Outlaw Mountain

J.A. Jance

3/11/2002

Alice Rogers is chased into a stand of cholla cacti, injected with something, and left to die. Her battling son and daughter stop their squabbling long enough to get concerned and report her missing the next evening. Joanna Brady soon has her county detectives involved in the case.

A new building development is being built near Bisbee. But some environmentalist protestors appear and start picketing the construction site. On the second day things get violent. Some of the protestors end up in jail.

Meanwhile, a developmentally disabled adult is purposefully left behind at the local Catholic church after an art fair. Joanna knows she cannot put Junior in jail, but is at a loss how to care for him while they try to locate his family. Fortunately, Butch Dixon takes Junior in. Butch also helps watch Jenny as Joanna stands by waiting for calls on the different cases being handled in the department. After Butch spends the night, Jenny mentions the visit to her Grandmother. Joanna's mother tackles Butch, wanting to know his intentions after Joanna refuses to explain the true situation.

Yep, it's another serious case in Cochise County. Not only is there a murder to investigate, Sheriff Joanna Brady's life is just as busy and intense. She cannot count on her friend, Marianne, who is adjusting after the death of her daughter. Her mother is part of the problem. Butch is a help, but is also part of the complications. Even within the department she has problems with one deputy temporarily assigned in Tombstone and another one considering resignation.

And again Jance brings a well written mystery combined with Joanna's private life. Since she is a sheriff as well as a mother, daughter, and woman, all facets of her life are intertwined. None of them are normal 9 to 5 positions. She has to protect herself as well when she faces off with a murderer. I enjoyed this continuation of the series.

You can find more about this book at .

Desert Heat
Tombstone Courage
Shoot Don't Shoot
Dead to Rights
Skeleton Canyon
Rattlesnake Crossing
Outlaw Mountain
Devil's Claw
Paradise Lost
Partner in Crime
Exit Wounds
Dead Wrong
Damage Control