Spoiler Warning
This review may contain spoilers. Read at your own discretion if you haven't finished the book yet.
Overview
Shoot Don't Shoot is the third Joanna Brady mystery, taking the sheriff out of Cochise County and into the world of police academy training in Phoenix, where a fellow student's murder turns education into investigation.
The Story
Sheriff Joanna Brady is required to attend training at the Arizona Police Officers Academy in Phoenix. It's a chance to gain skills, network with other law enforcement professionals, and prove she belongs among the pros.
But when a female Phoenix police officer - one of her fellow students - is murdered, Joanna can't just let local authorities handle it. Especially when they seem all too willing to accept easy answers about the death of a woman who was fighting to be taken seriously on the force.
What I Loved
The Change of Setting
Taking Joanna out of Bisbee and away from her department creates fresh challenges and dynamics. She's not the boss here; she's a student. She doesn't have her deputies backing her up; she's on her own.
This change reinvigorates the series by putting Joanna in unfamiliar territory.
The Training Sequences
Jance clearly researched police academy training and it shows. The tactical scenarios, firearms training, and classroom work feel authentic. We see Joanna learning and being challenged.
The title comes from the shoot/don't shoot scenarios officers train on - split-second decisions with life-or-death consequences.
The Gender Issue
The murdered officer faced many of the same challenges Joanna has - being dismissed, underestimated, and having to work twice as hard to be taken half as seriously. This makes the case deeply personal for Joanna.
Jance handles the gender dynamics in law enforcement with insight and authenticity.
Joanna's Investigation
Without her department, without jurisdiction, Joanna has to rely on her wits, her determination, and the connections she makes. She has to be creative about gathering information and pursuing leads.
The Mystery Itself
The murder investigation is well-plotted, with multiple suspects, competing motives, and enough twists to keep it interesting. The academy setting provides a closed-circle aspect that adds to the tension.
Character Development
Joanna's Growth
This book shows Joanna:
- Gaining professional skills and confidence
- Learning to work independently
- Making connections outside her home territory
- Balancing her instincts with proper procedure in unfamiliar jurisdiction
- Standing up for victims who can't speak for themselves
New Relationships
Joanna forms connections with other officers, some who become allies and some who create obstacles. These relationships add depth and show her growing network.
The Investigation Challenges
Joanna must:
- Investigate without official standing in Phoenix
- Continue training while pursuing leads
- Navigate resistance from local authorities
- Work without her usual resources and backup
- Connect the pieces while others want to close the case quickly
- Balance persistence with respecting jurisdictional boundaries
Themes
Women Supporting Women
Joanna's determination to get justice for the victim stems partly from shared experience and sisterhood.
Professionalization
The training represents the ongoing education and skills development law enforcement requires.
Institutional Sexism
Both the victim's story and Joanna's experiences highlight the challenges women face in law enforcement.
Justice vs. Politics
The pressure to close a case quickly versus doing the work to find real answers.
Why 4.1 Stars?
This is a solid entry in the series with an interesting change of setting and an engaging mystery. It's not quite as strong as the first book, but it's a good continuation that develops Joanna's character and keeps the series fresh.
The training setting is well-used, the mystery is engaging, and the character development continues effectively.
Who Should Read This
- Fans of the Joanna Brady series
- Readers interested in police training and procedures
- Anyone who enjoys fish-out-of-water dynamics
- Fans of mysteries with strong female protagonists
- Readers who appreciate series that evolve and change settings
- Those interested in gender dynamics in law enforcement
Final Thoughts
Shoot Don't Shoot successfully shakes up the series formula by taking Joanna out of her comfort zone. The Phoenix setting, the academy environment, and the jurisdictional complications create fresh challenges while maintaining what makes the series work.
J.A. Jance continues to write compelling mysteries with a protagonist worth following. Joanna's growth throughout the series is steady and believable, and each book adds new dimensions to her character.
If you're following Joanna's journey, this is a strong continuation that shows her expanding skills and growing confidence. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
My Notes & Takeaways
Training Becomes Deadly
Shoot Don't Shoot takes Joanna Brady out of her comfort zone and into the unfamiliar world of formal law enforcement training, where a fellow student's murder turns the course into something far more dangerous.
The Setup
Sheriff Joanna Brady heads to Phoenix for mandatory training at the Arizona Police Officers Academy. It's a chance to gain skills, prove herself among other law enforcement professionals, and maybe even have a bit of personal time away from the demands of her job and single motherhood.
But when a fellow student - a female police officer - is murdered, Joanna finds herself investigating in unfamiliar territory, without her department, and facing resistance from local authorities.
What Works
Fish Out of Water: Seeing Joanna outside her home turf, as a student rather than the boss, adds a fresh dynamic to the series.
The Training Environment: Jance vividly captures the intensity, camaraderie, and challenges of police academy training for experienced officers.
Gender Dynamics: The murdered officer was fighting battles familiar to Joanna - being taken seriously as a woman in law enforcement. The case becomes personal.
Jurisdictional Tension: Joanna investigating in Phoenix without official standing creates interesting obstacles and conflicts.
Personal Growth: Away from home and her established support system, Joanna has to rely more on herself and forge new alliances.
The Investigation
Joanna faces unique challenges:
- No official jurisdiction in Phoenix
- Limited resources away from her department
- Resistance from local authorities
- Having to continue training while investigating
- Dealing with the politics of the academy
- Connecting with the victim's story
Themes
Women in Blue: The victim's struggles mirror Joanna's own experiences with skepticism and discrimination in law enforcement.
Professional Development: The training sequences show the ongoing education and skills law enforcement officers need.
Working Outside Your Comfort Zone: Joanna must operate without her usual resources and authority.
Justice for the Overlooked: The victim is treated as a statistic until Joanna demands better.
Character Development
We see Joanna:
- Developing new tactical skills
- Learning to work without her support system
- Making connections with other officers
- Balancing determination with acknowledging her limitations
- Growing more confident in her abilities while respecting what she still needs to learn
