In this book review of The Girl from Devil’s Lake, you will discover that J.A. Jance has created another chilling and a high-stakes thriller that dives into one of Sheriff Joanna Brady’s worst cases yet. This twenty-first installment in the series promises all the twists and turns you could want from a superior mystery.
A Chilling and Fast-Paced Hunt
The action is fast-paced and heart-pumping, beginning with a grim discovery: the body of a young boy beneath a flooded bridge in the Arizona desert. The details of the crime scene quickly reveal terrifying truths—this was not the killer’s first murder, and it won’t be their last.
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The narrative brilliantly jumps between the present-day investigation and a parallel story that begins in 1956 with Stephen Roper. As Joanna digs deeper into the case, the full, grim picture emerges. She uncovers unlikely connections between mysterious deaths and long-cold missing persons’ cases, realizing this one boy’s murder is just one piece of a much larger puzzle.
The investigation takes her far beyond her small town to places like Devil’s Lake, North Dakota, as the grim body count rises. As a diligent journalist circles the case and privileged information seeps out, Joanna faces a perilous hunt for a prolific serial killer who has managed to hide in plain sight for decades.
A Perfect Entry Point
Despite the complex, decades-spanning plot, J.A. Jance has created a perfect entry point for new readers. You don’t need to know the history of Sheriff Joanna Brady or her family to be completely invested. The author expertly provides just enough backstory about Joanna’s busy family life and her daughter Jenny’s graduation to make you feel connected to the characters, allowing you to jump right into this mystery without feeling lost or confused by past events.
The Formula for a Riveting Read
What makes this book a truly riveting read is Jance’s magnificent ability to flesh out her characters so completely that you feel like you know them. This is the very formula for a book you won’t be able to put down. Even with such a complex and compelling plot, this is a perfect entry point for new readers. The author provides just enough backstory about Joanna’s busy family life and her daughter Jenny’s graduation to make you feel connected, allowing you to jump right into the mystery without feeling lost or confused by past events.
To sum it up, The Girl from Devil’s Lake shared in this book review delivers all the twists and turns you could want from a top-tier thriller. The brilliant dual timeline narrative and the expertly crafted plot make this a must-read, and it proves that a long-running series can still be fresh, exciting, and welcoming to new fans. This mystery will be released September 30, 2025. Do yourself a kindness and grab it!
Thanks to HarperCollins for this #gifted book for this review.
