Hand of Evil

This is the third in the Ali Reynolds storyline I have read. Like other books in her series, this one does have some minor continuity errors – Ali\’s Dad was injured in a previous book when a snowboarder collided with him, in this book the injury came from a \”flawed turn\” while snowboarding\”. And I\’m still unclear how someone who lives in a \”double-wide mobile home\” has a basement, a basement studio made out of a pre-existing garage AND a wine cellar. But the plot and subplots are riveting and the writing is tight. The understory of a young girl\’s sexual grooming and abuse is realistic and raw and shares a necessary cautionary message for parents and guardians of children everywhere. I\’m looking forward to the next one.

J.A Jance has become one of my favorite, preferred authors. The Ali Reynolds series is quickly becoming my favorite series of the four she has written: J.P. Beaumont (Seattle, WA Policeman Detective) was her first series, Joanne Brady (Cochise Country, AZ Sheriff; my favorite and my introduction to the southwest when I moved to Cochise County, AZ 3 years ago), and the Walker Family (Pima County (Tucson), AZ Sheriff) is her fourth series are all excellent. Having said that, it would be very difficult for me to decide which of the four series is my favorite. I supposed the favorite would have to be whichever series Jances\’ latest book is from. Can\’t wait to read more! My only other favorite, preferred authors is Kathy Reichs, author of the \”Temperance Brennan\” or \”Bones\” series, which I would assume most TV watchers and medical/forensic mystery readers know of. She writes several series as well: Virals (teenage mysteries)\’ Exposure, Code and Seizure. As both a retired U.S. Army NCO and forensic psychologist, I find these series extremely engrossing and highly enjoyable. I would recommend them to anyone who has an interest in mystery stories. The Reich series for medical/forensic/police mysteries and J.A. Jance for non-standard Sheriff/police mysteries. They are truly worth your time and energy. And, on Kindle especially, the price is inconsequential.

Warning: incest and other sexual abuses along with brutal murders. This story is depressing. Sexual abuses of children and brutal murders of people who were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Thoughts to take away from this story: “But if you live in a family of monsters like that,” Arabella continued without acknowledging the comment, “you know things. You know them in your soul. If you don’t figure them out on your own, you don’t survive.” “Nobody ever accomplished anything worthwhile by staying out of trouble. You need to decide what it is you want to do and then set about doing it.” I may re-read this story. I look forward to other works by this author.

The new character took me by surprise. The TV news woman was let go because she was not still 18, she goes back home to Mom & Dad and takes up blogging. YIKES OMG, how useless. I always threw the first book away. But I tend to hang in there because the fact J.A. Jance was wasting her time with this character. Now I\’m into book 3 and can\’t put them down. Blogging is a sickness in my mind and the headstrong older woman who still acts like a teenager when making decisions … tell her not to do something and she rebels… knows better but is so willfull she runs not walks into what she even know is what she should do. By book 3 I still want to kick her butt for making women look badly but at the same time, I can\’t put down the book. If I take up blogging, somebody shoot me! But read this series

Was a little impressed with this first time author for me. The story was a fast past read basically involving incest and murder and some stupid detectives who probably could’nt find a hole in a box. Since I jumped right into this third part of the series it will take me to read another book in this series to embrace the main character Ali Reynolds and the authors writing style.

Galaxyaudiobook Member Benefit

- Able to comment

- List watched audiobooks

- List favorite audiobooks

- Bookmark will only available for Galaxyaudiobook member