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Jack Daniels Thriller #1
Whiskey Sour
FIRST IN AN EXPLOSIVE THRILLER SERIES
🎧Listening Length = 6 hours and 55 minutes
“Put Donald Westlake in a blender with a jigger of James Ellroy, mix in a dollop of Dorothy Parker, and you’ve got the hilarious, horrific world of Lieutenant Jacqueline ‘Jack’ Daniels” (Jay Bonansinga). A serial killer known as the Gingerbread Man is torturing female victims, and Jack is next on his list — unless she can find him first…
Lieutenant Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels is having a bad week. Her live-in boyfriend has left her for his personal trainer, chronic insomnia has caused her to max out her credit cards with late-night home shopping purchases, and a frightening killer who calls himself 'The Gingerbread Man' is dumping mutilated bodies in her district.
While avoiding the FBI and its moronic profiling computer, joining a dating service, mixing it up with street thugs, and parrying the advances of an uncouth PI, Jack and her binge-eating partner, Herb, must catch the maniac before he kills again...and Jack is next on his murder list.
Whiskey Sour is the first book in the bestselling Jack Daniels series, full of laugh-out-loud humor and edge-of-your-seat suspense.
Includes J.A. Konrath reading an original short story:
The Gingerbread Man
WHISKEY SOUR by J.A. Konrath
You can't catch me...
If you are a more sensitive (or adventurous) reader, this handy scale rates specific categories from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest) to give you some idea if this is your kind of book:
▪ Bad Language - 4
▪ Scary - 8
▪ Violent - 8
▪ Funny - 8
▪ Sexy - 3
Crossovers - Features Jack Daniels, Phineas Troutt, Harry McGlade, and includes characters from the Konrath Dark Thriller Collective, the Codename: Chandler series, and the Timecaster series.
Audible Audio
First published May 12, 2004
2217 people are currently reading
8610 people want to read
About the author
J.A. Konrath
198 books3,017 followersJoe Konrath has written over twenty novels in the Lt. Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels thriller series. They do not have to be read chronologically to be enjoyed, but the order is: Whiskey Sour, Bloody Mary, Rusty Nail, Dirty Martini, Shot of Tequila, Fuzzy Navel, Cherry Bomb, Dead On My Feet, Serial Killers Uncut (with Blake Crouch), Shaken, Stirred (with Blake Crouch), Dying Breath, Everybody Dies, Rum Runner, Last Call, White Russian, Shot Girl, Chaser, Old Fashioned, Bite Force, and Witch Brew. More coming soon.
Wow, that's a lot of Jack.
If you like your thrillers on the dark side, check out the Konrath Dark Thriller Collective, which includes the books The List, Origin, Afraid, Trapped, Endurance, Haunted House, Webcam, Disturb, What Happened To Lori, The Nine, Second Coming, and Close Your Eyes.
Joe also wrote the Stop A Murder mystery puzzle series, where you become the sleuth and solve brain teasers to try and catch a killer.
He also wrote the sci-fi trilogy, Timecaster, Timecaster Supersymmetry, and Timecaster Steampunk. Even if you don't think you like sci-fi, give them a try. They feature Joe's well-known characters from his other series, and are insane.
With Ann Voss Peterson he wrote the Codename: Chandler thrillers, including Flee, Spree, Three, Hit, Exposed, Naughty, Fix (with F. Paul Wilson), Rescue, and Free.
And, finally, he writes erotica under the pen name Melinda DuChamp, also with Ann Voss Peterson. Those books are probably too spicy for you, so only the brave and bold should seek them out.
Joe writes a lot. You should probably read everything.
You can visit Joe and sign up for his newsletter at www.JAKonrath.com/mailing-list.php
Wow, that's a lot of Jack.
If you like your thrillers on the dark side, check out the Konrath Dark Thriller Collective, which includes the books The List, Origin, Afraid, Trapped, Endurance, Haunted House, Webcam, Disturb, What Happened To Lori, The Nine, Second Coming, and Close Your Eyes.
Joe also wrote the Stop A Murder mystery puzzle series, where you become the sleuth and solve brain teasers to try and catch a killer.
He also wrote the sci-fi trilogy, Timecaster, Timecaster Supersymmetry, and Timecaster Steampunk. Even if you don't think you like sci-fi, give them a try. They feature Joe's well-known characters from his other series, and are insane.
With Ann Voss Peterson he wrote the Codename: Chandler thrillers, including Flee, Spree, Three, Hit, Exposed, Naughty, Fix (with F. Paul Wilson), Rescue, and Free.
And, finally, he writes erotica under the pen name Melinda DuChamp, also with Ann Voss Peterson. Those books are probably too spicy for you, so only the brave and bold should seek them out.
Joe writes a lot. You should probably read everything.
You can visit Joe and sign up for his newsletter at www.JAKonrath.com/mailing-list.php
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,423 reviews
May 8, 2012
INGREDIENTS
1. Two ounces
2. One-Half Cup
3. Two-thirds ounce of
4. One-half ounce
DIRECTIONS
A. Combine
B.
C. Strain
4.0 Stars. HIGHLY RECOMMEDNED for crime fiction fans.
***BONUS DIRECTIONS***
CONSUMMING WHISKEY SOURS
The following is simply my recommendation and you should feel free to modify as desired.
Raise glass…drink...raise glass...drink... raise glass...drink...refill…raise glass…drink… raise glass…drink…raise glass…drink…refill…repeat…refill…raise glass(chip tooth on rim)…drink…repeat… raise glass…drink…repeat… drop glass as you stumble getting up…say you’re okay and ignore broken glass…refill (skip sugar, lemon juice, ice and glass and opt for remaining bottle of Jack Daniels)…raise bottle…drink…raise bottle …drink…notice people staring at you...ignore them...see them still staring...yell at them you "DON’T HAVE A PROBLEM" and that if they think they are better than you they can "FUCK THE HELL OFF" cuz you don’t need them…raise bottle angrily…drink deep...accidentally taser dog due to poor depth perception/motor control…light couch on fire with your world famous “flaming flatulence” routine…proceed to “attempt” to put out fire with remnants of Jack Daniels bottle…look surprised…watch as wife puts out LARGER FIRE with fire extinguisher…sit down on unburned portion of couch…drink…urinate…try and get up from couch…decide better of it…pass out…………vomit……………….wake up in morning still holding Jack Daniels bottle…DRINK!!!
July 10, 2017
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
Ack. I’m really far behind on reviewing. I read this a month and a half ago! I also just discovered this morning that I’m a library failure as well since I’m currently accruing late charges on this and my privileges at the porny library have been suspended until I prove that I still am a resident of the metropolitan area (and yes, I’m getting ready to get the DTs due to the lack of smut readily available to me at the present time).
So this is the charming tale of the neighborhood candy man . . . .
His treats come with an added bonus of things like razorblades and needles and he really would prefer it if everyone called him The Gingerbread Man . . . .
