Book Review Newer-31st

Review—Damage Control by J.A. Jance

J.A. Jance wrote the novel Damage Control. William Morrow and Company published the book in August 2008; the novel has 374 pages.

            In the small town, included in Cochise County, the past heat and storms lead to washouts and a body is uncovered. Sherriff Joanna Brady has just come from the possible suicide pact of an elderly couple when she is notified of this new finding. With her election, Sherriff Brady has learned how to function in what is often considered a man’s world and with a new baby at home, she is dealing with being separated from her family. Now her little piece of the world is confronted with deaths and possible murders.

The daughter’s of the elderly couple are estranged and their dynamics lead to new possibilities in the deaths. When one daughter becomes unstable, new discoveries lead to the possibility that this was more than a pact. The uncovered body leads to a company that specializes in the treatment of the mentally and physically challenged, those needing assisted living situations. As Joanna investigates one death, more issues with this company arises leading to combined efforts with other areas, and the investigation provides an answer for another cold case involving a self-defense shooting.

Through all of this, Sherriff Brady is dealing with disturbing changes in her mother, who just happens to be married to her chief medical examiner. The deaths and family issues serve to bring up buried situations surrounding the death of her father in addition to dividing attentions between family relationships and detective work. Joanna takes it all in stride with the investigation being the impetus to face past memories.

J.A. Jance has written an intriguing novel that takes one situation and after family issues and disturbing convolutions ties up deaths, murder, and ulterior motives. The characters are intelligent and industrious and this writer has combined life, love, and tragedy in an entertaining book. The novel proved to be a decent page-turner, the ones you just have to keep reading.