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Ali Reynolds #18
OverKill
From J.A. Jance, a writer whose thrillers are “hot and getting hotter” (
Booklist
), the latest in her
New York Times
bestselling and heart-pounding Ali Reynolds series.
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.
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.
336 pages, Hardcover
Published April 1, 2025
466 people are currently reading
479 people want to read
About the author
J.A. Jance
117 books4,177 followersJudith 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
Series:
* J.P. Beaumont
* Joanna Brady
* Ali Reynolds
* Walker Family
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 253 reviews
April 16, 2025
Ali's back with another mystery with the high noon gang!! This time B's Ex wife may have been framed for murder along with their housekeeper. Also Cammy is been followed and may have averted being kidnapped again, and her back story goes deeper than we thought!
Solid 4,5 Stars!!!!
Keep 'em coming "Ms Jance"
Solid 4,5 Stars!!!!
Keep 'em coming "Ms Jance"
December 21, 2024
I have to shetland up, I have been thinking that the Ali Reynolds series has been in decline for some time but Overkill by J.A. Jance shows what a fantastic storyteller she is. Wonderfully written and filled with twist like nothing else. I won't spoil the fun, mothers the word but I like the fact that one of the oldest authors I read is the one with most computer AI in her books. I really enjoyed reading this book and recommend it to all fans of good fiction out there. Thanks to Edelweiss , Simon & Schuster and Gallery Books for letting me read this advance copy.
July 25, 2025
I just finished “Overkill “by J.A. Jance (Ali Reynolds #18). J.A. Jance skillfully weaves two major plotlines and a charming minor thread through this installment of the Ali Reynolds series. Her storytelling makes it easy to follow the shifting dynamics—much like real life, where multiple threads unfold at once. I especially appreciated how she resurrected an event from several books ago, seamlessly advancing the timeline and reigniting the conflict involving Camille Lee. It's a satisfying blend of continuity and fresh suspense.
I enjoyed this audiobook edition, narrated by the talented Karen Ziemba. Her performance brought clarity and energy to the story’s twists and turns. At just under eleven hours (10h 51m), it was a gripping listen from start to finish.
Looking forward to the next Ali Reynolds adventure!
I enjoyed this audiobook edition, narrated by the talented Karen Ziemba. Her performance brought clarity and energy to the story’s twists and turns. At just under eleven hours (10h 51m), it was a gripping listen from start to finish.
Looking forward to the next Ali Reynolds adventure!
July 15, 2025
Decent story due to its end.
April 16, 2025
It's been awhile since I've read a JA Jance book. It was just what I needed today. I like the characters she creates. They have a brain and a heart which is usually in short supply when it comes to characters in the Crime & Mystery genres.
A woman and her maid are charged/accused of being responsible for the husband's murder. In swoops the team to pull them out the mess they find themselves in. I enjoyed the journey and the way the clues were given and the proof was found. The ending was a little too warm and fuzzy, but that is what this author does. So 4 stars.
A woman and her maid are charged/accused of being responsible for the husband's murder. In swoops the team to pull them out the mess they find themselves in. I enjoyed the journey and the way the clues were given and the proof was found. The ending was a little too warm and fuzzy, but that is what this author does. So 4 stars.
April 7, 2025
Overkill by JA Jance is proof solid that one never gets too old to write an impressive novel, full of technology and flair. Ali Reynolds is one of her best characters, in a stable of excellent characters. More importantly is Frigg, an AI that Lance had “rescued” several years earlier. He was a God-send despite the fact that his lessons in right/wrong and legal/illegal were not taking hold. That often proved to be a blessing. Ali had answered a call meant for B, who was out of town, only to discover that it was his ex-wife who had been arrested for murdering her husband, once B’s best friend and partner, and was looking for help. She immediately told Frigg to research it and resolved to tell B at the first opportunity. Well, that hadn’t gone well, but Ali and Frigg kept investigating. Cami, meanwhile was on a sales trip to California and had felt she was being watched, then when she ran into a rough looking man several times, she panicked and called the security B had set up for just this sort of situation. She was retrieved shortly and taken to safety. All of a sudden High Noon had a lot going on.
Ali is a sixty-ish woman who had lived several previous lives, including that of a news program anchor. She had been let go over her age and that and a few other things had led her to B and High Noon, a cybersecurity concern that had clients all over the world. Cami has proven to be an excellent salesperson and traveled to sell their services to multiple clients. This book is full of interesting characters, most just doing their daily jobs. It is written in segments, jumping from one storyline to the next. This technique keeps the story moving along nicely. The plot (s) were good and watching Frigg grow has been a high point in the most recent of novels. In this one, he basically solved the murder on his own, cleverly, I might add. A terrific addition to a wonderful series.
I was invited to read Overkill by Gallery Books. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #GalleryBooks #JAJance #Overkill
Ali is a sixty-ish woman who had lived several previous lives, including that of a news program anchor. She had been let go over her age and that and a few other things had led her to B and High Noon, a cybersecurity concern that had clients all over the world. Cami has proven to be an excellent salesperson and traveled to sell their services to multiple clients. This book is full of interesting characters, most just doing their daily jobs. It is written in segments, jumping from one storyline to the next. This technique keeps the story moving along nicely. The plot (s) were good and watching Frigg grow has been a high point in the most recent of novels. In this one, he basically solved the murder on his own, cleverly, I might add. A terrific addition to a wonderful series.
I was invited to read Overkill by Gallery Books. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #GalleryBooks #JAJance #Overkill
April 8, 2025
In OverKill, Ali Reynolds investigates the murder of her husband's ex-business partner, at the rather desperate request of her husband's ex-wife, newly widowed by the death. Also suspected: the long-estranged son of the victim and his husband.
This is the first J.A. Jance book I've read. I suspect my biggest problem with the book is unique to this one. Much of the investigating is done by an A.I., some at its own initiative. The A.I., named Frig, updates Ali on where police investigations currently stand (I guess Frig has a human on the inside), looks into personal and criminal backgrounds, finds phone numbers, phones Ali with news updates, and banters with Ali. Ali casually mentions to other characters "Frig told me" something and no one reacts as though it's bizarre or creepy, which leads me to believe that this series takes place in a parallel nightmare universe, a different nightmare universe than our own. The book takes place in 2023 but it doesn't seem like "our" 2023. I didn't catch many modern references. Anyway, the many mentions of Frig and the relatively few mentions of seemed strange, as did the
This is the first J.A. Jance book I've read. I suspect my biggest problem with the book is unique to this one. Much of the investigating is done by an A.I., some at its own initiative. The A.I., named Frig, updates Ali on where police investigations currently stand (I guess Frig has a human on the inside), looks into personal and criminal backgrounds, finds phone numbers, phones Ali with news updates, and banters with Ali. Ali casually mentions to other characters "Frig told me" something and no one reacts as though it's bizarre or creepy, which leads me to believe that this series takes place in a parallel nightmare universe, a different nightmare universe than our own. The book takes place in 2023 but it doesn't seem like "our" 2023. I didn't catch many modern references. Anyway, the many mentions of Frig and the relatively few mentions of seemed strange, as did the
June 7, 2025
4+ stars, rounded up to 5
Never disappointed with J. A. Jance. This was great… multifaceted plots with intriguing twists and satisfactory resolutions to all. Just love reading about Frigg, the AI computerized info center who seems more human with each installment. Makes one wonder what they’d do without her.
