Whiskey Sour
Jack Daniels Mysteries
By J.A. Konrath

      Lieutenant Jacqueline “Jack” Daniels and her partner Detective Herb Benedict of the Chicago Police Department face the challenge of apprehending a serial killer who calls himself, “The Gingerbread Man.”

      Jack’s life is pretty full of other challenges at the moment, including the unexpected breakup with her boyfriend compounded by chronic insomnia. When a pair of FBI profilers show up to help her identify the killer, it only muddies the water a little more.

       The murderer is an extremely evil and frightening assailant who tortures his victims and then defiles their corpses before leaving them in trash cans scattered around the city and now he has set his sights on another prize: Jack Daniels. When she thwarts his assassination attempt, his determination intensifies and so does Jack’s.

       Jack and her partner methodically follow a trail of faint clues looking for a common thread when they come upon Jack’s old nemesis Harry McGlade, former Chicago Police detective currently doing business as a private investigator. Harry is a sleazy sort of guy of questionable integrity and a cloudy past, always operating in the gray area of the law and often drifting to the darker side. It seems that at least two of the victims were recent clients of Harry.

      The story twists and turns as it follows the writhing trail of the Gingerbread Man. Jack is relentless in her pursuit and picks up a few bruises and a bullet on her way to her goal.

      This debut novel by J.A. Konrath is loaded with suspense skillfully balanced with brilliant humor and moves at a ramming speed pace. The characters are vivid. Jack and Herb are lovable, Harry McGlade is offensive and obnoxious, and The Gingerbread Man is terrifying. Add in the two half-baked FBI profilers and the blend becomes magic.

      This book is powerful and exciting and I highly recommend it for all mystery fans.