The Gingerbread Man has developed quite the hobby of mutilating women and leaving them in dumpsters for “Jack” Daniels to find. As if Jack wasn’t having a crappy enough time with her boyfriend dumping her, leaving her with an almost empty apartment and an incurable case of insomnia. Things will only get worse if The Gingerbread Man gets his way and adds Jack to his victim list.
I finally broke down and read this after my evil twin told me to about eleventy thousand times. We’re both damn lucky I’m an idiot because if I had realized J.A. Konrath was the same guy as Jack Kilborn, I pretty much would have reacted like . . . .
Much to my surprise, my experience with Whiskey Sour was NOTHING like my experience with Trapped.
Due to the blurb, I was expecting a bit of a “Stephanie Plum” type leading lady – and, while this did deliver some funny ha-ha moments, Jack was not a bumbling idiot and reminded me a bit of this lady who I crush on weekly instead . . . .
Her partner Herb also brought a bit of the ’99 to the story as well . . . .
He wasn’t incompetent like Scully, but he most definitely could have a second career as a professional eater upon retiring from the force.
Add in some fairly gruesome murder descriptions, a sleazy PI with a very not politically correct sense of humor . . . .
“Yuck. Ugly.”
“She’s dead.”
“Then she’d smell bad too.”
As well as a whodunit that I actually wasn’t able to figure out instantly, and you get a winner on the Kelly and Mitchell summertime poolside stabby stabby meter. Just don’t mistake this one for the other “Whiskey Sour” novel like I did. If your leading lady isn’t named Jack Daniels, you got the wrong thang. Not that I would ever be dumb enough to do something like that. It happened to a friend of mine . . . .
Ack. I’m really far behind on reviewing. I read this a month and a half ago! I also just discovered this morning that I’m a library failure as well since I’m currently accruing late charges on this and my privileges at the porny library have been suspended until I prove that I still am a resident of the metropolitan area (and yes, I’m getting ready to get the DTs due to the lack of smut readily available to me at the present time).
So this is the charming tale of the neighborhood candy man . . . .
His treats come with an added bonus of things like razorblades and needles and he really would prefer it if everyone called him The Gingerbread Man . . . .
The Gingerbread Man has developed quite the hobby of mutilating women and leaving them in dumpsters for “Jack” Daniels to find. As if Jack wasn’t having a crappy enough time with her boyfriend dumping her, leaving her with an almost empty apartment and an incurable case of insomnia. Things will only get worse if The Gingerbread Man gets his way and adds Jack to his victim list.
I finally broke down and read this after my evil twin told me to about eleventy thousand times. We’re both damn lucky I’m an idiot because if I had realized J.A. Konrath was the same guy as Jack Kilborn, I pretty much would have reacted like . . . .
Much to my surprise, my experience with Whiskey Sour was NOTHING like my experience with Trapped.
Due to the blurb, I was expecting a bit of a “Stephanie Plum” type leading lady – and, while this did deliver some funny ha-ha moments, Jack was not a bumbling idiot and reminded me a bit of this lady who I crush on weekly instead . . . .
Her partner Herb also brought a bit of the ’99 to the story as well . . . .
He wasn’t incompetent like Scully, but he most definitely could have a second career as a professional eater upon retiring from the force.
Add in some fairly gruesome murder descriptions, a sleazy PI with a very not politically correct sense of humor . . . .
“Yuck. Ugly.”
“She’s dead.”
“Then she’d smell bad too.”
As well as a whodunit that I actually wasn’t able to figure out instantly, and you get a winner on the Kelly and Mitchell summertime poolside stabby stabby meter. Just don’t mistake this one for the other “Whiskey Sour” novel like I did. If your leading lady isn’t named Jack Daniels, you got the wrong thang. Not that I would ever be dumb enough to do something like that. It happened to a friend of mine . . . .
December 10, 2017
Mr. Konrath is good at what he does. Even though this was a light read - not taking away all the cringe-worthy things mentioned - it was enjoyable and fun.
Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels is a lieutenant with issues - most of which she can admit to herself. During a really bad week where she was left by her boyfriend for another woman, chronic insomnia and maybe a tad too easy on the bottle, a serial killer who calls himself "The Gingerbread Man" decides to make her a target because she is investigating him.
Never underestimate the amount of humor this writer can squeeze out of some truly dreadful situations. To be perfectly honest, though, nothing beats the character Harry McGlade is probably the funniest thing in this book.
I am dumb-struck (and, frankly, quite impressed) that he could come up with someone so politically incorrect, so repulsive and crooked, so egotistical and selfish, but with a personal moral code that only he can understand. McGlade is like the final guy you want to pick for your team, the one that nobody else wants, yet you find yourself rooting for him to help win the game.
Sometimes silly, sometimes gory, always entertaining.
Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels is a lieutenant with issues - most of which she can admit to herself. During a really bad week where she was left by her boyfriend for another woman, chronic insomnia and maybe a tad too easy on the bottle, a serial killer who calls himself "The Gingerbread Man" decides to make her a target because she is investigating him.
Never underestimate the amount of humor this writer can squeeze out of some truly dreadful situations. To be perfectly honest, though, nothing beats the character Harry McGlade is probably the funniest thing in this book.
I am dumb-struck (and, frankly, quite impressed) that he could come up with someone so politically incorrect, so repulsive and crooked, so egotistical and selfish, but with a personal moral code that only he can understand. McGlade is like the final guy you want to pick for your team, the one that nobody else wants, yet you find yourself rooting for him to help win the game.
Sometimes silly, sometimes gory, always entertaining.
January 16, 2012
I finished this a couple of days ago and am just now getting around to reviewing it. In many ways I'd like to give the book more than 3 stars. I like the writing overall and the characters are easy to get to know and have a "real folks" feel that I think can sell a book or series.
Unfortunately there are a few problems with the book that "bug" me personally. The biggest and worst (for me) of these are the extremely graphic murder scenes from the point of view of the killer. (I don't believe this is a spoiler as you must know this is a suspense novel about a serial murderer). In this (my objection) I'm not referring to insight into the mind of the killer or the accounts of his rationalizations. I talking about the scenes where we get detailed accounts of what he's doing with his knife and the death horrors of the victims. That I don't need. I've read war novels, techno-thrillers, murder mysteries and so on. I've read accounts of serial killers and mass murderers, but there were several scenes in this book I just skipped.
I put this here as I think you should go in, forewarned. Read it, try it. Maybe these parts won't bother you as much as they do me. Personally accounts of women pleading for their lives aren't something I find I like to include in my light reading.
On the other hand, when the story moves to it's primary point of view (that of Jack/Jacqueline) we get the modern sassy, well spoken, tough female protagonist. She's well written and comes across as a character that the writer himself is comfortable with.
The book's storytelling does have a couple of "flaws (though they may not bother everybody). First the author (like so many today) feels free to lambast (at least a bit) the last "persecutable" minority...overweight people. Jack's partner is overweight as are a few people we meet in the book. These people are universally pictured as thinking of nothing but food and talking of almost nothing but eating. I know this is from personal experience, BUT... My late wife had a thyroid condition and was diabetic. I've seen her in Weight Watchers on a diet where everyone else (including me) lost weight but she could no more than maintain. Not only did she not spend all her time talking of food, she wouldn't even eat in public. If these jokes were aimed at any body condition outside being overweight there would have been a cry heard round the world. Just be aware if you aren't "svelte" the book has an abundance of "fat jokes".
