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A Dead Certainty: A Jack Daniels P.I. Novella #2
I’m not a gambling man. I mean life’s one big gamble ain’t it. The odds are stacked against you, you just can’t win. But you know there are some people who will do anything to make sure that they win, even if it means eliminating anyone or anything that stands in their way. They only bet on a sure thing .... A DEAD CERTAINTY.
91 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 13, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
September 13, 2018
Well written short detective story.
Excellent Performance .
A beautiful reminder of Hollywood style detective story with the jazz background.
Only wish it was longer but beside that there is no negative that I can find with this creation.
Recommended !!
Got this audiobook for free for reviewing.
Excellent Performance .
A beautiful reminder of Hollywood style detective story with the jazz background.
Only wish it was longer but beside that there is no negative that I can find with this creation.
Recommended !!
Got this audiobook for free for reviewing.
March 19, 2018
'A Dead Certainty' tells of PI Jack Daniels is called in to investigate a dead race horse. The police don't believe it is suspicious, but the owner doesn't believe that. Daniels knows little about horses, or racing, but soon finds himself deep in the muck of a horse stable with a serious of unexplained and dangerous events. Could it be sabotage?
The mystery itself is enjoyable, although not very gripping. The reveal and explanation of who did it and why was a little flat, without great surprise or tension. However the mystery itself, and the way the events at the stables build over time, was well told and enjoyable. Daniel's narration is good, even if his notations about 'the odds' make no actual sense in terms of how odds are put together. It's not a simple number of people for vs number of people against. But then he doesn't know horse racing, as he admits... some of his assumptions as to why people aren't suspect seem silly too.
The narration by Miguel Rodriguez is good a suits the book well. He portrays the character well. The narration is clear and well paced. He does accents and voices for the characters, making it easy to tell them apart. Generally good work, and I would be more than happy to listen to more work by him.
I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.
The mystery itself is enjoyable, although not very gripping. The reveal and explanation of who did it and why was a little flat, without great surprise or tension. However the mystery itself, and the way the events at the stables build over time, was well told and enjoyable. Daniel's narration is good, even if his notations about 'the odds' make no actual sense in terms of how odds are put together. It's not a simple number of people for vs number of people against. But then he doesn't know horse racing, as he admits... some of his assumptions as to why people aren't suspect seem silly too.
The narration by Miguel Rodriguez is good a suits the book well. He portrays the character well. The narration is clear and well paced. He does accents and voices for the characters, making it easy to tell them apart. Generally good work, and I would be more than happy to listen to more work by him.
I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.
March 20, 2018
There are 3 books in this novella series. I listened to book 3 first, then book 1 and finally book 2. I found them to be really stand alone books and the order made no difference. All 3 books were audio books for me. It was not the norm but all 3 had different narrators. One narrator I loved Peter Borys did a great job in my opinion. Joe Voegler I didn't care for and had a hard time finishing the book. Then this book was narrated by Michael Rodriguez and he was somewhere in the middle for me. The author John Holt has a writing style that is very long in the tooth so to speak. Not my taste but not bad either. If you want a short story this is a good one. I was gifted this book with the understanding that I would leave an honest review.
February 26, 2020
John Holt writes good old fashion detective stories.
Jack Daniels is a detective. I really like his character. Hired to look into a horse’s death. Jack does what Jack does best.
There is no corse Language in it, or sex scenes. Although there is some violence it does not go into great details.
Narrator Miguel Rodriguez does a good job. The story is told in the first person. But Miguel brings the characters alive with their own individual voices.
I really enjoyed this short story. With it‘s characters and a good story line, I feel it is worth a read.
This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher free of charge for a honest, unbiased review.
Jack Daniels is a detective. I really like his character. Hired to look into a horse’s death. Jack does what Jack does best.
There is no corse Language in it, or sex scenes. Although there is some violence it does not go into great details.
Narrator Miguel Rodriguez does a good job. The story is told in the first person. But Miguel brings the characters alive with their own individual voices.
I really enjoyed this short story. With it‘s characters and a good story line, I feel it is worth a read.
This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher free of charge for a honest, unbiased review.
February 24, 2018
I enjoyed listening to this short mystery, the character voices are well done and the delivery was a good match for the story.
The investigation is interesting to see although I have to question some of the assumptions. Ruling out all the women, really? It was a little stereotypical at times but it's well crafted, well written, and an enjoyable book.
