The Old Blue Line

Joanna Brady, Book 15.5

By: J. A. Jance

Narrated by: James Eckhouse

Length: 1 hr and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

Butch Dixon has been taken for a ride….

Not a jump in the car, see the sights kind of ride. He's been taken for everything he has. He's lost his house, his restaurant business, his savings, his car, his best friend, his faith - all to his conniving ex-wife. But that was seven years ago. He picked himself up, left Chicago, and started over in Peoria, Arizona, running the Roundhouse Bar and Grill. He doesn't look back on those bad years; there's no point. Not until two curious cops show up at the Roundhouse.

Faith, Butch's ex-wife, has been murdered, and the evidence points to him. Stunned, Butch quickly realizes that the black-hearted woman is going to ruin him again, from her grave. Lucky for Butch, the Old Blue Line, a group of retired - but still-sharp and tenacious - former legal and law enforcement coots, have taken it upon themselves, as a favor, to make sure he doesn't cross that thin line. After the dust settles, Butch's life is again upended - when a little red-haired ball of fire, Sheriff Joanna Brady, takes a seat at his bar.

©2014 J. A. Jance (P)2014 Harper Audio

Background on Joanna Brady's husband Bruce

A very engaging story of Bruce's back story which probably helped propel him into writing mystery fiction.

Brief, exceptional backstory!

Anyone who enjoys the Joanna Brady stories will enjoy this 2 hour short which fills in Butch's backstory.

A new husband for the Sheriff

Would you listen to The Old Blue Line again? Why?

Great story how our Sheriff from the town of Bisbee finds a husband that any woman would love to find.

What other book might you compare The Old Blue Line to and why?

Have not read that many to compare

Which scene was your favorite?

How the police were set in their place

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Murder in the night

Any additional comments?

It was fun to try and out think the Private Eye. He was great.

A restaurant owner is rescued by Grandma.

The narration was entertaining and lively. This novella is amusing and filled with interesting characters. The story of a failed marriage and the rehabilitators who restored kindness and belief in human beings to man accused of killing his ex-wife.

Excellent short story

For longtime Jance afficionados this fills in a nice spot in Butch Dixon's backstory. Well done and a nice crisp little story. May be a little light on motive, though.

15.5 is misleading

If you could sum up The Old Blue Line in three words, what would they be?

This is supposed to be a Joanna Brady novel but she isn't in it until the very end. It is a good story and well-written.

What did you like best about this story?

Short and sweet and the old people who come to Butch's aid.

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

I don't have time to read - he is a good speaker.

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

Yes, because it was less than 2 hours.

Loved the book.

I enjoyed the story. I feel like I know Butch better. Loved the story teller. He made the book come alive.

How Butch found Joanna

it was good to give a summary of who Butch was and how he and Joanna met.

It was delightful

This is a novella about Butch Dixon before he met and married Joanne Brady. J. A. Jance is an excellent writer and this short story is fast paced but also full of detail. Butch inherited a bar and grill from his Grandmother on her death. She had trained him how to operate that type of business in the several years he lived with her before her death. It is called the Roundhouse Bar and Grill in Peoria Arizona. Butch had lost everything when he wife divorced him and ran off with his best friend and business manager. He was depressed, angry and went to live with his grandmother who helped turn him around.

One day two Las Vegas detectives show up at the business, telling him he is a suspect in the murder of his ex-wife. Problem is Butch was in Las Vegas the weekend of the murder. Butch contacts his grandmother’s best friend Tim, a retired police officer. Tim sends another retired police officer to do some investigating. He finds Butch is being framed for the murder. Tim calls in an elderly criminal defense attorney to represent Butch. Along with two more retired detectives they set out to prove Butch is innocent.

I enjoyed the “old blue line” working on the case with such gusto. This was an enjoyable story. It was fun to watch the oldies to their magic. I hope that Jance writes more stories about this elderly blue line. James Eckhouse did a good job narrating the book.

Another Good One

I can't imagine. the discipline it takes to write books with continued characters . J A writes character development with great ease. You know when you start a new book the quality of the characters and story line will be there.