Treat yourself this summer to a fast enjoyable read with relatable characters and true locations. When I read that she pointed out the Hotel Sorrento in Seattle, it brought back memories of an anniversary we spent at this remarkable hotel, and whetted our desire to go back.
Thank you Judith for another entertaining installment in the lives of Ali and B Simpson. Look forward to whatever you have coming up next. Keep 'em coming!
Never disappointed with J. A. Jance. This was great… multifaceted plots with intriguing twists and satisfactory resolutions to all. Just love reading about Frigg, the AI computerized info center who seems more human with each installment. Makes one wonder what they’d do without her.
Treat yourself this summer to a fast enjoyable read with relatable characters and true locations. When I read that she pointed out the Hotel Sorrento in Seattle, it brought back memories of an anniversary we spent at this remarkable hotel, and whetted our desire to go back.
Thank you Judith for another entertaining installment in the lives of Ali and B Simpson. Look forward to whatever you have coming up next. Keep 'em coming!
April 3, 2025
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
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
Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
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
May 17, 2025
I’m now beginning to think of the AI, Frigg, as another character. This book has several stories. Ali’s husband B. Simpson’s first wife who left him for his partner and friend, Chuck, tries to reach B when she is charged for Chuck’s murder. B wants nothing to do with her, but Ali and Frigg are convinced that she is innocent and they are overseeing the case and sending information from Arizona. At the same time, Camille Lee, High Noon Enterprises salesperson is being targeted and followed. With Frigg’s help and High Noon’s resources Camille tries to figure out who has targeted her and why. . A good read.
May 6, 2025
Easy, quick read with characters I’ve always cared about and a plot that makes the pages fly by…In “Overkill,” like many of the JA Jance mysteries, we have multiple storylines competing for our attention…Ali Reynolds and her husband B’s cyber-security company, High Noon, is under attack again, B’s ex-wife is charged with murder, the household is undergoing changes and Ali has important scholarships to award the will change the lives of deserving Sonoma area graduates…Good fun!!!
April 9, 2025
Jance is so good at presenting lots of information from different activities (investigations) going on at the same time in a way that readers can follow and understand how actions by some characters will impact other characters. She does include the location, date, and time at the start of each chapter, but I only look at the location since I can't keep track of the dates and times as I read the book. That WWS organization is fantastic and I wish it really existed!! I also appreciated the role of the cat in this story.
May 26, 2025
Chuck Brewster is found stabbed to death and his wife and maid are being held responsible. Claire calls
For help and reaches Ali. The investigation is on in this fast moving mystery with twists and suspicious
Characters. I enjoyed the book that switched from Seattle to Sedona, lLos Angles and London to come to
A satisfying conclusion with betrayals,secrets, greed,and more. Recommended!
For help and reaches Ali. The investigation is on in this fast moving mystery with twists and suspicious
Characters. I enjoyed the book that switched from Seattle to Sedona, lLos Angles and London to come to
A satisfying conclusion with betrayals,secrets, greed,and more. Recommended!
April 15, 2025
Not my favorite book in the series . I love the characters and the audio book narration was amazing! I hope for more books on the series!!
May 31, 2025
another great book in the Ali series 👏 👌
June 5, 2025
Interesting.
October 19, 2025
I’m a big J A Jance fan. Overkill, in the Ali Reynolds series, follows the usual formula for Jance’s books, but it was fast paced and interesting. I enjoyed it.
April 29, 2025
A fun mystery. Several concurrent plots keep the action going. Ali can’t help but get involved in all kinds of other people’s business.
October 9, 2025
I get the decline bit by Jance on the Ali series. I agree this one was quite different. I felt attached to the story. Well written by a great storyteller.
April 5, 2025
Really great as usual. Two or three mysteries all at once makes this a real thriller. Cami comes into her own in this one and Ali and Frigg as usual are wonderful.
April 17, 2025
Maybe I just understand AI better but Frigg made more sense. Ali is still not my favorite character but this was a tinge better than most in the series.
December 2, 2025
2.5 rounded up. Didn’t get the point of one of the plotlines. Predicted the outcome in chapter 3 and was waiting to be proven wrong, even in the last 30 pages. A twist, something I missed, anything. Instead, the mystery is solved 1/2 to 2/3 of the way through and there’s minimal detail or suspense after that. Not a thriller for me.
August 3, 2025
This is another exciting and layered addition to the Ali Reynolds series. I really enjoyed how J.A. Jance continues to blend traditional mystery with high-tech elements - Ali’s investigative work, once again supported by Frigg (the AI system), adds a modern and intriguing twist to the classic 'who did it' format.
The plot is fast-paced and full of twists, with two major storylines unfolding simultaneously: the murder of Chuck Brewster and the threats against Camille Lee. I liked how both stories felt distinct yet remained connected through the High Noon team. The alternating storylines kept the pace moving and made it hard to stop reading.
One thing I really appreciated was the depth of the recurring characters, Ali, B, and the rest of the High Noon crew. We get updates on several characters' lives, which helps keep the world of the series feeling lived-in and real. The scenes shift between Arizona, California, Washington, and even London, giving the story an almost cinematic feel.
There are a lot of characters to keep track of, and I occasionally had to remind myself who was who, but everything ties together in the end. My only small complaint is that the ending felt a bit rushed after all the buildup. I wanted a little more time to breathe after the big reveals.
Still, this was a solid, engaging mystery with great suspense, complex characters, and just the right amount of action. If you’ve been following the series, Overkill is definitely worth the read!
My copy of this book was provided by NetGalley and Gallery Books for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The plot is fast-paced and full of twists, with two major storylines unfolding simultaneously: the murder of Chuck Brewster and the threats against Camille Lee. I liked how both stories felt distinct yet remained connected through the High Noon team. The alternating storylines kept the pace moving and made it hard to stop reading.
One thing I really appreciated was the depth of the recurring characters, Ali, B, and the rest of the High Noon crew. We get updates on several characters' lives, which helps keep the world of the series feeling lived-in and real. The scenes shift between Arizona, California, Washington, and even London, giving the story an almost cinematic feel.
There are a lot of characters to keep track of, and I occasionally had to remind myself who was who, but everything ties together in the end. My only small complaint is that the ending felt a bit rushed after all the buildup. I wanted a little more time to breathe after the big reveals.
Still, this was a solid, engaging mystery with great suspense, complex characters, and just the right amount of action. If you’ve been following the series, Overkill is definitely worth the read!
My copy of this book was provided by NetGalley and Gallery Books for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 21, 2025
It’s almost a cardinal rule of mystery series that the character who provides the series name plays a central role in the story. Sherlock Holmes mysteries feature Sherlock Holmes, and Nero Wolfe mysteries feature Nero Wolfe (although neither detective narrates his stories). However, in J. A. Jance’s new Ali Reynolds novel “OverKill” (the spelling is not a typo), Ali plays a minor role in the story and never comes within hundreds of miles of the action. This unusual framing device makes the story more interesting and a typical delight for Jance’s fans.
