Blessing of the Lost Girls - by J A Jance

About the Book

Book Synopsis

From J. A. Jance's New York Times bestselling Brady and Walker novels, federal investigator Dan Pardee, Brandon Walker's son-in-law, crosses paths with Sheriff Joanna Brady as he traces the bloody path of a merciless serial killer across the Southwest in this intense thriller.

Driven by a compulsion that challenges his self-control, the man calling himself Charles Milton prowls the rodeo circuit, hunting young women. He chooses those he believes are the most vulnerable, wandering alone and distracted, before he strikes. For years, he has been meticulous in his methods, abducting, murdering, and disposing of his victims while leaving no evidence of his crimes--or their identities--behind. Indigenous women have become his target of choice, knowing law enforcement's history of ignoring their disappearances.

A cold case has just been assigned to Dan Pardee, a field officer with the newly formed Missing and Murdered Indigenous People's Task Force. Rosa Rios, a young woman of Apache descent and one-time rodeo star, vanished three years ago. Human remains, a homicide victim burned beyond recognition, were discovered in Cochise County around the time she went missing. They have finally been confirmed to be Rosa. With Sheriff Joanna Brady's help, Dan is determined to reopen the case and bring long-awaited justice to Rosa's family. As the orphaned son of a murdered indigenous woman, he feels an even greater, personal obligation to capture this killer.

Joanna's daughter Jennifer is also taking a personal interest in this case, having known Rosa from her own amateur rodeo days. Now a criminal justice major, she's unofficially joining the investigation. And as it becomes clear that Rosa was just one victim of a serial killer, both Jennifer and Dan know they're running out of time to catch an elusive predator who's proven capable of getting away with murder.

Review Quotes

"Jance proves she's still at the top of her game in this tense crossover of her Joanna Brady and Walker Family series. Nearly four decades into her career, Jance is still finding new ways to thrill her readers." -- Publishers Weekly

"An intriguing read guaranteed to keep audiences engaged from first page to last." -- Booklist

"Fans of police procedurals with a Southwestern flair will love Joanna's determination to manage marriage, motherhood, and policing in this 19th Joanna Brady book." -- Library Journal on Missing and Endangered

"The two parallel cases provide plenty of action, while keeping a premium on character studies and violence to a minimum. Once again, the compassionate, intelligent Joanna balances a busy home life and a complex job with aplomb. This long-running series consistently entertains." -- Publishers Weekly on Missing and Endangered

"This is the J.A. Jance I love. Her characterizations and ability to spin a tale keep you turning pages well into the night." -- Book Reporter on Nothing to Lose

"J. A. does an outstanding job of delivering a very emotional book, wrapped up within a mystery that keeps the reader on edge to the very end." -- Suspense Magazine on Sins of the Fathers

"Bestseller Jance's enjoyable 25^th J.P. Beaumont mystery...J.P. is a fully developed character, and his frequent calls to [his wife] Melissa to discuss the case are both touching and insightful. They make a good team even at a distance. New readers will happily join the ranks of longtime fans." -- Publishers Weekly on Nothing to Lose