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May 28, 2011

Stephen rated it:

INGREDIENTS

1. Two ounces ~~Jack Daniels Tennessee Whiskey~~ Lt. Jacqueline Daniels, hardboiled detective with the Chicago Police Department;

2. One-Half Cup ~~crushed ice~~ horrific, brutal killings;

3. Two-thirds ounce of ~~fresh lemon juice~~ sadistic (and I mean mondo sadistic) serial killer known as the Gingerbread Man;

4. One-half ounce ~~sugar~~ standard supporting cast including jolly over-eating partner with a heart of gold, a couple of FBI tos More...

7 comments like (36 people liked it)

Jan 15, 2012

Mike (the Paladin) rated it:

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 th More...

0 comments like (4 people liked it)

Jan 12, 2012

Lady Danielle "The Book Huntress" rated it:

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 at More...

4 comments like (12 people liked it)

Dec 16, 2009

Brian rated it:

Fear and humor. That's what this book mixes. Basically, our heroine, Jacqueline Daniels, becomes the target of a sadistic killer after she begins investigating his crimes. He goes by the name, The Gingerbread Man, because he leaves clues in the wounds of his victims. It's a cat and mouse game but that's not what makes this book interesting. Really, it's the witty and snappy dialogue that makes this book a page turner. The book balances beautifully between disgusting descriptions and comedic mome More...

0 comments like (3 people liked it)

Mar 23, 2009

Gina rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Dec 17, 2009

LJ rated it:

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 ma More...

0 comments like (5 people liked it)

Mar 19, 2009

Bayneeta rated it:

#1 in the Jack Daniels series. I've read most of the books in the series, and re-read this for a book discussion group and a program where the author spoke. If the opportunity ever arises to hear this author speak, GO. He was interesting and entertaining--very personable. (Thanks, Roberta, for making that possible!)

1 comment like (1 person liked it)

Dec 28, 2007

Heather rated it:

Whiskey Sour is Konrath's introduction to the character Lieutenant "Jack" Daniels. The plot follows a serial killer known as The Gingerbread Man.

Overall, I think this was a good first novel for the series. Many people spoke of it being humorous as well as a mystery, and perhaps I just didn't get it; But I did not find the book to be very funny.

However, I will say that it interested me enough to warrant my continuation of the series. I look forward to better know More...

1 comment like (1 person liked it)

Nov 13, 2011

Jordan rated it:

I’m not usually a fan of the police/detective novel. Regardless of characters, or plot twists, or writing skills (both good and bad), this genre seems to be the same. Good cop, dealing with inner demons gets caught up in what seems an unsolvable case only to figure out the killer in the last few chapters of the book.

Thankfully, Konrath’s Jack Daniels is not your typical cop, nor is “Whiskey Sour” your typical crime/detective novel.

Sure there are a few of the aforementioned cl More...

0 comments like

Jan 02, 2012

Sharon rated it:

First book by this author and in this series. Gave it a 3-star 'liked it' but did have some issues for me. This will be a look for more in this series in the library rather than a buy to keep and re-read at this point anyway.

I liked the main character, tough, competent female with a few issues but not much 'fem jep' which I really hate and not so many emotional issues that you wonder how she can function.

My biggest problem with this book was with a couple of the minor charact More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Nov 04, 2011

Connie rated it:

WHISKEY SOUR by J A Konrath is 6 hours and 55 minutes long in MP3 format. It was read by Susie Breck and Dick Hill. This is #1 in the Jacqueline (Jack)Daniels series.

Brief Description:

Lieutenant Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels is an insomniac Chicago cop with a train wreck of a personal life and a stalker bent on adding her to his murder list. Join Jack, her binge-eating partner, a sleazy PI, and two very stupid FBI agents on a wild hunt for the Gingerbread Man--a kil More...

0 comments like

Oct 29, 2011

Ali rated it:

It is not necessary for me to rate or review any of the other books in the series, as my opinions on them are all exactly the same.
These are, in essence, very fun, very suspenseful, very readable, very pointless and forgettable mystery novels. I can find much to recommend in them. I am one of the few people who really likes Harry McGlade, and not because many of his traits are played for laughs. But I realize that his apparent greed, sexual fixation, and sloppiness will put many, many read More...

