Books › Damage control
Damage control
First published 2008 · 481 pages
A grounded, atmospheric police procedural that balances the gritty reality of multiple crime scenes with the relentless demands of a complicated family life.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like stepping into the boots of a seasoned sheriff who must navigate both treacherous physical terrain and the equally rocky landscape of domestic life. The mood is atmospheric and tense, colored by looming thunderstorms and grim discoveries, yet anchored by a deeply grounded, matter-of-fact tone. It weaves together the suspense of a complex, multi-layered investigation with the relatable exhaustion of juggling a demanding household. The prose is clear and procedural, driving a steady pace that keeps the pages turning without sacrificing character depth. It is a perfect fit for readers who crave mystery stories where capable women relentlessly pursue the truth while managing the everyday chaos of family duty.
- Mood
- stormy
- gritty
- tense
- atmospheric
- Tone
- matter-of-fact
- suspenseful
- determined
- grounded
- Pace
- steady
- Themes
- balancing family and duty · uncovering hidden truths · family greed and betrayal · vulnerability and exploitation
- The writing
- Clear, procedural, and atmospheric, balancing the stark realities of crime scenes with the relatable details of domestic life.
- The arc
- Moves from the shock of sudden tragedy and gruesome discovery to a determined, methodical pursuit of justice amidst personal and professional chaos.
- Who it's for
- Readers who love grounded police procedurals featuring capable, multi-tasking female protagonists juggling complex family dynamics and gritty investigations.
Content notes
- suicide themes
- human remains
- exploitation of vulnerable people
- family conflict
About the book
On a beautiful sunny day in the Coronado National Monument, an elderly couple's car goes off the side of a mountain and into oblivion. The terrain is so rocky that a helicopter must be flown in to retrieve the bodies, and to make matters worse, a thunder-storm is looming on the horizon. Hours later and miles away, the subsiding rain reveals gruesome evidence: two trash bags containing human remains. It's just another day in the life of Cochise County sheriff Joanna Brady. Back at home, Joanna has a newborn baby, a teenage daughter, a writer husband, and a difficult mother to deal with. But in the field, it turns out that she has much more on her hands. The remains are those of a handicapped woman who had wandered away from a care facility with a suspicious track record. Another resident, with whom the woman may have been involved, has also been reported missing. Meanwhile, a note is found in the glove compartment of the car lying twisted down the mountainside, stating that its occupants intended to take their own lives. Yet a contradictory autopsy report surfaces, and when the deceased's two daughters show up to feud over their inheritance, Joanna knows there is more to this case than just a suicide pact.And she will go all out to find the truth—no matter where it leads.
Description from Open Library.
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