Collateral Damage

Ali Reynolds #17

by J.A. Jance

Ali Reynolds and High Noon Enterprises face the dangerous consequences of one man’s desperate search for revenge in this unputdownable thriller from J.A. Jance, the New York Times bestselling author who “has been delivering must-read books for a long time” (The Real Book Spy).

After spending twenty years behind bars, Frank Muñoz, a disgraced former cop, is out on parole and focused on just one thing: revenge. The wife who abandoned him after his arrest, the mistress who ratted him out for abetting a money-laundering scheme, the detectives who presided over his case all those years ago—they all have targets on their backs.

For Ali Reynolds, the first Christmas without her father is riddled with grief and uncertainty. And with her husband and founding partner of High Noon Enterprises, B. Simpson, preoccupied by an upcoming New Year’s trip to London, she is ready for a break. But when Stu Ramey barges into her home with grave news about a serious—and suspicious—accident on the highway to Phoenix involving B.’s car, things reach a breaking point.

At the hospital, a groggy, post-op B. insists that Ali take his place at a ransomware conference in London, as troubles brimming around High Noon come to light. But questions remain: Who would go to such lengths to cut the tech company from the picture? And what if Ali and the rest of the team are also in danger?

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

316 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 14, 2023

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

[Tim · Rating 1 out of 5]

I made it through 3/4 before complete boredom set in and I completely did not finish. 1 of 10 stars

[Abibliofob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Collateral Damage by J.A. Jance is one of the best books in the Ali Reynolds series. This book deals with It security, battered women, organised crime, murders, corruption, revenge and some other stuff. I only missed one thing and that was some kind of satisfying repercussions on the local police due to their stand on it is always the spouse. I have read almost everything by Jance and she is a wonderful writer and she has created some great strong female characters in her different series, Ali Reynolds is for sure one of them. Some of the recent books have been lacking in interesting stories but this one sure does make up for it. It is the reason why I love her books. It is so dXXX good. The book is very well written and researched and there is a wonderful flow in it and she has built a story that you really gets involved in. I like the fact that it turns into a multi juridictional investigation with some really competent police, not all are complacent. I am very glad I got this advance copy from Gallery Books, Simond & Schuster through Edelweiss

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Collateral Damages" is the seventeenth installment in J. A. Jance’s Ali Reynolds series. Having long admired Jance as a master storyteller, I found this book to be a departure from the typical Reynolds narrative. Ali and her usual ensemble play only a minor role, with the majority of the story centering on a revenge-driven murder spree that unfolds over two decades and spans four states. Told largely from the perspective of the murderer, the novel had me constantly questioning how it connected to Ali and her team. While I ultimately enjoyed the story, I couldn’t shake the feeling that it might have worked better as a stand-alone novel rather than part of the series.

I experienced this book in audiobook format through Audible, with a runtime of twelve hours and three minutes. Karen Ziemba’s narration was excellent, bringing the story to life with skill and precision.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Collateral Damage by J.A. Jance is the latest in the Ali Reynolds series. Ali Reynolds is a former journalist who now helps her husband run a world renowned cybersecurity company. When her husband, B. Simpson, and his driver, a former police officer, are intentionally run off the road in a serious accident, Ali and her team want to know who was behind this and why.

Even though this is the 17th book in the series, it would be fine for readers new to the series. The car accident turns out to be related to other crimes and the investigation becomes a collaborative effort not only between Ali and her team, but also members of law enforcement in several different cities. In fact, Ali and B. play a small part in the overall investigation. It becomes a race against time to learn the truth and prevent additional deaths. The case wraps up nicely, but there are a few loose ends related to Ali and B.'s company, High Noon. I hope they will be addressed in the next book. I would rate this one 4.5 stars.

I received an advance copy of this ebook from NetGalley and Gallery books at no cost. My review is voluntary and unbiased.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a fan of this author. I love her 'Joanna Brady' series. I enjoy her method in unfolding clues. The order makes sense as she lays it all out. I also like that her characters are all around good and they are easy to root for.