Other than that and one bothersome scene where Jack does something a police officer is trained not to do the book is a pretty good read.
I have mentioned all the above negatives to say, "this is what you may not like". On the other hand the parts I did like I liked pretty well and intend to move on and try the next in the series. I've reserved it at the library so, we'll see.
As noted 3 stars, close to 4 but not quite.
Unfortunately there are a few problems with the book that "bug" me personally. The biggest and worst (for me) of these are the extremely graphic murder scenes from the point of view of the killer. (I don't believe this is a spoiler as you must know this is a suspense novel about a serial murderer). In this (my objection) I'm not referring to insight into the mind of the killer or the accounts of his rationalizations. I talking about the scenes where we get detailed accounts of what he's doing with his knife and the death horrors of the victims. That I don't need. I've read war novels, techno-thrillers, murder mysteries and so on. I've read accounts of serial killers and mass murderers, but there were several scenes in this book I just skipped.
I put this here as I think you should go in, forewarned. Read it, try it. Maybe these parts won't bother you as much as they do me. Personally accounts of women pleading for their lives aren't something I find I like to include in my light reading.
On the other hand, when the story moves to it's primary point of view (that of Jack/Jacqueline) we get the modern sassy, well spoken, tough female protagonist. She's well written and comes across as a character that the writer himself is comfortable with.
The book's storytelling does have a couple of "flaws (though they may not bother everybody). First the author (like so many today) feels free to lambast (at least a bit) the last "persecutable" minority...overweight people. Jack's partner is overweight as are a few people we meet in the book. These people are universally pictured as thinking of nothing but food and talking of almost nothing but eating. I know this is from personal experience, BUT... My late wife had a thyroid condition and was diabetic. I've seen her in Weight Watchers on a diet where everyone else (including me) lost weight but she could no more than maintain. Not only did she not spend all her time talking of food, she wouldn't even eat in public. If these jokes were aimed at any body condition outside being overweight there would have been a cry heard round the world. Just be aware if you aren't "svelte" the book has an abundance of "fat jokes".
Other than that and one bothersome scene where Jack does something a police officer is trained not to do the book is a pretty good read.
I have mentioned all the above negatives to say, "this is what you may not like". On the other hand the parts I did like I liked pretty well and intend to move on and try the next in the series. I've reserved it at the library so, we'll see.
As noted 3 stars, close to 4 but not quite.
January 7, 2017
Whisky Sour by J.A Konrath is the first in the series For Lieutenant Jack Daniels AKA Jacqueline I really enjoyed this read Jack is a really well written character, loved her spunk but she is married to her job the series is set in Chicago. Her partner Detective Herb Benedict was also well written & had a bit of a quirky humour about him, but is dedicated to his job.
The plot had me from the get go & The Gingerbread Man was a well crafted villain who I liked even though he was one evil sadistic SOB Mr Konrath wrote a very well written start to a series which I will continue reading I have Bought the 2nd in the series Bloody Mary.
As for the FBI detectives Bailey & Coursey AKA ( Dumb & Dumber) they made the plot move at a fast pace they had a bit of humour to them but were dead serious when looking into The Gingerbread case I found myself with a little chuckle every time they were in it.
WARNING there is some animal abuse in this & some gore so if you don't like that please DONT READ!!
The plot had me from the get go & The Gingerbread Man was a well crafted villain who I liked even though he was one evil sadistic SOB Mr Konrath wrote a very well written start to a series which I will continue reading I have Bought the 2nd in the series Bloody Mary.
As for the FBI detectives Bailey & Coursey AKA ( Dumb & Dumber) they made the plot move at a fast pace they had a bit of humour to them but were dead serious when looking into The Gingerbread case I found myself with a little chuckle every time they were in it.
WARNING there is some animal abuse in this & some gore so if you don't like that please DONT READ!!
January 12, 2012
Whiskey Sour is the first book in the Jack Daniels mystery series. Lieutenant Jack Daniels of the Chicago Police Department is an insomniac workaholic who is on the case of a brutal serial killer at work in Chicago. He goes by the name of the Gingerbread Man, and his favorite hobby is taking lives in the most brutal ways possible. Jack has made police work her life, at the expense of her marriage and peace of mind. And now, she’s too set in her ways to change. That same determination has attracted the twisted adoration of the Gingerbread Man, and he turns his attention on her in a very personal way.
This was a good suspense book. The viewpoint of the killer is absolutely chilling. He is clearly a sociopath with a mean streak a mile wide. Seeing his POV only made me root all the harder for Jack to catch him. In contrast, I liked Jack’s calm, battered but unbroken personality. She hasn’t had it easy, and the weight of the world seems to rest upon her shoulders, but she’s not self-pitying, but very matter of fact about her situation. She gave up a lot to be a good cop, and I felt bad that she couldn’t have a husband who understood her drive and loved her all the more for it. Being a softhearted person, I hope she finds someone so she doesn’t have to be lonely and turn to all the whiskey that people give her because of her name to get through the tough nights when she’s not working.
Jack kicks butt, and she’s credible in her role as a Lieutenant in the Violent Crimes Unit. She knows her stuff. I like that she’s a bit weathered by life and isn’t a spring chicken, already a mature woman in her forties with a divorce under her belt. She acts like a veteran cop, savvy and seasoned, but there was a pervasive sense of risk to her, because the killer has also been at his ‘career’ a long time. He was a wily and deadly match for her that kept me on the edge as I read. Konrath has a way of writing that keeps the tension high, but also feels very police procedural. Almost like Law and Order meets Criminal Minds.
I am becoming a big fan of straight mysteries, so I liked that aspect. I’m not and never will be a huge fan of serial killer fiction, so that was a bit of a turn-off, especially the descriptions of the gruesome details of the Gingerbread Man’s acts on his victims. Konrath isn’t lurid about it, but reading about the way this freak hurt people didn’t make for fun reading (and it probably shouldn’t). I will keep reading this series because I like Jack’s character, and the investigative aspects. However, the violence and sociopathy of the nemesis is quite disturbing and not something I’d want to delve into on too often an occasion. (Shrugs) You take the good with the bad.
This was a good suspense book. The viewpoint of the killer is absolutely chilling. He is clearly a sociopath with a mean streak a mile wide. Seeing his POV only made me root all the harder for Jack to catch him. In contrast, I liked Jack’s calm, battered but unbroken personality. She hasn’t had it easy, and the weight of the world seems to rest upon her shoulders, but she’s not self-pitying, but very matter of fact about her situation. She gave up a lot to be a good cop, and I felt bad that she couldn’t have a husband who understood her drive and loved her all the more for it. Being a softhearted person, I hope she finds someone so she doesn’t have to be lonely and turn to all the whiskey that people give her because of her name to get through the tough nights when she’s not working.
