Moving Target

Ali Reynolds #9

by J.A. Jance

In this high-stakes thriller from New York Times bestselling author J.A. Jance, Ali Reynolds spans continents to solve a cold case murder and to figure out who wants a young juvenile offender dead.

Lance Tucker, an incarcerated juvenile offender and talented hacker in his own right, is set on fire one night and severely burned while hanging Christmas decorations in a lockup rec room. B. Simpson, Ali Reynolds's fiancé and the man who helped put Lance in jail, feels obliged to get to the bottom of what happened. With Ali off in England to help Leland Brooks at a reunion with his long-estranged family, B. turns to someone else to help Ali's good friend and Taser-carrying nun, Sister Anselm.

Meanwhile, in Bournemouth, Leland's hometown, Ali begins to investigate the decades-old murder of Leland's father, which Leland himself was once suspected of committing. With unsolved murders on both sides of the Atlantic, Ali, B., and Sister Anselm are united by their search for answers and the jeopardy they get into as a result.

From the author praised for her "inimitable, take-no-prisoners style" (Kirkus Reviews), Moving Target sends Ali on a trans-Atlantic adventure and straight into the path of a deadly killer.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Audiobook, Crime, Suspense, Mystery Thriller

320 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 18, 2014

About the author

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

Reviews

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

it's always sad for me when I finish a J A Jance book, I read them so fast because they are always good. This one doesn't disappoint. I've been a follower of her levels for years, this is one in the Ali Reynolds series, very likeable characters always with lots of money to be able to do the cool detecting that she does.
I eagerly await her next novel. I hope it's Beaumont!

I was also fortunate enough to meet J A Jance at a book signing, she lives in the Seattle area as do I. she's a very nice woman who has a mind full of great stories.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is #9 in the series and I’ve enjoyed the storylines and characters in the previous 8 books. This one felt disjointed - half of the story takes place in TX and the other half overseas. Jance abandoned the AZ landscape which is one of the things I enjoyed up to now (yes, I’m biased 😁), and the ending introduced new topics and scenarios that came across as illogical or just “trying to land the plane.”

The author also enjoyed using her new phrase “squaring her shoulders” to illustrate determination which is a small point in the big picture. The first time - cool, the 6th time - annoying.

Still looking forward to #10!

[judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jance has been writing good mystery series' forever and I've been reading them for that long. Ali is rather a newbie (next to Brady and Beaumont)so I have not been as attached. I thought,however, Jance outdid herself on this one--making it the equal of any of the books in her older series. First, she managed to run two mysteries at once--gracefully (so many good authors fail at this). Second, she moves with the times. This book might be called a techno-thriller. How refreshing to have a heroine who is technologically competent far beyond using Microsoft Office and Photoshop. So, Ms. Jance, keep writing them and I'll keep reading them.

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

#9 in the Ali Reynolds series. Ali travels to England with her property manager Leland Brooks, she buys a wedding dress and uncovers the murderer of Leland's father 60 years earlier. On the home front, Ali and fiancée B work to discover who wants to murder brilliant hacker Lance Tucker. Tucker had hacked his school system computer, a client of B's and he had traced the hacker. The prison sentence for what was essentially a prank seems excessive.

Ali (Alison) Reynolds series -The former newscaster travels from Sedona, Ariz., to Phoenix, where friend Brenda Riley is filming a story on cyber-stalker Richard Lowensdale, whom Reynolds helped bring down (Fatal Error (2011)). 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.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this Ali Reynold's tale the are two concurrent themes going on, in one B. Simpson, Ali’s fiancé is drawn into the case of a high school boy who is finishing a term in Juvenile detention for hacking the school board’s server and is severely burned and injured while decorating the units Christmas tree and Ali and her “major domo” Leland are finally headed off to England to meet Leland’s relatives after a 60 year absence. Both threads become entangled and in B. case there are several murders, while in Leland’s he discovers some unhappy information and re-unites with an old friend. As usual Jance has delivered a good read.

[Sally Ember · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dragged in many places and just not that interesting, but had one or two good twists. Not really worth your time unless you're a fan of the series or high-tech security plots.

[Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two-haiku review:

Juvie teen is burned
Brilliant software programmer
Bad guys want program

Second plot also
I always enjoy Ali
Good characters, plot

[Taicarmel]

Jance, J.A. , Moving Target, (2014). Simon & Schuster, N.Y.