All of the above were still present here with this book, which is #17 in the Ali Reynolds series. BUT....I had some concerns. I'll mention the top two. One is that this felt like a character parade. There were so many minor characters in this one complete with a full backstory. WHY? Paper boy #1 (and his parents) and Shopper #4 do not need full back stories.

The second thing is just a pet peeve. It was the dialogue. It felt excessively wordy when it came to the minutia of every day life. It doesn't add to the story or add needed info. It felt awkward and it takes me out of the story everytime. This one wasn't my favorite but there are still so many things that the author does well.....so 3 stars.

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Collateral Damage is the seventeenth book in the Ali Reynolds series. This my second book of the series and fourth book by the author. Collateral Damage is about several cold cases and revenge.

On October 31, 2017, Danielle Lomax-Reardon is working at Dahlke House, a shelter for victims of domestic abuse. Getting ready for a group session she greets the women and shares her story of how she was a victim of domestic abuse and eventually became the organization's executive director. As Danielle is leaving, she notices the shadow of a man in a streetlight barring her path. She is shot multiple times and falls to the ground where she lays knowing that she will not be found in time but that her former boyfriend is responsible for her death.

January 1, 2020 - Frank Muñoz is a disgraced former cop, is finally out on parole and focused on just one thing: revenge. He has focused on getting back at the wife who abandoned him after his arrest, the mistress who ratted him out, and the detectives who presided over his case. One by one he put hits out on them, and he is expectantly waiting to hear they have all been completed.

Ali Reynolds, and her husband and founding partner of High Noon Enterprises, B. Simpson, are preoccupied by an upcoming New Year’s business trip to London. But when Stu Ramey barges into her home with news of a car accident on the highway to Phoenix involving B.’s car everything takes a turn for the worse.

Ali finally arrives at the hospital, when B. wakes after being knocked unconscious he insists that they were deliberately run off the road and that Ali needs to take his place at a ransomware conference in London. The police investigate the accident focusing on Ali as the main suspect especially after Ali appears to have left the country very quickly.

The team will do a deep dive into who might have wanted to hurt Hal who was driving, or B. They find there are several cold cases in connection to Hal involving a newly released from prison involving Frank Muñoz and may not have been interested in B. While the local detective focuses on Ali other detectives in other states also become involved in helping to piece it all together while two more victims are in danger.

This was a very involved story. There are several events that happen in the past which are woven into the story, as well as other towns and states with multiple characters. So, it is a somewhat complex story with lots of moving parts that eventually come together for a fantastic finale.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Collateral Damage by J A Jance was a pure joy to read. I never used to miss one of her releases and now it’s been several years since I have read one. Ali Reynolds is my favorite of her menage of characters. She is well written and has grown immeasurably over the years. Her current position at High Noon is definitely her second career; previously she had been a television news anchor in Los Angeles, but had been let go when she passed a certain age. You can imagine how well that went over. She is a woman comfortable in her own skin and in her marriage to a man fifteen years younger than her. B, her husband travels a lot, overseas mostly, in his capacity as head of this cyber-security firm with high profile clients all over the world. He had been on his way to the airport when he was involved in a horrendous automobile accident. It didn’t appear to be an accident, really, but was he the target or his driver, retired Pasadena police detective, Hal Holman? That could be dealt with later, right now Ali had to prepare to replace B at the tech conference he had been heading for. She could represent B, but she needed Cammie to be the tech wizard she was. Before anyone could blink an eye, they were in the air, leaving Stu and his AI, Frigg (who never sleeps) investigating.

Jance has a unique style, jumping from one part of the story to another in each chapter. She tells the stories, not only of her main characters, but of other people who may have been involved in the crime, either as perpetrators or as victims or people auxillary to victims. It is a truly amazing feat that she brings all these pieces together to solve the crime, and maybe one or two others she hadn’t really been looking at. It is a very readable style of writing. The plot was a good one, with tentacles reaching across time and geography, pulling together a seemingly unrelated group of people, as is Jance’s wont, to solve crimes no one else would have considered related. All due to Frigg, just as she contemplates, on the page, the morality of using this AI. It is a wonderful story, the continuation of a wonderful series.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Collateral Damage by Gallery Books, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #GalleryBooks #JAJance #CollateralDamage

