Customer Reviews

Outlaw Mountain (Joanna Brady Mysteries, Book 7)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

If I want hilarious mystery, I read Janet Evanovich, Jennifer Crusie and Donna Andrews. If I want tough, futuristic SciFi mystery, I read J.D Robb. But when I want sun-drenched easy-going mystery I turn to the Joanna Brady mysteries. This new one is the fastest moving and most likable: good suspense, real-life characters and the great continuing story of Joanna and Butch. I read such fast-moving stuff, it's nice to slow down and bake in the Arizona sun for awhile. Read this series from the beginning - it gives you a true appreciation of each new one.

I've enjoyed watching the Joanna Brady character grow with each book in this series. I'm glad to see she's getting on with her life, and that the other characters in the books are growing too. I was particularily pleased by the changes in Joanna's minister friend, and by the strong relationship Joanna is building with Butch. I recommend this book, but suggest that readers new to the series start with Desert Heat and read through the books chronologically. It's more fun that way to see the changes in Joanna's life!

This latest Joanna Brady mystery is a fairy tale, at least as far as the central character is concerned. In it, Joanna--who has had her share of tragedy in the past--gets it all: the murderer, a nice man, a use for the jewelry given her by her first husband, a daughter happy with her Mother's choice of boyfriends, understanding inlaws, and professional respect.

And, she gets to be the central character in another mystery by J.A. Jance!

I am a Jance fan, because I enjoy her fine writing skills and tightly-plotted action lines. Usually I like Jance's central characters, too: J P Beaumont has depth in adversity in his battle with alcohol, and Joanna Brady is a woman with a load of grief and guilt. Somehow, though, in this novel Joanna is less real, more fantasy...and because of that she slips into the realm of becoming a stereotypical mystery novel heroine--beautiful, strong, intelligent, and invincible by the normal adversity that would paralyze the rest of us.

Still in all, Outlaw Mountain is a good novel and an enjoyable reading experience, even if the characterization isn't quite as mulilayered as Jance usually develops.

I am both a Joanna Brady fan and a JP Beaumont fan. In the winter rain of Seattle, I especially enjoy letting my mind wander to the heat of Arizona and Sheriff Brady's attempts to keep the peace in Cochise County. JA Jance continues to develop both Joanna Brady and the people who are a part of her daily life. Outlaw Mountain is not just about another murder, but about community and personal issues any of us could face.

An elderly woman is found dead in the middle of a stand of cholla cactus. Sheriff Joanna Brady is called into the case and immediately begins investigating those who were close to the dead woman, including a much younger, somewhat mysterious boyfriend. Also among the suspects are a group of young teenagers who take the woman's car on a joyride across the Mexican border. The subplots in this book are a little more complex than in the previous books in this series and include a mentally challenged man who is found wandering aimlessly, a man in a witness protection program, and a deepening romance for Joanna. Sprinkled throughout the book are the usual problems with Joanna's overbearing mother, and her feisty young daughter. This is a good series to read in sequence, so if you haven't read "Desert Heat" you might want to start there.

I enjoy picking up one of Jance's mysteries. She is one of the few mystery writers today that I feel I can count on for a decent plot and fairly well-rounded characterization. It also helps for me if I know the language is not going to be objectionable. I know in real life that people tend to use bad language, but luckily I am deaf so I don't hear it. I also prefer not to see it. Bad language, overwrought sex, and needless violence are signs of a bad author to me. Jance is a better then good author, even if occasionally the plots are getting predictable.

I love reading about Arizona since my grandparents lived there and it was part of my youth. I especially enjoy reading about the diversity of both people and wildlife down there, and about a woman as a sheriff and all the entanglements that go with it. Since I am familiar with the plant life in the area, the thought of anyone landing on a cholla made me cringe. As a bit of a klutz, I had landed more than my fair share of times in cacti, and it hurts! The major problem with this book that I could see is the plot had to be worked a little bit. I have a hard time as a mother seeing a woman putting herself in danger when she still has a child to raise. Maybe that is just me. The plot was a little convoluted, and I felt like it had not been planned out ahead of time as most of Jance's are. The evidence left in the dead woman's hand (no, I am not giving it away) was a little too pat for my taste, and made me suspicious from the start of the person who was being singled out for the suspect.

