Buddy Read for Rusty Nail by J.A. Konrath - November 7

[Agnieszka]

by J.A. Konrath

Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels of the Chicago Police Department is back, and once again she's up to her Armani in murder. Someone is sending Jack snuff videos. The victims are people she knows, and they share a common trait -- all were involved in one of Jack's previous cases. With her stalwart partner hospitalized and unable to help, Jack follows a trail of death throughout the Midwest, on a collision course with the smartest and deadliest adversary she's ever known.

During the chase, Jack jeopardizes her career, her love life, and her closest friends. She also comes to a startling realization -- serial killers have families, and blood runs thick.

Rusty Nail features more of the laugh-out-loud humor and crazy characters that saturated Whiskey Sour and Bloody Mary, without sacrificing the nail-biting thrills.

This is Jack Daniels third, and most exciting, adventure yet!

[Kirsten]

Can't wait!

[Kirsten]

Is anyone else reading Rusty Nail? I'm up to chapter 21 and enjoying it. The new villain is seriously wacked!

[Mary Beth]

I am a little behind because I thought I had the book but I didnt, so I had to get the ebook from Overdrive. I just received it and once I read the book I am reading now, I will start reading it. So sorry!

[Mary Beth]

Cant wait to read it.

[Lauren]

I started listening to it this morning. I'm feeling very sorry for Herb and his (view spoiler)[colonoscopy (hide spoiler)]

[Agnieszka]

I was convinced I had downloaded my Kindle of the book but either I removed the download insted of moving it to my current folder of I mixed it up. When I'm in the City tomorrow I can finally download it - no WiFi @ home :-(
If it's as well written as the previous books I think I'll read it within a day or two :-)

[Mary Beth]

Agnieska the same thing happened to me. I thought for sure I downloaded it. So I had to get it on Overdrive and wait to get the book. I just started it today.

Haha Lauren! I know I feel for Herb also.

[Lauren]

Comments up to chapter 8 (I'm listening so I'm not sure of the chapter #). In any case, it is after (view spoiler)[Jack is rescued from the fire and has spoken to Harry about being his best man or woman ;0) (hide spoiler)]

Alex - (view spoiler)[considering that it is a unisex name and there are other indications as well (like the handwriting), I think that Alex is a woman. Not sure of her connection to Cork yet, but I think there must be one.

I know we are supposed to feel sorry for Alex because of his/her childhood, but I'm so sick and tired of the "I'm abused so my crimes are understandable" excuse. There is such as thing as knowing right from wrong! (hide spoiler)]

Jack - (view spoiler)[I really love her inner voice. She makes me laugh. That said, I'm kind of annoyed with her about calling Latham and professing undying love for him. It was out of character and not a little pathetic. (hide spoiler)]

Harry - (view spoiler)[is completely obnoxious, but I like him anyway for some reason. He's just so obviously an asshole that it is impossible not to find him appealing - if that makes sense. (hide spoiler)]

The FBI - (view spoiler)[The description of the agents and their idiotic profile is just so over the top that one can't take it seriously. I'm not a fan of how the author portrays them. Can you tell I'm a Criminal Minds fan? (hide spoiler)]

[Mary Beth]

I read to the end of chapter 13 (view spoiler)[I think Alex is reslly creepy. This is a copy cat of the Gingerbread Man. For some reason I think this might be more brutal.
Lauren your idea of Alex being a woman is very intersting. I wouldnt of thought thst but now I think you might be right.

I love Jack also. I do agree that in this series the FBI is over the top. It was like that in the first book.
I definately dont feel sorry for Alex. Setting that fire and trying to kill Jack, she is a psychopath and is very sick and needs lot of help. (hide spoiler)] I really dont care for Latham. I wish she had a relationship with someone with more personality, he just is portrayed as dull.

[Lauren]

Mary wrote: "I read to the end of chapter 13 I think Alex is reslly creepy. This is a copy cat of the Gingerbread Man. For some reason I think this might be more brutal.
Lauren your idea of Alex being a woman ..."

I'm not a fan of his either.

[Mary Beth]

Herb is kind of dull also.

End of chapter 18. (view spoiler)[Alex really did have a terrible past but agree that does not give her any reason to do the things she is doing. I hate when authors have to put the abuse of pets or animals, it just is not necessary. (hide spoiler)]

[Kirsten]

I've read 75% (chapter 40).

I don't find Herb dull. But how he manages to stay in the police with all his issues, I don't know. His wife sounds tough though.

Maybe Jack should get together with Phin.

Lauren, I didn't think of Alex being a woman, but you may be right!!

