RATTLESNAKE CROSSING

J. A. Jance is most known for her Seattle-based detective series featuring the introspective J.P. Beaumont. In this, her Sheriff Joanna Brady series (of Cochise County, Arizona), she injects a feminine perspective into a masculine world. The book begins with a gratuitous murder in the desert by a sniper and goes on to explore more murders, as well as illegal weapons sales. Reader Stephanie Brush does a decent job without attempting full-blown character acting. One can hear the distinct cadence of her characterizations, but basically she gives a straightforward and uncomplicated reading. D.R.W. © AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/SEP 99]