It is not uncommon to hear Tucson-based best-selling author J.A. Jance referred to as the “first lady” or the “queen” of the Tucson Festival of Books, terms of endearment adopted by festival organizers for her efforts toward making the festival a success.
The book festival has a role in Jance’s 51st novel, “Dance of the Bones,” which is the second selection in the Star’s “We Read” online book group.
Jance teams two of her series’ characters, Seattle detective J.P. Beaumont and Arizona sheriff Brandon Walker. The opening chapters have Walker and his wife, popular local author Diane Ladd, at the authors reception and dinner at the University of Arizona.
Jance nails the traffic on Speedway during the festival and other been-there-done-that details. Jance’s portrayal of Walker at the reception among its shoulder-to-shoulder crowd made us wonder how much was inspired by Jance’s husband, Bill Schilb.
Tucson and the surrounding area, and Tohono O’odham lore give the book a solid sense of place.
About those Tucson places, if you’re listening to “Dance of the Bones” on an audio book, be prepared to laugh, cringe or both.
Narrator J. R. Horne has a deep, rugged cowboy-like voice, however it’s clear he hasn’t spent much time in the Southwest.
His fingers-on-the-chalkboard pronunciation of “cholla” with a double l sound — not as the Spanish “elle” — and “saguaro” with a “g” sound is inexcusable.
We’ve never heard of the “Rin-cone” mountains. And he mutilated “Baboquivari” so badly that is was unrecognizable.
We love listening to an audible book on the road; however, Jance and the listener/reader deserve better from publisher Harper Audio.
We are reading “Dance of the Bones,” posting blogs, making comments and asking questions. We
will also collect questions for Jance to answer. We’d love to hear from you.
Go to jajance.com or follow our blog and post questions for Jance at tucson.com/bookfest
