Copyright 2012 by J.A. Jance. Published by HarperCollins, New York.
This is one of Jance’s mysteries featuring Joanna Brady, sheriff of Cochise County, Arizona. This is a long series – this is apparently the 15th – so it is very popular. Sheriff Brady is petite, so she isn’t capable of overpowering anyone like Jack Reacher or John Puller can do when necessary, but she is tough. She commands well and has a clear head about what needs to be done.
There are several plots here. The main one involves the murder of the principal of Bisbee High School, found in the desert with four gunshot wounds. This is followed the next day by the murder of a woman who is in charge of an artist conference and painting exhibition. What is the connection? Is there a connection?
The secondary plot involves the death of a copper miner many years before. This one ultimately involves the death of Joanna’s father who was once a miner who became sheriff. This is ancient history. This plot helps advance Joanna’s character and history, but smacks of being thrown in to give the book more weight.
I liked the characters in the book and think that Jance is a fine author. But the plot seems thin to me. The motive of the murderer (spoiler alert: the murders were committed by the same person) seems very thin, on the verge of unbelievable. The motive in the cold case is more believable but less central to the book. And in both cases the identities of the culprits were uncovered due to actions of outsiders rather than due to the diligence of the police. To me this makes the plot rather unsatisfying.
5 out of 10.