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Rusty Nail (Jack Daniels Book 3) Kindle Edition
THE FAMILY THAT SLAYS TOGETHER, STAYS TOGETHER...
Lt. 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 -- each was 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's third, and most exciting, adventure yet.
RUSTY NAIL by J.A. Konrath
Death runs in the family...
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.
RUSTY NAIL
Bad Language - 4
Scary - 7
Violent - 7
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.
- LanguageEnglish
- Publication dateFebruary 4, 2013
- File size1.9 MB
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From the Publisher
From J.A. KONRATH - THREE THRILLING SERIES, ONE STORY WORLD
Jack Daniels Thrillers
Twenty-two gripping suspense novels, and dozens of short stories, starring Chicago Homicide cop Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels, career criminal Phineas Troutt, private eye Harry McGlade, and too many serial killers to count...
This series of complete--but connected--novels also ties in with the Konrath Dark Thriller Collective and the Codename Chandler series, pulling readers into a rich, layered world where any character can pop up in anyone's book... and they do.
Konrath Dark Thriller Collective
Twelve edge-of-your-seat thriller novels featuring police officer Tom Mankowski, molecular biologist Dr. Frank Belgium, and ex-military Fabler as they face psychos, evil scientists, and worse...
This series of complete--but connected--novels also ties in with the Jack Daniels Thrillers and the Codename Chandler series, taking readers into a rich, layered world where any character can pop up in anyone's book... and they do.
Codename Chandler Series
Join secret agent Chandler, psychotic spy Hammett, and brilliant recluse Fleming as they fight to save the world--while also fighting each other--in eight jaw-dropping action tales...
This series of complete--but connected--stories also ties in with the Konrath Dark Thriller Collective and the Jack Daniels Thrillers, taking readers into a rich, layered world where any character can pop up in anyone's book... and they do.
THIS IS THE SERIES YOU'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR

WHAT MAKES A GREAT THRILLER
Checklist For Quick Reads
- Thrilling
- Funny
- Scary
- Romantic
- Emotional
- Twisty
- Good Characters
- Awesome Ending
GRIPPING
In fact you might grip so hard you'll break your ereader...
The Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels Series
THRILLS, LAUGHS, & SCARES
Looking for a pulse-pounding, nail-biting, can't-stop-reading series filled with suspense, terror, giggles, and a smattering of romance?
Looking for the worst villains, the most twists, the craziest mysteries, and the kinds of characters you wish were your real-life friends?
Looking for a fast, fun read that makes you smile and shriek, often on the same page?
Welcome to the world of Jack.
UNPUTDOWNABLE
Clear your schedule, because once you start you won't stop...
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Review
"Excellent smart-mouth thrills... my advice: Take a long sip."- Lee Child, author of Blue Moon
"Constant thrills and chills." - Heather Graham, author of The Seekers
"Snappy dialogue. Powerful action. A fabulous character to spend time with." - David Morrell, author of First Blood
"If the Grim Reaper has a sense of humor, he reads JA Konrath."- William Kent Krueger, author of This Tender Land
"It's funny and scary, just like real life."- James O. Born, author of Shock Wave
"Laugh-out-loud funny... even when read sober."- PJ Parrish, author of The Killing Song
"I haven't actually read this book." - Dave Barry, author of Tricky Business
"Fast-paced...(a) cross between Carl Hiaasen and Thomas Harris."- Publishers Weekly
"Engaging... full of humor... fans of Janet Evanovich will like this."- Library Journal
"Pithy banter... it's like a Monty Python rendition of a crime novel."- The Courier
"Put me down for another round of Lieutenant Jack Daniels." - Andrew Vachss, author of Another Life
"A literary cocktail that'll knock you off your chair." - Ridley Pearson, author of White Bone
From the Author
For the completists, or those with a bit of obsessive/compulsiveness, or the folks that just like my stuff and want to know how it all connects, I have a lot of recurring characters and intertwined series. If you need to know the best reading order, or how to make sure you haven't missed anything, check out the bibliography page on my website. You can also visit there to see when a new title will be released.
If you're just looking for a quick checklist, here are my main series.
These do not have to be read in any particular order, but I encourage you to read them all.