Ali Reynolds is a former television news anchor who married B. Simpson, the CEO of one of the world’s top cybersecurity firms, High Noon Enterprises. She is now the company’s CFO and lives in semi-retirement in Arizona. “OverKill” begins with the brutal murder of Charles Brewster, the former business partner of High Noon’s CEO and a wealthy video game executive in his own right. The murder occurred on the night of the victim’s 60th birthday party, where he hosted a party attended by many friends and relatives. The police quickly arrest his wife, Clarice, who was found wandering around the house in a daze, holding the knife used to kill Charles. Clarice was B.’s first wife, who left him to marry Brewster, so when Clarice calls B. asking for help, he refuses to talk to her.
Fortunately for Clarice (and for readers), Ali helps her. Later, police attention focuses on the Brewsters’ housekeeper, who began cleaning up party debris the next morning before encountering Clarice with the murder weapon. Ali doubts either woman is guilty, so she investigates. I use the word “investigates” loosely here. Ali’s help consists primarily of arranging legal aid for both women and eliciting the help of Frigg, a High Noon AI with a knack for finding pertinent records. Ali and Frigg also assist Cami Lee, a High Noon sales executive who narrowly evades a stalker. She later faces additional danger in London, where she’s gone on another sales call. When a dead body connected with Cami’s past turns up in England, she becomes a person of interest, even though she was in the United States when the murder occurred.
“OverKill” is a hybrid mystery. Readers don’t know who killed Charles Brewster at first, but the murderer’s identity is revealed about halfway through the book. The killer in the London case is also revealed early, along with the details of the plot against Cami and High Noon. As often happens in this type of mystery, the police are a bit slower in closing in on the villains. However, once they convince themselves who is guilty, they still must gather enough evidence to gain convictions.
The author does an excellent job of juggling three separate ongoing investigations, allowing readers to follow them. Police in Seattle, London, and, later, suburban Los Angeles are on the case. (The author helps readers avoid confusion by having each chapter include a time-and-place heading.) The police in those jurisdictions do much of the investigation. Jance includes details of police surveillance and the interrogation of suspects, providing examples of the tactics employed. That police work sometimes leads them to focus on the wrong person, such as the Brewsters’ housekeeper. However, the cops on the case aren’t the bullheaded zealots sometimes found in mystery fiction. Instead, they change their focus and tactics as fresh evidence emerges. Much of “OverKill” reads like a typical police procedural with a bonus for readers by having three different sets of police to follow.
While the police do the legwork in “OverKill,” Frigg handles the behind-the-scenes investigation. Frigg is an AI version of Penelope from “Criminal Minds,” with an uncanny ability to access and search police, phone, and financial records to uncover relevant evidence. The author also gives Frigg a personality quirk. Frigg has trouble mastering colloquial English, which often results in the AI uttering malapropisms, such as saying a suspect has been “trained” instead of “railroaded.” These slippages were entertaining at first, but I grew tired of them after the fifth or sixth time the author resorted to them.
Ali’s appearances in “OverKill” are pretty limited. Her primary function in the investigations consists of feeding valuable information to the attorneys, police, or similar entities. She seldom appears in the novel’s second half. Instead of observing Ali as an investigator, readers see Ali helping a worthy high school student secure a scholarship and assisting with funeral arrangements for an employee’s deceased relative. Fortunately, most of Ali’s altruism occurs early in the book, so these scenes don’t become major distractions later. Those (like me) who are new to the Ali Reynolds series may be confused about the names of some of Ali’s friends and employees that figure
peripherally in the storyline. Although “OverKill” is a standalone mystery, readers who are familiar with Ali’s backstory in previous books will be better able to follow these anecdotes.
I enjoyed “OverKill,” although its unusual plot structure took some getting used to on my part. Fans of forensic investigation work will enjoy Frigg’s efforts here (although not so much for its mishandling of colloquial English). Those who want a good procedural will also find some entertaining and illuminating sequences. The police officers in the book are portrayed as having personalities rather than being one-dimensional stereotypes. I could have done without the looks at Ali’s personal life, but fortunately, the author inserts those sequences in spots where they are less obtrusive. I’ve read a couple of Jance’s earlier books (although this is my first Ali Reynolds novel). It’s not overkill for me to say that “OverKill” is an entertaining and fitting addition to her canon.
NOTE: The publisher graciously provided me with a copy of this book through NetGalley. However, the decision to review the book and the contents of this review are entirely my own.
Ali Reynolds is a former television news anchor who married B. Simpson, the CEO of one of the world’s top cybersecurity firms, High Noon Enterprises. She is now the company’s CFO and lives in semi-retirement in Arizona. “OverKill” begins with the brutal murder of Charles Brewster, the former business partner of High Noon’s CEO and a wealthy video game executive in his own right. The murder occurred on the night of the victim’s 60th birthday party, where he hosted a party attended by many friends and relatives. The police quickly arrest his wife, Clarice, who was found wandering around the house in a daze, holding the knife used to kill Charles. Clarice was B.’s first wife, who left him to marry Brewster, so when Clarice calls B. asking for help, he refuses to talk to her.
Fortunately for Clarice (and for readers), Ali helps her. Later, police attention focuses on the Brewsters’ housekeeper, who began cleaning up party debris the next morning before encountering Clarice with the murder weapon. Ali doubts either woman is guilty, so she investigates. I use the word “investigates” loosely here. Ali’s help consists primarily of arranging legal aid for both women and eliciting the help of Frigg, a High Noon AI with a knack for finding pertinent records. Ali and Frigg also assist Cami Lee, a High Noon sales executive who narrowly evades a stalker. She later faces additional danger in London, where she’s gone on another sales call. When a dead body connected with Cami’s past turns up in England, she becomes a person of interest, even though she was in the United States when the murder occurred.
“OverKill” is a hybrid mystery. Readers don’t know who killed Charles Brewster at first, but the murderer’s identity is revealed about halfway through the book. The killer in the London case is also revealed early, along with the details of the plot against Cami and High Noon. As often happens in this type of mystery, the police are a bit slower in closing in on the villains. However, once they convince themselves who is guilty, they still must gather enough evidence to gain convictions.
The author does an excellent job of juggling three separate ongoing investigations, allowing readers to follow them. Police in Seattle, London, and, later, suburban Los Angeles are on the case. (The author helps readers avoid confusion by having each chapter include a time-and-place heading.) The police in those jurisdictions do much of the investigation. Jance includes details of police surveillance and the interrogation of suspects, providing examples of the tactics employed. That police work sometimes leads them to focus on the wrong person, such as the Brewsters’ housekeeper. However, the cops on the case aren’t the bullheaded zealots sometimes found in mystery fiction. Instead, they change their focus and tactics as fresh evidence emerges. Much of “OverKill” reads like a typical police procedural with a bonus for readers by having three different sets of police to follow.
While the police do the legwork in “OverKill,” Frigg handles the behind-the-scenes investigation. Frigg is an AI version of Penelope from “Criminal Minds,” with an uncanny ability to access and search police, phone, and financial records to uncover relevant evidence. The author also gives Frigg a personality quirk. Frigg has trouble mastering colloquial English, which often results in the AI uttering malapropisms, such as saying a suspect has been “trained” instead of “railroaded.” These slippages were entertaining at first, but I grew tired of them after the fifth or sixth time the author resorted to them.