Jack kicks butt, and she’s credible in her role as a Lieutenant in the Violent Crimes Unit. She knows her stuff. I like that she’s a bit weathered by life and isn’t a spring chicken, already a mature woman in her forties with a divorce under her belt. She acts like a veteran cop, savvy and seasoned, but there was a pervasive sense of risk to her, because the killer has also been at his ‘career’ a long time. He was a wily and deadly match for her that kept me on the edge as I read. Konrath has a way of writing that keeps the tension high, but also feels very police procedural. Almost like Law and Order meets Criminal Minds.
I am becoming a big fan of straight mysteries, so I liked that aspect. I’m not and never will be a huge fan of serial killer fiction, so that was a bit of a turn-off, especially the descriptions of the gruesome details of the Gingerbread Man’s acts on his victims. Konrath isn’t lurid about it, but reading about the way this freak hurt people didn’t make for fun reading (and it probably shouldn’t). I will keep reading this series because I like Jack’s character, and the investigative aspects. However, the violence and sociopathy of the nemesis is quite disturbing and not something I’d want to delve into on too often an occasion. (Shrugs) You take the good with the bad.
August 8, 2021
Story 5/5
Narration 5/5
If you enjoy a suspenseful story , with a strong female sergeant , chasing an egomaniac sociopathic serial killer ? Read this book !
I liked it !
Jack(Jacqueline) Daniels is a great character. She’s smart, strong, confident but she’s not a cliché. The writer did a good job.
The serial killer is charismatic too. His voice was awesome I had a crush on him.😆 But he would have killed me after hours of torture. This guy can only feels emotions when he kills and tortures people. So…. I’ll let him be , and go far away from him .🤣
I highly recommend Whiskey Sour by J. A. Konrath !
Narration 5/5
If you enjoy a suspenseful story , with a strong female sergeant , chasing an egomaniac sociopathic serial killer ? Read this book !
I liked it !
Jack(Jacqueline) Daniels is a great character. She’s smart, strong, confident but she’s not a cliché. The writer did a good job.
The serial killer is charismatic too. His voice was awesome I had a crush on him.😆 But he would have killed me after hours of torture. This guy can only feels emotions when he kills and tortures people. So…. I’ll let him be , and go far away from him .🤣
I highly recommend Whiskey Sour by J. A. Konrath !
January 14, 2023
Wow! Impressive Crime Thriller!
A small backstory:
Jacqueline Daniels nicknamed "Jack" is a lieutenant in the Chicago PD. Jack and her partner, Herb are on a case of a serial killer that calls himself the "Gingerbread Man". Women are being killed and Jack and Herb cannot figure out how they are all connected, but what becomes eerie for Jack is when the serial killer sets his eyes on her as the killer starts stalking her.
Who is the Gingerbread Man? Does Jack and Herb connect the dots of all the women? How does Jack handle the killer when he starts to stalk her? No spoilers here as you will just have to read the book!
Thoughts:
This book just kept me on my toes throughout the whole story. There are tons of twists and turns along with suspense and mystery weaved into the storyline. The characters, Jack and Herb are so down to earth and I just loved the character, Jack as she is sassy and spirited, wanting to get the job done no matter what!
The author did a great job of keeping the Gingerbread Man character a secret as I didn't figure it out till the very end when all the puzzle pieces started to fall into place. There is some humor throughout the storyline as well with Jack as she throws out funny quips once in awhile so I was chuckling some throughout the book.
I literally read this book within 24 hours as I just could not put it down!
There are quite a few books in this series and looking forward on stepping into the rest of the series to see what Jack and Herb have to encounter next! Giving this book five "Serial Killer Thriller" stars!
Note: There is a small warning for this book though as there were some animal mutilations within the storyline but it was not throughout the whole book. It was just in a certain area of the book as it was tied to the serial killer character. That is just a forewarning for people that are sensitive to animals being harmed in stories.
A small backstory:
Jacqueline Daniels nicknamed "Jack" is a lieutenant in the Chicago PD. Jack and her partner, Herb are on a case of a serial killer that calls himself the "Gingerbread Man". Women are being killed and Jack and Herb cannot figure out how they are all connected, but what becomes eerie for Jack is when the serial killer sets his eyes on her as the killer starts stalking her.
Who is the Gingerbread Man? Does Jack and Herb connect the dots of all the women? How does Jack handle the killer when he starts to stalk her? No spoilers here as you will just have to read the book!
Thoughts:
This book just kept me on my toes throughout the whole story. There are tons of twists and turns along with suspense and mystery weaved into the storyline. The characters, Jack and Herb are so down to earth and I just loved the character, Jack as she is sassy and spirited, wanting to get the job done no matter what!
The author did a great job of keeping the Gingerbread Man character a secret as I didn't figure it out till the very end when all the puzzle pieces started to fall into place. There is some humor throughout the storyline as well with Jack as she throws out funny quips once in awhile so I was chuckling some throughout the book.
I literally read this book within 24 hours as I just could not put it down!
There are quite a few books in this series and looking forward on stepping into the rest of the series to see what Jack and Herb have to encounter next! Giving this book five "Serial Killer Thriller" stars!
Note: There is a small warning for this book though as there were some animal mutilations within the storyline but it was not throughout the whole book. It was just in a certain area of the book as it was tied to the serial killer character. That is just a forewarning for people that are sensitive to animals being harmed in stories.
March 14, 2017
This book was just okay. I liked the slightly humorous dialogue between Jack and her partner, Herb. I liked that Herb seemed to care about Jack. I liked Jack shooting pool with Phin, and her experience with Lunch Mates. There are descriptive violent crimes that might bother some readers, but the killer was truly despicable. Unless a woman is built like Brienne in Game of Thrones, there's no way she continues on after beatings like Jack took. I didn't like that Herb was pushed into the background as the crime was about to be solved, and he was replaced by Jack's disgustingly grubby former partner, Harry, now a private investigator. I think there were too many "let's go get something to eat" and insomnia scenes, and I didn't particularly care for the two idiot FBI agents. It all made for stereotypical characters and a formulaic story that was just okay.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 3, 2024
Хареса ми, достатъчно свежа кримка се оказа.
Неприятно е обаче, че за премеждията на лейтенанта от Чикагската полици Джак Даниелс са излезли само три книги на български, преди издателството да зареже поредицата…
Моята оценка - 3,5*.
Продължавам със забъркания от автора нов коктейл - "Блъди мери".
Неприятно е обаче, че за премеждията на лейтенанта от Чикагската полици Джак Даниелс са излезли само три книги на български, преди издателството да зареже поредицата…
Моята оценка - 3,5*.
Продължавам със забъркания от автора нов коктейл - "Блъди мери".
September 26, 2018
This is a 4.5 star read.
