Fatal Error

Ali Reynolds #6

by J.A. Jance

Ali Reynolds begins the summer thinking her most difficult challenge will be surviving a six-week- long course as the lone forty-something female at the Arizona Police Academy--not to mention taking over the 6:00 AM shift at her family s restaurant while her parents enjoy a long overdue Caribbean cruise. However, when Brenda Riley, a colleague from Ali s old news broadcasting days in California, shows up in town with an alcohol problem and an unlikely story about a missing fiance, Ali reluctantly agrees to help. The man posing as Brenda s fiance is revealed to be Richard Lowensdale, a cyber-sociopath who has left a trail of broken hearts in his virtual wake. When he is viciously murdered, the women he once victimized are considered suspects. The police soon focus their investigation on Brenda, who is already known to have broken into Richard s home and computer before vanishing without a trace. Attempting to clear her friend's name, Ali is quickly drawn into a web of online intrigue that may lead to a real-world fatal error.

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

368 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2011

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

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fatal Error by J. A Jance is a 2011 Touchtone Books publication.

I will admit after reading Beaumont and Brady novels for so long the Ali Reynolds series didn't make a big impression on me at first. It was OK, but nothing like the other two series. However, after reading the next 2 book is the series, I found myself feeling excited about touching base with Ali again.

This sixth book has Ali looking forward to a new chapter in her life. She has a new boyfriend, she is about to become a grandmother, and is training to be a cop. However, when an old acquaintance looks her up out the blue asking for help with a background check on a shady online boyfriend, Ali agrees to help her out. But, Ali never dreamed she would find herself in the smack dab middle of a collision between her old friend, B. Simpson, the FBI, military drones, and a greedy and twisted killer.

I love how Ali never rest on her laurels when she could take life at her leisure. I admired her courage to go through the police academy even though she was a few years older than the average recruit. She always challenges herself and refuses to allow her difficult past to dictate her future. I loved touching base with the Arizona crowd I've come to know and love as well, although some characters really were in the background in this one. I am also happy to see the blog Ali spent so much time on the first two books, has slowly died out. I didn't really miss it and the stories flow much more evenly now as a result.
This mystery was very different from anything Ali has dealt with previously and although she was not officially a cop, she showed she has what it takes to be a great investigator. Drones are a very hot topic these days and Jance may have actually been a few years ahead of time with this one. A very interesting take on the use of drones and one we should certainly be paying attention to.

I do think that I am warming up to Ali more and more each time I read a book from this series and I am dying to see what she will get up to next. 4 stars

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read all of the books in the series so far and this was one of the weaker storylines. I felt like Jance was reaching for something to write about in this book. At first it seems like the plot could really go somewhere when Ali's old colleague, Brenda Riley, shows up needing help finding information about her ex- fiancé, whom she has only met online. However, Brenda isn't the old beautiful, perfect hair and makeup Brenda she used to be when Ali knew her as a television news women. Brenda is a wreck. She seems to be a hardcore drinker, has gained a lot of weight, and doesn't look like she's showered in days. I thought we would follow Brenda and her troubles, which the book sort of does but then switches off track and now suddenly the reader is following a storyline about her ex-fiancé and his shady business partners. Brenda remains a part of the story in a minor way, but now the storyline is about the murder of the mystery ex-fiancé, set in California, with a new Detective, Gil Morris, on the case.

It felt like Jance really had to reach to even allow Ali to be a part of the story. It all became so unbelievable that it was distracting. How could Ali, a normal citizen, show up in another state and make demands of a Detective with little to no information given to him and he just jump at her instructions? It all felt like the author was just really stretching to write a unique story with Ali still as a main character. Ali needs to stay close to her Sedona home for the story to be believable because Ali isn't a police officer...yet. The last paragraph shows hope for the next book, which I will be reading even though this one was a flop. 3 stars.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is the best of Ms. Jance I have read. She just keeps getting better and better. She has Ali Reynolds keeping a lot of balls in the air: pursuing an evil killer, trying to protect her friend, working on a very long distance relationship, becoming a grandmother for the first time, solving multiple murders. Somehow, it is all very believable as she travels all over Arizona and California.

[Bryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another strong book in this enjoyable series.

[Dlora · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading a J.A. Jance novel in between a Lee Childs and a Michael Connelly is a mistake. Ali Reynolds as a detective just does not compare with Jack Reacher or Harry Bosch. However, if you want a more touchy-feely mystery with a strong female protagonist who also breaks the rules to get the job done like Reacher and Bosch you might enjoy this one. We've got psychopaths and pawns and smart cops and dumb cops. Ali finishes her police course but then doesn't get hired on, which in some ways makes it easier for her to track down a grisly murderer while hoping to save a friend. The friend, also an anchorwoman who was fired when she got too old, spirals down into alcoholism and neediness and begins a long-distance relationship, including becoming engaged to this guy she's never actually met. Ali tries to give her much-needed advice, only to have her friend take off in anger. When she goes missing, Ali is drawn in by her guilt to try to track her down and stumbles on some murders in the process.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

It appears that I've lost my taste for this series. Either that or it really is getting less interesting.

[(NurseLisa) Square Granny from Ohio · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5 stars

[Betsy Barnes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very disappointing !Certainly not of the same caliber of other Ali Reynolds books. The story line lacked suspense - it was easy to put down. Lots of filler-for example, several pages were about the police officer Gil buying household items to replenish what his ex wife took- absolutely superfluous !
Decided it's time to change authors for awhile.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fatal Error: An Ali Reynolds Novel: is by J.A. Jance. This novel is the perfect combination of sleuthing, police work, and human relations. The characters are realistic and likeable. The plot is well-developed and complex. It is a joy to read this.
Ali Reynolds is at the academy preparing to become a police officer. She just has to make it through the Arizona Police Academy. If she can get past this hip toss, she can do this. While she is resting to begin again, she gets a call from Brenda Riley, a former anchorwoman that Ali once knew. They met up to talk and she finds out that Brenda is worried about her fiancé. She hasn’t heard from him in a while. He hasn’t called her nor is he answering her messages. Ali also notices that Brenda seems to be having a drinking problem. Reluctantly, she agrees to help her. She finds out he is a cyber-sociopath and has been seducing other ladies on-line to be his fiancé to get their money. Ali sends Brenda the information and hopes Brenda takes her advice and gets help with her drinking and then Ali heads to California to see a dying friend.
She is drawn back into Brenda’s affairs when Brenda’s mother calls her that Brenda is missing and a detective in Grass Valley, Arizona is looking for her. It seems that her fiancé, Richard is dead. Brenda seems to be the prime suspect. Ali sets out with Detective Gilbert Morris to find Brenda and to find Richard’s killer. Will they be too late to save Brenda?

[Wendy Pike · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have enjoyed the Ali Reynolds series in the past but this book was awful. The story didn't flow and there were way too many useless side plots going on that didn't matter to the main storyline and I just didn't care about them. There was also a lot of useless detail and background information about characters that didn't matter to the story. Also, knowing who did what right from the beginning makes it not much of a mystery so I didn't even feel compelled to finish the book (I got 2/3 of the way through, saw the pile of books waiting for me and decided to move on) The whole thing felt a little like the author was forcing a story that just wasn't working out. Hopefully the next in the series will be better.

Also, to go along with another reviewer, it's time for the author to let go of the whole "tormented older woman discrimination" element of this series. Every male character doesn't need to be a pig for the lead character to be a strong female.

[Zeynep · Rating 3 out of 5]

"New York Times Bestseller" tarafından seçilen bir kitap bu kadar basit olmamalıydı.

Neden mi? Ne olacağını tahmin etmiştim. Polisiye-gerilim romanlarında ben sonunu bilmek istemem. Sonunda "Yok artık" demek isterim. Bu kitap hiç böyle değildi. Sonu tahmin edilebilirdi. Günümüzdeki "çoğu" yazar Agatha Cristie olmaya çalışıyor. Kimse o kadar zeki olmaz.

