Left for Dead

June 1, 2012

When Ali Reynolds learns that Jose Reyes--Santa Cruz County deputy sheriff and her former Arizona Police Academy classmate--has been shot and lies near death in the ICU, she rushes to help. At the hospital, Ali meets up with colleague Sister Anselm, a patient advocate for an illegal border crosser--a Jane Doe rape and beating victim, also in ICU. How are these two crimes connected? This tale of the Arizona border area boasts a vivid plot with twists, turns, surprises, and suspense aplenty. There's little character development, but to Jance's fans these guys are old friends. VERDICT This seventh Ali Reynolds mystery gets a terrific reading by Karen Ziemba; highly recommended. [The Touchstone hc was a New York Times best seller.--Ed.]--Cliff Glaviano, formerly with Bowling Green State Univ. Libs., OH

Copyright 2012 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 28, 2011
Bestseller Jance’s engaging seventh Ali Reynolds novel (after 2011’s Fatal Error) offers plenty of scope for the widowed former reporter, anchorwoman, and graduate of the Arizona Police Academy, who now heads a private charitable fund, to use her sleuthing talents. When 17-year-old Rose Ventana is found dead near the Mexican border, savagely beaten and tortured, the police assume she’s just another casualty of the drug wars. But Ali’s dear friend, Sister Anselm, thinks otherwise, and the two vigorous and persistent women discover links to other cases that suggest a serial killer at work. Meanwhile, the pair involve themselves in caring for the extended family of a local deputy, mysteriously wounded and suspected of dealing in drugs. Their own off-the-grid network of lawyers and security experts comes in handy for ferreting out leads. As usual, Ali charms the locals into giving valuable if inadvertent clues. Agent: Alice Volpe.