by J. A. Jance
Part of Ali Reynolds, book 8
First published 2013
Former reporter Ali Reynolds takes on a case that puts her at odds with local police. Lynn Martinson and her boyfriend Chip Ralston face murder charges for killing a gold digging divorcee. Lynn was dating the victim's ex-husband, making her an obvious suspect. Ali believes the couple is innocent and begins her own investigation. Meanwhile, teenager A.J. Sanders discovers the corpse in the Camp Verde desert while searching for a box his missing father buried there. The box contains hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of poker chips. When police find a second body near the crime scene, this one an ex-convict, Ali wonders if the cases connect. Her police contacts grow frustrated with her interference, but Ali pushes forward. She must identify the real killer before another victim dies and before she becomes a target herself.
Genres: mystery, crime, thriller, action
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: amateur-detective, found-family, unreliable-narrator
Setting: Camp Verde, Arizona
304 pages · Hardcover · Gallery Books