Left for Dead

A Novel

By: J. A. Jance

Narrated by: Karen Ziemba

Length: 10 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

Ali Reynolds investigates two shocking cases of victims brutally left for dead in New York Times best-selling J.A. Jance’s latest mystery-thriller.

When Santa Cruz County deputy sheriff Jose Reyes, Ali’s classmate from the Arizona Police Academy, is gunned down and left to die, he is at first assumed to be an innocent victim of the drug wars escalating across the border. But the crime scene investigation shows there’s much more to it than that, and soon he and his pregnant wife, Teresa, both fall under suspicion of wrongdoing.

Ali owes Reyes a debt of gratitude for the help he gave her years earlier when she was dealing with a troubled friend. When she’s summoned to his bedside at Physicians Medical Center in Tucson, it’s impossible for her to turn away. And knowing Reyes as well as she does, Ali finds it hard to believe that he’s become mixed up in the drug trade, despite evidence to the contrary. Upon arriving at the hospital, Ali finds that her good friend, Sister Anselm, is there, too - working as a patient advocate on behalf of another seriously injured victim, an unidentified young woman presumed to be an illegal border crosser, who was raped and savagely beaten.

Ali becomes determined to seek justice in both cases and secure safety for both victims. Together with Sister Anselm and a conscientious officer who won’t let the case drop despite pressure from above, Ali digs for clues to find the true culprits. Fast-paced, tension-filled, and intriguingly complex, Left for Dead is J.A. Jance at her riveting best.

©2012 J.A. Jance. (P)2012 Simon & Schuster Audio

Karen Ziemba stresses me out

Would you consider the audio edition of Left for Dead to be better than the print version?

Karen reads this story so fast and aggressively she puts me on edge. I liked the story though

What did you like best about this story?

J. A. Jance's writing is top notch and the story was easy to follow (if not for the distraction of Karen's speed racing reading.

What didn’t you like about Karen Ziemba’s performance?

This book and the newest release Deadly Stakes were ruined for me by the pursed, very fast reading of Karen. It is like she is in a race with someone to read as fast as she can. One single, aggressive, on the edge of her seat tone of voice and speed reading ruined them for me and I sent the new release back. I tried three times to listen and found myself feeling stressed out and on the edge of my seat just because of her reading. Could not listen.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Let someone else read it

Any additional comments?

Nope

Amazing book!

This is one of my favorite books! I have the hard copy & listening to this take on it definitely gave you the sense of being there and feeling the emotions.

I absolutely loved this newest installment

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

There are two stories blended together with Jance's usual skill and make an exciting read

What other book might you compare Left for Dead to and why?

Left For Dead is another great book by J.A. Jance, her seventh in the Ali Reynolds Mysteries. In all of J.A. Jance's books there is a strong sense of family, not just in the stories plot but in your reading experience. This sense of family is increased when you read another book in the series so my recommendation is to read others in the series as well.

What about Karen Ziemba’s performance did you like?

Easy to listen too

Excellent

Love the story and the reader. The story keep me in suspense all the way until the end.

Superb story and presentation

One of her best in the AZ backdrop. Surprise to find the TRUE villian.

Twists and Turns Make a Great Ending

Every time you think you know where the story is going, new info changes the direction of the plot. You will not know which killer(s) will be caught until near the end. But listen to the end because it is worth it.

Another winner

Ally Reynolds’s and her Nun partner again solved the mystery. Still waiting to see how Ally’s parents will evolve.

Girly detective cop stuff

This is my second book by this author and I have figured out her pattern. She puts two stories in each book, even though they have nothing to do with each other. Then she wanders around her extended family and their doings (not that interesting). Ali and her nun friend solve the crimes. Done.

These are interesting but sometimes a bit far-fetched, like Mrs. Polifax, but not as funny. There are much better crime writers around. However, Jance has quite a following, and I may continue listening like you sometimes watch TV just to be mind-numbed.

This whole nun thing has me puzzled. Is there an order of nuns that does not use first names, names that are given or chosen when the woman takes her vows? You know, like Sister Mary Clarence, Mother Teresa, Sister Beatrice? I know that for banking purposes, all nuns have surnames, but when called "Sister," I have not heard them called "Sister Lastname" only Sister Firstname. I am not asking how their names are chosen because that varies within the orders; I am asking where Sister Anselm's name comes from. It seems to be her own, her surname, and sometimes she uses two surnames. The other sisters in her convent seem to use first names. Please let me know so I can stop thinking Jance got it all wrong.

Narrator is passable. Her Latino honest citizens as well as the hoodlums sounded like either Brooklyn Jews or movie Mafiosos, but not like anything they should sound like.

JAJ just keeps getting better!

Many wonderful plait twists - kept me riveted. Her beat Allie yet! Even a funny reference to Moana B!

Complex story line comes together

Liked that the story was in an out of the way place I've traveled to and appreciated how author captured the distances and spaces well. Wished the reader had checked pronunciation of Spanish words.
Overall, Another interesting take on the Arizona story.