Damage Control

Joanna Brady Mysteries, Book 13

By: J. A. Jance

Narrated by: Johanna Parker

Length: 10 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's Summary

On a beautiful sunny day in the Coronado National Monument, an elderly couple's car goes off the side of a mountain and into oblivion. The terrain is so rocky that a helicopter must be flown in to retrieve the bodies, and to make matters worse, a thunder-storm is looming on the horizon. Hours later and miles away, the subsiding rain reveals gruesome evidence: two trash bags containing human remains.

It's just another day in the life of Cochise County sheriff Joanna Brady.

Back at home, Joanna has a newborn baby, a teenage daughter, a writer husband, and a difficult mother to deal with. But in the field, it turns out that she has much more on her hands. The remains are those of a handicapped woman who had wandered away from a care facility with a suspicious track record. Another resident, with whom the woman may have been involved, has also been reported missing.

Meanwhile, a note is found in the glove compartment of the car lying twisted down the mountainside, stating that its occupants intended to take their own lives. Yet a contradictory autopsy report surfaces, and when the deceased's two daughters show up to feud over their inheritance, Joanna knows there is more to this case than just a suicide pact.

And she will go all out to find the truth - no matter where it leads.

©2008 J. A. Jance (P)2008 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic Reviews

"Jance beautifully evokes the desert and towns of her beloved southwest as well as the strong individuals who live there." ( Publishers Weekly)

Meanders Too Much!

This was my first Jance book and probably my last. The book has several sub-plots that don't really add much to the main story line. In addition, the connection to the prologue isn't revealed until the last few minutes of the book.

Best female lead

I love that Joanna Brady is so real. She is flawed in a way that isn't detrimental to her growth as a character. I love that she has also evolved as a detective by actually learning the way real police do.

Great listen!

Narration made this story easy to listen to and distinguish the characters. I have heard or read this series in order so far and enjoyed them all! Interesting references to Arizona and the southwest make me like it even more, since I happen to live in Lake Havasu City northwest of Pheonix. Love the strong characterization of Joanna Brady! Wonderful real life family drama mixed with good but not too gory crime plot lines too.

Great story!

Really got into this story! Listened to it at work and drive time. Howver, Joannna Parker made it really great! She changes her voice, accents, puts in emotion and that makes the story come alive! This is my new favorite series, but I was disappointed that Joanna Parker wasn't the voice on any more of them!🙁🙁🙁

Damage control

Very good choice. I enjoy all of the Jance books I have listened to or read.

Only a few mispronounced names

So many readers mispronounce Sothwestern names and places are mispronounced in the books I listen to. Itcan be very annoying. This reader only got a couple wrong.

Damage control

A twist in almost every chapter but in the end all the questions of who dis what was answered. Very well written and kept my attention all the way til the end. I especially liked the ‘ride into the sunset’ ending. Would definitely read it again!

fun read

It's a fun read but she runs out of steam at the end. It's heavy on dead bodies and relationships, and a little short on plot development.