If you enjoy short mysteries then this book could be exactly what you're looking for.
I received a free copy of this book from the author and/or narrator and/or publisher and I voluntarily wrote this honest review.
The investigation is interesting to see although I have to question some of the assumptions. Ruling out all the women, really? It was a little stereotypical at times but it's well crafted, well written, and an enjoyable book.
If you enjoy short mysteries then this book could be exactly what you're looking for.
I received a free copy of this book from the author and/or narrator and/or publisher and I voluntarily wrote this honest review.
July 28, 2019
The storyline was short so don't expect a full length book of 10+ hours. It was not as fleshed out as I would have liked to have seen, maybe because it is shorter.
Miguel did a fairly good job with narration. I liked his speaking to us and singing a few bars of a tune here and there. But his characters were not as clearly defined as to who was who with just the sound of his voice and inflections. The size of the book may have something to do with this. Wasn't bad. Just wasn't as fully in depth as I was expecting.
Miguel did a fairly good job with narration. I liked his speaking to us and singing a few bars of a tune here and there. But his characters were not as clearly defined as to who was who with just the sound of his voice and inflections. The size of the book may have something to do with this. Wasn't bad. Just wasn't as fully in depth as I was expecting.
September 23, 2020
The writing again was amazing and you can disappear into the story. I did find the narration to start with very difficult to listen to, but it got better the more into the book and about half way through really enjoyed the narration. I did enjoy books 1 and 3 more but this was very good just not as good as those two which were brilliant.
Jack Daniels is a very interesting character and cant wait to see how his story develops.
I was given this audible book in return for an honest review which I have done.
Jack Daniels is a very interesting character and cant wait to see how his story develops.
I was given this audible book in return for an honest review which I have done.
December 7, 2019
A much better story than the first in the series, Candy Man, and thankfully a different, much better narrator. An entertaining read with a well thought out plot and good characters.
I received a free copy of this audiobook either from the author or a promotion or giveaway and am voluntarily writing an honest and unbiased review.
I received a free copy of this audiobook either from the author or a promotion or giveaway and am voluntarily writing an honest and unbiased review.
December 27, 2018
What Are The Odds?
World-weary private eye Jack Daniels gets a break from divorce work and takes on a case he doesn't quite believe in--the murder of a horse. Race track terminology is frequently used tongue-in-cheek and to good effect as the sinister plot is uncovered in this paean to noir.
World-weary private eye Jack Daniels gets a break from divorce work and takes on a case he doesn't quite believe in--the murder of a horse. Race track terminology is frequently used tongue-in-cheek and to good effect as the sinister plot is uncovered in this paean to noir.
January 11, 2019
Jack Solves another case with his PI skills! The story of a horse and if it was murdered or died of natural causes need to be solved and luck for us the owner hires jack to figure it out. Jack still does his rambling, but they usually give me a chuckle out of it. Great narration as well.
June 10, 2019
Audible:This was a very good book.A suspicious death of a race horse has Jack in the stables looking at all the oddities happening there. Miguel Rodriguez was a really good narrator.I was given this book by the narrator,author or publisher free for an honest review.
November 17, 2019
P.I. procedural with Jack Daniels investigating a race horse's death. His thoughts are presented in an interesting way, even with a little singing! At times it was difficult to distinguish between the characters as spoken by the narrator, but overall it was a good story and a good reading!
March 7, 2018
( Format : Audiobook )
"Life's one big gamble, ain't it?"
Another delightful recounting by P.I.Jack Daniels of a recent case, this time out of the city and in the open spaces of a stables where one of the race horses has unexpectedly died and several accidents have also occured. The owner believes his very valuable horse did not die naturally but was murdered. Jack wasn't so sure and didn't really care. But he'd just finished a surveillance (all right, a snooping) job for a client and, with bills to pay, a big fee promised and the chance for a few days in the country, the laid back detective drives out to the hospitality of the ranch.
Author John Holt writes Jack Daniels stories as a monologue from the quirky detective, allowing all of Daniel's feelings and prejudices to shine through. He's not a gambling man and, though he likes animals, has never been on a horse and knows next to nothing about them or the big business of training horses to race. So he's a bit out of his element. For this story to work, the narrator has to convincingly become the detective and Miguel Rodriguez does this to perfection. His voice is rich and deep, with a lazy delivery and pace which suits the laconic style of the story telling. He narrates, with both character and intonation, as if talking one to one with his listener and faithfully follows the essence of the text and the person created.
