Queen of the Night audiobook

This is the first book I've read by J. A. Jance. Queen of the Night is actually #4 in a series, but reading out of order never dismays me. I believe that books ought to stand on their own. If they don't, it's not my responsibility to remedy the situation by reading other books. I will only read more books by the author if I am hooked by the first one I tried. That's why I'm so careful about my choice of first read by an author. The Queen of the Night has a story line that deals with the legends and customs of the Tohono O'odham of Arizona. I tend to like mysteries and thrillers that involve Native American background. I definitely knew that I'd come to the right place when I saw that Jance had dedicated the book to Tony Hillerman.I do feel that Jance reached deep for the full humanity of all the prominent characters including the serial killer. I don't mean that they were all sympathetic, but I understood where they were coming from. We saw the heart of some of the relationships depicted in this novel. The relationship between Diana Ladd and Brandon Walker was particularly moving.This was a strong book that also taught me a bit about the Tohono O'odham. I will definitely want to read another book in this series soon. For my complete review see http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2015/...

Find Diane Walker working on her latest book and retired Brandon Walker trying to stay busy with TLC (The Last Chance). Spending most of his time going back and forth between ailing fellow TLC detective and longtime friend trying to find the answers to a very old case and his wife who seems to be having some struggles of her own. The newest of the murder rampages falls to Brian Fellows to look at with the help of the border patrol officer (Dan Pardee) that found the bodies. The four bodies were found on the Tohono O’odham Nation land, when the next of kin notifications were made, the death count went up by three more. Leaving only a small child behind as a witness, Dr. Lani Walker, with the help of Dan Pardee, kept the child in the Hospital for safety. Tracking and catching this killer before he realizes that he left any witnesses might be more dangerous than any of them realize. Book 4 ….. I received this as part of the LibraryThing Early Reviewer program. When I realized that it was actually the forth (4th) book of the series, I decided that it would possibly be best to read the first three (3) of the series before I read this one so that I could understand the story line a little better. I was right to do that, I felt that if I had just read this story as a stand alone I would have not been able to follow all of the characters as well (there was a lot of characters in this one), most were reoccurring from the previous books. The bouncing back and forth between stories and years and places was a little confusing at times, but the main story line covered only a couple of days in early June 2009. Enjoyed the side story of Brandon and Diane, this did have the feel of the last of them, kind of a conclusion. I suppose if JA Jance wanted to continue this particular type of series, she could follow Lani, Brian and Dan. I never did figure out why the temperature was so important that it had a title type position with the places, dates and times, but it does help show how the desert can be different times of the day. I like reading about Tucson (I lived there for a long time) and this series has been an interesting way to remember the city.

Another great book by JA Jance! Unlike her other two suspense series, I wouldn't classify "Queen of the Night" as completely falling into the suspense category. I classify this one more as half suspense and half family drama. Besides the suspense of her other crime series, the Walker Family series shows a lot more of the family dynamics at work with the main characters of the book. I also enjoy reading about the Tohono O'odham culture.

This is Ms. Jance's best work yet. She has picked up the torch dropped with the death of Tony Hillerman. She successfully weaves a story of the Night Blooming Cereus (Queen of the Night) from an ancient Apache legend into a modern day crime spree.The settings are realistically portrayed, the characters developed thoroughly, the dialogue believable. However, as impressed as I was with the story, I don't think 93 degrees Fahrenheit is high enough to get concerned with. I also had a problem with the table being set all afternoon in the desert for a picnic. I think there would be enough grit on them to remove the finish.Two small complaints in an excellent read. Real suspense and drama. I really liked the parallel stories.

Great suspense in this story made up of murders from the past and present! I love the way she builds up to the present-day crime by taking us through the actions of those involved in the hours leading up to it, once again giving us terrific character development. The final pages keep you glued to the book. I'm so glad I stuck with this series. I didn't really care for the first two books, but the subsequent ones have been well worth the wait!

Although I gave this four stars be warned that while the story is really good you also get too much back story. I don’t think she needed to fill in every little thing that happened in the earlier books. It slowed the story too much. But as I said...really good story.

I loved this whole series. So sad it’s over.

This is my first J. A. Jance book, and I have to say I was quite impressed. It won't be my last. I went to her website and was delighted by her comments about the books she's written. I thought if her books were as clever I'd been missing out on something. I was right. This is the fourth in her Walker series, but she was able to catch me up so that I didn't feel left out. There are a lot of characters but she manages to pull everything together at the end. I want to go back and catch up with some of the characters and really hope she plans to continue on with others. She also did a great job of capturing Arizona. I won't go into the plot except to say there are murders and they end up pulling in the characters. I also have this on audiobook and loved listening to Gregory Itzin. I listened until I couldn't stand it, then picked up the book because I can always read faster.

