The A List by J.A. Jance - 3.5 stars

[annapi]

For the last few books in this series, I have noticed that the resolutions have come a bit too easily to the protagonists for my liking. I still enjoy the reads overall, but I find that these most recent volumes have been less intellectually challenging.

This book takes a trip back to Ali Reynolds's past, when she was still a news anchor, and details how she helped a mother who was desperate to find a kidney donor for her son, which eventually resulted in an expose of an unscrupulous fertility clinic doctor's fraud. Dr. Edward Gilchrist, now serving a life sentence for murder, is bent on revenge, and Ali's name is on his "A" (for annihilation) list.

I enjoyed the trip back to Ali's past, although I missed the character of her erstwhile butler, Leland, who resigned to care for his dying friend. And despite the shadow of a "deus ex machina" that looms over the AI Frigg, introduced in the last volume, I can't help but like the cheeky cyber creation. As I expected, she is used for convenience in wrapping up the story, and though I had fun with it, I had to dock points in my rating, which is 3.5, rounded down to 3.