The A List: An Ali Reynolds Mystery

Bestseller Jance’s disjointed 14th Ali Reynolds mystery (after 2018’s Duel to the Death) centers on the efforts of Edward Gilchrist, a disgraced California fertility doctor, to take revenge on former L.A. newscaster Ali, now the owner of a cybersecurity company in Arizona, and four others for uncovering evidence of his treating infertility with his own sperm instead of that of donors. In 2013, Gilchrist enters Folsom Prison to serve a life sentence without parole for arranging to have his wife killed before she could testify against him. With the help of a prison kingpin and the financial support of his wealthy, conniving mother, he starts to work through his so-called Annihilation List. The subsequent string of murders comes to the attention of Ali and her cybersecurity team only after a friend of hers is killed. Ali must stop Gilchrist before she becomes his next victim. Jance misses no opportunity to pad the scattered narrative with exposition, and never takes a moment to develop any emotional depth. Readers who don’t mind cartoonish characters and melodramatic action will be satisfied. Agent: Alice Volpe, Northwest Literary. (Apr.)