This series by Jance is surpassing the JP Beaumont series in personal popularity...the characters have grown on me and as always Jance can turn out a great yarn...It possibly has a lot to do with the family values that permeate it's entire length...FUN, FUN, FUN!!!

My favorite of all her books!!!!!!!This is my newest favorite book by J.A. Jance! I luv all her books but this just became my favorite! This series has a much more spiritual nature. The Tonho O'donam religion is woven throughout these books. I am more familiar with the tribe since I spent 20 years living just miles from their Nation. I have been to church services many times at the White Dove of the Desert church. It is a beautiful church on the Reservation. The mysteries are all very interesting but the spirituality of the tribe is intriguing as well. This family has always lived in both worlds. Reading through the series you live through the years with them and watch them grow. They have their tragedies and their triumphs. If you start reading the series you will have to finish it. It's irresistible. Once I start a book it's un-put-downable, a truly one time read straight through journey. I would recommend it to mystery luvers and luvers of Tony Hillerman. If you like his books you will luv this series also. Highly recommended.

4th in a series I had not read, but totally stands alone, & based in the Tucson area near Tohono O’odham & Apache reservations. The Oro Valley Tohono Chul (desert corner) botanical park* figures into the plot, as does night-blooming cereus/staghorn cactus blooms. (Was actually reading this while there was indeed a Night bloom watch ongoing @Tohono Chul 2018–late June!!)The plot masterfully weaves in cultural pieces from two local Induan nations in contempirary context à la Hillerman, etc. *An interesting timeline of Tohono Chul botanical park that preserves 49 acres of Sonoran desert in an area of burgeoning development along the Sta Catalinas... runs along the bottom of several pages of the booklet linked below. Thank you to the foresight of those who sought to save as much as possible of this amazing desert 🌵 for posterity. 🎉http://tohonochulpark.org/wp-content/...

When I first started this series I wasn't sure if I would like it. It is very different from the author's other series. But now that I'm almost done with the series I find that I am really invested in the characters and have enjoyed getting to know them. Ms. Jance starts each book with several different story lines and then works to weave several compelling tales into one intricate story involving all of the characters. There is usually one central villain who we are introduced to in the beginning. There is no mystery here. The reader witnesses the heinous crimes and then gets a front row seat to all the drama and action involved in catching him. This series is also has a Native American theme woven throughout which I found interesting.

Being at the wrong place at the wrong time can be catastrophic. Stumbling on the wrong scene at the right time can change your life forever. This book is billed as a multi-layered thriller and I can attest to that fact. It begins in California, where a man slaughters his entire family, and the family dog who rips into his hand trying to save its master. Then the murderer drives to Tucson, Arizona where he stakes out his mother and step-father, carefully learning their moves.This all takes place as the Tohono O’odhan Nation sets about its task to celebrate the Queen of the Night, a flower which blooms only during the night, once a year. Dan Parde, with half Apache, Half white ancestry seemed never to fit in until he became part of the Shadow Wolves Border Patrol; stumbles on the gruesome murder of the mother and step-father and an innocent couple who had simply stopped by to view an ancient cactus in the midst of the desert, with hundreds of blooms. He also finds a solitary survivor a 4 year-old girl who remained silent so as not to be seen.This leads Dan to his meeting with Dr. Lani Walker at the Indian Hospital and to meeting and being accepted by people he never thought would accept him. But, that is only one story line, to learn about the several other story lines, just grab the book and start reading.

This was a quick read and very good. Because some of the characters are Indian, there are some native stories that tie in with the mystery. That was interesting. Queen of the night is an Arizona flower that blooms only one night a year. Abby and her husband went to see one of the flowers when a man with a gun killed them. He also murders a young couple who was there for the same reason. What he didn't bargain for was the young couple's four year old daughter was in hiding. Dan Pardee, a Border Patrol officer and Apache, was on patrol that night. It was he and his dog who came upon the scene.

Since I haven't read the three previous Walker Family books, it me took a bit of time at first to keep all of the characters straight, but it soon began to tie together. The title refers to a desert plant that only blooms once a year, at night, with white, showy and nicely scented flowers! By daybreak, the flowers are already wilting and if you missed the show you will have to wait for another year for another chance! So this occasion is the backdrop of a horrific mass murder site that the detectives have to figure out what happened, with very few leads. The ending comes together in a very satisfying fashion, in my estimation.