Welcome to the world of the super- rich where middle-aged women fly first-class to London for a week to buy a wedding dress, taking their senior employee as a treat. The groom owns a multinational cyber security company, while the senior's nephew lives in Knightsbridge with his partner who owns a chain of restaurants. Add in a taser-toting nun and an a SEAL trained priest and there is certainly plenty of room for action.
"Moving Target" is the ninth book in J.A. Jance' mystery series "Ali Reynolds" . She is a "best- selling and prolific American writer of mystery series" Although there are references to previous books in the series, relevant content is well explained. The lead character, Ali Reynolds, is a Media PA to her fiancé B.(Bart) Simpson who owns High Noon (yes, a reference to John Wayne).
The plot follows the involvement of a juvenile hacker who has been harshly imprisoned, and the activities of various unscrupulous companies (and High Noon) trying to acquire his programmes. There is a sub-plot concerning the family skeletons of Leyland Brooks, Ali's eighty-something "longtime aide-de-camp and majordomo".
The story is interesting enough with lots of plot complications. Resolution is predictably perfect with a symmetry of outcome that is almost mathematical. The writing style is simple and clear. There is an annoying duplication of text which screams for an editing eraser. The variety of characters are flat with insignificant development. The major theme are injustice, cyber security and greed.
Overall, though a light read, the mystery is sufficient to motivate a full reading to see all the t's crossed and i's dotted.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read some of the other reviews before I wrote this. I enjoyed this book. I do like the Joanna Brady series more, but have not seen one for awhile. This book was still a fast read for me-so I guess I liked it a lot!

It is funny to see how some people loved it and others just hated it and said Ms. Jance's writing had changed. I thought it had a lot going on, so it is always good to keep your mind trying to figure out all the story lines and what is going on.

I am happy when I have a good book to start with a writer I am familiar with and always sorry when I finish. Reading is my greatest pleasure.

[Sharneel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some interesting premises make this book tolerable. However, I have never read anything that so obviously has no clue about rights and protection of young people. I mean, they go to a school and have free reign to talk to students. In what cavalier, parallel universe does this occur? Also, after family members have been abducted, etc. other members are left unguarded or unmonitored. These oversights make this entire novel hard to accept except as a potential storyline with gaping holes of inadequacy.

[Mike French · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable book set in London and Texas instead of Sedona,AZ. If like J.A. Jance, you will enjoy this one!

[Rob1109 · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is my 3rd book I've read by Mrs. Jance. There will not be a fourth. I read one novel of hers, Left for Dead, which was very predictable. I figured out the murderer on page 90. I read a second book of hers, cant recall the name, which was just awful and unreadable. I put that one down after about 75 pages. I decided I'd give Ms. Jance one more chance and picked up `Moving Target.' I did finish it, just out of curiosity to see how much worse it could be. I'll break down my critique into several sections:

ONE:

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: There is none at all. You hope to feel something for the characters, identify with them, connect with them on some level. I felt nothing for any of them. They are all boring people.

Ali is engaged to be married in 3 weeks to "B." Yet, in spite of the upcoming wedding, there seems to be no spark between them. Nothing. She seems closer to Leland than she does to "B." (SPOILER) Example: In one scene. Ali and B meet up at an airport after not seeing each other for a week. With the wedding less than 3 weeks away, they walk up to each other and "hug." Ms. Jance makes no reference to either Ali or B being happy to see the other, a fluttering of the chest, a `happy to see you,' a sinking in the stomach. Nothing.

In another scene, Ali is involved in a car accident. The car rolls, flips and Ali passes out. When she comes to she is dazed, bruised but mostly ok. This occurs less than 3 weeks away before her wedding, the day after she purchased her wedding dress. A real person in this situation would wonder and hope they'll be ok for the wedding, that they wont be battered for their wedding photos. Yet, that thought never once enters her mind.
END SPOILER

I find Ali Reynolds to be an extremely weak protagonist. She is a former TV news reporter. She is also a former cop. Yet, she constantly asks, "What do we do now?", "Why?" "What does that mean?" You'd think a former reporter/former cop would know how to solve crimes and follow up leads. Instead, she ends up taking direction from "B", a computer guy and Leland, a butler in his 80's. Really????

