Unravel the Mystery in 'The Girl from Devil's Lake' - A Gripping Read!

Disclosure: I received a free advance review copy of this book from the publisher. This post also contains Amazon affiliate links [*]. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

There are now 21 books in J.A. Jance's Joanna Brady Mysteries series, and I find myself pondering the age-old question: "Have I actually read any of them?" With a lifetime of reading behind me, it’s all too easy for titles and authors to meld into one big literary blur. I know for certain that I have one or two of J.A. Jance's titles nestled on a bookshelf somewhere; I just can’t conjure up the specifics. It’s a strange sensation, like recognizing a face but being completely stumped on the name.

Jance's latest endeavor, The Girl from Devil’s Lake, is the 21st entry in this gripping series—dubbed “A Brady Novel of Suspense,” as boldly proclaimed on the cover. Speaking of that cover, I must say, it’s stunning. In fact, the aesthetics played a significant role in luring me into this book’s embrace, alongside a gripping blurb that hinted at all kinds of intrigue.

The plot kicks off with Sheriff Joanna Brady impatiently anticipating a joyful holiday season surrounded by her bustling family, all while preparing to celebrate her daughter Jenny’s graduation from the police academy. But just as the festivities are about to begin, a body is unearthed beneath a flooded bridge in the desolate Arizona desert, summoning Joanna to the scene. The victim? A young boy, whose grisly murder immediately tells Joanna two chilling things: this killer has likely taken life before, and the clock is ticking before he strikes again.

As Joanna plunges deeper into the investigation, it becomes obvious that this murder is merely a fragment of a far darker, more complex puzzle. She uncovers disturbing links between cold cases of mysterious deaths and missing persons that stretch well beyond her small town's borders, even leading her to a shocking discovery near Devil’s Lake, North Dakota. With the weight of justice resting on her shoulders and the safety of Bisbee hanging in the balance, Joanna finds herself racing down treacherous paths to catch a lurking predator.

Complicating matters is an insistent journalist hot on the trail, and whispers of privileged information begin to leak. Trust becomes a dangerous game. Could the prolific killer be hiding right under everyone’s nose? And to what lengths will he go to safeguard his ghastly secret?

Now, let me be clear: I’ve voiced my disdain for alternating timelines before. They tend to throw me off, like trying to juggle while riding a unicycle. However, Jance pulls it off beautifully in The Girl from Devil’s Lake. The prologue and various flashbacks, set between 1956 and 2022, blend seamlessly with the main narrative, which unfolds in the chilly backdrop of November and December 2023. There’s just the faintest holiday whisper in the air, but let’s face it—this isn’t a cozy Thanksgiving story; it’s a murder mystery, and a damn good one at that.

As I read, I felt a flicker of recognition wash over me when it came to J.A. Jance's storytelling. Perhaps her style struck a familiar chord with me, or maybe I was mistaking her for another author—though I doubt it. The plot, the vivid descriptions, and the characters shine brilliantly on the page. Jance's prose has a way of making the scenery leap to life, allowing readers to vividly envision each twist and turn as they venture into the narrative. I hope that visual kicks in for others as it did for me.

The characters are richly crafted, each one imbued with layers that made me care—whether I loved them or loathed them. The journalist, Marliss Shackleford, stood out particularly for me, though I found myself feeling a bit bewildered by her. Is she friend or foe? Only time will tell—or perhaps another book in the series—or maybe I should explore the past installments and find the answer there.

In the end, I thoroughly enjoyed The Girl from Devil’s Lake. It’s a rollercoaster of unexpected twists and pulse-pounding suspense that had me flipping pages long after I should have turned off the light. If you’re on the hunt for a gripping mystery, do yourself a favor: grab a copy ^[*]. You won’t be disappointed—you might even find yourself lingering in Jance’s world long after you reach the final page. ╌★★★★★

〜B.J.Burgess