Another brilliant offering from distinguished author JA Jance. The book was riveting. I could not put it down and read all 300+ pages in one sitting; something I rarely. if ever, do.
This particular offering featured Sheriff Joaana Brady in Bisbee Arizona and follows an unlikely serial killer.. I cannot say enough good things about this book. You'll just have to read it for yourself.

Sheriff Joanna Brady cannot wait to have her family together for the holidays. But first, her daughter is graduating to become an officer like her Mom. After speaking at the graduation ceremony, Joanna heads home to her husband, Butch, and her kids... not soon after they all celebrate Thanksgiving, she's called out to examine the remains of a young boy in a blue duffel bag. The case develops into something Joanna could not expect... working with her colleague in Mexico, Joanna discovers the killer could be closer to home;, and she feels that this is not his/her first kill. The story is told in an interesting way - with alternating time lines and voices (Joanna's present day and the killer's travels.). About half-way through the book, the case picks up speed, and J.A. Jance keeps the read turning pages. Thank you to Harper Collins for an advance of othis book. The opinions expressed are my own.

Joanna Brady is looking forward to the holidays, too bad someone decides to ruin them for her. When a child living in the refugee camps in Mexico end up dead in a wash in her county she has to try to find out who the culprit is. With help from her friend Captain Arturo Peña with the Federales unit in Naco, Sonora she begins piecing together the puzzle. As she starts investigating an old high school teacher of hers, she discovers that the child may not be his only victim. This book is really more a thriller, rather than a mystery. It jumps from the 50's to present day following the murderer's life and crimes and then goes back to Sherriff Brady's investigation.
I find all of J. A. Jance's books are well written and draw you in quickly. I like the bit of her home life as well; her daughter has become a deputy in the Pima County Sheriff’s office and is planning to marry her longtime boyfriend just before Christmas.
My only little nit-pick is she has a scene where the Hall County Sherriff’s office call her about a murdered child taken from the State Fair in Grand Island. This supposedly took place in 1991. The Nebraska State Fair did not move to Grand Island until 2010. Overall, I can overlook the small error and enjoy the book. It's a great book and keeps you reading.

Another great Joanna Brady story...this one about a serial killer. I liked how the chapters went back and forth between the present and the 50 year history of the local high school teacher.

You have to hand it to JA Jance for keeping the Joanna Brady books fresh through twenty volumes. We've seen Joanna Brady from her first day on the job, to becoming a seasoned police officer, and learning more about crime and evil than anyone should ever need to.

The mystery here is both far-reaching and close to home, which Jance balances beautifully. It starts with the discovery of the body of a young boy. In anyone else's hands, the murder of someone trying to make it across the Mexican border into the US would have been shrugged off. Brady's fin-honed observation skills tell her this isn't the first murder.

Clues are scant at first, and not a lot of people at the border want to talk to the police, whether they are Bisbee County team or the Mexican Federales. Yet, because of hard work and honest dealings, Brady has resources others don't. Some people network. Brady's ability to tragedy into found family (seen over multiple past novels) means she has connections others don't. This gets us to the suspected serial killer who has been active for decades with friends and acquaintances none the wiser.

It would be easier, of course, if Bisbee County's rank (in both senses of the word) journalist wasn't dogging the investigating team's every step. Still, Jance gives us some insight to Marliss Shackleford that, to my endless surprise, had me feeling compassion for the woman for the first time.

The pacing is just short of frantic once the body is discovered, which kept me thoroughly engaged all the way. The characterizations are consistent, and Brady also gets to be inspiring when she addresses her eldest daughter's police academy graduating class.

One of the begt I've read in this series. Highly recommended. My thanks to HarperCollins and NetGalley for the opportunity to review.

J. A. Jance has delivered another good one. Revisiting Bisbee's feisty sheriff and seeing her deal with family, friends and community is always a welcome read. Things are developing, people move on, kids grow up, a really nasty case needs resolution.

Following the bad guy right from the start was a bit strange and finding out about his connections to the Bisbee community was even stranger. Do I wish we'd had more facus on Sheriff Brady and family? Sure? Seeing the development of a serial killer was chilling and as a reader I couldn't wait for him to get caught.

The death at the end was surprising, but then again, not. Some characters eventually outstay their usefulness, so this could open the door for something more interesting. Happily waiting for the next one.

Thanks to William Morrow and Netgalley for this eARC.

Wow, I have followed the Joanna Brady series faithfully for years, and in The Girl from Devil's Lake Jance creates her most captivating novel in the series to date!

Joanna Brady faces her biggest challenge as she searches for a serial killer who has been operating in multiple states for numerous decades.

I was RIVETED and I read this book 📖 in one sitting - I cannot imagine any fan of police procedurals or mysteries doing otherwise!

If you haven't yet read Jance's Joanna Brady's series, start with this one, and like your favorite snack 🥨 food, I cannot imagine you can stop by reading just one - they are addictive, and this novel was... a perfect blend - not really a whodunit, but rather a "will this monster EVER be stopped?" type of a mystery.

Don't miss this one, mystery fans; it is a hand-down, standing ovation, 5 star ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ winner (please excuse my mixed metaphors, I just really LOVE this mystery)! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️