TWO:

NAMES: What is it with "J.A" Jance and names? Why does she feel a need to give all siblings similar names? I understand, some parents may like names that start with a "T," for example. Or names that are alike, Timmy and Kimmy. Sure. But J.A takes it to an extreme. Ali's grandchildren (I think Grandchildren) are named Colin and Colleen. Leland is one of three siblings: Leland Lawrence and Langston. In this novel there are two twin sisters. Are you ready? Are you sitting down? Maisie and Daisy. And let's not forget the 2 dogs, Duke and Duchess. Ms Jance, please, some creativity would be nice.
There's also Ali's fiancée, Bart. But he goes by "B." He never tells anyone his name is Bart. He introduces himself as `Hi, I'm B." and yet no one, just to make conversation, asks what the B stands for.

THREE:

FACTUAL ERROR (spoiler) In one scene, LeAnne goes to the cops to report her mom missing. The cops advise her that until she is missing 48 hours they can't help. This is NOT TRUE. If the person missing is considered to be a danger to themselves or possibly to someone else, the cops most certainly can search for this person. This is something I am well aware of.

FOUR:

WRITING STYLE. True, this is just my opinion but I find her writing style completely unbelievable--for several reasons: 1) People talk differently. Based on age, education, gender, career. Think of another book or even a movie. Or real life. We all use different words, different terminology. A 65 year old US Senator would speak differently than a 35 year-old school teacher and both would speak differently than an 8 year old child. However, in Moving Target (and her other 2 books) there is no difference in the `language.' Leland is a butler in his 80's, Sister Anselm is a nun in her 70's, Ali is, I believe, in her 50's, LeAnne is a single mom in her 30's, Lance is a 17 year old kid in high school. Yet, they all talk similarly. IMPOSSIBLE.
Another example (SPOILER) of her poor use and unbelievable use of dialogue is one scene involving LeAnee and Connor. LeAnne is Connor's mom and she is advising Connor that Lance,--her son, his older brother--needed to have part of his leg amputated and will be using a "prosthetic." Well, Connor must be quite a bright kid. He is just 6 years old and never asks what a prosthetic is. Do YOU know kids that age who know what a prosthetic is? I sure don't. (END SPOILER)

Another example of what I feel is a poor writing style is this: For much of the book, the word `stark' had not been used. Then, suddenly, Ms. Jance used `stark' 4 times within about 10 pages: Stark naked, stark cold, stark dread, stark terror. Yikes. I was being driven stark raving mad.

There is little diversity in her dialogue. When people speak, they almost always do one of the 3 things: sigh, nod or grumbled. "Ali grumbled," "B sighed," "Ali sighed," "Ali nodded." "LeeAnn grumbed." Give me a break. Have someone yell, bark, roar, clip, snap...something.

However, this most annoying, unreal and unbelievable aspect of this book, the part of her writing style that almost makes this book unreadable--and actually laughable--is her excessive dialogue. Or really, I should say "monologue." Think of the last "conversation" you had with someone. When two people converse, they do exactly that--they converse. A conversation goes back and forth. Rarely does one person talk for 3-4 minutes non-stop and then the other person talks for 3-4 minutes non-stop---or in the case of a book, unless you're explaining something. But in regular normal conversation, people don't do that. This book does not have "dialogue," instead it has back and forth monologues. The entire novel is like this but I've included one example that shows this. This is an excerpt from page 207. Lance is in the hospital. He calls home and is talking to LeAnne (his mother) on the phone. He asks her to bring down his Transformers. Now, a normal response from a mom would be, "Okay" or "Sure, honey, where are they?" But instead, when Lance requests his Transformers, this is--word for word--what follows:

***LeAnne laughed. "Of course I remember your box of Transformers. How could I forget? You were totally addicted to them by the time you were four. I thought when you started with computers, you'd get over that fad but you never did. The last time you caught Connor trying to play with them, you almost bit his head off. I saved them for you and I put them on top shelf of my closet so he wouldn't be tempted again."
"Would you mind bringing them to the hopistal?"
LeAnne blinked in surprise. "You're kidding, right? You're almost eighteen years old, you've spent the better part of the last year in jail, and for the last two weeks you've been in a hospital bed hovering on the verge of death but now you want to play with your Transformers?"***

Now, seriously, can you imagine that? The poor kid asks one simple question and gets a lecture. This is what Ms. Jance does throughout the entire novel.

Now, in all fairness to Ms. Jance, she is an older woman. She will be 70 this year. Others have given this book 4 and 5 stars. My mom LOVES reading Jance novels. So, perhaps, it's me. I'm not a kid,. I'm beyond middle age. But much of the phrases and words she uses, both in narrative AND in dialogue/monologue are...well, words you'd expect your grandmother to use. Three different times Ms. Jance uses the expression `The Kings Ransom.' "LeAnne walked to the lot, paid the king's ransom and retrieved her car." "B", Ali's non-emotional robotic fiancé who is only a few years older than me, uses expressions that my grandmother would use. In one scene, he uses the expression, "Sauce for the goose." W-T-H does that mean???