[Teri · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read and have read all of J.A Janice’s books since I discovered J.P. Beaumont in the 1990s. My sister and I even made a point of dining at the The Dog House in Seattle, Beaumont’s favorite 24-hour diner. Alas it is no longer there. My favorite series is with Johanna Brady. My least favorite series is with Ali Reynolds. Yet I continue and will continue read each book Jance writes. That said, Collateral Damage didn’t quite satisfy. Ali Reynold’s husband B. is the Collateral Damage in an attempted vehicular manslaughter.The target is B.’s limo driver, retired Pasadena Homicide Detective, Hal Holden. The book then swings widely across decades, states, and characters, to describe the revenge sought by Frank Munoz, a former cop out on parole. There are so many characters involved in the Munoz’s murder for hire scheme that it was hard to keep track and even harder to sympathize with yet another person who grew up in rough circumstances and either did or did not make good choices as an adult. Maybe that was Jance’s point to demonstrate that no matter the circumstances of youth it is still an individual’s choice what they make of their own life as an adult. Still I even think Jance lost track of her characters. For example, Detective Bibi suspected Ali Reynolds of trying to murder B. When interviewing Ali and B., he was insulting. He suggested the motives Ali had to murder B. was either money or because B. was having an affair because Ali was 15 years older. Ali with the help of AI, Frigg, and employee, Stu Ramey, solves
the case and gives information to a more sympathetic detective in Minnesota. I expected a comeuppance scene that was not written with Detective Bibi. Another thread Jance lost was Bibi’s search for the leak in his office. The leak was most likely Megan, a woman all other staff knew to be friends with a journalist. Bibi, however, was blinded by Megan’s beauty. Bibi swore to find the leak, but that too was never written. Too many characters, too many plot lines left the reader missing closure.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a super complex mystery with lots of people involved, yet easy to follow and hard to put down!

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Collateral Damage continues the long-running series featuring Ali Reynolds, and honestly, I was not a huge fan of this book. While there was definitely an interesting story line buried somewhere in there, it got lost within the excessive amount of character description given for each character and I grew very frustrated with the reliance on Frigg to solve every problem. And the dialogue was supposed to be witty, but I found it excessively wordy and annoying.

Let's start with the large number of characters, shall we? Because the story swings across decades and states, there are a number of people involved of which to keep track. This is not inherently a problem except the author went to considerable pains to give the reader background information on each one of them, trying to draw sympathy for people who may have not made good choices in their lives as adults and are now living in difficult circumstances. There is only so much of this you can take before you start rolling your eyes, wondering what exactly is the purpose here. Honestly, if that was her point, going overboard like that, and leading the reader on in this way, is not necessarily the best way to about it. Subtlety works a lot better, in my opinion. And to make a character unpleasant without motivation also leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

The plot itself could have been great, but too many threads seemed to be flying all over the place with little explanation or follow-up. There were leaks that were not resolved, threads that were never explained, and the reliance on Frigg to solve everything drove me nuts. So, we've got this AI source, both inadmissible and unlikely to be caught, digging up information, while everyone else runs around on his instructions, conveniently overlooking some of the characters first introduced. And there is a clear delineation between those who are compassionate and those who are not. Personally, I like my stories, and my characters, to be somewhat more complicated than this.

Collateral Damage had a good premise, but got lost in too many story lines and characters. The plot itself seemed to be a jumble of threads whereby the author only connected the ones that were convenient, but overlooked some important details that made me roll my eyes. I didn't feel any connection to the characters because the descriptions didn't allow me to, telling me they made poor choices as adults, rather than letting me feel how their choices affected them. And for the love of everything, please get rid of the A.I. and the reliance on Frigg to solve anything the main characters can't do easily. If you want to try a book by this author, I recommend one from the Joanne Brady series before venturing into this series.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny how when your life is in a downward spiral you pick up a book and all your cares disappear. That's what happened with this book. J.A.Jance has written a wonderful novel involving Ali Reynolds, who is not my favorite character of Jance's. Sorry, not sorry. (I love JP Beaumont better but he's getting old and I fear Jance may kill him off soon - but I digress.)

