Judgment Call

Joanna Brady Mysteries

By: J. A. Jance

Narrated by: Hillary Huber

Length: 10 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

When Joanna Brady's daughter, Jenny, stumbles across the body of her high school principal, Debra Highsmith, in the desert, the Cochise County sheriff's personal and professional worlds collide. Though she's tried to protect her children from the dangers of the grown-up world, the search for justice leads straight to her own door and forces her to face the possibility that her beloved daughter may be less perfect than she seems.

Yet the deeper Joanna digs, the more complications she uncovers. It seems the quiet, upstanding principal had a hidden past, full of mysterious secrets she'd successfully kept buried for years. As the seasoned sheriff juggles professional constraints and personal demands, she finds herself walking a fine line between justice and family that has never been so blurred.

©2012 J.A. Jance (P)2012 HarperCollinsPublishers

Intriguing Story

I listened to this story twice. I enjoy the relationship between Joanna and her mother; and Joanna and her own daughter. I did not realize that Joanna was a teenager when her father was killed. the loss of her father and husband both is tragic. Butch is a good partner for Joanna. The author is walking a tight rope in their relationship and is cautious about not allowing him to become an accessory for Joanna. The male characters definitely play supporting and story transitional roles in this story...even Dennis. The extreme of human emotions and the impact on personal decisions and judgement are the focus of this story. Regarding the narration, I am not locked or tied to one person due to the time between the books in this series. However, the weak distinction between and lack of variety in character voices was a concern. There were a couple of times when Joanna and her daughter both had the same voice.

Great read from an excellent author

I have been an avid JA Jance reader for years- and this tale is as good as her others, if not better. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and kept listening because I was engaged the entire time. This story had two plots that overlapped slightly and extended the suspense beyond the main mystery of the original plot.
I would love to see a J A Jance book made into a film, and while I didn't love the narrator of this version (her voice was too gravelly, which carried over too much into the characterizations), I can envision several actors bringing these characters to life.

Loved the story as usual!

I thought enjoyed the story. But Narrator Was hard to listen to .Her voice was very annoying But I kept listening because I love JA jance and the story was good.

JOANNA AT HER BEST!

What did you love best about Judgment Call?

The fact that Joanna is still a tough Sheriff yet a wife and mother. She's dealing with one of the toughest type of crimes from both views.

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

Not so much on edge, but a typically good J.A. Jance story.

Which character – as performed by Hillary Huber – was your favorite?

Joanna

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Just the reaction coming from a mother/grandmother viewpoint

Fast Paced and clean

Great story! I hadn't read a JA Jance book in a while and I'd forgotten how much I like her characters. I solved one of the mysteries early but there were actually two incorporated into this book and the second outcome was a complete surprise.

Love Joanna Brady!

Would you consider the audio edition of Judgment Call to be better than the print version?

No. The narrator was awful.

Who was your favorite character and why?

As always, Joanna was my favorite. She is a strong woman who does the right thing even when it is not the easy thing.

What didn’t you like about Hillary Huber’s performance?

This narrator's voice was so grating that I could hardly listen at times. Maybe she was going for sexy or maybe she just had no energy. I wish they could re-record this wonderful story.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me feel like I was finding old friends again. I was shocked at the new information that came at the end.

Any additional comments?

Tell publishers to think very carefully before they select a reader.

You Gotta Wait for It...

If you think this will be a book that enthralls you from the beginning...oops, not so much. Eventually all is well as the story builds and it all makes sense. Perhaps it is the teenage connection that makes me hesitant. I has been a while since I had teenagers so I didn't want to think about them again. Joanna is her usual tough self and everything is wrapped up in a neat bundle. So all is well that ends well, just not so exciting getting there.

Her Best Brady Novel Yet

What made the experience of listening to Judgment Call the most enjoyable?

Jance quickly pulls you into this latest and best Joanna Brady novel. The interaction between Joanna and her family is an integral part of the story and revelations about the past offer insight into the present.

What did you like best about this story?

Joanna Brady and her family.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, and I did.

Any additional comments?

J.A. Jance needs to write faster.

Surprising conclusion!

What made the experience of listening to Judgment Call the most enjoyable?

The mingling of the colorful characters and their surprising roles in the story was most enjoyable.

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

The constant twist in the story kept me from solving the crime.

What does Hillary Huber bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Hillary gave the characters individuality

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I had to keep myself monitored from listening from start to finish in one sitting.

Bad narator

What made the experience of listening to Judgment Call the most enjoyable?

Good story.

What didn’t you like about Hillary Huber’s performance?

Her voice seemed too 'cigarette and whiskey'.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, the voice was distracting to me.

Any additional comments?

I love all of J A Jance, but will watch who the narrators are in the future!