Ali’s appearances in “OverKill” are pretty limited. Her primary function in the investigations consists of feeding valuable information to the attorneys, police, or similar entities. She seldom appears in the novel’s second half. Instead of observing Ali as an investigator, readers see Ali helping a worthy high school student secure a scholarship and assisting with funeral arrangements for an employee’s deceased relative. Fortunately, most of Ali’s altruism occurs early in the book, so these scenes don’t become major distractions later. Those (like me) who are new to the Ali Reynolds series may be confused about the names of some of Ali’s friends and employees that figure
peripherally in the storyline. Although “OverKill” is a standalone mystery, readers who are familiar with Ali’s backstory in previous books will be better able to follow these anecdotes.
I enjoyed “OverKill,” although its unusual plot structure took some getting used to on my part. Fans of forensic investigation work will enjoy Frigg’s efforts here (although not so much for its mishandling of colloquial English). Those who want a good procedural will also find some entertaining and illuminating sequences. The police officers in the book are portrayed as having personalities rather than being one-dimensional stereotypes. I could have done without the looks at Ali’s personal life, but fortunately, the author inserts those sequences in spots where they are less obtrusive. I’ve read a couple of Jance’s earlier books (although this is my first Ali Reynolds novel). It’s not overkill for me to say that “OverKill” is an entertaining and fitting addition to her canon.
NOTE: The publisher graciously provided me with a copy of this book through NetGalley. However, the decision to review the book and the contents of this review are entirely my own.
May 15, 2025
High Noon is a cybersecurity company in Arizona and Ali Reynolds is CFO. Her husband and business partner, B. Simpson, was previously married to Clarice Brewster, present wife of his ex-partner in a video game business in Washington State. Clarice and Chuck Brewster had an affair and she and B, were divorced. Years later, Clarice calls upon her ex-husband for help when she is arrested for killing Chuck. Although found covered in blood with the murder weapon in her hand, she insists upon her innocence. B. Is away when Clarice tries to contact him. Later, after being told that Clarice reached out to him for assistance, B. lets Ali know in no uncertain terms that he wants no involvement with his wife. This is my first Ali Reynolds novel but I was already wondering at that point why she would have married cold-hearted B. He never even says that what Clarice did was unforgivable but that he doesn’t think she would or could ever commit cold blooded murder, stabbing her husband 17 times in the back while he slept. True, he does contact her at the end of the tale but for me it is too little, too late.
Ali gets involved instead, using her connections to get Clarice a competent attorney. Then Ali becomes involved with another suspect in the Brewster murder, Clarice’s housekeeper, Donna Jean Plummer. Donna Jean’s prints were found on the murder weapon after taking the knife from Clarice and dialing 911 and she had access to the Brewster home. Ali also provides Donna Jean with an attorney, believing she is being treated unfairly by the police due to her past history.
J.P.Beaumont, the protagonist of another of J.A. Jance’s series, rates a mention as Ali calls him for advice regarding legal representation for the accused.
In a second storyline, Camille Lee, High Noon’s salesperson, is in London meeting with a prospective client when she at first senses and then knows that she is being followed and Ali assigns her security. A murder occurs and now Ali is involved with a second murder.
Other suspects in the murder is Chuck Brewster’s long estranged son and his husband. Of course, inheritance is the motive.
There are side plots including Ali’s selection of two high school students eligible for a full ride scholarship and Ali’s assistance with funeral arrangements for the beloved aunt of High Noon’s employee Stuart.
Overkill is a thorough, well plotted crime fiction novel. It contains suspense, twists, and mystery. The ending is wrapped up nicely with good people getting vindicated and bad people getting indicted. It was an engaging story, broken in to chapters by characters and their perspective predicaments. The plots move along quickly and are well thought out with all pieces falling in to place by the end. J.A. Janice is a prolific and experienced writer and that explains the readability of this book. Readers should try the author’s Johanna Brady mysteries and the J. P. Beaumont series.
My only problem with the narrative is the voice and contributions of the AI, Frig, who, 17 stabbings notwithstanding, seems to me the real overkill of the story. Although taking place in 2023, the A.I. definitely lives in the future and perhaps not even then. Frig has difficulty with slang and expressions yet conducts off the cuff conversations with Ali. She lets characters know when she gathers information from the AI even when the information is illegally and often, impossibly obtained. Frig takes the initiative with the murders as well as taking orders from Ali while always being professional and scrupulous but unlawful in the information it collects and how it goes about collecting that information. Author JD Robb’s novels, set in the future, employ an AI but that is, as said, in the future. It seems to me that a real employee, extremely tech savvy yet a skilled hacker, would have seemed more in keeping with the timeline of the story, with the legal aspects of the cases, and with the morality of the characters. Frig is an anomaly in this novel and I believe not worth the comic relief, as it were.
I want to thank NetGalley and Gallery Books for an advance copy of Overkill. This is my honest review of J.A. Jance’s book.
Ali gets involved instead, using her connections to get Clarice a competent attorney. Then Ali becomes involved with another suspect in the Brewster murder, Clarice’s housekeeper, Donna Jean Plummer. Donna Jean’s prints were found on the murder weapon after taking the knife from Clarice and dialing 911 and she had access to the Brewster home. Ali also provides Donna Jean with an attorney, believing she is being treated unfairly by the police due to her past history.
J.P.Beaumont, the protagonist of another of J.A. Jance’s series, rates a mention as Ali calls him for advice regarding legal representation for the accused.
In a second storyline, Camille Lee, High Noon’s salesperson, is in London meeting with a prospective client when she at first senses and then knows that she is being followed and Ali assigns her security. A murder occurs and now Ali is involved with a second murder.
Other suspects in the murder is Chuck Brewster’s long estranged son and his husband. Of course, inheritance is the motive.
There are side plots including Ali’s selection of two high school students eligible for a full ride scholarship and Ali’s assistance with funeral arrangements for the beloved aunt of High Noon’s employee Stuart.
Overkill is a thorough, well plotted crime fiction novel. It contains suspense, twists, and mystery. The ending is wrapped up nicely with good people getting vindicated and bad people getting indicted. It was an engaging story, broken in to chapters by characters and their perspective predicaments. The plots move along quickly and are well thought out with all pieces falling in to place by the end. J.A. Janice is a prolific and experienced writer and that explains the readability of this book. Readers should try the author’s Johanna Brady mysteries and the J. P. Beaumont series.
My only problem with the narrative is the voice and contributions of the AI, Frig, who, 17 stabbings notwithstanding, seems to me the real overkill of the story. Although taking place in 2023, the A.I. definitely lives in the future and perhaps not even then. Frig has difficulty with slang and expressions yet conducts off the cuff conversations with Ali. She lets characters know when she gathers information from the AI even when the information is illegally and often, impossibly obtained. Frig takes the initiative with the murders as well as taking orders from Ali while always being professional and scrupulous but unlawful in the information it collects and how it goes about collecting that information. Author JD Robb’s novels, set in the future, employ an AI but that is, as said, in the future. It seems to me that a real employee, extremely tech savvy yet a skilled hacker, would have seemed more in keeping with the timeline of the story, with the legal aspects of the cases, and with the morality of the characters. Frig is an anomaly in this novel and I believe not worth the comic relief, as it were.
I want to thank NetGalley and Gallery Books for an advance copy of Overkill. This is my honest review of J.A. Jance’s book.
