J.A. Jance’s books have become synonymous with mystery and thrill, featuring feminine energy. Her books are appreciated for their stereotype-free portrayal of women and a focus on family bonds in high-tension settings.
Because of her consistency, each of her books serves as an advertisement for the rest. If you have read one of her books and are wondering what else can satisfy your urge for more, this post has you covered.
It lists all of J.A. Jance’s books in order, as well as the best books with their synopses. You will also find out more about the author herself. But first, take a look at her best works.
Our best J.A. Jance Books at a glance:
- Desert Heat
- Until Proven Guilty
- Tombstone Courage
- Missing And Endangered
- Betrayal of Trust
- Second Watch
- Edge of Evil
- Partner in Crime
- Trial by Fury
- Hour Of The Hunter
J.A. Jance: The maestro behind thrillers with a heart
J.A. Jance was born in Watertown, South Dakota, on October 27, 1944. She was raised in Bisbee, Arizona, which serves as the setting for her Joanna Brady series. All three of her successful leads operate in similar settings.
When Jance started writing crime fiction, there weren’t many successful female thriller writers around.
She was encouraged to use her initials in her pen name instead of her full name by a publisher who was concerned about how the books would be received by crime fiction consumers.
Jance was also told that readers would doubt her portrayal of a male detective if they knew that she was a woman. Jance’s first book came out in 1985, and she is still writing books within each series.
J.A. Jance embraced the limitations of the time and turned them into her unique selling point, coming out with three of the most successful female protagonists in crime fiction.
J.A. Jance Books In Order
J.P. Beaumont Books In Order Of Publication
- Until Proven Guilty (1985)
- Injustice for All (1986)
- Trial by Fury (1986)
- Taking the Fifth (1987)
- Improbable Cause (1987)
- A More Perfect Union (1988)
- Dismissed With Prejudice (1989)
- Minor in Possession (1990)
- Payment in Kind (1991)
- Without Due Process (1993)
- Failure to Appear (1994)
- Lying in Wait (1995)
- Name Withheld (1997)
- Breach of Duty (1999)
- Birds of Prey (2002)
- Partner in Crime (2003)
- Long Time Gone (2005)
- Justice Denied (2007)
- Fire and Ice (2009)
- Betrayal of Trust (2011)
- Ring in the Dead (2013)
- Second Watch (2013)
- Stand Down (2015)
- Dance of the Bones (2015)
- Still Dead (2017)
- Proof of Life (2017)
- Sins Of The Fathers (2019)
- Nothing to Lose (2022)
Ali Reynolds In Order Of Publication
- Edge of Evil (2006)
- Web of Evil (2007)
- Hand of Evil (2007)
- Cruel Intent (2008)
- Trial By Fire (2009)
- Fatal Error (2011)
- Left for Dead (2012)
- Deadly Stakes (2013)
- Moving Target (2014)
- A Last Goodbye (2014)
- Cold Betrayal (2015)
- No Honor Among Thieves (2015)
- Clawback (2016)
- Random Acts (2016)
- Man Overboard (2017)
- Duel to the Death (2018)
- The A-List (2019)
- Credible Threat (2020)
- Unfinished Business (2021)
Joanna Brady In Order Of Publication
- Desert Heat (1993)
- Tombstone Courage (1995)
- Shoot/Don’t Shoot (1996)
- Dead to Rights (1997)
- Skeleton Canyon (1998)
- Rattlesnake Crossing (1998)
- Outlaw Mountain (2000)
- Devil’s Claw (2001)
- Paradise Lost (2002)
- Partner in Crime (2003)
- Exit Wounds (2004)
- Dead Wrong (2006)
- Damage Control (2008)
- Fire and Ice (2009)
- Judgment Call (2012)
- The Old Blue Line (2014)
- Remains of Innocence (2014)
- No Honor Among Thieves (2015)
- Random Acts (2016)
- Downfall (2016)
- Field of Bones (2018)
- Missing And Endangered (2021)
Walker Family Mysteries In Order Of Publication
- Hour of the Hunter (1991)
- Kiss of the Bees (2001)
- Day of the Dead (2004)
- Queen of the Night (2010)
- Dance of the Bones (2015)
Poetry Collection:
Best J.A. Jance Books
Desert Heat
This book features the debut of Joanna Brady, one of J.A. Jance’s beloved series leads. In this specific installment, Brady finds her husband shot and injured in the Arizona desert. Just when she thinks she has saved him by bringing him to the hospital, he dies under mysterious circumstances, furthering her suspicions surrounding the events that caused his death.
The book is a great introduction to a powerful and brilliant female character, and it does justice to everything set up in the initial chapters. It is the most highly recommended J.A. Jance book, perhaps because it is a great introduction to the author’s bibliography.
Until Proven Guilty
After Sheriff Joanna Brady, the next most popular Jance character is J.P. Beaumont, who makes his debut in Until Proven Guilty. The book follows Beaumont as he embarks on a journey to bring the killers of a 5-year-old to justice.