[Mary Beth]

Kirsten I agree Bernice, his wife is tough. I like her.

Chapter 31

I do not like Holly. (view spoiler)[I think she is a Gold digger. It is so confusing who the killer is. I was thinking that maybe Bud's daughter never died and it could of been her, but one guy is suppose to have a blond beard and the other guy has red hair, and they are maybe the killer. So dont know yet? (hide spoiler)]

[Lauren]

Up to chapter 25:

The descriptions of Bud Cork's (view spoiler)[self mutilations were terribly gruesome even for me. There was a point where I thought OMG, its enough already! There is such a thing as TOO much information! (hide spoiler)]

Glad that Latham is (view spoiler)[with someone else. I really don't want him to come back into the story. (hide spoiler)]

[Mary Beth]

Lauren to your first spoiler! It was so brutal! I agree with the TMI! It wss almost too much for me.

To your second spoiler I am hoping he is out of the story too.

[Mary Beth]

End of chapter 39 (view spoiler)[OMG! Is the FBI that stupid. They didnt even treat Lorna as a prisoner. They know she is a psychopath and now she is on the loose and killed them. The suspense is brewing. She will be after Jack now. (hide spoiler)] I am really loving this even though its pretty brutal. What do you guys think?

[Mary Beth]

Oops! Lauren I noticed when I commented before I didnt put the chapter of the spoiler for Holly. I hope it didnt spoil it for you. If it did I am so sorry. I corrected it.

[Agnieszka]

So far I read only few chapters. This time I'm struggling pretty much with the beginning. I hope it gets better or I can deal with the violence much more than I was able to do so far.

[Mary Beth]

Agnieszka I want to give you a warning on this one. It gets pretty brutal. More brutal and scarier than the first one. Its a little too much for me. I want you to join us but understand if you cant. I will say though it does get very good if you can stand it. The violence does get worse.

[Agnieszka]

I want to read it as well, though I'm not sure how long it will take, so far I was able to read only few pages a day - that was is really tough.

[Vicki Willis]

That is ok Agnieszka. That way I will end up catching up with you!!
I am about half way through the second one and have this one already so I will go straight into it when I finish.

[Lauren]

Mary wrote: "Oops! Lauren I noticed when I commented before I didnt put the chapter of the spoiler for Holly. I hope it didnt spoil it for you. If it did I am so sorry. I corrected it."

That's OK. I had already gotten to Holly's character :0)

Speaking of Holly - I cannot believe that how TSTL Jack is being with her. (view spoiler)[Allowing a civilian so much access to a case is simply ridiculous and she is SO being manipulated by her.

I am convinced that Holly is killer - not only is she sadistic (giving Bud Cork that needle was just sick!) but she is insinuating herself into the case. It would also explain why she is with Harry. (hide spoiler)]

[Lauren]

Mary wrote: "End of chapter 39 [spoilers removed] I am really loving this even though its pretty brutal. What do you guys think?"

I'm also enjoying it. I really like Konrath's writing style, but I agree that this one is really gruesome and brutal. Perhaps excessively so.

[Lauren]

@Agnieska - I have to agree with Mary. The violence is over the top and is not easy to read at all. I'm listening to it and shuddering!

[Lauren]

Up to chapter 39 (not including):

At this point, I am very disappointed in Jack. (view spoiler)[Her completely unprofessional behavior in allowing Holly to tag along to interrogate a witness, taking her to the morgue against department policy and not preventing her from entering a suspect residence should result in her losing her badge - plain and simple. (hide spoiler)]

[Kirsten]

Lauren wrote: "Up to chapter 25:

The descriptions of Bud Cork's [spoilers removed]

Glad that Latham is [spoilers removed]"

Lauren- I couldn't understand how he could do things like that without collapsing...

[Kirsten]

Mary wrote: "Agnieszka I want to give you a warning on this one. It gets pretty brutal. More brutal and scarier than the first one. Its a little too much for me. I want you to join us but understand if you cant..."

My copy has a foreword by the author. He says this is his most brutal. He got many complaints, but he said it led him to branch out into horror.

[Lauren]

Kirsten *Don't Blame Me I Voted for Hillary" wrote: "Lauren wrote: "Up to chapter 25:

Lauren- I couldn't understand how he could do things like that without collapsing...

A high tolerance for pain, I expect. *shudder*

[Lauren]

Kirsten *Don't Blame Me I Voted for Hillary" wrote: "My copy has a foreword by the author. He says this is his most brutal. He got many complaints, but he said it led him to branch out into horror. ."