Revenge is a particularly nasty emotion that consumes those who aren't smart enough to know when to let go of their anger. The hate builds to a fever pitched agony and nothing less than death or destruction will do as we see with our Frank Munoz character.

This book had a lot of special people in it: caring police detectives, an amazing parole officer and victims of violent domestic abuse including children who bear witness to it

I loved how all the pieces came together and made this whole.

Thank you Goodreads for a copy for my review.

[Barbara Blindauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ali Reynolds’s and High Noon Enterprises are put to the test to determine if BJ, Ali’s husband was the the target of a killer or was it his driver. This book deals with battered women, AI, and the tenacity of the police. This book also showed that all who work at High Noon have expertise in their fields.

[Charlotte Berg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read yet couldn’t seem to put it down! Such an entertaining mystery!!!!

[Lori L (She Treads Softly) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Collateral Damage by J. A. Jance is a highly recommended mystery/procedural and the seventeenth novel in the Ali Reynolds series.

After 20 years in prison former cop Frank Muñoz is being released on parole and revenge is on his mind. Targets include his wife, mistress, and the police detectives involved in his case. One of the former cops, Hal Holden, is now retired and works as a chauffeur. Ali Reynolds' husband, B. Simpson, founder of the cybersecurity company High Noon Enterprises, is heading to a conference on ransomware in London, England, and Hal is the one driving him to the airport.

On the way there is an accident that appears suspicious and both Hal and B. are seriously injured. B. insists that Ali represent High Noon at the conference and also that the accident was done purposefully. Ali attends but also becomes a suspect. She wonders who would be trying to stop B. from attending the conference or was Hal the target?

This is a fast-paced, complex plot with a whole lot of information and action going on. There are plots and subplots and so many pieces to this puzzle that you have to pay close attention to details to follow everything that is occurring. There are also a multitude of characters that require recognition throughout the plot. You may wish you had High Noon's AI helper, Frigg, to assist you, just as characters have to rely on in the narrative for information.

However, it is an engaging investigation that is action-packed and will hold your attention until the satisfying conclusion. The characters are all interesting and distinctive as individuals. It is very enjoyable, but, admittedly, this is my first Ali Reynolds novel and it would have helped if I was acquainted with the series and reoccurring characters before jumping into the seventeenth installment.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Simon & Schuster via NetGalley
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2023/0...

[Gloria ~ mzglorybe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This 17th in the Ali Reynolds series leaves much of the leg work of solving mysteries to Ali and her employees at High Noon, an IT company offering high-tech security to major companies. She and B co-own High Noon and have for many years. In this latest installment B is in a suspicious auto accident on his way to the airport with a driver, and both are seriously injured. B is layed up with serious but non-life-threatening injuries throughout most of the novel. When circumstances reveal it may not have been an accident, but intentional, the question of who was the target comes up. Was it B, or could it have been his driver, and why? Ali and her employees Stu Ramey, Cami, and of course the AI character of Frigg get to the bottom of what this convoluted story is about. It features many characters in several subplots and several locations. It also means taking risks using AI Frigg for discovery, which is bending the rules of law., but they would have never gotten to the heart of the matter without her help.

Jance keeps us turning those pages however, in her inimitable style, and even though this one is more convoluted than others it is not hard to follow. We even get glimpses of former characters from her past novels like Sister Anselm in Arizona, and her former butler/friend Leland, now living in London, several years after leaving Ali’s employ.

An enjoyable offering in this series, of which I have read all, I definitely think Jance fans will be pleased with this newest installment. Release date March 14th.

#NetGalley #GalleryBooks #JAJance

[Donna Mcnab · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a big fan of J. A. Jance's books and this one I found really entertaining. Love the characters as well as the story line.

[Catlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The latest book in the Ali Reynolds series is built around a man just released from a long prison sentence who is arranging hits on people who wronged him in the past. Ali and her husband B. Simpson are drawn into the situation when B's airport shuttle is run off the road and he and the driver are hospitalized. They are puzzled when the police say that it was not an accident, and begin to investigate. The computer geniuses at their company are enlisted to help.

