OverKill

Ali Reynolds #18

by J.A. Jance

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.

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

336 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 1, 2025

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

[Teju A · Rating 4 out of 5]

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"

[Abibliofob · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent story due to its end.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Dawn · Rating 2 out of 5]

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 Clarice, the victim's widow seemed strange, as did the out of nowhere solution. I was happy the cat and her person got a happy ending, though. That was so nice.

[Sruthi Swaminathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[Gloria ~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Anne - Books of My Heart · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

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

[Barbara Blindauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!!!

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Debbe · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Mrs MJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

another great book in the Ali series 👏 👌

[K. Bailey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two plots, too many convenient circumstanes leading to the finale. Easy read if you're just looking for a distraction.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!!

[Sonja · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[John Olson · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Jewett · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Silver Screen Videos · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Karen Bluestein · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was ok, not great. 60 chapters seemed a bit much. The plot seemed quite obvious early on.

I did like the character of the female body guard with tattoos, piercings, and pink hair.

The jokes about the AI getting expressions wrong (you can bring a pony to water), it was unrealistic that an AI wouldn’t have access to the proper phrasing. Why would you design an AI that does idle chit chat? What a waste of time. AI cannot travel crypto to a person. That’s not the way crypto works.

The writing was disappointing. Packed with cliches that made the writing seem lazy. “From the bottom of my heart,” “screamed at the top of my lungs,” “chill ran down her spine,” “hit too close to home.” “She had a bad feeling,” “time was running out.” Ugh.

Lazy and boring. I guess that’s what happens when you crank out too many books.

If you like these characters and enjoy this type of writing, then you’ll probably enjoy this book. Otherwise, don’t bother.

[Penny · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the earlier books in this series much more than the later one. Far too much frigging around as I saw it called in one review I read. When you read it or if you know the series you will understand. In this offering murder strikes close to home and while B distances himself from some mucky family history, Ali is there trying to figure out what happened with the help of her trusty AI partner who seems to do the majority of the sleuthing.

[Martha Alford · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve never said this before in a book as I usually appreciate some reinforcement but this book repeated the same conclusion over and over again and also they solved the crime like halfway through the book so then the last half of the book was kind of lackluster? There was also 2 different crimes/stories being followed in this book and I rly only cared for one of them. As I write this review I’m wondering if this is more of a 2 star for me

[Cindy · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first Allie Reynolds book I really didn’t enjoy. Too little Allie, too much Frig along with the other characters doing the investigating. It was ok but nothing that wowed me.

[Vicki Cooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.