Below is the complete list of J.A. Jance books in order. For this series, the chronological reading order is the same as the order of publication.
Publication Order of J.P. Beaumont Books
- Until Proven Guilty (1985)
Until Proven Guilty was published in 1985 and is listed as book #1 in the J.P. Beaumont series. - Injustice For All (1986)
Published in 1986, Injustice For All is listed as book #2 in the J.P. Beaumont series. - Trial by Fury (1986)
Trial by Fury is a 1986 release and appears as book #3 in the J.P. Beaumont series. - Taking the Fifth (1987)
In the J.P. Beaumont series, Taking the Fifth is book #4 and was published in 1987. - Improbable Cause (1988)
Improbable Cause was first published in 1988; within the J.P. Beaumont series, it is listed as book #5. - A More Perfect Union (1988)
A More Perfect Union was published in 1988 and is listed as book #6 in the J.P. Beaumont series. - Dismissed with Prejudice (1989)
Published in 1989, Dismissed with Prejudice is listed as book #7 in the J.P. Beaumont series. - Minor in Possession (1990)
Minor in Possession is a 1990 release and appears as book #8 in the J.P. Beaumont series. - Payment In Kind (1991)
In the J.P. Beaumont series, Payment In Kind is book #9 and was published in 1991. - Without Due Process (1992)
Without Due Process was first published in 1992; within the J.P. Beaumont series, it is listed as book #10. - Failure to Appear (1993)
Failure to Appear was published in 1993 and is listed as book #11 in the J.P. Beaumont series. - Lying in Wait (1994)
Published in 1994, Lying in Wait is listed as book #12 in the J.P. Beaumont series. - Name Withheld (1996)
Name Withheld is a 1996 release and appears as book #13 in the J.P. Beaumont series. - Breach Of Duty (1999)
In the J.P. Beaumont series, Breach Of Duty is book #14 and was published in 1999. - Birds of Prey (2001)
Birds of Prey was first published in 2001; within the J.P. Beaumont series, it is listed as book #15. - Partner in Crime (2002)
Partner in Crime was published in 2002 and is listed as book #16 in the J.P. Beaumont series. - Long Time Gone (2005)
Published in 2005, Long Time Gone is listed as book #17 in the J.P. Beaumont series. - Justice Denied (2007)
Justice Denied is a 2007 release and appears as book #18 in the J.P. Beaumont series. - Fire and Ice (2009)
In the J.P. Beaumont series, Fire and Ice is book #19 and was published in 2009. - Betrayal of Trust (2011)
Betrayal of Trust was first published in 2011; within the J.P. Beaumont series, it is listed as book #20. - Second Watch (2013)
Second Watch was published in 2013 and is listed as book #21 in the J.P. Beaumont series. - Ring In the Dead (2013)
Published in 2013, Ring In the Dead is listed as book #22 in the J.P. Beaumont series. - Stand Down (2015)
Stand Down is a 2015 release and appears as book #23 in the J.P. Beaumont series. - Dance of the Bones (2015)
In the J.P. Beaumont series, Dance of the Bones is book #24 and was published in 2015. - Still Dead (2017)
Still Dead was first published in 2017; within the J.P. Beaumont series, it is listed as book #25. - Proof of Life (2017)
Proof of Life was published in 2017 and is listed as book #26 in the J.P. Beaumont series. - Sins of the Fathers (2019)
Published in 2019, Sins of the Fathers is listed as book #27 in the J.P. Beaumont series. - Nothing to Lose (2022)
Nothing to Lose is a 2022 release and appears as book #28 in the J.P. Beaumont series. - Girls’ Night Out (2024)
In the J.P. Beaumont series, Girls' Night Out is book #29 and was published in 2024. - Den of Iniquity (2024)
Den of Iniquity was first published in 2024; within the J.P. Beaumont series, it is listed as book #30. - The Taken Ones (2026)
The Taken Ones was published in 2026 and is listed as book #31 in the J.P. Beaumont series.