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Jun 01, 2011

David rated it:

About a month ago I found the author's advice blog for writers, and after reading all four years of his blog entries I thought I should read book one of his major series.

Each of the books in the Jack Daniels series center around police Lieutenant Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels, a mid-40s career cop who lost her marriage due to being married to her job and is plagued with insomnia. Her partner Herb is a good cop but a fat slob always eating something. Always.

This fir More...

0 comments like

Jan 02, 2011

Johnny rated it:

Whiskey Sour is a mystery that fits into one of those series where the titles are a clever gimmick. The protagonist is Jacqueline “Jack” Daniels, a detective with the Chicago Police Department, and because of the nickname based on her married name, all of the titles are names of cocktails. I have no objection to such a naming convention. After all, I love Martha Grimes’ series based on the names of British pubs or inns, Tim Cockey’s series entitled via word play based on switching “horse” and “h More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Sep 05, 2010

David rated it:

Whiskey Sour is what you get when you mix the steady police procedural works of Michael Connelly, the humor of Carl Hiassan, and the macabre sense of violence of Thomas Harris. In other words, you get a crackling good read.

The only reason I don't give this book five stars is because I thought that the heroine responded to a few situations a bit too heroically to be believeable.

Konrath diligently follows police procedure and just about every clue is brought to light not More...

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May 29, 2010

Mickey rated it:

I really need a 6 star system, or I need to be able to use halves because this book is more than a 3 star but not quite a 4 star. It's more like 3.75. Not a 4 because it wasn't as good as some of the books I've rated a 4. It's neither profound nor spectacular. Not a must read. Very enjoyable though. This series is much like the Women's Murder Club books by James Patterson - a fast-paced story with a prominent female in the police force working hard, sick cases with her male partner while trying More...

6 comments like

Aug 28, 2011

Ami rated it:

3.5 stars
The series stars Lieutenant Jack Daniels, a 46-year old female and I think that is what interest me the most. I almost rarely read about a female detective that is above 40 years old (usually they're in their 30's). Jack Daniels is hardboiled detective, she practically marries to her job, she's divorced, and in this book her current boyfriend dumped her. Definitely a refreshing heroine for me :).

The killings are brutal and I enjoy the "cat and mouse" game, as More...

0 comments like

Dec 13, 2011

Casey rated it:

I finished this book a couple of days ago and I am already half way through the next one. Very easy read but keeps you guessing whats around the corner. I constantly find myself guessing what is going to happen next and Konrath continues to out do me.

The main character is Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels a middle aged single lady and a Chicago Violent Crimes Lieutenant. She spends way to much time at the office, which describes her failed marriage. She is one of the best and she fo More...

0 comments like

Feb 25, 2011

Diane rated it:

Author J.A Konrath has a great blog for the newbie self-publisher - which I am. So I thought it would be a good idea to check out some of his fiction books, too.

And for someone who generally reads warm, cozy mysteries, this first offering hit me like a solid slap in the face. It was a far more hardboiled genre than I usually take on.

That said, moving out of your comfort zone is sometimes a good thing.

First things first: Konrath is an excellent writer. I couldn't put More...

0 comments like

Jan 26, 2010

Slinkyboy rated it:

This was a fun book to read. Jack Daniels makes a very likable protagonist (so important in a mystery series), but it’s actually some of the secondary characters I find myself eager to get to know better in the books ahead. I hope to see a lot more of Herb Benedict and Phineas Troutt.

The Gingerbread Man makes for a great bad guy, a truly despicable human being that you just can’t wait to see get caught. I’ve seen other authors use a shifting point of view, but it always seemed to More...

0 comments like

Jan 18, 2012

Lisa rated it:

I read this as part of a personal challenge with my friend Lisa. It was clear from the writing that this was the first book in a series, not sure if it's the author's first book. It entertained me enough to read it in a very short time, but there are plenty of better mysteries that don't rely on bad puns and stereotypes that I could be reading. I found Stephanie Plum to be funnier without being as dumbed down, and I much prefer the murder mysteries in J.D. Robb's In Death Series. I didn't parti More...