April 24, 2025
Seventeen stab wounds = overkill
That is however the method by which wealthy video game business owner Chuck Brewster was killed, and all the evidence points to his wife Clarice (whom, according to rumor, he was planning to divorce) having done it. The sheer number of times he was stabbed indicates a crime of passion, and Clarice was even found covered in blood and holding the knife in the bedroom where the body lay dead, muttering that she must have stabbed him. Clarice is taken into custody and the police figure that barring any new evidence they have their perpetrator, although one of the detectives suspects that housekeeper Donna Jean (who has a record for killing her abusive husband years earlier) might be involved. Clarice reaches out to her ex-husband (and Chuck's former partner) B. Simpson for advice, but B. is away on business so she reaches B.'s wife Ali instead. When Ali relates the gist of the call to B. he flatly refuses to have anything to do with it...when your wife cheats on you with your friend and partner, it doesn't usually lead to a harmonious divorce...but Ali (who apparently has a hereditary tendency to butt into other people's business) feels compelled to stay involved. She uses Frigg, the AI created by one of their cybersecurity company's employees, to delve into the case, and what Frigg finds leads them to suspect that the police are on the wrong track. Meanwhile Cami, another of the firm's employees, suspects that she is being followed and narrowly avoids being kidnapped (or worse), though she can't figure out who would want to do so or why. Frigg is tasked with identifying possible suspects in that situation as well, and may be the best chance to find out what is going on in both cases.
It has been awhile since I've read a J. A. Jance novel, and even then it was either in the J. P. Beaumont (who has a brief cameo in this outing) or Joanna Brady series. Overkill reads well as a standalone, with enough details provided for the different characters to be able to fill in their connections and backstories. There are two different mysteries going on and chapters bounce between the two, with Ali being the main point of overlap for them. I guessed pretty early on what was happening in the Brewster murder, which was a bit disappointing, but found the story an overall enjoyable read. Readers of the series will likely be pleased to see what is going on with the various characters' lives, and having an AI entity is an interesting twist (though at times if felt like an overly convenient plot device to get the investigations quickly from A to B in ways I expect wouldn't hold up to scrutiny in the real world). I would rate the book at 3.5 ⭐️ (rounded up to 4), and think it will appeal to readers of Karin Slaughter, Jo Callaghan and Lisa Gardner. My thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for allowing me access to a copy of Overkill in exchange for my honest review.
That is however the method by which wealthy video game business owner Chuck Brewster was killed, and all the evidence points to his wife Clarice (whom, according to rumor, he was planning to divorce) having done it. The sheer number of times he was stabbed indicates a crime of passion, and Clarice was even found covered in blood and holding the knife in the bedroom where the body lay dead, muttering that she must have stabbed him. Clarice is taken into custody and the police figure that barring any new evidence they have their perpetrator, although one of the detectives suspects that housekeeper Donna Jean (who has a record for killing her abusive husband years earlier) might be involved. Clarice reaches out to her ex-husband (and Chuck's former partner) B. Simpson for advice, but B. is away on business so she reaches B.'s wife Ali instead. When Ali relates the gist of the call to B. he flatly refuses to have anything to do with it...when your wife cheats on you with your friend and partner, it doesn't usually lead to a harmonious divorce...but Ali (who apparently has a hereditary tendency to butt into other people's business) feels compelled to stay involved. She uses Frigg, the AI created by one of their cybersecurity company's employees, to delve into the case, and what Frigg finds leads them to suspect that the police are on the wrong track. Meanwhile Cami, another of the firm's employees, suspects that she is being followed and narrowly avoids being kidnapped (or worse), though she can't figure out who would want to do so or why. Frigg is tasked with identifying possible suspects in that situation as well, and may be the best chance to find out what is going on in both cases.
It has been awhile since I've read a J. A. Jance novel, and even then it was either in the J. P. Beaumont (who has a brief cameo in this outing) or Joanna Brady series. Overkill reads well as a standalone, with enough details provided for the different characters to be able to fill in their connections and backstories. There are two different mysteries going on and chapters bounce between the two, with Ali being the main point of overlap for them. I guessed pretty early on what was happening in the Brewster murder, which was a bit disappointing, but found the story an overall enjoyable read. Readers of the series will likely be pleased to see what is going on with the various characters' lives, and having an AI entity is an interesting twist (though at times if felt like an overly convenient plot device to get the investigations quickly from A to B in ways I expect wouldn't hold up to scrutiny in the real world). I would rate the book at 3.5 ⭐️ (rounded up to 4), and think it will appeal to readers of Karin Slaughter, Jo Callaghan and Lisa Gardner. My thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for allowing me access to a copy of Overkill in exchange for my honest review.
March 10, 2025
OverKill by J. A. Jance is a highly recommended investigative thriller which follows two cases. This is the eighteenth book in the Ali Reynolds series.
Chuck Brewster, the former business partner of Ali Reynolds’s husband B. Simpson, is found murdered the morning after they had his 60th birthday party. His second wife Clarice, woke up covered in his blood and came out of their bedroom holding a knife and screaming, startling housekeeper Donna Jean Plummer who took the knife from her and called 911. Clarice, who doesn't remember anything, is the obvious suspect and Donna Jean is also targeted by the police. Clarice tries to call B. for help, but talks to Ali instead. Ali, B.’s wife and partner in High Noon Enterprises, puts their A.I. Frigg on the case.
In a second case someone is stalking Camille Lee while she’s on the road for High Noon. Because she is hyper alert, she noticed the man and managed to covertly get a picture of him. Then she outsmarts the man who is following her, gets to a safe place and calls Ali who sends private security for Cami. Frigg identifies the suspect as Bulgarian trafficker Bogdan Petrov, but why he would be following Cami is unknown. Cami continues to have a security guard as she travels to London for a week of business meetings.
The main case is the murder of Chuck Brewster, however both cases are interesting, complex, methodically undertaken, and the pace is fast. I did guess who was responsible very early on but that didn't lessen my enjoyment of the novel. Since this is the eighteenth novel in the series readers following the series know all the characters along with their backgrounds. OverKill can be read and appreciated as a standalone novel, you just won't have all the backstory.
The A.I. Frigg plays a major role and essentially becomes another character in the plot. I'm not sure how I feel about that, but it certainly helps the narrative move quickly because answers to all questions are swiftly provided and the A.I. is always available. Frigg also seems to be able to get information that would not normally be available for public consumption and can quickly do tasks that would be time consuming to investigate.
J. A. Jance is a go-to author who can consistently write an entertaining investigative thriller. Thanks to Gallery Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy via Edelweiss. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2025/0...
Chuck Brewster, the former business partner of Ali Reynolds’s husband B. Simpson, is found murdered the morning after they had his 60th birthday party. His second wife Clarice, woke up covered in his blood and came out of their bedroom holding a knife and screaming, startling housekeeper Donna Jean Plummer who took the knife from her and called 911. Clarice, who doesn't remember anything, is the obvious suspect and Donna Jean is also targeted by the police. Clarice tries to call B. for help, but talks to Ali instead. Ali, B.’s wife and partner in High Noon Enterprises, puts their A.I. Frigg on the case.
In a second case someone is stalking Camille Lee while she’s on the road for High Noon. Because she is hyper alert, she noticed the man and managed to covertly get a picture of him. Then she outsmarts the man who is following her, gets to a safe place and calls Ali who sends private security for Cami. Frigg identifies the suspect as Bulgarian trafficker Bogdan Petrov, but why he would be following Cami is unknown. Cami continues to have a security guard as she travels to London for a week of business meetings.