Publication Order of Joanna Brady Books
- Desert Heat (1993)
Desert Heat was published in 1993 and is listed as book #1 in the Joanna Brady series. - Tombstone Courage (1995)
Published in 1995, Tombstone Courage is listed as book #2 in the Joanna Brady series. - Shoot Don’t Shoot (1995)
Shoot Don't Shoot is a 1995 release and appears as book #3 in the Joanna Brady series. - Dead to Rights (1997)
In the Joanna Brady series, Dead to Rights is book #4 and was published in 1997. - Skeleton Canyon (1997)
Skeleton Canyon was first published in 1997; within the Joanna Brady series, it is listed as book #5. - Rattlesnake Crossing (1998)
Rattlesnake Crossing was published in 1998 and is listed as book #6 in the Joanna Brady series. - Outlaw Mountain (1999)
Published in 1999, Outlaw Mountain is listed as book #7 in the Joanna Brady series. - Devil’s Claw (2001)
Devil's Claw is a 2001 release and appears as book #8 in the Joanna Brady series. - Paradise Lost (2001)
In the Joanna Brady series, Paradise Lost is book #9 and was published in 2001. - Partner in Crime (2002)
Partner in Crime was first published in 2002; within the Joanna Brady series, it is listed as book #10. - Exit Wounds (2003)
Exit Wounds was published in 2003 and is listed as book #11 in the Joanna Brady series. - Dead Wrong (2006)
Published in 2006, Dead Wrong is listed as book #12 in the Joanna Brady series. - Damage Control (2008)
Damage Control is a 2008 release and appears as book #13 in the Joanna Brady series. - Fire and Ice (2009)
In the Joanna Brady series, Fire and Ice is book #14 and was published in 2009. - Judgment Call (2012)
Judgment Call was first published in 2012; within the Joanna Brady series, it is listed as book #15. - The Old Blue Line (2014)
The Old Blue Line was published in 2014 and is listed as book #16 in the Joanna Brady series. - Remains of Innocence (2014)
Published in 2014, Remains of Innocence is listed as book #17 in the Joanna Brady series. - No Honor Among Thieves (2015)
No Honor Among Thieves is a 2015 release and appears as book #18 in the Joanna Brady series. - Random Acts (2016)
In the Joanna Brady series, Random Acts is book #19 and was published in 2016. - Downfall (2016)
Downfall was first published in 2016; within the Joanna Brady series, it is listed as book #20. - Field of Bones (2018)
Field of Bones was published in 2018 and is listed as book #21 in the Joanna Brady series. - Missing and Endangered (2021)
Published in 2021, Missing and Endangered is listed as book #22 in the Joanna Brady series. - Blessing of the Lost Girls (2023)
Blessing of the Lost Girls is a 2023 release and appears as book #23 in the Joanna Brady series. - The Girl from Devil’s Lake (2025)
In the Joanna Brady series, The Girl from Devil's Lake is book #24 and was published in 2025.
Publication Order of Ali Reynolds Books
- Edge of Evil (2005)
Edge of Evil was published in 2005 and is listed as book #1 in the Ali Reynolds series. - Web of Evil (2007)
Published in 2007, Web of Evil is listed as book #2 in the Ali Reynolds series. - Hand of Evil (2007)
Hand of Evil is a 2007 release and appears as book #3 in the Ali Reynolds series. - Cruel Intent (2008)
In the Ali Reynolds series, Cruel Intent is book #4 and was published in 2008. - Trial by Fire (2009)
Trial by Fire was first published in 2009; within the Ali Reynolds series, it is listed as book #5. - Fatal Error (2011)
Fatal Error was published in 2011 and is listed as book #6 in the Ali Reynolds series. - Left for Dead (2012)
Published in 2012, Left for Dead is listed as book #7 in the Ali Reynolds series. - Deadly Stakes (2013)
Deadly Stakes is a 2013 release and appears as book #8 in the Ali Reynolds series. - Moving Target (2014)
In the Ali Reynolds series, Moving Target is book #9 and was published in 2014. - A Last Goodbye (2014)
A Last Goodbye was first published in 2014; within the Ali Reynolds series, it is listed as book #10. - Cold Betrayal (2015)
Cold Betrayal was published in 2015 and is listed as book #11 in the Ali Reynolds series. - No Honor Among Thieves (2015)
Published in 2015, No Honor Among Thieves is listed as book #12 in the Ali Reynolds series. - Clawback (2016)
Clawback is a 2016 release and appears as book #13 in the Ali Reynolds series. - Random Acts (2016)
In the Ali Reynolds series, Random Acts is book #14 and was published in 2016. - Man Overboard (2017)
Man Overboard was first published in 2017; within the Ali Reynolds series, it is listed as book #15. - Duel to the Death (2018)
Duel to the Death was published in 2018 and is listed as book #16 in the Ali Reynolds series. - The A List (2019)
Published in 2019, The A List is listed as book #17 in the Ali Reynolds series. - Taking the Veil (2019)
(With Eric Van Lustbader)
Taking the Veil is a 2019 release and appears as book #18 in the Ali Reynolds series. - Credible Threat (2020)
In the Ali Reynolds series, Credible Threat is book #19 and was published in 2020. - Unfinished Business (2021)
Unfinished Business was first published in 2021; within the Ali Reynolds series, it is listed as book #20. - Collateral Damage (2023)
Collateral Damage was published in 2023 and is listed as book #21 in the Ali Reynolds series. - OverKill (2025)
Published in 2025, OverKill is listed as book #22 in the Ali Reynolds series.
