How Do I Read The Joanna Brady Novels In Chronological Order?

Can someone settle a debate? My friend says 'Rattlesnake Crossing' is the best starting point because the early books are 'rough'. I completely disagree. The 'roughness' is what makes Joanna real. You need to see her at her lowest to appreciate her strength. Starting later is like starting a TV show in season four because the production values are better—you miss the heart of the story.

Library volunteer here. We get this question a lot. We have a bookmark printed with the reading order for Jance's series. For Joanna Brady, it's always publication order. We direct people to 'Desert Heat' and tell them if they like a strong female lead dealing with crime and personal drama in a vividly drawn setting, they're in for a long and satisfying ride. We often can't keep the early books on the shelf because of new readers starting the series!

Practical angle: If you use an e-reader, create a 'Joanna Brady' collection or shelf. Add the books in chronological order as you acquire them. It keeps you on track visually. I did this and it stopped me from accidentally jumping ahead when I was in the mood for a mystery and just clicked the next unread book in my library.

Different take: I read 'Exit Wounds' first, loved it, and then went back to the beginning. It was like watching a prequel series. I knew where Joanna ended up, and it was fascinating to see how she got there. There's no 'wrong' way to enjoy a book. If a later title grabs you, read it. You can always circle back. The series is strong enough to withstand a non-linear approach, though I admit I eventually appreciated having the full timeline in my head.

You're in for a treat with those Joanna Brady books! The most straightforward way is to follow the publication order, which also happens to be the story's internal timeline. Start with 'Desert Heat', where Sheriff Brady is first elected after her husband's murder. Then just go down the list: 'Tombstone Courage', 'Shoot/Don't Shoot', 'Dead to Rights', and so on. J.A. Jance does a great job of letting Joanna's life and career evolve naturally from book to book, so reading them out of order might spoil some personal developments. I'd avoid jumping around even if the mysteries seem standalone—the character arcs matter. There are over twenty books now, so it's a solid commitment, but seeing her grow from a grieving widow to a confident sheriff is the real reward.

Happy reading!