OUTLAW MOUNTAIN
by J.A. Jance
Trouble in bunches for Cochise County (Ariz.) Sherriff Joanna Brady as she begins her seventh adventure (Breach of Duty, 1998, etc.). With a baffling murder to solve and a tricky relationship to sort out, she’s feeling jittery in the professional sector and on the home front. The murder: a well-fixed widow of mature years is found dead in the desert, clearly the victim of foul play. Though Alice Rogers was in no way unlikable, there’s no scarcity of suspects. The problem is just that all of them – an arrogant son, an irascible daughter, a mysterious handyman turned suitor – are so very eligible. In addition, it soon develops that the murder has ramifications transcending the obvious. Eco-terrorists may be involved, or big-business chicanery, or corruption in high governmental places. Meanwhile, back in her parlor, there’s Butch Dixon, that sexy, sweet-natured former restaurateur, rusticating now because he wants to write a novel. Butch is getting a shade impatient; there’s a noticeable increase in the ardor with which he’s been pressing honorable intentions. Will Joanna find a way to cope both professionally and domestically? Of course. What makes this bunch of troubles different from any other Brady bunch?
Not much dash to the prose, depth to the plotting, or nuance to the characters, but Jance has a certain reassuring sturdiness, and those who like her won’t be disappointed here. (Mystery Guild Dual Main Selection; $150,000 ad/promo; author tour)