Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Overkill by J. A. Jance Narrator: Karen Ziemba
Series: Ali Reynolds #18
Published by Simon & Schuster Audio on April 1, 2025
Genres: Mystery
Length: 10 hours, 51 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Publisher
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm, Barnes & Noble, Apple
Chuck Brewster, the former business partner of Ali Reynolds’s husband B. Simpson, once carried on an affair with Clarice, B.’s first wife. So when he’s found murdered with Clarice standing nearby covered in blood, it seems an open and shut case.
But Clarice swears she’s innocent and begs for Ali’s help. At the same time, someone is targeting Camille Lee while she’s on the road for High Noon. Ali is swiftly running out of time to find the real killer and keep her employee safe in this high-octane thrill ride.
I have read all three series by J.A. Jance for a long time. I always recommend to read series in order. This Ali Reynolds series is probably the least realistic of the three, and is not based on law enforcement personnel like the other series. I still love it. Ali was a news anchor who was briefly in law enforcement and now works with her husband’s high-tech firm.
The characters are so diverse in so many ways. They are all pretty smart but they have their issues. Stuart is less involved with things as he has been caring for his great aunt who raised him. Cami has moved into sales and is doing very well. She has a stalker on a business trip to LA and things get scary from there. B’s ex-wife is arrested for the murder of his ex-partner. He is away on business and refuses to talk to her. Ali has just finished the taxes so she handles it all. She also has this year’s scholarship decisions to make which are exciting.
But that leaves me to talk about my favorite AI who is such a delight. Frig is not exactly law abiding but she sure gets the information. She is a great support to Ali in handling all these tasks which require information to do her best from end of life planning for Stuart’s aunt to figuring out who is stalking Cami and why, and to solving the murder of B.’s ex-partner. Ali even works to protect the easy suspects who law enforcement harass.
Frig is going through some interesting learning about slang. When asked to report only to Ali and keep quiet to others Frig says “Mother’s the word!” She has equated Mother with Mum. There are several of these humorous expressions and I loved them.
This series is a joy with the tech stuff, the Frig slang humor, the hard-working characters who improve people’s lives, the investigations and mysteries solved. Overkill had multiple fascinating plot lines which kept me fully engaged.
Narration:
Karen Ziemba is the narrator for the series and I enjoy her performance. She has varied and now familiar to me voices for each of the characters. I love her voice for Frigg! I was able to listen at a bit faster 1.6x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
About J. A. Jance
Judith Ann Jance is the top 10 New York Times bestselling author of the Joanna Brady series; the J. P. Beaumont series; three interrelated thrillers featuring the Walker family; and Edge of Evil, the first in a series featuring Ali Reynolds. Born in South Dakota and brought up in Bisbee, Arizona, Jance lives with her husband in Seattle, Washington, and Tucson, Arizona.
Series:
* J.P. Beaumont * Joanna Brady * Ali Reynolds * Walker Family
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I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 25-Audio
- 25-COYER
Glad you’re still loving this series, Anne💜 One day…
Thank you Jonetta. It’s just so much fun.
You’re right! This does sound like a fun type of series. I need to get to it at some point.
I enjoy the mystery and scientific aspects but in the beginning Ali is a tv host, then in law enforcement and finally married to a high tech entrepreneur. It’s a large number of books now but I have enjoyed them all.
I used to read JA Jance’s books all the time but got distracted years ago and somehow never made it back to her books. This sounds like a good series that I need to read!
I really enjoy all her series. Probably the Joann Brady the most, then this one, and last the JP Beaumont.
Wow, 18 books in and still one you’re really enjoying! That’s a good series! Thanks for sharing your thoughts on these.
yes the series like the characters have grown and changed a lot.
This sounds like a series I’d enjoy especially if you’re still loving it after 18 books!
You might. The older ones are older and Ali goes through many changes in career and circumstances.
I have not read one of her books in a while but I have always enjoyed them and her characters.
I’ve read every book in all her series. I really like them.
I LOVE a good set of characters.
That is a good part of what makes her series great.