As for the novel itself, there is nothing interesting here, no surprises, no twists, no turns. The plot is boring and simply drags along.
I've never given 1 star to a book I've finished. In the past, if I deem the book so awful that I cant get through it, I will give it 1 star. Any book I finish reading--even if it's bad--I will still at least 2 stars. However, I have to break with my own tradition. Although I completed this novel, I can't in good conscience give it even 2 stars. There's nothing here to warrant 2.

[Elliott · Rating 3 out of 5]

this is my first book by J.A. Jance, so yet again I've started a series midway. this is a kind of mystery/thriller. the computer bits are very fluffy - maybe this was written a few years ago, but it's hard for me to imagine now that people don't know what the dark web is. I mean, I know, and I'm not even engaged to some guy who owns a very successful cybersecurity company. basically, all of the technical stuff is carefully explained so everyone can follow along. I was surprised that we would be introduced to likeable characters and then they'd be quickly killed off. nonetheless, everything is wrapped up pretty neatly by the end. it does seem like you could easily jump into the series at any point and get plenty of background to know who's who and what's what (there are a lot of moving parts in the multiple plots in this book), but if you've been reading along chronologically, you would get the bonus of seeing the characters' stories advance and seeing how decisions from past novels have consequences.

[John Olson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book took so long to get going. Not one my favorites by ms Jance.

[Eric B · Rating 4 out of 5]

None of these are great works, but usually entertaining. This one provided the required entertainment. And you learn a lot about Leland.

[Marcy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series. Quick reads

[Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read somewhere that this is J. A. Jance’s 50th book. I believe this is the 9th book in the Ali Reynolds series. This book has two complicated mysteries one in England and one in Texas. Ali and Leland are in England to meet his family and B Simpson is in Texas looking into the ‘accident” of a young teenage computer hacker that his company had caught on behalf of their client the school district. Jance does a good job with developing the characters and the story details; it was no problem juggling the two mysteries in my mind while reading. The story has lots of technology and internet intrigue which sort of gives a warning about the security of your information on the net. I noted that Jance had the DNA scientist in the story been denied admittance to Oxford because she was a woman. The character goes to the USA to University and comes back to take over her Uncles DNA lab next to Oxford and only hires women. I had read that Jance was denied admission to the University of Arizona’s creative writing program because she was a woman. Women have made some progressed on the road to equality. Looks like this book is setting up for the next one to have Ali’s and B’s wedding. Karen Ziemba does a good job narrating the story.

[Debbie Maskus · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the first book by J A Jance that I have read, and I enjoyed the novel. I strongly disliked the use of an initial instead of a name. This feature will probably prevent me from reading more of the long list of J A Jance novels. I always enjoy a novel that has one than one plot, which this book contains. This is an advance and unedited copy, and the book contains many errors. I felt the characterization of Ali Reynolds to be a little weak. In the beginning, I felt that Ali was a young woman in her 20's or 30's, when Ali is probably in her 50's. I guess that the books covering Ali Reynolds need to be read in sequence, so I missed many of the events of Ali's life. I never felt that any of the characters are flesh and bones. The book is fast moving with plenty of action.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the latest in a series that shaping up to be very good. I've always been a J A Jance fan and one of the things I've always loved most about her books is her ability to allow her characters to grow, develop, and age over time. The plot of this particular book was very engaging, and the pacing was good. Jance has introduced some larger than life resources that allow her principal characters to do things we all wish we could manage ---and at remarkable speed. Sometimes this is a turnoff for me as a reader, but in this particular instance it facilitated a degree of complexity & excitement that I enjoyed. Fans of the Sharon McComb series will like this series as well.

[Eldon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have read a lot of J.A. Jance but not so much recently. This book reminded me of why. Too many times something happens and then she needs to make sure we understand what happened by explaining it a couple of times. Seems like just a way to fill up pages. I find it takes away from the kind of tension I want to see building in a mystery novel. Or maybe I am just less interested since she stopped wrting exclusively about Seattle.

[TeriC · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another really good book in the Ali Reynolds series. Jance's books are always so interesting.

