I do enjoy J.A. Jance but I find there are way to many characters in one story. Took me awhile to get through since I had to keep going back to see which character had what part in the story line. ( )

Sheriff Joanna Brady is expecting the birth of her second child a any time, but murder takes priority. When a man’s body is found with his fingers cut off, the police are momentarily stymied. But Joanna and her staff keep digging, and the pieces fall in place. But whether she solves the case or gives birth first is anyone’s guess. And when this case appears to have connections to a case her father investigated years ago, Joanna becomes even more invested in solving it. This was an abridged version that I happened to borrow from my library, but I would recommend the unabridged version. This series has wonderful and likable characters and the stories are all entertaining. ( )

sloppy ( )

The election is over and Cochise County Sheriff Joanna Brady was re-elected by a small margin. Now 9-1/2 months pregnant, she hasn’t slowed down much, although she is finally learning to delegate. Action and drama are provided and Joanna’s response to those who believe she shouldn’t or isn’t capable of doing her job considering she’s pregnant and ready to pop is enjoyable.

Evidence suggests that a man so drunk that he’d blacked, had killed his wife and unborn child. He readily accepts responsibility even though his wife’s body was never found. Twenty-five years later, newly released from prison, he’s a popular guy working in the ministry for the prison, helping those with alcohol and addiction problems when he is murdered. And what they find when searching his truck shocks them, as it doesn’t fit with the person he’s become. The investigation has them looking at what took place long ago with some interesting twists and theories.

Pit bull fighting is another area that the sheriff’s office must tackle, along with the resulting public relations issues. We’re provided both action and drama with this thread, as well as Joanna proving just what a very pregnant woman can do. Got to like the challenge she issues.

The big news on the home front is that a publisher has picked up Butch’es book and he’s strongly urged to go to a writer’s convention and be part of a number of panels, even though his book isn’t in print yet. So he’s reluctantly gone while his wife is so close to giving birth and is not home when his parents unexpectedly show up, providing some levity as his mom is someone easy to actively dislike.

There’s plenty going on to keep you interested, even though the major whodunit is easily figured out by the reader long before the story’s climax. The why becomes quite a bit more involved and we’re provided some surprises as that unveils.

As usual in this series, it’s the characters that really make the story, often with the mystery angles providing challenges that allow us to learn more about them. The books also provide readers that don’t live in areas like Southern Arizona with a different point of view on various subjects, such as the issue and fallout from illegal border crossings.

Even though there is a regular cast of characters throughout the series, this book could easily be read as a stand-alone. Enough background is provided without overwhelming regular readers of the series.

Read from a library book. ( )

On the verge of having her baby, Sheriff Brady tries to solve a murder at the same time as an assault on the animal control officer, and to compound her problems her insufferable in-laws arrive. A satisfying page-turner. ( )