I found this particular book to be not quite as engaging as previous books in this series. The main characters are also not as interesting to me as those in the other two series by Jance (JP Beaumont and Joanna Brady.) But, overall, the story line held my interest enough to say it's worth reading for those who are into computers and/or are Jance fans.

Thank you NetGalley and Gallery Books for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Vickie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Mystery, Nice Visit with Recurring Characters

Ali Reynolds takes the lead in solving the crimes in this book as B. Simpson is injured too badly in a car accident to help the investigation along. The mystery is a good one, with the culprit exposed from the beginning but the procedural of how they will catch him made the story a good one. Many of my favorite characters from previous books in the series were prominently featured in this one, including Stu, Cami and Frigg. I always enjoy a mystery with short chapters, lots of intensity and intrigue and where the good guys win in the end! Fast pace, well-written and strong characters make this a good choice for an entertaining read.
I checked out this book from the local library using the Libby App. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Dawn 🫶 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book will surely have you questioning who is really the victim and who is just collateral damage.

The fast-paced get-up-and-go with this book had me constantly on the edge of my seat attempting to attain the answers for Ali, Jance does an amazing job of putting together the story and giving you a front-row seat to see what happens when too many things just don't add up.

Thank you to the publisher as well as NetGalley for allowing me to read this book. A special thanks to J.A. Jance for constantly writing amazing books that I can't help but pick up.

[Teju A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing 👏🏾 This was awesome...... love love love this author. Story line was on point....

[Yasmin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read but too many characters and too many storylines.

[Katharine Ott · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Collateral Damage" - written by J A Jance and published in 2023 by Gallery Books, Simon & Schuster. Police procedurals are one of my favorite themes in a mystery, stitching it together step by step. That part worked in this story although the participants in each step were overly described with details not pertinent to the plot. And physical characteristics were far and few between, making for a disconnect. Because the "bad guy" was known from the get go, this rather boring story was not at all compelling. This could be Jance's trademark style, but it was a mediocre book.

[Karen Forcum · Rating 4 out of 5]

J.A. Jance uncovers an evil plot woven in many directions. Many lives are lost before Ali Reynolds, with the help of the Computer Frigg, blows the operation wide open.

[Sarah W · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don’t know how this got such high reviews. It’s just not that good.

Plot lines unfinished, barely any suspense/mystery, way the heck too much character background on random characters, dead fish chemistry between the main character couple, and Frigg just easily solves everything through illegal means.

Bleh.

[Bookreporter.com Mystery & Thriller · Rating 5 out of 5]

During a March 13th appearance at the Apache Junction Public Library in Arizona, J.A. Jance announced that her September 2023 release, BLESSING OF THE LOST GIRLS, will feature characters from both her Joanna Brady and Walker Family series. Many who showed up well over an hour early were unable to find seats, but they were assured by library personnel that Jance had graciously agreed to address another fully seated group with a second session.

COLLATERAL DAMAGE, her 17th Ali Reynolds mystery, was set to release the next day, so excited attendees enjoyed a hot-off-the-presses book signing.

In this latest installment, Ali Reynolds and her husband, B. Simpson, founding partner of High Noon Enterprises, awaits B.’s usual driver. Hal Holden is a retired homicide detective who frequently drives B. to Phoenix’s Sky Harbor Airport on his many international business trips. B. has been invited to speak at a prestigious conference in London on ransomware. In attendance will be worldwide executives and potential clients. Ali, who runs the business end of High Noon, will stay behind. Her father recently passed away, so she wants to remain close to her grieving mother.

It’s New Years Day, and traffic is light, but Hal notes a Silverado pickup truck tailgating his Lincoln Continental. Suddenly the vehicle pulls out and rams Hal’s car, pushing it over the embankment, tumbling end over end, and finally coming to rest upside down. Emergency vehicles arrive, and B. and Hal are helicoptered to a Phoenix hospital. B. will need surgery for a fractured shoulder, but Hal is in critical condition. The truck is found in flames a few miles off the road, causing a raging brush fire and a major traffic jam.

Because of the holiday, Cami Lee, one of High Noon’s computer gurus, is holding down the fort where the computer room’s CPUs whir endlessly, searching out possible cyberattacks on customer networks around the world. It is only when watchful algorithms discover a possible intrusion that alarms summon human intervention and awakens Frigg, their AI program. A police radio that runs all day in the computer room reports on the overturned car, which Cami recognizes as belonging to Hal.

