Sheriff Joanna Brady is looking forward to the holidays with her busy family, and to celebrating her daughter Jenny’s graduation from the police academy. But the family is interrupted when a body is discovered beneath a flooded bridge in the Arizona desert, and Joanna is called onto the case. A young boy was murdered, and the details of the crime scene tell Joanna two things: This was not the killer’s first murder. And it’s only a matter of time before he kills again.
As Joanna digs deeper into the case, she begins to understand this murder is just one piece of a much, much bigger puzzle. She uncovers unlikely connections between cases of mysterious deaths and missing persons, having long since gone cold, that extend far beyond the confines of her small town and include the discovery of a body near Devil’s Lake, North Dakota. To get justice for the victims and to save the town of Bisbee from a predator, Joanna must chase down every dangerous lead.
Meanwhile, as a dogged journalist is circling the case and privileged information is leaked, Joanna can’t be sure who to trust. Could a prolific killer be hiding in plain sight? And how far will that person go to keep his many crimes hidden?
Release Date: Sep 30, 2025
Series: Joanna Brady
Book: 21
Publisher: HarperCollins
Imprint: William Morrow
Price: $14.99
Joanna Brady, a sheriff in southern Arizona, is looking forward to the upcoming holiday season. However, the body of a young boy is discovered after a flash flood. This case takes priority over Joanna’s personal life, especially when evidence shows the killer has other victims and will strike again if not caught. The format of this book is a little different, and there are multiple timelines for chapters told from the killer’s point of view as he has killed through the years. This killer has no remorse, so some of those chapters are hard to read.
This is the 21st book in the Joanna Brady series and is available now. Although this series has been ongoing for a while, I still believe it would work as a standalone. This book is more of a thriller than others in the series and would be a good introduction to the main characters for new readers.
There is pressure on Joanna and her team to solve the case, and local reporter and Joanna’s nemesis, Marliss Shackleford, is right in the middle of the investigation. The book is suspenseful, but I thought the case wrapped up a bit too quickly to be realistic. However, I enjoy this series and liked catching up with Joanna and her family in this book. Most of the story is focused on the case, but there are some important developments in Joanna’s life that are included in the book.
~ Christine
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