The main case is the murder of Chuck Brewster, however both cases are interesting, complex, methodically undertaken, and the pace is fast. I did guess who was responsible very early on but that didn't lessen my enjoyment of the novel. Since this is the eighteenth novel in the series readers following the series know all the characters along with their backgrounds. OverKill can be read and appreciated as a standalone novel, you just won't have all the backstory.
The A.I. Frigg plays a major role and essentially becomes another character in the plot. I'm not sure how I feel about that, but it certainly helps the narrative move quickly because answers to all questions are swiftly provided and the A.I. is always available. Frigg also seems to be able to get information that would not normally be available for public consumption and can quickly do tasks that would be time consuming to investigate.
J. A. Jance is a go-to author who can consistently write an entertaining investigative thriller. Thanks to Gallery Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy via Edelweiss. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2025/0...
June 21, 2025
It’s almost a cardinal rule of mystery series that the character who provides the series name plays a central role in the story. Sherlock Holmes mysteries feature Sherlock Holmes, and Nero Wolfe mysteries feature Nero Wolfe (although neither detective narrates his stories). However, in J. A. Jance’s new Ali Reynolds novel “OverKill” (the spelling is not a typo), Ali plays a minor role in the story and never comes within hundreds of miles of the action. This unusual framing device makes the story more interesting and a typical delight for Jance’s fans.
Ali Reynolds is a former television news anchor who married B. Simpson, the CEO of one of the world’s top cybersecurity firms, High Noon Enterprises. She is now the company’s CFO and lives in semi-retirement in Arizona. “OverKill” begins with the brutal murder of Charles Brewster, the former business partner of High Noon’s CEO and a wealthy video game executive in his own right. The murder occurred on the night of the victim’s 60th birthday party, where he hosted a party attended by many friends and relatives. The police quickly arrest his wife, Clarice, who was found wandering around the house in a daze, holding the knife used to kill Charles. Clarice was B.’s first wife, who left him to marry Brewster, so when Clarice calls B. asking for help, he refuses to talk to her.
Fortunately for Clarice (and for readers), Ali helps her. Later, police attention focuses on the Brewsters’ housekeeper, who began cleaning up party debris the next morning before encountering Clarice with the murder weapon. Ali doubts either woman is guilty, so she investigates. I use the word “investigates” loosely here. Ali’s help consists primarily of arranging legal aid for both women and eliciting the help of Frigg, a High Noon AI with a knack for finding pertinent records. Ali and Frigg also assist Cami Lee, a High Noon sales executive who narrowly evades a stalker. She later faces additional danger in London, where she’s gone on another sales call. When a dead body connected with Cami’s past turns up in England, she becomes a person of interest, even though she was in the United States when the murder occurred.
“OverKill” is a hybrid mystery. Readers don’t know who killed Charles Brewster at first, but the murderer’s identity is revealed about halfway through the book. The killer in the London case is also revealed early, along with the details of the plot against Cami and High Noon. As often happens in this type of mystery, the police are a bit slower in closing in on the villains. However, once they convince themselves who is guilty, they still must gather enough evidence to gain convictions.
The author does an excellent job of juggling three separate ongoing investigations, allowing readers to follow them. Police in Seattle, London, and, later, suburban Los Angeles are on the case. (The author helps readers avoid confusion by having each chapter include a time-and-place heading.) The police in those jurisdictions do much of the investigation. Jance includes details of police surveillance and the interrogation of suspects, providing examples of the tactics employed. That police work sometimes leads them to focus on the wrong person, such as the Brewsters’ housekeeper. However, the cops on the case aren’t the bullheaded zealots sometimes found in mystery fiction. Instead, they change their focus and tactics as fresh evidence emerges. Much of “OverKill” reads like a typical police procedural with a bonus for readers by having three different sets of police to follow.
While the police do the legwork in “OverKill,” Frigg handles the behind-the-scenes investigation. Frigg is an AI version of Penelope from “Criminal Minds,” with an uncanny ability to access and search police, phone, and financial records to uncover relevant evidence. The author also gives Frigg a personality quirk. Frigg has trouble mastering colloquial English, which often results in the AI uttering malapropisms, such as saying a suspect has been “trained” instead of “railroaded.” These slippages were entertaining at first, but I grew tired of them after the fifth or sixth time the author resorted to them.
Ali’s appearances in “OverKill” are pretty limited. Her primary function in the investigations consists of feeding valuable information to the attorneys, police, or similar entities. She seldom appears in the novel’s second half. Instead of observing Ali as an investigator, readers see Ali helping a worthy high school student secure a scholarship and assisting with funeral arrangements for an employee’s deceased relative. Fortunately, most of Ali’s altruism occurs early in the book, so these scenes don’t become major distractions later. Those (like me) who are new to the Ali Reynolds series may be confused about the names of some of Ali’s friends and employees that figure
peripherally in the storyline. Although “OverKill” is a standalone mystery, readers who are familiar with Ali’s backstory in previous books will be better able to follow these anecdotes.
I enjoyed “OverKill,” although its unusual plot structure took some getting used to on my part. Fans of forensic investigation work will enjoy Frigg’s efforts here (although not so much for its mishandling of colloquial English). Those who want a good procedural will also find some entertaining and illuminating sequences. The police officers in the book are portrayed as having personalities rather than being one-dimensional stereotypes. I could have done without the looks at Ali’s personal life, but fortunately, the author inserts those sequences in spots where they are less obtrusive. I’ve read a couple of Jance’s earlier books (although this is my first Ali Reynolds novel). It’s not overkill for me to say that “OverKill” is an entertaining and fitting addition to her canon.
NOTE: The publisher graciously provided me with a copy of this book through NetGalley. However, the decision to review the book and the contents of this review are entirely my own.
Ali Reynolds is a former television news anchor who married B. Simpson, the CEO of one of the world’s top cybersecurity firms, High Noon Enterprises. She is now the company’s CFO and lives in semi-retirement in Arizona. “OverKill” begins with the brutal murder of Charles Brewster, the former business partner of High Noon’s CEO and a wealthy video game executive in his own right. The murder occurred on the night of the victim’s 60th birthday party, where he hosted a party attended by many friends and relatives. The police quickly arrest his wife, Clarice, who was found wandering around the house in a daze, holding the knife used to kill Charles. Clarice was B.’s first wife, who left him to marry Brewster, so when Clarice calls B. asking for help, he refuses to talk to her.
Fortunately for Clarice (and for readers), Ali helps her. Later, police attention focuses on the Brewsters’ housekeeper, who began cleaning up party debris the next morning before encountering Clarice with the murder weapon. Ali doubts either woman is guilty, so she investigates. I use the word “investigates” loosely here. Ali’s help consists primarily of arranging legal aid for both women and eliciting the help of Frigg, a High Noon AI with a knack for finding pertinent records. Ali and Frigg also assist Cami Lee, a High Noon sales executive who narrowly evades a stalker. She later faces additional danger in London, where she’s gone on another sales call. When a dead body connected with Cami’s past turns up in England, she becomes a person of interest, even though she was in the United States when the murder occurred.