Hikaye çok basitti. Heyecanlandığım hiçbir nokta yoktu. Katil bir seri katil havasında değildi. Akıllı gösterilmeye çalışılmış ama olmamıştı.

Kitabı tavsiye etmiyorum. Sadece emek verildiği için 3 yıldızı hakkediyor.

[Janice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to this. good reader and plot was a page turner

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

The indomitable Ali Reynolds returns in her sixth book to solve crimes and kick butt. I must confess however, that this is the first Ali Reynolds book for me, so this is more of an introduction. Since there are five books of her before this, it might be unfair, but I found her rather dull. She seems morally incorruptible, rich, smart, and pretty much excels at whatever she does. She's superman without kryptonite. She's batman without baggage. She's perfect and therefore unrelatable.

The writing style by Jance is adequate and efficient. I don't think there is anything bad about it, but just not very interesting either. It is impressive though how smoothly everything flows and how easily it reads. I can't write like that. I wish I could. It is something that you can keep reading and the pages just keep turning making it a great relaxing beach book.

There wasn't much to the story or the case itself. The build up is slow and Ali is barely involved in the case for much of the book. If you were to graph the action and suspense of a thriller, you would want it to be a good treadmill workout. A good build up of elevation with some ups and downs and a good final peak at the end that leaves you tired and out of breath. I felt like this was more of a stroll along a gradual incline with a slight hill at the end. The hill at the end was fun, but the walk there was less than vigorous.

This isn't really a book I would normally read, so maybe that is my problem with it. It was okay though.

[L Cherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ali Reynolds is my new favorite heroine and I am really loving this series.
The mystery is somewhat predictable but still very exciting in this part of the series. Ali shows her dedication to friends by being by the side of one who is dying, while at the same time trying to figure out what happened to another who is missing. I am enjoying the new characters being introduced and can not wait to see where things are going. Ali gains respect of various law enforcement with each crime she ends up finding herself in the middle of.

[Beth Lechman]

Didn't realize this was part of a series. That being said the book just didn't grab me and couldn't get into it.

[Dorothy Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good, but not the best Jance I've read.

[Diane Large · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read when I stay up until 1:00am to finish. I like Ali Reynolds. She takes charge and isn't afraid to break the rules.

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

As usual for this series, I couldn't put it down.

[Phyllis Sommers · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable novel that held my attention the entire time; yet, the story was somewhat routine and thus isn't one about which I would rave on and on. "Fatal Error" is a book worthy of a trip to the beach, a vacation, or even a light evening's entertainment.

Ali Reynolds is a recurring character in J. A. Jance's novels and it is in this one where we see her pass the exam and graduate from the local Police Academy. Unfortunately, however, police jobs are scarce; therefore Ali tries to occupy her free time helping her parents at their diner, helping old and infirm friends, and preparing for the birth of her first grandchildren-- twins.

When Ali's friend, Brenda Riley, goes missing, however, the policewoman and friend in Ali must try to help find her. As Ali learns of the nefarious activity of Brenda's cyber-boyfriend, Richard L., Richard Lowensdale, the resident at the very same address as Richard L., turns up dead, murdered by an unknown assailant. Ali soon discovers that Brenda was merely one of Richard's 50-or-so cyber-girlfriends, each one thinking she was engaged to a Richard L..., the last name varying in each instance.

As Brenda begins to contact each woman, it is with the intent of using their information to write a book detailing Richard's bigamous relationships. Before long, however, not only does Ali go missing, but it soon begins to look as though she may have been the murderer. While Ali collects her information, she contacts Detective Gil Morris, the detective in charge of Lowensdale's murder, and the two of them join forces to try to find the true murderer.

Jance writes in a very straightforward, personable tone and her characters are very relatable. The reader is definitely left interested in continuing to follow the events in the lives of these characters. Recommended.

[Julia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Having read a lot of J.A. Jance's books, I find myself wanting the author to grow her tales in skill and complexity and I'm just not finding it here. The Ali Reynolds series is probably my least favorite of Jance's bodies of work and this latest episode explains why. We know who the killer is from the beginning and although some writers would use the opportunity to develop the killer's character, Jance throws out a few too-easy answers and instead focuses on how brilliant Ali is in putting two and two together.

