review: moving target by j.a. jance

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The ninth book in J.A. Jance’s Ali Reynolds series finds Ali and Leland traveling to England to meet some of his family while B. Simpson and the rest of High Noon look into the case of a teenage boy they helped put away for hacking his school’s computer network. In England, Ali uncovers that Leland’s estranged father was actually murdered. As she tries to sort out the details there, Ali and Leland are called back early as the case involving the teenage hacker escalates dramatically.

While I understand that series readers often want to delve into the lives of supporting characters, the subplot involving Leland seemed wholly unnecessary and disrupted the main plot too much. I would’ve rather stayed with the conspiracy surrounding hacker Lance’s GHOST program. Other detractions had to do with the writing. The characterization of Ali felt off as sometimes she seemed decades younger than she actually is and there were many repetitive phrases (if one more person took the “proffered handshake,” I might have screamed).

About the audiobook: Moving Target by J.A. Jance is narrated by Karen Ziemba. Ziemba’s narration enlivens the story through her use of tone and inflection though it would’ve been helpful for a little more distinction in character voices. The audiobook was published February 2014 by Simon & Schuster Audio and runs 10.5 hours.
3/5
Review copy provided by Audiobook Jukebox.