“OverKill” is a hybrid mystery. Readers don’t know who killed Charles Brewster at first, but the murderer’s identity is revealed about halfway through the book. The killer in the London case is also revealed early, along with the details of the plot against Cami and High Noon. As often happens in this type of mystery, the police are a bit slower in closing in on the villains. However, once they convince themselves who is guilty, they still must gather enough evidence to gain convictions.
The author does an excellent job of juggling three separate ongoing investigations, allowing readers to follow them. Police in Seattle, London, and, later, suburban Los Angeles are on the case. (The author helps readers avoid confusion by having each chapter include a time-and-place heading.) The police in those jurisdictions do much of the investigation. Jance includes details of police surveillance and the interrogation of suspects, providing examples of the tactics employed. That police work sometimes leads them to focus on the wrong person, such as the Brewsters’ housekeeper. However, the cops on the case aren’t the bullheaded zealots sometimes found in mystery fiction. Instead, they change their focus and tactics as fresh evidence emerges. Much of “OverKill” reads like a typical police procedural with a bonus for readers by having three different sets of police to follow.
While the police do the legwork in “OverKill,” Frigg handles the behind-the-scenes investigation. Frigg is an AI version of Penelope from “Criminal Minds,” with an uncanny ability to access and search police, phone, and financial records to uncover relevant evidence. The author also gives Frigg a personality quirk. Frigg has trouble mastering colloquial English, which often results in the AI uttering malapropisms, such as saying a suspect has been “trained” instead of “railroaded.” These slippages were entertaining at first, but I grew tired of them after the fifth or sixth time the author resorted to them.
Ali’s appearances in “OverKill” are pretty limited. Her primary function in the investigations consists of feeding valuable information to the attorneys, police, or similar entities. She seldom appears in the novel’s second half. Instead of observing Ali as an investigator, readers see Ali helping a worthy high school student secure a scholarship and assisting with funeral arrangements for an employee’s deceased relative. Fortunately, most of Ali’s altruism occurs early in the book, so these scenes don’t become major distractions later. Those (like me) who are new to the Ali Reynolds series may be confused about the names of some of Ali’s friends and employees that figure
peripherally in the storyline. Although “OverKill” is a standalone mystery, readers who are familiar with Ali’s backstory in previous books will be better able to follow these anecdotes.
I enjoyed “OverKill,” although its unusual plot structure took some getting used to on my part. Fans of forensic investigation work will enjoy Frigg’s efforts here (although not so much for its mishandling of colloquial English). Those who want a good procedural will also find some entertaining and illuminating sequences. The police officers in the book are portrayed as having personalities rather than being one-dimensional stereotypes. I could have done without the looks at Ali’s personal life, but fortunately, the author inserts those sequences in spots where they are less obtrusive. I’ve read a couple of Jance’s earlier books (although this is my first Ali Reynolds novel). It’s not overkill for me to say that “OverKill” is an entertaining and fitting addition to her canon.
NOTE: The publisher graciously provided me with a copy of this book through NetGalley. However, the decision to review the book and the contents of this review are entirely my own.
June 21, 2025
It’s almost a cardinal rule of mystery series that the character who provides the series name plays a central role in the story. Sherlock Holmes mysteries feature Sherlock Holmes, and Nero Wolfe mysteries feature Nero Wolfe (although neither detective narrates his stories). However, in J. A. Jance’s new Ali Reynolds novel “OverKill” (the spelling is not a typo), Ali plays a minor role in the story and never comes within hundreds of miles of the action. This unusual framing device makes the story more interesting and a typical delight for Jance’s fans.
Ali Reynolds is a former television news anchor who married B. Simpson, the CEO of one of the world’s top cybersecurity firms, High Noon Enterprises. She is now the company’s CFO and lives in semi-retirement in Arizona. “OverKill” begins with the brutal murder of Charles Brewster, the former business partner of High Noon’s CEO and a wealthy video game executive in his own right. The murder occurred on the night of the victim’s 60th birthday party, where he hosted a party attended by many friends and relatives. The police quickly arrest his wife, Clarice, who was found wandering around the house in a daze, holding the knife used to kill Charles. Clarice was B.’s first wife, who left him to marry Brewster, so when Clarice calls B. asking for help, he refuses to talk to her.
Fortunately for Clarice (and for readers), Ali helps her. Later, police attention focuses on the Brewsters’ housekeeper, who began cleaning up party debris the next morning before encountering Clarice with the murder weapon. Ali doubts either woman is guilty, so she investigates. I use the word “investigates” loosely here. Ali’s help consists primarily of arranging legal aid for both women and eliciting the help of Frigg, a High Noon AI with a knack for finding pertinent records. Ali and Frigg also assist Cami Lee, a High Noon sales executive who narrowly evades a stalker. She later faces additional danger in London, where she’s gone on another sales call. When a dead body connected with Cami’s past turns up in England, she becomes a person of interest, even though she was in the United States when the murder occurred.
“OverKill” is a hybrid mystery. Readers don’t know who killed Charles Brewster at first, but the murderer’s identity is revealed about halfway through the book. The killer in the London case is also revealed early, along with the details of the plot against Cami and High Noon. As often happens in this type of mystery, the police are a bit slower in closing in on the villains. However, once they convince themselves who is guilty, they still must gather enough evidence to gain convictions.
The author does an excellent job of juggling three separate ongoing investigations, allowing readers to follow them. Police in Seattle, London, and, later, suburban Los Angeles are on the case. (The author helps readers avoid confusion by having each chapter include a time-and-place heading.) The police in those jurisdictions do much of the investigation. Jance includes details of police surveillance and the interrogation of suspects, providing examples of the tactics employed. That police work sometimes leads them to focus on the wrong person, such as the Brewsters’ housekeeper. However, the cops on the case aren’t the bullheaded zealots sometimes found in mystery fiction. Instead, they change their focus and tactics as fresh evidence emerges. Much of “OverKill” reads like a typical police procedural with a bonus for readers by having three different sets of police to follow.
While the police do the legwork in “OverKill,” Frigg handles the behind-the-scenes investigation. Frigg is an AI version of Penelope from “Criminal Minds,” with an uncanny ability to access and search police, phone, and financial records to uncover relevant evidence. The author also gives Frigg a personality quirk. Frigg has trouble mastering colloquial English, which often results in the AI uttering malapropisms, such as saying a suspect has been “trained” instead of “railroaded.” These slippages were entertaining at first, but I grew tired of them after the fifth or sixth time the author resorted to them.
Ali’s appearances in “OverKill” are pretty limited. Her primary function in the investigations consists of feeding valuable information to the attorneys, police, or similar entities. She seldom appears in the novel’s second half. Instead of observing Ali as an investigator, readers see Ali helping a worthy high school student secure a scholarship and assisting with funeral arrangements for an employee’s deceased relative. Fortunately, most of Ali’s altruism occurs early in the book, so these scenes don’t become major distractions later. Those (like me) who are new to the Ali Reynolds series may be confused about the names of some of Ali’s friends and employees that figure
peripherally in the storyline. Although “OverKill” is a standalone mystery, readers who are familiar with Ali’s backstory in previous books will be better able to follow these anecdotes.