[DelAnne Frazee · Rating 5 out of 5]

TitlTitle: Moving Target - Ali Reynolds Book 9
Author: J. A. Jance
Publisher: Touchstone
Published: 3-1-2014
Pages: 496
Genre: Mystery, Thrillers & Suspense
Sub-Genre: Action & Adventure; International Mystery & Crime; Police Procedurals
ISBN: 9781476745008
ASIN: B00DPM7TW2
Reviewed For NetGalley and Touchstone
Reviewer: DelAnne
Rating: 4.75 Stars


In this “engrossing” (Publishers Weekly) thriller from New York Times bestselling author J.A. Jance, journalist- turned-investigator Ali Reynolds unearths a cold case that puts her in danger from a deadly arsonist.


Lance Tucker, an incarcerated juvenile offender and talented hacker in his own right, is set on fire one night and severely burned while hanging Christmas decorations in a lockup rec room. B. Simpson, Ali Reynolds’s fiancé and the man who helped put Lance in jail, feels obliged to get to the bottom of what happened. With Ali off in England to help Leland Brooks at a reunion with his long-estranged family, B. turns to someone else to help out—Ali’s good friend and Taser-carrying nun, Sister Anselm.


Meanwhile, in Bournemouth—Leland’s hometown—Ali begins to investigate the decades-old murder of Leland’s father, which Leland himself was once suspected of committing. With unsolved murders on both sides of the Atlantic, Ali, B., and Sister Anselm are united by their search for answers—and the jeopardy they get into as a result.


I have been reading the Ali Reynolds series for sure and have seen her character to grow, mature and develop. She is now a strong, independent and self assured. He bring confidence to those around her that she will search out and find the answers. Jance has describes some beautiful scenes in England and conveys the chilling threat of suspenseful scenes. As you read you will fall into the story becoming more and more involved in the events. Even though this is ninth in a series it can be read without reading the previous books without much trouble.


My rating of "Moving Target" is 4.75 out of 5 stars.


Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DPM7TW2/...

B&N Link: My rating of "Moving Target" is 4.75 out of 5 stars.

GoodReads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

The Reading Room Link: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.ph...

Twitter Link: https://twitter.com/DelAnne531/status...

[Nolan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This isn't the strongest book in the series, but it was good enough that I have no regrets about the time I spent reading it. It essentially has two plots, the British plot felt stupid, largely meaningless, and more of a distraction than anything else. The author could have entirely excised that portion of the book, and almost no one would miss it. The action that happens on the American side, on the other hand, is sizzling hot. That's the story that has the greatest strength.

It's days before Ali Reynolds's wedding. She and her long-time butler, Leland go to England, the place of his birth. Their plan is to flush out the murderer of his father. This plot was largely unimpressive and barely worth the time it took to read. I'm grateful it was as short as it was.

Meanwhile, back in Texas, a young teenager suffers horrific burns at a juvenile detention center while he attempts to decorate a Christmas tree. Prior to his incarceration, Lance Tucker crafted a program that would allow him to essentially explore the dark web invisibly. He called the program Ghost, and he initially designed it to push back against his school's policy of forcing all students to wear tracking bracelets. But some nefarious people got wind of his program, and they sought to both incarcerate and later kill him.

This is a good, strong plot. Fortunately, it represents the main portion of the book. If you read the book, this is the mystery you'll want to focus on. I was surprised both by some of the actions of the characters and buy a highly satisfactory ending.

After some thought, I'm suggesting it's best if you can read the previous books in the series before you tackle this one. You will have a better understanding of Ali and her relationship to the other support characters.

[Emma E Frost · Rating 4 out of 5]

I kept thinking I had read this book before. I don't know if I had, but didn't know how it ended. It is perhaps because the second puzzle, involving a hospital patient for Sister Anselm to watch over, was very familiar. Have I read it by JA Jance before? OR another author? Either way, this is a well written energetic book. Jance's writing is always a joy to read, and I get immersed in the action. The first puzzle is set in the UK, and it is obvious Jance has never been there. Some of the details were glaringly wrong to this British reader, but not wrong enough to make me toss the book aside. I am not sure I am happy with the way that puzzle ended, ie left hanging, perhaps she will pick it up in the next book. I am not really sure why Ali and Leland had to go to the UK. I know that Leland wanted to return home at the end of the previous book, but that could have happened between the novels. The second puzzle was more Ali's line, with a hospital patient in danger from an unknown criminal. Once again Sister Anselm was on hand to protect the patient when Ali wasn't able to. At least there was no shoot out, or physical harm coming to any of the "team", makes a change in this day and age, when protagonist have to almost die at the end of each adventure. Lost a star for the distracting wrong details in the UK, and for the unnecessary trauma for the youngest child.

