The Old Blue Line: A Joanna Brady Novella (Joanna Brady Mysteries)

4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars | 3,412 ratings

Price: 0.99

Last update: 02-13-2025


About this item

Butch Dixon has been taken for a ride …

Not a jump in the car, see the sights kind of ride. He's been taken for everything he has. He's lost his house, his restaurant business, his savings, his car, his best friend, his faith—all to his conniving ex-wife. But that was seven years ago. He picked himself up, left Chicago, and started over in Peoria, Arizona, running the Roundhouse Bar and Grill. He doesn't look back on those bad years; there's no point. Not until two curious cops show up at the Roundhouse.

Faith, Butch's ex-wife, has been murdered, and the evidence points to him. Stunned, Butch quickly realizes that the black-hearted woman is going to ruin him again, from her grave. Lucky for Butch, the Old Blue Line, a group of retired—but still sharp and tenacious—former legal and law enforcement coots, have taken it upon themselves, as a favor, to make sure he doesn't cross that thin line. After the dust settles, Butch's life is again upended—when a little red-haired ball of fire, Sheriff Joanna Brady, takes a seat at his bar.


Top reviews from the United States

  • P. Blevins
    5.0 out of 5 stars JA Jance has done it again
    Reviewed in the United States on November 8, 2014
    The Old Blue Line is a mystery by J. A. Jance. It is well written and the characters are believable and very realistic. The plot is straightforward with only a few twists.
    Bruce Dixon owns and runs the Roundhouse on the edge of Phoenix. He had inherited the café and a house in a retirement community from his grandmother. He had come to her from Chicago when his ex-wife Faith had run off with his best friend, Rick Austin, and had taken all his savings, his business, his condo, and his cars. She claimed spousal abuse and had legally gotten some of his things; but basically stole the rest. Going to his grandmother instead of his parents were a no-brainer when they sided with Faith and even went to her wedding on the day after their divorce. Hurt, angry and broke, his grandmother helped him find his way through his hurt and anger. After she taught him how to run a café instead of a upscale restaurant, she retired and lived her life with her friend Tim O’Malley at the retirement home. Her death hit Bruce badly; but he was, thanks to her, able to handle it and move on.
    The Roundhouse is in a rundown part of town. His grandfather had bought the building instead of renting and the land on which it stood. Now a big corporation wanted to buy him out and build a resort hotel on the spot. They already owned the buildings on either side of him. He was the lone holdout. However, he was holding out for a price he could live with and he was trying to figure out how to service the people who came in if he sold out.
    One day, his life is turned upside down when two policemen enter the café and wait for him to be able to talk to them. It seems his ex-wife, Faith, who had divorced Rick Austin, changed her name to Katherine and married Cliff Melcher from Las Vegas. On October 6, he had reported her missing and she was found dead in her car. She had been murdered before her car was crashed. It seems she had received phone calls from Bruce threatening her. Now he was a suspect in the murder. Not knowing what else to do, he went to see Tim O’Malley, his grandmother’s friend, to get the name of an attorney. Tim sent Charles to see him. Charles was an ex-policeman who now did private investigations. He also sent Harold Meeks, a 90 year old attorney, to take care of him. What can a 90 year old feeble man do to help him? Can Charles really find out anything? How can Bruce prove his innocence? Things just seem to pile up against him.
  • Kindle Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good novella
    Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2024
    I enjoyed reading the book.
  • good time by all 2011 It was a grear story about Chinese culture that i never knew. enjoyed a lot of
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fun to read
    Reviewed in the United States on September 8, 2024
    I have been reading JA Jance books for quite awhile. I enjoy them immensely. So I felt honored to know how she met and married the love of her life. An awesome man who treats her and the family like royalty. What a great story!!!!
  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars J A Jance...One of my favorite authors never fails my high expectations!!!!
    Reviewed in the United States on September 18, 2024
    As always...delights my heart & simulates my mind to the very last page! I have never been disappointed by her well crafted style and has never disappointed my high expectations!
  • Marilynne Smith
    3.0 out of 5 stars A very quick read
    Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2014
    Am I a grouch? This novella was cheap, but the story ended at about 50 percent. The rest of the space is taken up by a sneak preview of Jance's newest book. (I am not a fan of these previews.)

    Decide for yourself. The story is of Butch Dixon before he meets Joanna Brady. It's a fine short story that you will enjoy.

    However, It ended too soon. I expected a novella. I purchased a short story and a preview. My pleasure in reading this pre-story was taken away by the huge preview.
  • Marjorie Holderer
    4.0 out of 5 stars fast and furious pace
    Reviewed in the United States on September 2, 2024
    Nice meeting Butch and learning his back story. The old blue line bunch was fun to meet as well. Lovely
  • J. R.
    5.0 out of 5 stars great read
    Reviewed in the United States on April 13, 2024
    As always, Jance writes with confidence and humour and her characters are both believable and interesting as are the situations and scenery.
  • bibliogrammie
    5.0 out of 5 stars Too Short but Great as Usual
    Reviewed in the United States on July 15, 2014
    I would give this a 4-star because it is a novella but I couldn't do that to her. I love J. A. Jance and anything she does is a good read and well worth the time. She is a great author with an imagination I wish I had. And she's the last author I know who still answers her own e-mail! Not only do I love her books, I respect her humility and willingness to do that for her fans. (I know you warned us not to whine about the length of a novella, Judy, but hey! I gave you 5 stars!)

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