Ali rushes to the hospital and finds B. conscious but in a lot of pain. Clearly he is in no shape to attend the conference, so he insists that Ali go to London in his place. She barely knows anything about ransomware, so Cami will accompany her. Ali is a proven public speaker but will need help with the details if questions come up.

Frank Muñoz is a disgraced former cop who is out on parole after being released from the Lompoc Federal Correctional Complex, where he learned some valuable lessons. Many of his fellow inmates are guilty of financial transgressions such as fraud, corruption, tax evasion, money laundering and drug dealing. The prison library is stocked with a collection of law books, but when it comes to finding answers, most of these prisoners have no idea where to start. Frank had accepted his conviction without bargaining for reduced sentences, negotiating plea deals or naming names. Given a choice between doing business with a crooked cop who isn’t a snitch and a crooked lawyer who is, Frank becomes the go-to man to answer legal questions from inmates eager to share their experiences. Finding a hit man is a skill he learns from them, and boy does he have some axes to grind.

COLLATERAL DAMAGE is about a dangerous man’s crusade that will place everyone in his path in peril. A vendetta of grudges, cold cases and bitterness leads to unsolved murders dating back to 1997. The question for Ali and B. is: Was the fiery crash an accident, or was one of the men in the car the target? A determined California police captain remains suspicious of Ali. Would she want her husband dead to inherit the company’s fortune? Jance has crafted another stunning cliffhanger, and fans like me are lucky to have a second book of hers to look forward to later this year.

Reviewed by Roz Shea

[Sue F · Rating 5 out of 5]

31-Jan-23Who’s really the victim, and who’s just collateral damage?

I had somehow missed out on the last few Ali Reynolds books, so I was happy to receive a review copy of the newest book in the series, Collateral Damage. And I found that all of the elements that I like in JA Jance’s books are still there: a smooth plot; interesting protagonists, including a scary smart AI; and nasty, but still believable, villains.

As the book opens, Ali’s husband, B. Simpson, is involved in an automobile wreck on his way to the Phoenix Sky Harbor airport. But although it becomes clear rather quickly that the collision was no accident, it’s far from clear which of the two men in the car was the intended victim and which was just “collateral damage”. The Arizona Highway Patrolman on the case, the somewhat oafish Detective Biba, is convinced that, as the head of an up-and-coming cybersecurity firm, B. was the target, and thus Ali, as B.’s nearest-and-dearest, is his main suspect. But Ali and the other High Noon employees aren’t so sure. After all, it seems quite possible that B.’s airport driver (and retired cop), Hal Holden, might have picked up quite a few enemies himself in his 25-year stint with the Pasadena Police Department.

Jance does a really nice job weaving together the many strands of the story, told from wildly different points of view. And although we, as readers, are given a pretty good idea about whodunnit early on, it’s still fascinating to watch as several police forces and investigators manage to piece together a puzzle that spans many different jurisdictions – with some crucial behind-the-scenes help from the High Noon folks.

All-in-all, I really enjoyed this latest foray into the Ali Reynolds series, and highly recommend it – especially for anyone who likes police procedurals. My only small beef is that a couple of threads didn’t seem to me to get wrapped up very well. First, it would have been nice to see Biba have to eat his words a bit at the end, when it becomes clear that, in fact, B. was not the target, and Ali was not the perpetrator. But there’s just a passing mention that Biba will get notified, and nothing more. And the other thread that it might have been nice to see a bit more of was what happened to the obnoxious Adrian Willoughby after High Noon’s Cami Lee puts her thumb on the scale. We’re sure something bad is going to happen to him. But it would have been fun to actually see it happen, and even get to gloat a bit. But although I might have given Collateral Damage a 4 ½ if I could, for those two issues, I had no hesitation in rounding up to 5 since I can’t.

And finally, my thanks to the publisher, Gallery Books, for the review copy.

[Clwseattle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a dedicated fan of J.A. Jance. I'm particularly fond of her J.P. Beaumont character, but those are the books where I began a 37-year author-reader relationship with Ms. Jance.

