and emotive this fantastically paced thriller was edge of the seat enjoyable.
The scene setting is incredibly well done and the characters are well developed. The flow of the story is seamless and Field of Bones has nice sentence and paragraph setting that makes it a pleasure to read.
I received a copy of Field of Bones from William Morrow and Co. and Edelweiss. This is my honest review.
Tense, shocking, and emotive this fantastically paced thriller was edge of the seat enjoyable.
The scene setting is incredibly well done and the characters are well developed. The flow of the story is seamless and Field of Bones has nice sentence and paragraph setting that makes it a pleasure to read.
I received a copy of Field of Bones from William Morrow and Co. and Edelweiss. This is my honest review.
October 2, 2018
In Arizona, Sheriff Joanna Brady has just won re-election and had her third child so she's on maternity leave. However, she's drawn back into action when a skull is discovered. As other bones are found plus a body only a few days dead, forensics show the woman was held and starved over a long period of time. The situation becomes more dire with the realization that other women could still be alive and imprisoned.
Joanna Brady is my favorite of the series by Jance, although all of her novels are really good. This one is narrated by Brady, the killer, and one of the hostages. All of the recurring regulars in the series return so it's like visiting old friends. In addition to Joanna's dogs, a couple of search and rescue dogs are brought into this story. I always mention dogs, as I think they make any story much better.
Joanna Brady is my favorite of the series by Jance, although all of her novels are really good. This one is narrated by Brady, the killer, and one of the hostages. All of the recurring regulars in the series return so it's like visiting old friends. In addition to Joanna's dogs, a couple of search and rescue dogs are brought into this story. I always mention dogs, as I think they make any story much better.
March 26, 2020
While this was a really good story but hard to read. The chapters dealing with the crime were too graphic to be easy reading. Two boys find a skull and bring it to the police. After taking the police to the site, a body is found and several bones. Joanna is still on maternity leave but can’t help getting involved. They all realize they are dealing with a serial killer and when a victim manages to get away it’s the break Joanna needs.
September 11, 2018
#18 in the Joanna Brady series. This 2018 series entry by author Vance is engrossing. Series fans will enjoy the early birth of daughter Sage, husband Butch's book tour, a new K-9 dog, and the ongoing adventures of series characters. Mystery fans will enjoy the main story arc of the search for a serial kidnapper/rapist who dumps his victims in the desert. I really enjoyed this complex tale but I was not enthralled with the amount of backstory expended on peripheral characters - the novel's length of 381 pages could have been trimmed without loss of interest.
A serial killer investigation disrupts Joanna Brady's maternity leave. Acting sheriff Tom Hadlock is on duty when June Carver brings in her son, Jack, with a skull that the high school senior found in the remote San Bernardino Valley. Evidence at the scene suggests that a serial killer has been using it as a dump site. Hadlock puts every available officer on the case, while Joanna offers advice and secures an FBI profiler willing to help.
A serial killer investigation disrupts Joanna Brady's maternity leave. Acting sheriff Tom Hadlock is on duty when June Carver brings in her son, Jack, with a skull that the high school senior found in the remote San Bernardino Valley. Evidence at the scene suggests that a serial killer has been using it as a dump site. Hadlock puts every available officer on the case, while Joanna offers advice and secures an FBI profiler willing to help.
November 2, 2018
As usual, J.A. Jance delivers a satisfying but somewhat didactic mystery. I enjoyed revisiting familiar characters and meeting new ones. 3.5 stars.
October 20, 2018
I am a big Joanna Brady fan as well as [Author: J.A. Jance] ~ this in #27 Jance and #10 Joanna Brady for me.
Story kept me interested but it is the most disturbing Sheriff Brady novel I have ever read. I actually had to look up and check if it was listed on the “Cozy Mystery” web site. Not that I don’t read disturbing situations, but the gruesome treatment of women in this novel is usually never in a “cozy”.
I am truly a big Sheriff Brady fan and would like for [Author: J.A. Jance] to will go back to a more normal "cozy mystery situation" also more of Butch and the kids. Since this took place around Thanksgiving, perhaps the next Sheriff Brady will be a nice “Christmas Cozy mystery”.
Story kept me interested but it is the most disturbing Sheriff Brady novel I have ever read. I actually had to look up and check if it was listed on the “Cozy Mystery” web site. Not that I don’t read disturbing situations, but the gruesome treatment of women in this novel is usually never in a “cozy”.
I am truly a big Sheriff Brady fan and would like for [Author: J.A. Jance] to will go back to a more normal "cozy mystery situation" also more of Butch and the kids. Since this took place around Thanksgiving, perhaps the next Sheriff Brady will be a nice “Christmas Cozy mystery”.
October 31, 2018
I love ALL of J.A. Jance's series, but I have a special place for the Sheriff Brady...I look forward & await breathlessly for each new novel...They're like sitting with friends & getting caught up on all of their friends & family...Joanna has her baby girl, Sage on election night & is on maternity leave when a serial killer's dumping ground is found in Cochise County & Joanna & her department are in a race to save others from the killer...GREAT STUFF!
September 13, 2018
A definite page turner that kept me up way past my bedtime in order to finish. I kept saying I would read just one more chapter and then finally turn off the light. Nah, wasn't going to happen. Had to stay up until I turned the final page. Glad I did. It was a good one. Best one from this author in a while.
September 24, 2018
I truly enjoy reading Jance’s novels, in particular, both the Joanna Brady series & JP Beaumont series. In both novels, the chaos becomes orderly and all details get straightened out. Although it’s unlike life, I love the way everything is solved and done. If only my life & job would work like that! I love the characters and the plot builds well and stays interesting to the end.
September 18, 2018
Joanna Brady is on maternity leave taking care of a new baby, Butch is on a book signing tour. A "field" of bones is discovered. She is helping out with the investigation, while breast feeding. Showing that women CAN do it all.
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