Left for Dead

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

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

6 of 7 people found this review helpful

When friends come to the help

Karen Ziemba does a great job narrating this series. Ali is off to help a friend who was in the police academy with her and also helps her friend Sister Anselma (sp?). Meanwhile her parents sell the cafe, and she is trying to decide on the new winners of her scholarship. It was nice to learn from this story what is going on with characters from previous stories in the series such as the last recipients of the scholarship and other fellow police academy students. The attempted murder of Jose the sheriff deputy, the murder of the postman and a rancher lead us on a tangled web to discover who did it. Over all it is a pleasant visit with friend in the series but I wish Ali would get back on the job at the Sheriff department it helped stabilize the story.

4 of 5 people found this review helpful

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

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

WHERE WAS THE EDITOR!!!?

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Maybe as part of the series but this was the weakest yet. The entire rambling entrance of character after character along with overly complicated background stories left the plot movement flat. If you can't reveal the characters as you go along, bit by bit, maybe there are too many! Really hard to stick with...

What was most disappointing about J.A. Jance’s story?

terrible plot pacing

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

no, she was fine as always but she wasn't given much to work will here...

Do you think Left for Dead needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

NO!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Nice level of suspense

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

Yes. I'm partial to audiobooks and I know many others are as well.

Would you recommend Left for Dead to your friends? Why or why not?

Yes, to continue the series. It had a nice level of surprise and suspense, although fairly predictable

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Yes, when Rose found out her parents did not care what kind of life she led after she ran away.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

J.A....What Happened...did you fall and hit your h

What would have made Left for Dead better?

Writing to an audience of adults. I have read books for Young Adults that don't talk down like Jance does in this book. Quit adding things like, "We were all so tired we would have no problem going night night>" Really?

What was most disappointing about J.A. Jance’s story?

The whole book!

Would you be willing to try another one of Karen Ziemba’s performances?

No...her voice is irritating and one note. She should read children's books because that what I felt like when she read that book!

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Anger...because I wasted a credit on it! I have tried to make it through the book 3 times, and quite frankly, I don't think I'm going to make it.

Any additional comments?

J.A. Will you please find Ali Reynolds a real job instead of having her flit around having the occasional roll in the hay with B and thinking she's just another person when really she is staring to come off as a snob!

5 of 7 people found this review helpful

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.

3 of 4 people found this review helpful

JAJ just keeps getting better!

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

Disjointed

What would have made Left for Dead better?

Better narration and smoother segue's between the story threads. There were artificially long pauses throughout the story at the end of sentences, paragraphs and chapters that really grated.

Has Left for Dead turned you off from other books in this genre?

no

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Karen Ziemba?

Christine Hvam

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

Being from Tucson I love the oh so thinly disguised locations and the crazy-quick commutes. Wish those commute times were real.

JA Jance at her best.

Another great plot that kept you guessing right up to the end. also very human.