Publication Order of Walker Family Mysteries Books
- Hour of the Hunter (1991)
Hour of the Hunter was published in 1991 and is listed as book #1 in the Walker Family Mysteries series. - Kiss of the Bees (1993)
Published in 1993, Kiss of the Bees is listed as book #2 in the Walker Family Mysteries series. - Day of the Dead (2004)
Day of the Dead is a 2004 release and appears as book #3 in the Walker Family Mysteries series. - Queen of the Night (2010)
In the Walker Family Mysteries series, Queen of the Night is book #4 and was published in 2010. - Dance of the Bones (2015)
Dance of the Bones was first published in 2015; within the Walker Family Mysteries series, it is listed as book #5. - Blessing of the Lost Girls (2023)
Blessing of the Lost Girls was published in 2023 and is listed as book #6 in the Walker Family Mysteries series.
Publication Order of Standalone Novels Books
- After the Fire (1984)
After the Fire was published in 1984 and is listed as book #1 in the Standalone Novels series.
About J.A. Jance
J. A. Jance is an American author widely known for her long-running mystery and crime fiction series. Over the course of several decades, she has built a large and loyal readership through character-driven detective stories set across the American Southwest and Pacific Northwest. Her novels are particularly recognized for their strong protagonists, layered investigations, and realistic portrayal of law enforcement work.
J. A. Jance was born Judith Ann Jance on July 27, 1944, in South Dakota and grew up in Bisbee, Arizona, a historic mining town that would later inspire the setting for one of her most popular book series. She attended the University of Arizona, where she studied library science. Before becoming a full-time novelist, Jance worked as a librarian and later in the insurance industry while raising her family.
Her path to publication was not immediate. Like many authors, Jance faced numerous rejections early in her writing career. Publishers initially doubted whether readers would be interested in a mystery series centered on a middle-aged police detective. Despite those challenges, Jance continued submitting manuscripts and eventually secured her first publishing contract.
Her debut novel, Until Proven Guilty (1985), introduced readers to Seattle homicide detective J. P. Beaumont. The character quickly became popular with readers, launching the long-running J. P. Beaumont series. Beaumont is portrayed as a complex and evolving character—flawed, determined, and deeply human—whose personal struggles often intersect with the investigations he handles.
Reading J. A. Jance’s books in publication order reveals how the Beaumont character develops over time. The series explores not only criminal cases but also Beaumont’s personal life, relationships, and the changing landscape of law enforcement.
Another major success in Jance’s career is the Joanna Brady series. Set in Cochise County, Arizona, the novels follow Joanna Brady, a woman who becomes sheriff after the death of her husband. The series stands out for its strong female lead and its detailed depiction of life and law enforcement in rural Arizona. Many readers appreciate how Brady’s responsibilities as a mother, public official, and investigator intertwine throughout the books.
Jance later introduced a third major series featuring former television news anchor Ali Reynolds. After a personal and professional crisis, Reynolds returns to her hometown in Arizona and becomes involved in solving crimes and uncovering hidden truths. The Ali Reynolds novels often incorporate modern elements such as technology, cybercrime, and media influence, reflecting contemporary investigative challenges.
A defining feature of Jance’s work is her strong sense of place. Her novels often highlight the landscapes and communities of Arizona and the Pacific Northwest, giving readers a vivid sense of the environments where her characters live and work. The settings are not just backdrops but integral parts of the stories themselves.
Over the years, Jance has written dozens of novels across multiple series, many of which have appeared on bestseller lists. Her ability to maintain several interconnected yet distinct storylines demonstrates both versatility and consistency as a storyteller.
Readers who follow J. A. Jance’s books in publication order can trace the evolution of her writing career as well as the development of her memorable characters. Through the journeys of J. P. Beaumont, Joanna Brady, and Ali Reynolds, Jance has created a body of work that blends compelling mysteries with deeply human stories about perseverance, justice, and personal growth.