Trial by Fire

#5 in the Ali Reynolds series. As usual, J. A. Jance offers a nonstop ride in a tense mystery situation. This is the book where Ali meets Sister Anselm, a patient advocate for severely injured patients. A woman is terribly burned in an arson house fire without any identification. Ali is send from the Prescott area near her home to Phoenix to intercept the media. She is in a new job as a media person for the sheriff\’s office. What ensues is several days of intense struggle to try to save the patient and to find out who she is. This is vintage Jance and as usual is exceptionally well done. Incidentally, the book blurb at the beginning of this page is virtually unidentifiable as to the actual story events! A bit strange? Not withstanding that, the book is well worth your time to read.

This was a couldn\’t put it down read. I enjoy Ali Reynolds\’ character as a rule and this book was no exception. Sister Aslem was an unforgettable and lovely character. The world needs more of those type of people. She really made the book unforgettable. Ali\’s personal life was kept to a minimum, which was good. This left more room for character introductions. Can\’t wait for the next one!

A Jane Doe is found in a fire, badly burned with no memory. She begins recovery while under the care of nuns at a convent but then is diagnosed with terminal cancer. So the clock is ticking. NOT. That\’s the book description on Amazon, but there is no convent, there is no cancer, and the woman dies in the hospital she never left 3/4 of the way through the book. I quit reading at that point. I normally love this author but I felt somehow cheated by an incomplete story arc.

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.

This book is well-written and an absorbing account of a drama played out mostly in a burn unit in Phoenix. The portrait of the burn victim is poignant and the book introduces a new character, an elderly nun, with a good back-story. I think she will figure in future books involving the same protagonist (Ali Reynolds). It wasn\’t great literature but it was enjoyable and thoroughly engaged me. I\’d recommend it to readers who are fans of J.A. Jance.

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