A surprisingly great find on Kindle Australia, this is an exceptional murder mystery that kept me riveted to the page. Written in a very "blokey" style, our protagonist, Jack, is a female given more than her fair share of ribbing due to her name. There are amusing moments woven throughout the story and I especially liked the author's and protagonist's obvious disdain for the F.B.I.'s profiling unit. Highly recommended.
A surprisingly great find on Kindle Australia, this is an exceptional murder mystery that kept me riveted to the page. Written in a very "blokey" style, our protagonist, Jack, is a female given more than her fair share of ribbing due to her name. There are amusing moments woven throughout the story and I especially liked the author's and protagonist's obvious disdain for the F.B.I.'s profiling unit. Highly recommended.
January 25, 2024
First in series, third book read... A solid mystery with a sufficiently creepy bad guy, interesting supporting characters and a wise-cracking 40-something lead detective named Jack (as in Jaquelin) Daniels. Interesting mix of Kay Scarpetta and Stephanie Plum. Looking forward to third book in series.
(Reviewed 9/20/11)
(Reviewed 9/20/11)
September 5, 2016
I can't believe I waited so long to start this series. This was my kind of book. I loved the character of Jack, being both flawed and funny. The book was fast paced and easy to read. The chapters had an alternating POV which I like and the sections written from the Gingerbread Man were tense and suspenseful. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
June 9, 2021
'Whiskey Sour' by J.A. Konrath is a muscular mystery, Book One in a series. There is a huge current of cynical dark humor throughout the story, and it is omnipresent in almost every character. In my opinion, while the humor inserts a common tone to the book and it is very entertaining, too many characters possess this single voice. The exceptions, the psychopath serial killer and the FBI, have extreme voices as well, so it would be fair to say this writer is not nuanced.
'Whiskey Sour' is not overly graphic, but hello, this is about a crazy sadistic killer of women, so those who are squeamish should avoid Jack Daniels and her cases. Daniels is really a neat character, but she is totally the traditional hardcore job-obsessed divorced police lieutenant who is lonely and can't sleep and does fist fights with men twice her size while tossing wisecracks. I liked her.
'Whiskey Sour' is not overly graphic, but hello, this is about a crazy sadistic killer of women, so those who are squeamish should avoid Jack Daniels and her cases. Daniels is really a neat character, but she is totally the traditional hardcore job-obsessed divorced police lieutenant who is lonely and can't sleep and does fist fights with men twice her size while tossing wisecracks. I liked her.
April 6, 2015
I had shifted the focus from thrillers and after a stuttering start with experimenting with Fantasy books, I came to the conclusion that maybe I should halve my reading time and do other things. I mean if the biggest names in the genre were not doing much for me, maybe thrillers or Fantasy are simply not my cup of tea.
Despite all this, I had a hunch that Whiskey Sour would be a good enough read. See, I've been a visitor to J.A. Konrath's blog, and I thought, if he could devote his lampooning and mickey taking brain cells to writing fiction, then his book could not only be slick and smart, but also funny. And the book was all of those things and more. Till now, I didn't get the appeal of the umbrella term 'black humor' or black comedy. I found movies with that tag quite unfunny. Like Fargo, The Wolf Of Wall Street, and Pulp Fiction. No, Pulp Fiction was funny at times. Anyway, so was Whiskey Sour. The opening salvo of jokes and puns were relentless in the first half of the book. I found myself telling a couple of the jokes from the book to my brother. I haven't done that in ages.
The characterization in Whiskey Sour is nearly world class. It's very good. Not only that but the heroine, Jack Daniels, looks to be a person with a lot more to say and reveal. I did find the accumulation of details about her slightly overwhelming. I mean, if a character has too many mannerisms, he or she just becomes like a walking cliche or a bunch of tics. Just ask post 1950 Hercule Poirot. But fortunately the author stopped his tendency to elaborate at the right time. The other characters in the book were all much more interesting than the main villain, and that's something uncanny. Even the kind, gentle daughter of Booster, was very well sketched and made an impact with me. Same goes for the tubby, gluttonous, genial, kind, and optimistic Benedict and the sleazy Harry McGlade, and the brave, half good, half fallen, Phineas Troutt.
The plot itself is good, and Jack possesses quite some flair and talent as a detective - well lieutenant. She makes use not of abduction, like Sherlock Holmes did, but of plain old deduction. She makes her work sound simple when it's not. I wish the climax was better. It was not satisfying enough. I guess I wanted Jack to throw more one liners at the villain. I wanted the guy arrested instead of killed outright. That's because I wanted a sliver of self doubt to crawl in the villain's sick mind. I wanted him to live enough to know that he, the woman killer, has been bested by a woman. But he still got his comeuppance in a believable and somewhat symbolic way. This book rekindled my passion for reading and I'm looking forward to reading the next one in the series. I really liked Whiskey Sour and that, I believe, is reflected in my rating and my review. Ta.
Despite all this, I had a hunch that Whiskey Sour would be a good enough read. See, I've been a visitor to J.A. Konrath's blog, and I thought, if he could devote his lampooning and mickey taking brain cells to writing fiction, then his book could not only be slick and smart, but also funny. And the book was all of those things and more. Till now, I didn't get the appeal of the umbrella term 'black humor' or black comedy. I found movies with that tag quite unfunny. Like Fargo, The Wolf Of Wall Street, and Pulp Fiction. No, Pulp Fiction was funny at times. Anyway, so was Whiskey Sour. The opening salvo of jokes and puns were relentless in the first half of the book. I found myself telling a couple of the jokes from the book to my brother. I haven't done that in ages.
The characterization in Whiskey Sour is nearly world class. It's very good. Not only that but the heroine, Jack Daniels, looks to be a person with a lot more to say and reveal. I did find the accumulation of details about her slightly overwhelming. I mean, if a character has too many mannerisms, he or she just becomes like a walking cliche or a bunch of tics. Just ask post 1950 Hercule Poirot. But fortunately the author stopped his tendency to elaborate at the right time. The other characters in the book were all much more interesting than the main villain, and that's something uncanny. Even the kind, gentle daughter of Booster, was very well sketched and made an impact with me. Same goes for the tubby, gluttonous, genial, kind, and optimistic Benedict and the sleazy Harry McGlade, and the brave, half good, half fallen, Phineas Troutt.
The plot itself is good, and Jack possesses quite some flair and talent as a detective - well lieutenant. She makes use not of abduction, like Sherlock Holmes did, but of plain old deduction. She makes her work sound simple when it's not. I wish the climax was better. It was not satisfying enough. I guess I wanted Jack to throw more one liners at the villain. I wanted the guy arrested instead of killed outright. That's because I wanted a sliver of self doubt to crawl in the villain's sick mind. I wanted him to live enough to know that he, the woman killer, has been bested by a woman. But he still got his comeuppance in a believable and somewhat symbolic way. This book rekindled my passion for reading and I'm looking forward to reading the next one in the series. I really liked Whiskey Sour and that, I believe, is reflected in my rating and my review. Ta.
August 7, 2012
Five Stars for what it is: A fine, fast-reading hard-boiled pulp detective novel starring a tough female cop.
Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels is a 40-something Detective Lieutanant in Chicago's Violent Crimes unit. She has a hard time with relationships, can't sleep, holds her own in a bar fight, and works herself to the bone. Fans of Kinsey Milhone and her compatriots will recognize Jack. The supporting cast are a bit cardboard, but that's to be expected. You have the goofy FBI agents, the overweight partner, the angry Captain, the criminal friend/informant, and so on. None of them are really developed beyond being just a "type" (but they may get some growth in later books).
We don't read (or watch) procedurals for the deep character development, though. It's all about the plot. This one's a doozy. The Gingerbread Man has gone on a killing spree, and his kills are gory. No, really, the depictions are quite graphic -- moreseo than anything in The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. What makes this story somewhat unique is how the chapters alternate from Jack's first person narrative to third person for killer. Knowing what he is planning before Jack does builds an incredible level of suspense that would rival most films.
If you like tough chicks, police procedurals, or thrillers, then grab it. It's a few hours well spent.
Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels is a 40-something Detective Lieutanant in Chicago's Violent Crimes unit. She has a hard time with relationships, can't sleep, holds her own in a bar fight, and works herself to the bone. Fans of Kinsey Milhone and her compatriots will recognize Jack. The supporting cast are a bit cardboard, but that's to be expected. You have the goofy FBI agents, the overweight partner, the angry Captain, the criminal friend/informant, and so on. None of them are really developed beyond being just a "type" (but they may get some growth in later books).
We don't read (or watch) procedurals for the deep character development, though. It's all about the plot. This one's a doozy. The Gingerbread Man has gone on a killing spree, and his kills are gory. No, really, the depictions are quite graphic -- moreseo than anything in The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. What makes this story somewhat unique is how the chapters alternate from Jack's first person narrative to third person for killer. Knowing what he is planning before Jack does builds an incredible level of suspense that would rival most films.
If you like tough chicks, police procedurals, or thrillers, then grab it. It's a few hours well spent.
September 2, 2015
Book Club Selection for the J.D. Robb group.
Another wonderful "new to me" detective discovery. I very much like "Jack" Daniels. She's got a great attitude and sense of humor. It was an interesting format going back and forth from Jack's to the killer's POV. At one point, it was gritty and dark and violent, and, then, we're back to Jack's pov which is at turns detecting and police procedural and then also action and comedy.
I can't wait to move on in the books.
Another wonderful "new to me" detective discovery. I very much like "Jack" Daniels. She's got a great attitude and sense of humor. It was an interesting format going back and forth from Jack's to the killer's POV. At one point, it was gritty and dark and violent, and, then, we're back to Jack's pov which is at turns detecting and police procedural and then also action and comedy.
I can't wait to move on in the books.
August 25, 2018
Really entertaining. It’s not easy to combine light hearted with gruesome serial killing action, but this was very well done. Jack Daniels and her partner are great characters. I really enjoyed the FBI jokes! Looking forward to the rest of the series.
December 31, 2016
Jack Daniels is short for Jacqueline. Lieutenant Jack Daniels is chasing a serial killer by the name of "The Gingerbread Man". His murders are becoming more deadly and sadistic at each turn. The entire Chicago Police Department is looking for him as well as the feds.
Lieutenant Jack Daniels and her partner Detective Herb Benedict are following up each lead with precise. But, "The Gingerbread Man" starts to have an obsession with killing Jack and will stop at nothing to make sure she dies with pain and torture. He plots and plans until he captures her and the rest is for the reader to read.
His other victims have something in common linked to a private investigator who is Jack's former partner. Can Jack and Herb make the connections in time? Jack starts to realize she is getting older and may have missed out on life. But, her life work as Chicago cop starts to tug at her gut. She must catch "The Gingerbread Man" before he kills again. Her insomnia is getting worse.
Quote:
At 2:35 that afternoon Theresa Metcalf regains consciousness.
The he begins.
He tries many new things.
By 5:15 she can't scream anymore.
By 6:45 she's finally dead.
Lieutenant Jack Daniels and her partner Detective Herb Benedict are following up each lead with precise. But, "The Gingerbread Man" starts to have an obsession with killing Jack and will stop at nothing to make sure she dies with pain and torture. He plots and plans until he captures her and the rest is for the reader to read.
His other victims have something in common linked to a private investigator who is Jack's former partner. Can Jack and Herb make the connections in time? Jack starts to realize she is getting older and may have missed out on life. But, her life work as Chicago cop starts to tug at her gut. She must catch "The Gingerbread Man" before he kills again. Her insomnia is getting worse.
Quote:
At 2:35 that afternoon Theresa Metcalf regains consciousness.
The he begins.
He tries many new things.
By 5:15 she can't scream anymore.
By 6:45 she's finally dead.
August 27, 2007
WHISKEY SOUR (Police Procedural-Chicago-Cont) – VG
Konrath, J.A. – 1st in series
Hyperion, 2004- Hardcover
Lt. "Jack," short for Jacqueline, Daniels can't seem to sustain a relationship. Her partner, Herb, will eat anything, anytime. Together, they are on the hunt for "The Gingerbread Man," a serial killer who tortures women before killing them. Oh, and the FBI profilers think it's a hunchback who likes horses.
*** This was great! The characters are marvelous, the dialogue is crisp and funny, and yet the killer is creepy and terrifying. The story is fast paced and doesn't let up; it's a definite "don't bother me, I'm reading" book, but you might want to read it during the day as the villain is that awful. It's a wonderful balance in contrasts and a very good read. I've ordered book two, and I'm ready for it.
Konrath, J.A. – 1st in series
Hyperion, 2004- Hardcover
Lt. "Jack," short for Jacqueline, Daniels can't seem to sustain a relationship. Her partner, Herb, will eat anything, anytime. Together, they are on the hunt for "The Gingerbread Man," a serial killer who tortures women before killing them. Oh, and the FBI profilers think it's a hunchback who likes horses.
*** This was great! The characters are marvelous, the dialogue is crisp and funny, and yet the killer is creepy and terrifying. The story is fast paced and doesn't let up; it's a definite "don't bother me, I'm reading" book, but you might want to read it during the day as the villain is that awful. It's a wonderful balance in contrasts and a very good read. I've ordered book two, and I'm ready for it.
October 23, 2014
I gave this 4 stars, although it's probably only a 3 star book. It's an entertaining thriller - serial killer tracked by Lt. Jack Daniels, a cop. She's as tough & gritty as any I've read about. The action scenes are well done, dialogue is good & the plot is ample.
I gave this book an extra star because I got it for free from Konrath's site:
http://www.jakonrath.com
I think that's a great way to introduce a series. I've already bought the next 2 books & they're on their way, so the freebie got the author 2 sales. Also, since it is the first book of a series I want to continue reading it gets a bump up.
I will look forward to the next book!
I gave this book an extra star because I got it for free from Konrath's site:
http://www.jakonrath.com
I think that's a great way to introduce a series. I've already bought the next 2 books & they're on their way, so the freebie got the author 2 sales. Also, since it is the first book of a series I want to continue reading it gets a bump up.
