Dead to Rights Audiobook By J. A. Jance cover art

Dead to Rights

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Dead to Rights

By: J. A. Jance
Narrated by: C. J. Critt
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Harsh truths and small-town murder lethally intertwine in a stunning and evocative thriller from New York Times best-selling author J. A. Jance.

. A woman is cruelly cut down in a remote corner of Arizona, killed on her 19th wedding anniversary by a drunk motorist. A year later, the driver himself dies badly, and all suspicions point to the slain woman's still-grieving husband as his murderer. But the truth is rarely black and white in the long Southwestern shadows, and one law officer is not rushing to condemn the tragic widower so quickly - Joanna Brady, sheriff of Cochise County. Brady's convictions, however, are leading her on a twisted trail through inhospitable country - and setting her on a path that will bring her face-to-face with cold, calculating death in the high, lonely desert.

©1996 J.A. Jance (P)2009 HarperCollins Publishers Crime Detective Fiction Murder Mystery Police Procedural Suspense Thriller & Suspense Women Sleuths Women's Fiction

Editorial reviews

Joanna Brady, newly elected sheriff of Cochise County, Arizona, is struggling to learn the ropes, earn credibility in the eyes of her staff, and maintain her department's budget. C.J. Critt portrays Joanna as a strong-minded woman who battles for career success yet anguishes over the drunk-driving death, especially in light of her own husband's recent murder. Critt also depicts Joanna's frustration with her meddling mother and her sensitivity to the shifting emotions of her 9-year-old daughter.
Intriguing Plots • Surprising Endings • Enjoyable Narration • Good Storytelling • Wonderful Mysteries • Smooth Voice
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I really liked the continuing story line but very disappointed in the narration Really felt like I was being read a fairytale, very clear but honestly lacked sense of suspense or drama won’t be reading the next book if this narrator is used

Dragged On

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How could the performance have been better?

This narrator timing is all wrong it's kind of hard to listen to her. But love the books

narration

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What did you love best about Dead to Rights?

Enjoyable story. I like the series.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Author is a good storyteller.

Would you be willing to try another one of C. J. Critt’s performances?

Only if I have to to finish series.

Any additional comments?

I read these to enjoy the storytelling. A good story is worth rereading. I really dislike listening to this reader, her voice grates on my ears. I'll probably give up and just read it for myself. I like audio books because I can listen and craft at the same time, but not this one.

I'd rather read it myself

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I'm a huge fan of J.A. Jance, and am thoroughly enjoying the Joanna Brady series. Narrator C.J. Critt, however, delivers the story with the chirpy, sweet, upbeat enthusiasm of Harriet Nelson reading a bedtime story to a second-grader. That may work will with Dr. Seuss, but not with murder mysteries.

Narrator just doesn't gel with this genre

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CJ Critt was great as always. The story was lacking and it was a struggle to complete. This was not her best work

Great narration story not her best

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What did you love best about Dead to Rights?

Seeing Joanna awaken to her own talents & have more confidence in her instincts as she frees herself from the negative impact of her judgmental Mother is great!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Joanna...naturally :-)

What does C. J. Critt bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Coming into a series after another narrator has begun is unfortunate for the listeners & extremely unfair to the next narrator. CJ Critt is always terrific in her work, even though a different style than the also good Huber (Books 1-3). Not sure how anyone could not love CJ's work. Maybe just because she's different. Before the end of any first chapter, you're convinced Critt has a cast of people in the recording booth with her. Ignore anything bad about CJ Critt and check it out for yourself. You'll be happy you did.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I often wanted to shout at her Mother for being so critical, grumpy and judgmental. So happy to watch her wake-up to her mother's manipulation.

New Narrator tremendous!

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I cannot listen to any more books narrated by CJ Critt, no energy in her voice. She is such a distraction that I have given up on the series

Narration destroys book

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Very well written! Another winner for J.A. Jance. Keep them coming!

Dead to Rights

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I started with book 1 in the series and the first 3 had such intriguing plots that I was looking forward to book 4. Great plots, wonderful mysteries with surprising endings. Perhaps I've caught on to her writing, but in book 4 I knew who-done-it way before Sheriff Joanna Bradly did. I've also come to despise how something is said and I immediately know the underlying message but she asks, "I don't understand..." - or something similar. She's either slow, or wants it spelled out for her, but that's not evident. This book was driven by dialogue and it was painstaking. I thought that I disliked the previous reader of the first three, Hillary Huber - her voices for men are high pitched and silly - but now I think she's great, compared with the cadence of C.J. Critt's narrative in book 4. It's so annoying and I almost didn't finish the book. I've already purchased book 5, so I'm hoping things improve.

What happened to the good plot?

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I enjoyed the story. I like that each story adds to the character development. I had no issues with the new nareator .

I enjoyed the story, no issues with narrator

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