Collateral Damage is aptly titled for this latest Ali Reynolds book, as Ali and company are collateral to the mystery and its solving.

Collateral Damage is a fascinating, complicated story of revenge, unsolved cases unresolved over years in multiple jurisdictions, and, the many LEO's who work together to make sense of it all, with the help of Ali's husband's company and his private AI, Frigg.

Frigg is really the case solver in this case. Ali's only job is to keep Frigg's special investigating skills and results legally sound. I will say Ali's much snippier than we've seen from her before.

The plot tentacles of Collateral Damage are wide, deep, and intricately woven but it wasn't hard to keep it all straight.

5 Stars for Collateral Damage. I'm already on hold for Blessing of the Lost Girls, A Brady and Walker Novel due out in September. I've been waiting a long time for another Walker novel.

~*~

Now, a public yet personal note to J.A. Jance which is not included as part of my rating of Collateral Damage

Ms. Jance, you, and I are within the same decade in age range, so we grew up in just about the same era. In Collateral Damage I was shocked by one glaring homage to language adaptation demanded by those who have no right to demand it of us. I am disappointed that you did.

The same was demanded of scientist Richard Dawkins, but over a different type of language usage. You caved. He did not.

Mr. Dawkins is a well-known, long-time atheist in our age range. I am a practicing Catholic from birth. He and I probably share very few of the same ideas. But on this I agree with him wholeheartedly.

"The only possible response is contemptuous ridicule," he told The Telegraph. "I shall continue to use every one of the prohibited words. I am a professional user of the English language. It is my native language."

Dawkins went on to say, "I am not going to be told by some teenage version of Mrs. Grundy which words of my native language I may or may not use."

Ms. Jance, while I allow it may have been a proof-reader or editor who made a change unbeknownst to you, your name is on the book.

You have dozens of books published, books published in many languages, with millions of buyers and even more readers across the globe. Don't disappoint them nor disrespect them by cowering to the few who demand ridiculousness in our language. To paraphrase Mr. Dawkins, 'You are a professional user of the English language. It is your native language.'

[Nolan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frank Muñoz was a dirty cop. Then, he became an ex-con. He spent years in a federal prison in Lompoc, California to qualify for that ex-con label. That gave him lots of time to think about how he got there. And, like most criminals, Frank Muñoz blamed everyone but himself for his situation. His wife, Sylvia, testified against him, as did his mistress, Danielle. But he’s out of prison now, and he is again in touch with people he worked with behind the scenes. Because of some pre-prison negotiations with mobsters who didn’t want any attention, Frank has some money laid aside, and he’s going to use it wisely and well.

The mistress is the first to die. She has carved out a good life for herself in Minneapolis—nice marriage, good kids—and the killer Frank hires to end her life does a spectacular job of it. She dies on the steps of the domestic abuse shelter she runs.

Sylvia is next, and from his computer in Las Vegas, Frank, the ex-con, arranges for her death and that of her husband. Ah, but things never turn out the way you want them to. Frank’s oldest son saves his mom and stepdad’s life.

Another player in the saga that sent Frank Muñoz to prison is retired cop Al Holden. Al now operates a small Uber-like service in the Arizona town where he settled after he retired. His passenger that day is B Simpson, the guy who owns High Noon Enterprises with his wife, Ali Reynolds. Al is driving Simpson to the airport when the car crash happens. The cops assume it’s a one-car rollover initially, but they later determine that another caused the crash. Days later, again thanks to Frank, the gangbangers from southern California who caused that accident died.

Someone is keeping Simpson from going to a ransomware conference in London. Someone wants High Noon Enterprises out of the cybersecurity business. Part of the mystery of the book is figuring out who wants the company dead and why. From his hospital bed, Simpson dispatches Ali and Cami Lee, an employee of the company, to the conference, insisting he’ll recover ok until she gets back.

Gradually, but in lots of well-written ways, all the murders come together. There’s enough suspense in the Nevada desert to keep you tuned in and listening closely. This was several steps up from previous installments in this series. It’s significantly helpful to read prior books in the series to best enjoy this, but I believe that only because that’s what I’ve done. You might be able to pick this up and do ok with it.