Jance's books are always a pleasure, even if I am a little demanding. I will continue to read her books and recommend them to others. Karen Sadler, Science Education

I grew up in Cochise County. As I read this book, I could picture every location, and couldn't help thinking "Now whose house is this she's REALLY talking about?" And the unusual characters she tells about--well, they aren't all that unusual in real life in Cochise County.

Outlaw Mountain continues the story of Joanna Brady, sheriff of Cochise County, Arizona. I have to admit that I've read all seven books in this series and it continues to be one of my favorites. The characters are well developed, plots are well thought out, and the books are just plain fun and exciting. Another plus, at least for me, is that the main character of Joanna Brady is not perfect - she's a struggling, working mother who goes through so much that is familiar territory for the rest of us, it makes her character very believable and identifiable.

As always in this series, we are once again taken to Bisbee, Arizona in Cochise County. For those that are unfamiliar with the Arizona region, Bisbee is an old mining town that's within driving distance to Tucson. The background and details given on this small town, from the surrounding landscape down to details about the Copper Queen Hotel has made it intriguing to the point that I want to vacation there - I have to see this area first hand! The fact that J.A. Jance can encourage this type of "want" is testimony to her fantastic ability as a writer.

Jance captures the reading audience from the very beginning with the murder of an elderly woman in a gruesome manner. Now don't get me wrong, most murders are gruesome, but the details that Jance uses make it so - the details aren't gory or bloody, but they do leave a lasting impression on the reader. This is a perfect example - before Alice Rogers is killed, she is chased into a grove of Cholla cactus and pushed into them. These cacti have long needles that are very painful when they come into contact with humans, this I know from personal experience - my hand felt like it was on fire for hours. This is the gruesome detail that I mentioned previously.

Joanna Brady now must not only find out who killed Alice, but also why this person wanted her to suffer so horribly. This investigation leads us through many interesting developments with new characters and old alike. The subplots are interwoven into the main story line with such precision that at times you don't realize it's not part of the big picture. We see the relationship between Butch and Joanna take on new meaning, we see more into the relationship between Joanna and her mother, we even see more into Dick Voland - a chief deputy working under Joanna.

The killer didn't come as a surprise to me (maybe I read far too many mysteries to be fooled anymore), even the illness reeking havoc with Marianne Mulcayea (Joanna's long time friend and local minister) was not an unknown idea to me. Even so, there was never a dull moment while reading Outlaw Mountain. In fact, I haven't found one book in this series that I haven't absolutely loved and I encourage everyone to read them! I do suggest that you begin with Desert Heat, the first in the set and continue in order. It's not mandatory to understand each new book, but it will help you to feel as if you're part of the story and somehow fit in with Joanna Brady and her group of friends and family.

Now for the negative - yes, I actually found a negative with this book! It's a first: J.A. Jance actually made a mistake in this one. She referred to Arizona Game and Fish as Arizona Fish and Wildlife. Ok, so it's not a huge mistake, and I am nitpicking, but it is an error. I haven't ever found a blunder in any of her books - either major or insignificant - until now. It was almost like getting two surprises in a box of Cracker Jacks - it didn't change the flavor, I just knew it wasn't right. If this is the only inaccuracy made by Jance in this series, you can see why this type of research combined with incredible plots, strong characters and great development are what makes these books hit the bestseller list every time!

I have become a big fan of Joanna Brady. When she first came to be I wasn't so sure I would like her as well as J.P.. Jance's descriptions of the area really bring the story to life. Joanna Brady has become a wonderful character. Her challenges in her everyday life make her seem real and her job gives you the excitement of a good mystery every time. Thank you J.A. Jance for creating such a wonderful character.

Of all of the novels I've read this year, only "The Triumph and the Glory" can approach "Outlaw Mountain" for simmering suspense, great plot, and memorable characters. This is a winner in every way!