I enjoyed “OverKill,” although its unusual plot structure took some getting used to on my part. Fans of forensic investigation work will enjoy Frigg’s efforts here (although not so much for its mishandling of colloquial English). Those who want a good procedural will also find some entertaining and illuminating sequences. The police officers in the book are portrayed as having personalities rather than being one-dimensional stereotypes. I could have done without the looks at Ali’s personal life, but fortunately, the author inserts those sequences in spots where they are less obtrusive. I’ve read a couple of Jance’s earlier books (although this is my first Ali Reynolds novel). It’s not overkill for me to say that “OverKill” is an entertaining and fitting addition to her canon.
NOTE: The publisher graciously provided me with a copy of this book through NetGalley. However, the decision to review the book and the contents of this review are entirely my own.
Ali Reynolds is a former television news anchor who married B. Simpson, the CEO of one of the world’s top cybersecurity firms, High Noon Enterprises. She is now the company’s CFO and lives in semi-retirement in Arizona. “OverKill” begins with the brutal murder of Charles Brewster, the former business partner of High Noon’s CEO and a wealthy video game executive in his own right. The murder occurred on the night of the victim’s 60th birthday party, where he hosted a party attended by many friends and relatives. The police quickly arrest his wife, Clarice, who was found wandering around the house in a daze, holding the knife used to kill Charles. Clarice was B.’s first wife, who left him to marry Brewster, so when Clarice calls B. asking for help, he refuses to talk to her.
Fortunately for Clarice (and for readers), Ali helps her. Later, police attention focuses on the Brewsters’ housekeeper, who began cleaning up party debris the next morning before encountering Clarice with the murder weapon. Ali doubts either woman is guilty, so she investigates. I use the word “investigates” loosely here. Ali’s help consists primarily of arranging legal aid for both women and eliciting the help of Frigg, a High Noon AI with a knack for finding pertinent records. Ali and Frigg also assist Cami Lee, a High Noon sales executive who narrowly evades a stalker. She later faces additional danger in London, where she’s gone on another sales call. When a dead body connected with Cami’s past turns up in England, she becomes a person of interest, even though she was in the United States when the murder occurred.
“OverKill” is a hybrid mystery. Readers don’t know who killed Charles Brewster at first, but the murderer’s identity is revealed about halfway through the book. The killer in the London case is also revealed early, along with the details of the plot against Cami and High Noon. As often happens in this type of mystery, the police are a bit slower in closing in on the villains. However, once they convince themselves who is guilty, they still must gather enough evidence to gain convictions.
The author does an excellent job of juggling three separate ongoing investigations, allowing readers to follow them. Police in Seattle, London, and, later, suburban Los Angeles are on the case. (The author helps readers avoid confusion by having each chapter include a time-and-place heading.) The police in those jurisdictions do much of the investigation. Jance includes details of police surveillance and the interrogation of suspects, providing examples of the tactics employed. That police work sometimes leads them to focus on the wrong person, such as the Brewsters’ housekeeper. However, the cops on the case aren’t the bullheaded zealots sometimes found in mystery fiction. Instead, they change their focus and tactics as fresh evidence emerges. Much of “OverKill” reads like a typical police procedural with a bonus for readers by having three different sets of police to follow.
While the police do the legwork in “OverKill,” Frigg handles the behind-the-scenes investigation. Frigg is an AI version of Penelope from “Criminal Minds,” with an uncanny ability to access and search police, phone, and financial records to uncover relevant evidence. The author also gives Frigg a personality quirk. Frigg has trouble mastering colloquial English, which often results in the AI uttering malapropisms, such as saying a suspect has been “trained” instead of “railroaded.” These slippages were entertaining at first, but I grew tired of them after the fifth or sixth time the author resorted to them.
Ali’s appearances in “OverKill” are pretty limited. Her primary function in the investigations consists of feeding valuable information to the attorneys, police, or similar entities. She seldom appears in the novel’s second half. Instead of observing Ali as an investigator, readers see Ali helping a worthy high school student secure a scholarship and assisting with funeral arrangements for an employee’s deceased relative. Fortunately, most of Ali’s altruism occurs early in the book, so these scenes don’t become major distractions later. Those (like me) who are new to the Ali Reynolds series may be confused about the names of some of Ali’s friends and employees that figure
peripherally in the storyline. Although “OverKill” is a standalone mystery, readers who are familiar with Ali’s backstory in previous books will be better able to follow these anecdotes.
I enjoyed “OverKill,” although its unusual plot structure took some getting used to on my part. Fans of forensic investigation work will enjoy Frigg’s efforts here (although not so much for its mishandling of colloquial English). Those who want a good procedural will also find some entertaining and illuminating sequences. The police officers in the book are portrayed as having personalities rather than being one-dimensional stereotypes. I could have done without the looks at Ali’s personal life, but fortunately, the author inserts those sequences in spots where they are less obtrusive. I’ve read a couple of Jance’s earlier books (although this is my first Ali Reynolds novel). It’s not overkill for me to say that “OverKill” is an entertaining and fitting addition to her canon.
NOTE: The publisher graciously provided me with a copy of this book through NetGalley. However, the decision to review the book and the contents of this review are entirely my own.
April 19, 2025
I never tire of an Ali Reynolds story, so I was absolutely delighted to dive into the latest edition from J.A. Jance. I was thrilled to be offered the chance to read Overkill just after its release—and as always, the author does not disappoint. This newest addition brings back familiar faces: Ali, her husband B. Simpson, High Noon’s salesperson Camille, the High Noon cybersecurity team, and of course, Ali’s favorite AI, Frigg. The story kicks off when B.’s ex-wife Clarice (she had an affair with his former partner that led to their divorce) is arrested for the murder of her husband - the former partner. She reaches out to B. for help No way but with Ali’s past experiences and concern that the police think it’s an open and shut case, she turns to Frigg and begins investigating. Is it Clarice, the cleaning lady Donna, or maybe Clarice’s son? And then how does she release her findings without ‘telling on Frigg” to authorities.
At the same time, Camille, now leading High Noon's sales, finds herself in danger and while in London needs a bodyguard. Thank goodness for the bodyguard requested by Ali. Once again, Frigg is investigating to help Camille stay safe with possible reasons for the danger. From home base, or office, thank goodness Ali also has the time with taxes done, to finish selecting the high school senior(s) who will receive a full ride scholarship to the school of their choice. You can’t say Ali’s life is boring!
Jance does a wonderful job weaving all the different elements of the story into the novel keeping your interest throughout. I love the way she integrates AI. Considering the almost daily information about the latest advancement of artificial intelligence she ties it all right in. With the help she needs, she solves the mysteries that land in her lap. I love the characters, the story, and the plot that make OverKill a great read. Thanks to Gallery Books and NetGalley for the ARC!
At the same time, Camille, now leading High Noon's sales, finds herself in danger and while in London needs a bodyguard. Thank goodness for the bodyguard requested by Ali. Once again, Frigg is investigating to help Camille stay safe with possible reasons for the danger. From home base, or office, thank goodness Ali also has the time with taxes done, to finish selecting the high school senior(s) who will receive a full ride scholarship to the school of their choice. You can’t say Ali’s life is boring!
Jance does a wonderful job weaving all the different elements of the story into the novel keeping your interest throughout. I love the way she integrates AI. Considering the almost daily information about the latest advancement of artificial intelligence she ties it all right in. With the help she needs, she solves the mysteries that land in her lap. I love the characters, the story, and the plot that make OverKill a great read. Thanks to Gallery Books and NetGalley for the ARC!
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