Interesting. I don't mind violence with a purpose. This is just too much even for me and I hope the next one tones it down.

[Lauren]

Mary wrote: "End of chapter 39 [spoilers removed] I am really loving this even though its pretty brutal. What do you guys think?"

Regarding Lorna - (view spoiler)[Totally idiotic of the FBI not to be paying closer attention to her. Of course, Konrath has a distinct disdain for the FBI that comes out in his books so I take his descriptions with a grain of salt. (hide spoiler)]

[Mary Beth]

I finished it! I have to say this is very brutal but I did love it.

(view spoiler)[Oh Wow Lauren you were right and I thought Bud's daughter might not of died and was Kork's sister but was confused by the blonde beard but thought it could be a mask. I thought Holly might be the killer but when she woke up next to Jack drugged zi thought I was wrong. I couldnt believe when Holly ended up being Bud's daughter. I had it figured out but it was a twist and it grabbed me.
I agree that Holly should never of gone to that case and Jack not having any consequences, was ridiculous. (hide spoiler)]

[Mary Beth]

Lauren wrote: "Mary wrote: "End of chapter 39 [spoilers removed] I am really loving this even though its pretty brutal. What do you guys think?"

Regarding Lorna - [spoilers removed]"

That explains it Lauren! I never knew the author felt that way about the FBI.

[Vicki Willis]

I started this one today and am at 20% about which is chapter 11.
I like the fast start and agree it is brutal, but that doesn't bother me.
I had actually read his horror stuff written as Kilborn and they are among my favs in that genre.
Anyway,
Alex (view spoiler)[ I was trying to decide in the prologue if it was a girl or boy. I kept scanning for some pronouns, but didnt see any so I am thinking girl. Loved the scene of her/him in the psych office trying to get a rise out of him. (hide spoiler)]
FBI (view spoiler)[ was cracking up when they made their appearance. I think it is tongue in cheek over the top as opposed to a dig at the FBI. (hide spoiler)]
Herb (view spoiler)[hopefully not a cancerous tumor. How will she provide support to him while having the male dominated career relationship with him? Awkward! (hide spoiler)]
Harry (view spoiler)[just annoys me in every book (hide spoiler)]
Just in general (view spoiler)[ curious about the toes. Whose are they? Are they 20 years old? And what do they have to do with the case?
Also, who is this Tony from the nursing home and what is his deal? (hide spoiler)]
I think that is all for now. It is nice starting a new series and loving it, knowing there are lots of books ready to go!

[Lauren]

Finished and enjoyed it overall, although I do think it was completely (view spoiler)[idiotic that no one suspected Holly. Only a psychotic killer would marry Harry McGlade! (hide spoiler)]

[Lauren]

@Vicki

Alex - (view spoiler)[Yes, the lack of pronouns also tipped me off. In the audiobook, the male and female narrators take turns narrating Alex's thoughts probably to keep the reader guessing in the same way they would if reading. (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki Willis]

I finished and I think it is my favorite so far. I like the use of reoccurring characters and how they are becoming more developed. One my my favorite parts was (view spoiler)[the banter between Harry and Phin at the end. It broke up the torture scene. (hide spoiler)]
Harry - (view spoiler)[ I can't believe I am saying it, but his character grew on me and might become a fav. I especially liked how he had Jack's character proclaimed love for him as she was dying on the TV show. (hide spoiler)]
Latham - (view spoiler)[ the jury is still out. He had such a small role, but maybe a slow set up for HEA down the line?
I want to know more about Phin and maybe see him get together with Jack. She might need someone edgy like that. (hide spoiler)]
Overall, a great book. Really enjoying the series.

Vicki's Review

[Lauren]

@Vicki

Yes, I totally agree about (view spoiler)[Harry and Phin's banter at the end. It really made Harry seem all the more human. I also liked that he didn't beg Holly for mercy. He has strength despite his obnoxious manner (hide spoiler)]

[Lauren]

Will we be reading the next book together as well?

[Vicki Willis]

Yes, we need to pick a date to start.
Maybe week of Dec. 5?

[Mary Beth]

Yes I would like to read the next one as well! The week of Dec. 5th sounds good to me.

[Kirsten]

Vicki, I especially like the bit with the rat... and why is Mr Friskers such a bad judge of character?

[Lauren]

I was kind of expecting Mr. Friskers to save the day again like he did in book #2 (he did help a bit though not as much as I would have liked).

[Lauren]

I'm starting today.

[Vicki Willis]

I just opened a new thread for it.

[Lauren]

Thanks Vicki