It's short, it is well narrated and, overall, a great listen. Definitely recommended.
"Life's one big gamble, ain't it?"
Another delightful recounting by P.I.Jack Daniels of a recent case, this time out of the city and in the open spaces of a stables where one of the race horses has unexpectedly died and several accidents have also occured. The owner believes his very valuable horse did not die naturally but was murdered. Jack wasn't so sure and didn't really care. But he'd just finished a surveillance (all right, a snooping) job for a client and, with bills to pay, a big fee promised and the chance for a few days in the country, the laid back detective drives out to the hospitality of the ranch.
Author John Holt writes Jack Daniels stories as a monologue from the quirky detective, allowing all of Daniel's feelings and prejudices to shine through. He's not a gambling man and, though he likes animals, has never been on a horse and knows next to nothing about them or the big business of training horses to race. So he's a bit out of his element. For this story to work, the narrator has to convincingly become the detective and Miguel Rodriguez does this to perfection. His voice is rich and deep, with a lazy delivery and pace which suits the laconic style of the story telling. He narrates, with both character and intonation, as if talking one to one with his listener and faithfully follows the essence of the text and the person created.
It's short, it is well narrated and, overall, a great listen. Definitely recommended.
March 7, 2018
( Format : Audiobook )
"Life's one big gamble, ain't it?"
Another delightful recounting by P.I.Jack Daniels of a recent case, this time out of the city and in the open spaces of a stables where one of the race horses has unexpectedly died and several accidents have also occured. The owner believes his very valuable horse did not die naturally but was murdered. Jack wasn't so sure and didn't really care. But he'd just finished a surveillance (all right, a snooping) job for a client and, with bills to pay, a big fee promised and the chance for a few days in the country, the laid back detective drives out to the hospitality of the ranch.
Author John Holt writes Jack Daniels stories as a monologue from the quirky detective, allowing all of Daniel's feelings and prejudices to shine through. He's not a gambling man and, though he likes animals, has never been on a horse and knows next to nothing about them or the big business of training horses to race. So he's a bit out of his element. For this story to work, the narrator has to convincingly become the detective and Miguel Rodriguez does this to perfection. His voice is rich and deep, with a lazy delivery and pace which suits the laconic style of the story telling. He narrates, with both character and intonation, as if talking one to one with his listener and faithfully follows the essence of the text and the person created.
It's short, it is well narrated and, overall, a great listen. Definitely recommended
"Life's one big gamble, ain't it?"
Another delightful recounting by P.I.Jack Daniels of a recent case, this time out of the city and in the open spaces of a stables where one of the race horses has unexpectedly died and several accidents have also occured. The owner believes his very valuable horse did not die naturally but was murdered. Jack wasn't so sure and didn't really care. But he'd just finished a surveillance (all right, a snooping) job for a client and, with bills to pay, a big fee promised and the chance for a few days in the country, the laid back detective drives out to the hospitality of the ranch.
Author John Holt writes Jack Daniels stories as a monologue from the quirky detective, allowing all of Daniel's feelings and prejudices to shine through. He's not a gambling man and, though he likes animals, has never been on a horse and knows next to nothing about them or the big business of training horses to race. So he's a bit out of his element. For this story to work, the narrator has to convincingly become the detective and Miguel Rodriguez does this to perfection. His voice is rich and deep, with a lazy delivery and pace which suits the laconic style of the story telling. He narrates, with both character and intonation, as if talking one to one with his listener and faithfully follows the essence of the text and the person created.
It's short, it is well narrated and, overall, a great listen. Definitely recommended
June 18, 2015
Another delight from John Holt! Jack Daniels PI is like an addiction - you just have to follow him through, enjoying his rants about life, then watching him gradually solve the case - finding clues etc., all the while telling us his thoughts in his own dry way.
There are 3 books in this series of novellas at present (all fine as stand alone stories). I have now read 2 and am off to read #3, but will that be enough to satisfy my growing addiction to PI Jack Daniels???
There are 3 books in this series of novellas at present (all fine as stand alone stories). I have now read 2 and am off to read #3, but will that be enough to satisfy my growing addiction to PI Jack Daniels???
April 6, 2018
A Dead Certainty by John Holt was a great quick read. This is the second novella in The Jack Daniels P.I. Series. This is another great novella that follows Jack Daniels solving tough to crack cases.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews