• Dead to Rights

  • By: J. A. Jance
  • Narrated by: C. J. Critt
  • Length: 12 hrs and 4 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (415 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Dead to Rights  By  cover art

Dead to Rights

By: J. A. Jance
Narrated by: C. J. Critt
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $25.19

Buy for $25.19

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Editorial reviews

Joanna Brady, newly elected sheriff of Cochise County, Arizona, is struggling to learn the ropes, earn credibility in the eyes of her staff, and maintain her department's budget. C.J. Critt portrays Joanna as a strong-minded woman who battles for career success yet anguishes over the drunk-driving death, especially in light of her own husband's recent murder. Critt also depicts Joanna's frustration with her meddling mother and her sensitivity to the shifting emotions of her 9-year-old daughter.

Publisher's summary

Harsh truths and small-town murder lethally intertwine in a stunning and evocative thriller from New York Times best-selling author J. A. Jance.

. A woman is cruelly cut down in a remote corner of Arizona, killed on her 19th wedding anniversary by a drunk motorist. A year later, the driver himself dies badly, and all suspicions point to the slain woman's still-grieving husband as his murderer. But the truth is rarely black and white in the long Southwestern shadows, and one law officer is not rushing to condemn the tragic widower so quickly - Joanna Brady, sheriff of Cochise County. Brady's convictions, however, are leading her on a twisted trail through inhospitable country - and setting her on a path that will bring her face-to-face with cold, calculating death in the high, lonely desert.

©1996 J.A. Jance (P)2009 HarperCollins Publishers

What listeners say about Dead to Rights

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    248
  • 4 Stars
    118
  • 3 Stars
    38
  • 2 Stars
    7
  • 1 Stars
    4
Performance
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    199
  • 4 Stars
    82
  • 3 Stars
    39
  • 2 Stars
    21
  • 1 Stars
    25
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    241
  • 4 Stars
    92
  • 3 Stars
    26
  • 2 Stars
    7
  • 1 Stars
    2

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Bad Narration ruins the book

Why is it the publisher has to ruin a perfectly good series by not only changing the narrator mid stream but changing to a narrator that was worse than the last.

As an avid, borderline obsessive audio book listener, the narration is just as important as the story itself in my opinion. It took me awhile to get past the nasal Hillary Huber, but she established herself as the voice of Joanna Brady.

Fortunately if the author is good, you can most times overlook bad narration, but it is not enjoyable. This is the case with C.J. Critt. Terrible inflections and a much too old of a voice for Joanna. Not to mention not very good with continuity.

Will probably move pass the books she has narrated in this series and try the next narrator.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Yikes...the narrator sounds like Joanna's mother!

What didn’t you like about C. J. Critt’s performance?

Her tone is pretentious and so is her phrasing. She sounds as one would imagine Joanna Brady's mother sounding, except more so. And, so far at least, her voice for Joanna is barely distinguishable (some of the time) from her "narrating" voice. Not sure that I can make it through this one, much less another after it. Fortunately I haven't bought the next book yet. May have to get it in paperback or e-book.

Any additional comments?

Changing narrators in a series should be done ONLY when absolutely required.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Pure Enjoyment

I stumbled into this series just this year, so I heard the last book first and am now starting from book #1. Even though I know the path that Joanna’s life eventually takes, I am certainly enjoying filling in the years between and seeing how she grew into the much respected public servant.

The only thing negative about this series is the fact that you listen to 80% of the book trying to solve the mystery, then, some new character is introduced and BAM you have the culprit. Mystery solved.

This book has a different narrator, C J Critt than the other books. I have listened to many other books with CJ and think she is an excellent narrator. However the difference in the cadence of her voice makes a difference in how Joann is perceived in my mind.

Looking forward to working my way through the books.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Narration destroys book

I cannot listen to any more books narrated by CJ Critt, no energy in her voice. She is such a distraction that I have given up on the series

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Dragged On

I really liked the continuing story line but very disappointed in the narration Really felt like I was being read a fairytale, very clear but honestly lacked sense of suspense or drama won’t be reading the next book if this narrator is used

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Great narration story not her best

CJ Critt was great as always. The story was lacking and it was a struggle to complete. This was not her best work

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Not Liking The Change Of Narrator

Story was OK. However, I am not appreciating the change of narrator. Voices to old sounding for Joanna, Jenny, & Angie. Angie, sounded like the lady Terry from the anti smoking commercial.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Dead to Rights

Very well written! Another winner for J.A. Jance. Keep them coming!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Enjoyed another J.A. Jance novel

Any additional comments?

I almost didn't buy this book after reading the harsh comments about the narrator, C.J. Critt. However, since we have enjoyed other Joanna Brady novels, we thought we would give it a try. We are glad we did. We enjoyed C.J. Critt's reading. Since I place these novels in the "light" mystery category, Critt's approach was just right. Her voice, and expressive reading we're very enjoyable. We will definitely buy other books read by her.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

New Narrator tremendous!

What did you love best about Dead to Rights?

Seeing Joanna awaken to her own talents & have more confidence in her instincts as she frees herself from the negative impact of her judgmental Mother is great!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Joanna...naturally :-)

What does C. J. Critt bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Coming into a series after another narrator has begun is unfortunate for the listeners & extremely unfair to the next narrator. CJ Critt is always terrific in her work, even though a different style than the also good Huber (Books 1-3). Not sure how anyone could not love CJ's work. Maybe just because she's different. Before the end of any first chapter, you're convinced Critt has a cast of people in the recording booth with her. Ignore anything bad about CJ Critt and check it out for yourself. You'll be happy you did.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I often wanted to shout at her Mother for being so critical, grumpy and judgmental. So happy to watch her wake-up to her mother's manipulation.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful