Desert Heat

By: J. A. Jance

Narrated by: Hillary Huber

Length: 7 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

A cop lies dying beneath the blistering Arizona sun - a local lawman who may well have become the next sheriff of Cochise County. The police brass claim that Andy Brady was dirty, and that his shooting was a suicide attempt. Joanna Brady, his devoted wife and mother of their nine-year-old daughter, knows a cover-up when she hears one...and murder when she sees it.

But her determined efforts to hunt down an assassin and clear her husband's name are placing Joanna and her surviving family in harm's way - because in the desert, the one thing more lethal than a rattler's bite...is the truth.

©1993 J. A. Jance (P)2009 HarperCollins Publishers

INTERESTING BUT NOT SPECIAL

Since I was familiar with several of the Joanna Brady series, I enjoyed listening to the book that began the series. I enjoyed the book, but wouldn't want to listen to it a second time.

I love the Joanna Brady series thus far.

I like the family element of the series. In Desert Heat specifically, you have a woman who doesn't know how how strong she is until her inner strength is put to the test by the murder of her husband, leaving he a single parent. She's discovering who she can count on and to what extent.

Hooray for J.A. Jance

I liked the story and the characters. Can't wait to start the next book. The narrator was perfect.

Meet Joanna Brady

I really like J. A. Jance. I enjoy her stories and I like the style she uses to tell them. Of the 3 main series that Jance wrights I like Joanna Brady the most although I like her other series as well. The biggest short coming of this book is that it's to short. That's not to say that Jance didn't tell the entire story in this book because she did its just that I would have enjoyed a 16 hour book for twice as long as I enjoyed an 8 hour book. Still in all the main purpose of this book was to launch the Joanna Brady series and this book does accomplish that.

Hang in there gets better

The story is good. The narration starts out sounding like a robot but ends up good.

.Look up how to pronounce the word

It is PAST-ees. Cornish PAST-ees. Pronouncing it incorrectly it infuriating. Strippers wear PASTIES.

Nice Surprise!

Tried out a new author (for me anyway) from a friend's recommendation. Really enjoyed listening to this book, in fact it took all day Sunday, but I finished it. It is the first of the Joanna Brady series, which starts with a death and a big mystery. Joanna's life is turned upside down on her 10th anniversary, and soon she's led to believe that her husband might have been hiding secrets from her. She won't give up til all her questions are answered though, even as her own life is put in danger. I have to say that I couldn't figure out all the bad guys, which made me want to jump to the end, to satisfy my curiosity. I didn't give in, but kept listening.

Confusing

Slightly confusing with so many characters but a satisfying read. Will get book 2 now.

Enter Text Here

Desert Heat is the first book in the Joanna Brady series and I learned about J.A. Jance from Anne Hillerman. This first book has lots of drama and interactions. It's set in Southern Arizona. The first quarter of the book was not very exciting and moved slowly, but I blundered on. Later, the book moved faster and at one point, I found myself saying: "Don't dooo iiiiittt!" The read was good enough that I want to read book #2.

Great Book!!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, since it was recommended to me I feel like I should continue!! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to the rest in this series!

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Pretty much! It definitely kept me guessing!