It tackles themes like religious fanaticism and conspiracy and is a great read for anyone interested in detective mysteries. The book concludes the case within one volume, so you don’t have to commit to the Beaumont series to enjoy this installment.
Tombstone Courage
The next time Joanna Brady appears is in Tombstone Courage, which establishes Brady as a sheriff, a role that she embraces for most of the Joanna Brady series.
Brady has to juggle the struggles of being constantly judged and underestimated by an actual murderer or a cattle rancher in her locale, while also trying to solve a murder mystery. It is a thrilling whodunnit and workplace drama that will captivate readers who enjoy detective mysteries.
While previous familiarity with Joanna Brady can help, it isn’t necessary to have read the first book to enjoy this one.
Missing And Endangered
After the first two Brady books, the stories remain consistent and interesting but not good enough to be among the top titles of an author with as expansive a bibliography as J.A. Jance.
That is until the 9th Brady book brings much-needed freshness to the series with a story that involves Joanna’s college-aged daughter in a missing person’s case. With family on the line, Brady has to pull out all the stops to solve the possible abduction case before it becomes a murder case.
Betrayal of Trust
Just like with Joanna Brady, the Beaumont novels start becoming too familiar to be in the top recommendations for a while. The 20th installment of Beaumont is Betrayal of Trust, which follows the private investigator as he uncovers a conspiracy that involves the government.
He didn’t expect to find the darker depths of the case when he took it on. As a case that initially impacts two troubled teens gives way to a grander plot, much more is revealed to be at stake.
Second Watch
J.P. Beaumont’s next appearance on the top J.A. Jance Books list is right after his previous one. Following up the brilliant conclusion of Betrayal and Trust is Second Watch. The plot follows J.P. Beaumont as he tries to solve a 40-year-old homicide cold case.
But the reason this title makes its way into the top recommendations is not the main plot but the narrative aid provided by flashbacks that tell the story of J.P. Beaumont when he served in Vietnam.
It is a great read for anyone who plans to read more Beaumont books or has read a few and would like to know more about the character.
Edge of Evil
This book debuts Ali Reynolds and her origin story. It follows Reynolds, the broadcast journalist, as she cuts loose from an L.A. media life and gets embroiled in a possible serial killer plot in Arizona.
It is often recommended because it sets up the reader for future Ali Reynolds mysteries and gives a clear and concise narrative of how the journalist Ali became the crime-investigating blogger Ali, who is infinitely more fascinating.
Partner in Crime
This book has a broader appeal because of its crossover concept. Beaumont and Brady team up in this particular story as Beaumont is sent by the State of Washington to investigate a murder case in Brady’s county. It marks the official start of Beaumont’s work as the special homicide investigator for the AG’s office.
You can read this book as a standalone novel, but you’ll enjoy it more if you’re familiar with J.A. Jance’s most popular series protagonists, or if you’ve read any of the standalone novels by Harold Robbins.
Trial by Fury
This Beaumont story has higher stakes than some of his earlier accounts. The story starts with the discovery of a dead body in a dumpster. Identifying the body is an information hunt followed by a whodunit mystery that kicks off when the victim is identified.
The read is pretty compelling and has twists that can take even Jance veterans by surprise.
The book works as a standalone mystery adventure but isn’t as good a solo read as some of the books listed earlier. Still, it is fresh enough to make its way into the top ten J.A. Jance books.
Hour Of The Hunter
Hour of the Hunter has a setting similar to Joanna Brady’s, but it has a more native American focus with a fresh protagonist. This book launches the Walker Family series and follows the story of Diana Ladd, whose husband killed himself after being accused of killing a Native American girl.
The story takes place six years after that, with the real criminal being released. Since Ladd’s testimony put him behind bars, he is hell-bent on revenge.
J.A. Jance FAQs
Is J.A. Jance Still Writing?
J.A. Jance is still writing, as she has been since she got her first publishing deal.
How Many Books Has J.A. Jance Written?
J.A. Jance has written 65 thriller fiction books, along with a few poetry and short-form fiction books. She is one of the most prolific female writers of this generation.
Who Is The Most Famous J.A. Jance Character?
Jonas Piedmont Beaumont, a.k.a. JP Beaumont, is the most popular J.A. Jance character, followed by Joanna Brady and Ali Reynolds.
What Kind Of Books Does J.A. Jance Write?
J.A. Jance writes mystery thrillers and crime fiction with female detectives, investigators, and all-around protagonists.
How Many Children Does J.A. Jance Have?
J.A. Jance has five children.
Wrapping It Up
J.A. Jance paved the way for women in crime fiction writing as well as series fiction. She also crafted three of the most believable and beloved female leads in the genre.
While all her books deserve the readership they get, some unmistakably rise to the top. These books are covered above and should be read by any fan of crime fiction.
