Rattlesnake Crossing:

When I first read the Kirkus review, I delayed reading the book. However, I did finally read it and I couldn't put it down. I think Ms. Jance endows her character with compassion and makes her a real person. Real police investigation is not the exciting stuff that is portrayed in some of the tough guy/gal novels. Joanna Brady is more like a real person with a real life. I enjoyed this book very much and am eagerly awaiting the next one in the series. I personally like a little romance.

I stumbled across the Joanna Brady series with Desert Heat, and enjoyed the southern Arizona setting and the very real characters. I've since enjoyed following Joanna, her family and friends through the series of novels. Rattlesnake Crossing has really developed the relationship between Joanna and Butch - I can hardly wait till August for the next novel to be released to find out how Butch's moving to Bisbee will affect them!A good deal of the action in Rattlesnake Crossing takes place on the Pomerene Road north of Benson, and towards Redington...I was excited to read about the San Pedro Valley, the flora and fauna, and the surrounding nearly-ghost-towns, since we are planning a vacation to the area. In fact, I can hardly wait to visit Bisbee to see the real Copper Queen Hotel, and to check to see if the building housing Joanna's office really exists!

I couldn't put this book down long before picking it back up. The plot turned on you and the ending came as quite a surprise. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading the Joanna Brady mysteries, stumbling unto them during a brief time of unemployment and excessive reading. Her other series, with J.P. Beaumont, is just as good. Actually, I like "Beau" better but Joanna is really great herself.

JA Jance and her character, Sheriff Brady, seem to get better and better. This was a book that would not let me put it down. The side stories of the other continuing cast of characters added depth to the story, so it wasn't just a police procedure novel.

J A Jance has done it again. Rattlesnake Crossing is an excellent addition to the previous Joanna Brady mysteries. Set in a large county in Arizona shots rings out in the night and JoAnna is off again trying to save the citizens of Cochise County from murder. Fans of the Joanna Brady should also check out JA Jance's other series JP Beaumont of Seattle. I recommend both series to mystery fans.