[Jovdb · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

A worthy addition to the Ali Reynolds series.

Ali and Leyland head off to England. Leyland hasn’t been back in decades, not since he left because his being gay was not accepted by his family. Now he meets some of his remaining relatives and discovers that his father’s death, years ago, was actually murder, an unsolved murder. Ali, with the help of Stu and B at High Noon, discover the truth behind that death.

Meanwhile, back in Texas, a young boy, Lance, is nearly done his rather harsh sentence for a cyber crime. B, and High Noon, were involved in finding the evidence that convicted Lance. So, when Lance becomes a target, B gets involved. Lance had written code for a new programme, GHOST, that would change the computer landscape.

B was interested in Lance’s programme but so were other computer companies. As the quest for Lance’s programme becomes more deadly, B, Ali, and Stu, along with the help of Sister A, race to find the competitors before more people are hurt or killed.

Leyland is such a great character. I think that he and Sister A are probably my favourites.

The series is really coming along. It is so much better now that Ali is no longer involved with that blog!

[Carole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lance Tucker, a 17-year-old, had never been in trouble before; but then he hacked into the school internet. He received a very stiff sentence, six month in the county Juvenile Justice Center; one month short of his release, as he is decorating the center's Christmas tree, someone lights him on fire. He ends up in the hospital badly burned and losing a leg. B. Simpson and his fiance Ali Reynolds become involved in his case since B. had testified against him in his trial because B.'s company had discovered that Lance was the one who broke into the school's internet system. B. not only feels guilty for his involvement in Lance's incarceration but wants to hire him for his exceptional gift in coding and for creating a very advanced system for investigating the dark web. But none of this matters if Lance is murdered or his family is harmed so B. sets out to find who is trying to harm Lance and his family and to protect them at the same time.

[Sandra de Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another of the Ali Reynolds books. Is she an investigator? I’m not sure what her official job is. Her fiancé is B. Simpson who owns and runs a huge high tech company. The two of them together get involved in all sorts of things. In this book, Ali’s butler/friend Leland is returning to England to see his family for the first time in decades. He was shunned for being gay, and his evil brother got him written out of the will for supposedly spying during the Korean War. He didn’t, of course. Meanwhile, back in the states, B. is trying to help a juvenile offender who was nearly murdered and accused of causing his own injuries. The offender is famous in the hacker world and created a huge program that everyone, including a Mexican cartel, wants. This is a suspenseful, action-packed novel, with deaths, kidnapping, threats, and more. I'd have given it five stars, but there were so many (necessary) characters, it was sometimes hard to keep track.

[Susan Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting story with a rather slow start as characters were introduced or reintroduced and explanations of relationships were explored. This book opens as our "heroine" is preparing for her wedding to B. There are really two cases involved with this book and they do not intersect as they sometimes do in mystery stories. One involves a visit by Ali and Leyland, her # 1 "employee" to England to meet with some of his family of long ago. The second involves computer hacking and the near fatal injury of a young student in a detention facility. This second tends to be the main story, however, the family relationships of Leonard's family and the circumstances of why he never returned to England are equally compelling.

I will continue to read this series even though I did not quite enjoy this book as much as I have the previous ones.

Borrowed from the Savannah, GA library system.

[Maritn Priddy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the usual story where Ali falls into to a murder she needs to solve. This is a very good short read. The book is of average length, but all of Jance's books are good page turners. Of course, as is the case in all of her books I have read so far, it is obvious to a person that knows technology in depth that this author does not follow tech. This is all right as this book is written for the average person and not the tech enthusiast. The Hacker has every skill you ever read about, when for the most part hackers are not like this. This is a very good page turner with plenty of plot twist to keep you involved without being excessive. When this happens, it is hard to keep track of all the characters. I think some authors do this to hide weak points of plot. This is a 3 Ace book.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read with two mysteries/stories. Ali returns with Leland Brooks to England only to find that his father was murdered shortly after Leland left in an unsolved case. Back in Texas, a young man is set afire in a juvenile detention home, which puts B. on alert that he may be in danger. As more deaths ensue, B. and Stu uncover possible suspects and send tips to the police, who are unaware that these deaths are not accidental. Then the kidnappings begin and the young man, a talented hacker, tries to protect his family by paying ransom with the new program he has designed. Chaos ensues, but Ali gets to shoot one of the bad guys, in her attempt to protect the young man's family. Highly readable.