Or is she truly all that brilliant? Seems to me that Ali, throughout the series series, suffers from the right-place-right-time syndrome plus having skilled friends and a surfeit of cash to make things happen. I much prefer the way Jance's J.P. Beaumont books unfold, with some real detective work on the part of the main character, and I am always thrilled when a new Walker Family book comes out (it is too rare). I loved "Queen of the Night", which I had read just a few weeks ago, but this book, which arrived from my library's hold list remarkably quickly, brought me down from my Jance high much too soon.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm fan of J.A. Jance and enjoy the Ali Reynolds series. I think this one is a good read. It's escapist in that Ali has the monetary ability to do anything she wants - hire private jets, have a butler take care of all her household responsibilities while she drives all over California without having to worry about work, etc. so if your life is full of bills and obligations, you can dream you live the easy life of Ali. Not to mention she has a young boyfriend and extended family who love her. She's almost too perfect.

I was hoping for some romantic chemistry with the detective in the story and hoping Ali would find herself conflicted about her cougar habits with B but no such luck. I personally think Ali has been made so "perfect" now that she's not a very interesting character but still if you want a great escape story with J.A. Jance's wonderful tale telling this is a good choice.

I'm thinking the detective in this story would make a great spin off series. He's an engaging character.

[E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ali Reynolds is more comfortable in her own skin, is attending police academy and savoring her relationship with cyberguru B. Simpson when a former colleague embroils her in a cyber-stalking case. Ali's friend and supporter Velma is finally succumbing to her disease and Ali is just able to finish substituting for her parents at their diner in time to go visit. The multiple threads start coming together in California as the body count starts rising and the cyber-stalker's case morphs into one that may imperil national security. Good escalation of tension and complications.

[Genine Franklin-Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been mildly ill for the past week and find that this series is perfect for me to escape my misery for a while. I like the interesting growth of characters and reading the books one after another, nonstop, makes it feel like something of a pleasant journey.

And I'm better now. And housebound today - snow. I do not mind this at all. I have a warm house, a caring husband, a cat, mamy many books and P.F.Chang's hot and sour soup in the freezer. All is well. Well, except for the election . . .

[Lisa Eirene · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love J.A. Jance but this book fell short for me. I read half of it and gave up. The writing was so poor! It was disjointed, there was no flow. It felt like multiple stories in one book. I just didn't get it. Where was her editor on this?

[Suzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a little difficult to follow sometime but I admit I fell asleep during the audiobook adn wasn't sure what I missed. I wish I had Ali's and or B.'s money to facilitate my life! I'll have nightmares if and when I go to sleep again.

[Cindy B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked this standalone. Audio well read by Caron Zeemba (?sp).

[TeriC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loving this series and following Ali through all her adventures.

[Vali Heist · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read!!! I'll be looking for more of her books.

[Sonja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another adventure in the life of Ali Reynolds. A good read.

[Lyle Nicholson · Rating 2 out of 5]

So, pretty heavy female USA flag waving genre. I get it, she is writing to an audience that works for her. My wife brought this home from our community library and I gave it a try. She does draw you in, but I thought the initial plotline was very thin, and the main protagonist didn't do much for me, but I was intrigued that this was a best selling author. Since I'm not, and would one day like to be in my wildest dreams I kept reading. She did punch all the buttons for heartthrob and pulled all the strings of a somewhat wealthy widow who finds love with a younger man and also has an older manservant in her fabulous home in Sedona. I mean really, who doesn't have one of those? And of course, her parents run a diner and her daughter in law is a double amputee from the Iraq War. So many heartstrings being pulled it's hard to count.

In the end, I finished the book. I gave it only a two-star which means I liked it, as it fit the genre, and I have to say, good for J.A. Jance, I may not have fallen in love with the book, but I'll bet there were many women who did. So, good for her to write to a market that welcomes her work. Now, I'll go back to my writing and see if I can fit a Diner in there somewhere?