I will look forward to the next book!
February 28, 2022
This book was not light and funny as I expected it to be. It had some humor, mostly funny banter, but it was also more graphic and gory than I expected it to be. The parts told from the perspective of the killer were a bit much at times. If you have difficulty reading anything with abuse, torture, animal and child abuse/torture, murder, sexual assault, etc, then you want to avoid this one.
The story was decent and I enjoyed the characters of Jack and Herb. Harry drove me crazy, as I guess he's supposed to. I think he grated on my nerves at least as much as he got on Jack's.
I listened to the audio of this one and I can not recommend it. One of the things that drove me crazy was that when there is a male part during the female narration, they plug in a male narrator for the dialogue. It does not fit and is very jarring. I honestly think the audio took away from my enjoyment of this one.
I may read the next in the series at some point, but I have no need to get to it right away. I think I will enjoy it more now that I know what to expect. I will also be sure to read a physical copy next time.
The story was decent and I enjoyed the characters of Jack and Herb. Harry drove me crazy, as I guess he's supposed to. I think he grated on my nerves at least as much as he got on Jack's.
I listened to the audio of this one and I can not recommend it. One of the things that drove me crazy was that when there is a male part during the female narration, they plug in a male narrator for the dialogue. It does not fit and is very jarring. I honestly think the audio took away from my enjoyment of this one.
I may read the next in the series at some point, but I have no need to get to it right away. I think I will enjoy it more now that I know what to expect. I will also be sure to read a physical copy next time.
July 6, 2019
"A potent mix"
That's the thing with a Jack Daniels; one can lead to several when they're so easy to digest. I could imagine myself finishing the series in a few sessions. All the ingredients are here. A rich mix of characters on the right side of the law. A sick psychopath to rival any villain in modern literature. Everything is laced with acid sharp dialogue and irreverent humour. Sit back and let the concoction tickle your taste buds. It's not an award-winning red wine of a book perhaps, but it satisfies the craving for a thriller fix very nicely, thank you.
That's the thing with a Jack Daniels; one can lead to several when they're so easy to digest. I could imagine myself finishing the series in a few sessions. All the ingredients are here. A rich mix of characters on the right side of the law. A sick psychopath to rival any villain in modern literature. Everything is laced with acid sharp dialogue and irreverent humour. Sit back and let the concoction tickle your taste buds. It's not an award-winning red wine of a book perhaps, but it satisfies the craving for a thriller fix very nicely, thank you.
December 8, 2020
It was good. A little cookie cutter when it came to the villian but he was one sick puppy. Jack and her partner were done very well. I liked how flawed they both were but how supportive of each other they were. Friends and allies. I liked the angle of having Jacks mother having been a cop who worked her way up the ladder in a male job as well. It's a series that took me a little by surprise and one I am looking forward to fallowing.
January 1, 2017
This is the first book of this series. it was good but I've read them out of order these books really need to be read in order due to the same character in them.
August 23, 2020
This is the debut of a substantial series by J. A. Konrath featuring a female Chicago police lieutenant, Violent Crimes division, named Jack Daniels. She's in her mid-forties, rarely hears her birth name Jacqueline, and has been solitary for years after a failed marriage; she's also highly intelligent, obviously competent, matter-of-fact, and virtually married to her job with only occasional forays into a pool hall. I think her first-person narration of systematic police procedure, with a bit of terse sarcasm, will make the series work.
What didn't work for me very well in this first outing was the author's selection of a thriller structure in which scenes from a psychopathic serial killer's point of view, told in third person but immersed in the killer's thought process, are interspersed with Jack's first-person narration. I count 17 chapters for the killer against only 29 for Jack. That's 34 abrupt switches of person and point of view. In general, I'll argue that the inclusion of chapters from a culprit's perspective works best if there are no more than half a dozen of them.
In this case, it doesn't help that most of the killer's chapters are standard textbook serial killer psychology, the only really original component being that we see the killer has an overall plan. Not so original and rarely believable, but not a spoiler because it's in the publisher's blurb, is that the killer decides to target the lead investigator also. Much worse: the killer's delight in torturing attractive young women is thrust at us repeatedly; big trigger warning, folks, and yes, that's what he wants to do to Jack too.
Jack's relationship and interactions with the rest of her Chicago police team are solid and make enjoyable reading (except for some fat-shaming), and her partner Herb is quite likable, but the two FBI agents are so moronic I thought they must be impostors...well, no, I was wrong. Fans of the FBI aren't going to like their scenes at all.
Overall, a tightly written, mostly grim novel with touches of humor and humanity.
What didn't work for me very well in this first outing was the author's selection of a thriller structure in which scenes from a psychopathic serial killer's point of view, told in third person but immersed in the killer's thought process, are interspersed with Jack's first-person narration. I count 17 chapters for the killer against only 29 for Jack. That's 34 abrupt switches of person and point of view. In general, I'll argue that the inclusion of chapters from a culprit's perspective works best if there are no more than half a dozen of them.
In this case, it doesn't help that most of the killer's chapters are standard textbook serial killer psychology, the only really original component being that we see the killer has an overall plan. Not so original and rarely believable, but not a spoiler because it's in the publisher's blurb, is that the killer decides to target the lead investigator also. Much worse: the killer's delight in torturing attractive young women is thrust at us repeatedly; big trigger warning, folks, and yes, that's what he wants to do to Jack too.
Jack's relationship and interactions with the rest of her Chicago police team are solid and make enjoyable reading (except for some fat-shaming), and her partner Herb is quite likable, but the two FBI agents are so moronic I thought they must be impostors...well, no, I was wrong. Fans of the FBI aren't going to like their scenes at all.
Overall, a tightly written, mostly grim novel with touches of humor and humanity.
December 30, 2019
Such a fun mystery book!
Whiskey Sour has always been on my mind. Every time I scrolled through KU books. Never had the guys to take the toe dip into the book until now. Let me tell you, I wasn't disappointed one bit. Ever since I met Jacqueline, I was in love. It also doesn't hurt that I like Whiskey either..
The mystery was what kept me alive. I was exhausted when I dove into this and it somehow woke me up (even after having a cup of coffee).
BRB gotta jet home and then I will finish the review.
Whiskey Sour has always been on my mind. Every time I scrolled through KU books. Never had the guys to take the toe dip into the book until now. Let me tell you, I wasn't disappointed one bit. Ever since I met Jacqueline, I was in love. It also doesn't hurt that I like Whiskey either..
The mystery was what kept me alive. I was exhausted when I dove into this and it somehow woke me up (even after having a cup of coffee).
BRB gotta jet home and then I will finish the review.
July 22, 2020
Solid, cornerstone-of-the-genre detective novel. There's nothing new under the sun in this book; Whiskey Sour is your stereotypical crime cocktail with all the expected ingredients: troubled cop, alcohol, slew of hacked up bodies, alcohol, groan worthy puns, alcohol, two dimensional characters, and comedic relief partner. And alcohol.