[Donna Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Collateral Damage is the 17th book in the Ali Reynolds mystery series by J.A. Jance. My thanks go to Net Galley and Gallery Books for the review copy; this book is for sale now.

As fans of the series know, Ali is married to B. Simpson, and together they run a small but increasingly prominent cybersecurity firm called High Noon, appropriately named given their Arizona home base. In this installment, B. is on his way to the airport when he’s run off the road. He and the man driving him are badly injured, and the police take the lazy way out, assuming that Ali is behind the crime. Who could better benefit from his death? The business is worth a lot of money, not to mention B’s fat life insurance policy. Soon Ali and her trusted High Noon employees investigate, assisted once more by Frigg, the nearly sentient AI that can go where no one is supposed to go, and find out things that aren’t legally obtainable.

Jance is a veteran mystery writer, and she’s produced bestselling novels for decades. This time around, the novel is better than what most authors can do on their best days, and yet it’s not Jance’s most riveting story. The pacing is on the sedate side, and it’s not until we are well and truly at the climax that it feels urgent. I suspect this is because the story’s protagonist, Ali, and the other repeating characters that I have enjoyed so much over the past few years are sidelined here. Once Frigg ferrets out the critical information that suggests that the crime is the work of a longtime serial killer, Ali provides the cops whose unsolved cases are involved, and we mostly follow them, alternately with the baddie.

A side note, but one worth mentioning: Jance has a couple of long-running series that are set in Arizona, and there have been times when I’ve reported that I dislike the tinge of stereotyping that I have seen in the way her Latinx and Black side characters are depicted. I feel as if she’s turned that around here, and having registered complaints in the past, it’s only fair to recognize that this time, she’s done well.

Fans of the series will want to read this in order to enjoy continuity between the last, Unfinished Business, and whatever she writes next. For new readers, I advise beginning the series with number 11, Clawback. Going back to the first entry—which of course, you can do—requires reading the series before it develops into a strong vehicle. If you start the series here instead, you will have the information you need to move forward, and the quality is as uniformly excellent as any other series I have read.

I recommend this book to Jance’s readers, and I recommend it to new readers as suggested above.

[Paul Sutter]

J. A. Jance is certainly noted for a succession of popular series, that have kept her readers entertained for decades. COLLATERAL DAMAGE features Ali Reynolds, starring in book seventeen, definitely one of the most complex and creative books of the series. Jance goes that extra mile, giving readers quite the exhaustive ride, a book where the reader is unsure of just where the plot will be heading.
The book opens in 2017, where Danielle Lomax-Reardon is leaving the shelter for victims of domestic abuse. They head there for protection. She was once the victim of abuse, now helping other women in their time of need. As she leaves, a man steps from the shadows, and shoots her several times, Danielle dying, knowing who arranged the hit on her.
We then meet Frank Munoz who is a former cop, a bad cop, who used his position of power to break all the rules. He agreed to plead guilty, and not name names in a money laundering scheme, with the promise of getting $500,000 once he was released. Munoz is not one to forgive and forget, wanting to eliminate all those who were part of his incarceration. There was a mistress, cops, and others who did not escape his watchful and vengeful eye.
His scheme has drawn Ali Reynold husband B. Simpson, into the mix, when he is being driven to the airport, ultimately on his way to London for a conference on cybersecurity, representing his company High Noon Enterprises. His driver, an ex-cop Hal Holden, is suddenly and violently forced off the road. Hal is in a coma, and B. has major shoulder injuries.
Chief Detective Biba, looking into the case, cannot get it through his thick skull, that Ali may be involved in this somehow because of a major insurance policy. He is relentless in hounding her.
We find out that Munoz has been pulling strings while behind bars, and now free, his personal vendetta gets into overdrive, eliminating people who crossed him and those he hired to pull off some classic hits. There is a long and winding path to Munoz and others, as he plans on leaving the country once his plans seem to meander off course. But police are given information about him and how several cases interlock, with Munoz in the bulls eye.
COLLATERAL DAMAGE guarantees a great read, a classic book that will certainly satisfy J. A Jance fans like so many books before this one.