The Second Son

Joanna Wayne revisits the characters of her best book to date, "Family Ties," with her best book since, "The Second Son." Sheriff Branson Randolph and his brothers are shocked when a woman arrives on their doorstep with a baby she claims belongs to one of them. The plot thickens when the woman falls over with a bullet wound in her back. Branson teams up with the woman's sister, who insists her sister has not had a child, to solve the mystery. It looks like Lacy Gilbraith is in as much danger as her sister. Who better to protect her than a tough Texas lawman?I was more a fan of "Family Ties" itself than the brothers so many readers seem to have demanded hearing more of (Branson himself wasn't the nicest of characters in that book, and one didn't even appear), but I have to admit they bring out the best in the author. "The Second Son" is a masterfully plotted book with strong, dynamic characters and a story that never stops moving. Branson and Lacy meet in a unique opening encounter that sets off sparks right away, and Wayne crafts a complex, twist-filled mystery to keep readers turning the pages. Readers should be gladly looking forward to the stories of Branson's brothers in the next two books. Taut and exciting, "The Second Son" is an excellent start to this new miniseries.