While nothing mind-blowing happens in terms of plot and twists, the familiar tropes are comfortable and entertaining. I'd consider reading the next book in the series.
I'd rate this book an R for heavy gore and violence, rape, torture, strong thematic elements, swearing, drug references, and heavy drinking.
While nothing mind-blowing happens in terms of plot and twists, the familiar tropes are comfortable and entertaining. I'd consider reading the next book in the series.
I'd rate this book an R for heavy gore and violence, rape, torture, strong thematic elements, swearing, drug references, and heavy drinking.
November 12, 2016
Whiskey Sour
4 Stars
Lieutenant Jacqueline “Jack” Daniels (yes, yes that’s her name), is a seasoned Chicago detective investigating a series of horrific murders of young women committed by a killer calling himself the Gingerbread Man. Once Jack takes over the case, the killer becomes obsessed with her and things become a lot more personal.
***Beware: short rant ahead***
The only strike against this book is the derisive and dismissive attitude toward the FBI. Whether the author likes it or not (and he obviously doesn’t), the FBI is not a group of bumbling nincompoops, but a highly efficient and effective law enforcement agency. Moreover, profiling, while not an exact science, is also not the punchline to a ridiculous joke, but a useful tool in narrowing down suspects, motives and modus operandi.
With that out of the way …
Other than the aforementioned annoying portrayal of the FBI, this is a solid police procedural/serial killer story with an original and compelling heroine.
Jack's intelligence and take-no-prisoners approach is reminiscent of other female detectives driven to seek justice such as Jane Rizzoli, D. D Warren and Kate Burkholder. Despite her harsh profession and egregious personal life, Jack is not cold or bitter and she truly seems to care for the victims.
Most of the secondary characters, aside from Jack, are stereotypical and one dimensional. Whether it be the overweight, food obsessed partner or the smarmy ex-boyfriend and his skeevy new girlfriend or the psychopathic and misogynistic killer determined to exterminate the female of the species one woman at a time. Nevertheless, each contributes to the overall tension and excitement of the story and the Gingerbread Man is a particularly chilling and diabolical villain.
The writing is sharp with gritty descriptions of the murders that may disturb some readers and the parts presented from the killer’s POV are spine tingling and blood curdling (forgive the melodramatics here).
The dual narration by Susie Breck and husband Dick Hill is excellent. They capture all the small nuances of the characters’ personality traits.
All in all, a promising beginning to the series and I look forward to continuing.
4 Stars
Lieutenant Jacqueline “Jack” Daniels (yes, yes that’s her name), is a seasoned Chicago detective investigating a series of horrific murders of young women committed by a killer calling himself the Gingerbread Man. Once Jack takes over the case, the killer becomes obsessed with her and things become a lot more personal.
***Beware: short rant ahead***
The only strike against this book is the derisive and dismissive attitude toward the FBI. Whether the author likes it or not (and he obviously doesn’t), the FBI is not a group of bumbling nincompoops, but a highly efficient and effective law enforcement agency. Moreover, profiling, while not an exact science, is also not the punchline to a ridiculous joke, but a useful tool in narrowing down suspects, motives and modus operandi.
With that out of the way …
Other than the aforementioned annoying portrayal of the FBI, this is a solid police procedural/serial killer story with an original and compelling heroine.
Jack's intelligence and take-no-prisoners approach is reminiscent of other female detectives driven to seek justice such as Jane Rizzoli, D. D Warren and Kate Burkholder. Despite her harsh profession and egregious personal life, Jack is not cold or bitter and she truly seems to care for the victims.
Most of the secondary characters, aside from Jack, are stereotypical and one dimensional. Whether it be the overweight, food obsessed partner or the smarmy ex-boyfriend and his skeevy new girlfriend or the psychopathic and misogynistic killer determined to exterminate the female of the species one woman at a time. Nevertheless, each contributes to the overall tension and excitement of the story and the Gingerbread Man is a particularly chilling and diabolical villain.
The writing is sharp with gritty descriptions of the murders that may disturb some readers and the parts presented from the killer’s POV are spine tingling and blood curdling (forgive the melodramatics here).
The dual narration by Susie Breck and husband Dick Hill is excellent. They capture all the small nuances of the characters’ personality traits.
All in all, a promising beginning to the series and I look forward to continuing.
January 30, 2019
Book 1 of Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels series
I kind of went all-in on Konrath before really reading anything beyond his short stories. While I currently have fourteen of his novels already purchased and on my To Be Read list, this is really the first one I read. Yes, technically I did read AFRAID but he wrote that as Jack Kilborn, his not-so-secret pen name. Kilborn is supposed to author the scarier novels while Konrath writes everything else. Or at least that's how I understand it. Anyway, WHISKEY SOUR is a great start to what is obviously a fun yet at-times gruesome series.
Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels is a Chicago police detective with a limited personal life and a serious bout of insomnia. She's dedicated to her job and not just because she has been assigned a major case on "The Gingerbread Man" killer. And while her partner, the F.B.I., and others are trying to help, Jack won't be able to rest until the case is solved.
After reading this book, I understand why Konrath and Jeff Strand are so often compared and grouped together. Humor is used extensively through the book to lighten some of the graphic and intense scenes. I've seen multiple reviews talking about how funny the book is; while I enjoyed the humor, it wasn't THAT funny. Which is also fine. I really enjoyed the mystery and suspense and graphic nature of the book. To be honest, the death scenes will stick with me longer than the bad but funny puns. I did find myself wishing that Konrath hadn't made the F.B.I. so inept. They are there to add some humor but not too much more. Hopefully the same agents will be present in future books but will be accurate in their profile. Or at least helpful instead of window dressing. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the Jack Daniels series.
I kind of went all-in on Konrath before really reading anything beyond his short stories. While I currently have fourteen of his novels already purchased and on my To Be Read list, this is really the first one I read. Yes, technically I did read AFRAID but he wrote that as Jack Kilborn, his not-so-secret pen name. Kilborn is supposed to author the scarier novels while Konrath writes everything else. Or at least that's how I understand it. Anyway, WHISKEY SOUR is a great start to what is obviously a fun yet at-times gruesome series.
Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels is a Chicago police detective with a limited personal life and a serious bout of insomnia. She's dedicated to her job and not just because she has been assigned a major case on "The Gingerbread Man" killer. And while her partner, the F.B.I., and others are trying to help, Jack won't be able to rest until the case is solved.
After reading this book, I understand why Konrath and Jeff Strand are so often compared and grouped together. Humor is used extensively through the book to lighten some of the graphic and intense scenes. I've seen multiple reviews talking about how funny the book is; while I enjoyed the humor, it wasn't THAT funny. Which is also fine. I really enjoyed the mystery and suspense and graphic nature of the book. To be honest, the death scenes will stick with me longer than the bad but funny puns. I did find myself wishing that Konrath hadn't made the F.B.I. so inept. They are there to add some humor but not too much more. Hopefully the same agents will be present in future books but will be accurate in their profile. Or at least helpful instead of window dressing. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the Jack Daniels series.
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