Deadly Stakes

Jance's book is filled with colorful characters, and has some thrilling moments. But it is also has some scenes that defy believability and dialogue that borders on the tedious. This type of story is one that can succeed or fail due to the skill of the narrator, and Karen Ziemba's performance demonstrates how important a reader is. Ziemba is comfortable with the story, which features Ali Reynolds's investigation of a gruesome murder. Reynolds must prove that Lynn Martinson, who is dating the victim's ex-husband, and her boyfriend Chip Ralston, are innocent. The book has its ups and downs, but Ziemba's steady delivery keeps the story flowing. D.J.S. (c) AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine

December 17, 2012
Bestseller Jance’s busy eighth Ali Reynolds thriller (after 2012’s Left for Dead) takes the former newscaster from Sedona, Ariz., to Phoenix, where friend Brenda Riley is filming a story on cyberstalker Richard Lowensdale, whom Reynolds helped bring down in 2011’s Fatal Error. When circumstances land Lynn Martinson, one of Lowensdale’s victims, in another pickle, Martinson’s mother recommends she turn to Reynolds for help. But Martinson and boyfriend Chip Ralston soon find themselves in worse trouble after the discovery of the body of Ralston’s avaricious ex-wife, Gemma Ralston. The discovery of a second body near the first raises puzzling questions about possible connections between the victims. Meanwhile, high school senior A.J. Sanders, who anonymously reported Gemma’s death, also seeks Reynolds help as he tries to avoid suspicion. Series fans will welcome the familiar supporting cast, including computer nerd Stuart Ramey and boyfriend B. Simpson, but awkwardly contrived linkages and a lack of narrative drive make this a lesser effort. Agent: Alice Volpe, Northwest Literary.