Joanna Brady
Books in Order.
Start here
Desert Heat (1993)
Start with Desert Heat (1993), which is book 1, and read in publication order.
Start with Desert Heat (1993), which is book 1, and read in publication order. The novels follow Joanna Brady, a sheriff in Cochise County, Arizona.
The complete reading order for the Joanna Brady series by J.A. Jance. Below you'll find the authoritative guide on how to read the books in order, including publication dates and chronological timeline placements.
Where to start
Start with Desert Heat (1993), which is book 1, and read in publication order. The novels follow Joanna Brady, a sheriff in Cochise County, Arizona.
- •Partner in Crime (2002) and Fire and Ice (2009) are crossovers with the J.P. Beaumont series and are listed in both.
- •The Old Blue Line, No Honor Among Thieves and Random Acts are novellas, listed as optional extras at the end. No Honor Among Thieves and Random Acts are also Ali Reynolds crossovers.
- •Release years vary slightly between sources because of hardcover and paperback editions; this page uses the year agreed by most sources.
At a Glance
- First Book:Desert Heat
- Latest Book:Random Acts
- Timeline:1993 - 2016
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Frequently Asked Questions
What order should I read Joanna Brady in?
Start with Desert Heat (1993), which is book 1, and read in publication order. The novels follow Joanna Brady, a sheriff in Cochise County, Arizona.
How many books are in Joanna Brady?
21 main books, published 1993–2025, plus 3 side stories.
Can I read Joanna Brady out of order?
It's best not to. The books build on each other, so reading out of order spoils earlier twists.
Which books in Joanna Brady are prequels, novellas or side stories?
"The Old Blue Line" (novella), "No Honor Among Thieves" (novella), "Random Acts" (novella). Each is placed in the reading order below.