0 comments like

Jan 24, 2011

Coaxial rated it:

Whiskey Sour is J.A. Konrath's introduction to Jack Daniels, and the mystery's in this series revolve around her. Daniel's is a cop's cop, who has given up her whole life to her work. This first installment pits her against The Gingerbread Man, a guy with a whole lot of anger issues, and a clear hard-on for Jack herself.

I was reading this partly because I'd read it was disturbing, and because I'd read a collection of short stories by Konrath in '10, some of which starred either Jack or More...

0 comments like

Jan 24, 2008

Lori rated it:

J.A. Konrath's debut novel. Whiskey Sour, is the story of Lieutenant Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels. The story takes place in Chicago (one of my favorite cities)and it involves humor and murder. And like the title of the story, it cleverly evolves around a theme of a drink. I read this book in one day. If you like Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series, you will enjoy J.A. Konrath.

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jul 30, 2010

Chris rated it:

I first read about Joe in an issue of Writer's Digest (an interview entitled something like "This Guy Got Gobs of Money for his First Book.... Who the Hell is He?" (Little did I know at the time that it wasn't his actual first book, and he'd had 5 million or so rejections before this one finally sold).

So, when the book came out, I thought "Who the Hell is He? And why is he getting the gobs of money I should be getting?", and bought the hardcover.

I enjo More...

0 comments like

Feb 13, 2010

Desert Rose rated it:

Lieutenant Jacqueline 'Jack' Daniels is having such a bad week.

1. A serial killer in Chicago is on the loose, killing women and mutilating them, then displaying them for the public to see his handicraft. Leaving a gingerbread cookie as a calling card.

2. She gets dumped by her boyfriend

3. She has chronic insomnia that will drive her mad.

Then the Feds get involved with the help of their 'Vicki' and profiling, and Jack's partner Herb is pushing her More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Apr 17, 2009

Colleen rated it:

I really enjoyed this book. It grabbed my attention from the third page when Robertson makes the comment about junk food killing his dad. I like books that not only scare me but make me laugh out loud.

Jack is a great female character especially for us 40 something gals. She is strong and does not take any bull but she can also be a woman.

Herb is a good guy that really cares for his partner, the only thing I did not like about him was that he made me crave junk food. More...

0 comments like

Apr 25, 2010

Jess rated it:

I've been waiting to read this book for a few months now, but it was always checked out at the library. I finally got a hold of it, and I finished it in about 3 hours. It was a really quick and entertaining read. The main character is named Jack Daniels and she is a lieutenant in the Chicago PD. She is a dedicated officer with insomnia who is pretty much married to her job. Her job at the moment is to find the man who calls himself The Gingerbread Man. He left his calling card on the dead body o More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Mar 03, 2009

Christa rated it:

Whiskey Sour was fun to read. It was fast paced and entertaining. I found the heroine, Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels to be a likeable, sympathetic character. There were several interesting secondary characters, particularly Jack's parner, Herb Benedict. The storyline was interesting, and I found the murderer to be truly creepy. I look forward to continuing the series.

Jack Daniels is an experienced lieutenant in the Chicago Violent Crimes Division. She is a commitment shy in More...

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Dec 25, 2011

Monnie rated it:

Hoping that I'd enjoy Konrath's series of eight or so books featuring police Lt. Jacqueline ("Jack") Daniels, I started with the first, Whisky Sour. Turns out I was right to start at the beginning; after finishing this one, I'm eager to read the others as well. This one did, however, seem a bit heavy on the blood-and-guts aspect. That's not necessarily a bad thing, mind you; it's just that it's always hard to believe that any human being can withstand extreme cruel and unusual punishme More...

0 comments like

Jun 13, 2010

Candy rated it:

I like the Stephanie Plum series, but it's almost a little "too fun" in some ways. She's always doing something stupid, she's got a really annoying grandmother (note, I've only managed to make it past the first few books in that particular series), etc etc. It's super light. I get it. But it is always missing the crime. Stephanie is always busy farting around pretending to be a detective (bounty hunter, whatever). Jack - now, she's the real thing. We also read about the crimes, about t More...

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