JACK DANIELS THRILLERS
#1-Whiskey Sour
#2-Bloody Mary
#3-Rusty Nail
#4-Dirty Martini
#5-Shot Of Tequila
#6-Fuzzy Navel
#7-Cherry Bomb
#8-Dead On My Feet
#9-Serial Killers Uncut (with Blake Crouch)
#10-Shaken
#11-Stirred (with Blake Crouch)
#12-Dying Breath
#13-Everybody Dies
#14-Rum Runner
#15-Last Call
#16-White Russian
#17-Shot Girl
#18-Chaser
#19-Old Fashioned
#20-Bite Force
#21-Jack Rose
#22-Witch Brew
#23-Pink Lady
#24-Bourbon Hammer
#25-Moscow Mule
Bonus #2.5-Lady 52 (with Jude Hardin)
Jack Daniels Stories Vol. 1 (Novella Collection)
Jack Daniels Stories Vol. 2 (Novella Collection)
Jack Daniels Stories Vol. 3 (Novella Collection)
Jack Daniels Stories Vol. 4 (Novella Collection)
Banana Hammock (Novella Collection)
THE KONRATH DARK THRILLER COLLECTIVE
#1-The List
#2-Origin
#3-Afraid
#4-Trapped
#5-Endurance
#6-Haunted House
#7-Webcam
#8-Disturb
#9-What Happened To Lori
#10-The Nine
#11-Second Coming
#12-Close Your Eyes
#13-Enraged
Bonus #4.5-Holes in the Ground (with Iain Rob Wright)
Bonus #5.5-Draculas (with Blake Crouch, Jeff Strand, F. Paul Wilson)
Bonus #6.5-Grandma? (with Talon Konrath)
TIMECASTER
#1-Timecaster
#2-Timecaster Supersymmetry
#3-Timecaster Steampunk
CODENAME: CHANDLER (with Ann Voss Peterson)
#1-Flee
#2-Spree
#3-Three
#4-Hit
#5-Exposed
#6-Naughty
#7-Fix (with F. Paul Wilson)
#8-Rescue
#9-Free
STOP A MURDER PUZZLE BOOKS
#1-How: Puzzles 1-12
#2-Where: Puzzles 13-24
#3-Why: Puzzles 25-36
#4-Who: Puzzles 37-48
#5-When: Puzzles 49-60
#6-Answers
Stop A Murder Complete Cases (Book 1-5)
MISCELLANEOUS
65 Proof - Collected Short Stories
The Globs Of Use-A-Lot 3 (With Dan Maderak)
EROTICA
Writing as Melinda DuChamp
MAKE ME BLUSH series
#1-Kinky Secrets Of Mister Kink
#2-Kinky Secrets Of Witches
#3-Kinky Secrets Of Six & Candy
ALICE series
#1-Kinky Secrets Of Alice In Wonderland
#2-Kinky Secrets Of Alice Through The Looking Glass
#3-Kinky Secrets Of Alice At The Hellfire Club
#4-Kinky Secrets Of Alice Vs. Dracula
#5-Kinky Secrets Of Alice Vs. Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde
#6-Kinky Secrets Of Alice Vs. Frankenstein
#7-Kinky Secrets Of Alice's Christmas Special
#8-Kinky Secrets Of Alice's New Year Ball
JEZEBEL series
#1-Kinky Secrets Of Jezebel And The Beanstalk
#2-Kinky Secrets Of Puss In Boots
#3-Kinky Secrets Of Goldilocks
SEXPERTS series
#1-The Sexperts - Kinky Grades Of Shay
#2-The Sexperts - Kinky Secrets Of The Pearl Necklace
#3-The Sexperts - Kinky Secrets Of The Alien
From the Inside Flap
Q: Did you always want to be a writer?
Joe: No. I wanted to be a model for husky pants. But then, when I was barely a teen, they stopped making husky sizes.
Damn those clothing designers for shattering my dreams.
Q: When did you decide to become a writer?
Joe: I mean, I'm not offended by the term "husky." Now they're called "relaxed fit" jeans. It's the same thing, but there's nothing sexy about being a "relaxed fit jeans" model. Husky sounds like you're owning those extra pounds, making them work for you. Relaxed fit sounds like you eat too much and are just plain lazy.
What was your question again? Ideas? I hunt through James Patterson's garbage, and steal what he tossed. When Patterson throws out ten pages, that's like fifty chapters.
Ha ha ha! Get it? Because his chapters are so short! I swear, the last Patterson book I read had more chapters than page numbers.
Actually, I just watch old Outer Limits episodes and appropriate the plots, like Alan Moore did with Watchmen.
Q: Who do you like to read?
Blake Crouch, Ann Voss Peterson, Jeff Strand, Henry Perez, F. Paul Wilson, Tom Schreck. Pretty much anyone I collaborate with. Because here's a dirty little secret: when you co-write a book with someone, you kind of have to read the stuff they wrote.
My absolute favorite author is Dr. Seuss. In fact, I tried my hand at writing a few Dr. Seuss-style children's books. Here are the titles:
HOW THE GRINCH STOLE MY WIFE
HORTON HATCHES A TERRORIST PLOT
ON BEYOND DONKEY PUNCH
MARVIN K MOONEY WILL YOU PLEASE DROP DEAD
THE CAT IN THE HAT GETS NEUTERED
GREEN EGGS AND E COLI
THIDWICK THE BIG HEARTED COKE DEALER
MR. BROWN CAN MOO, AND THEY PUT HIM AWAY
THERE'S A WOCKET IN MY POCKET, AND I BLAME CIALIS
BOOMER THE TUMOR
Unfortunately, I haven't been able to sell any of these. I think it may be some sort of rights-issue thing.
Q: What's a work day in the life of Joe Konrath like?
Joe: I wake up early and make some eggs.
Then the smoke alarm goes off, because the eggs are burning because I fell asleep again.
Then I spend ten minutes explaining to the firemen that show up how I'll be more careful next time.
I go back to bed, and the next thing I know, it's around noon. Time for lunch. I want to make an egg sandwich, but I'm out of eggs. And bread. And pretty much everything except some sort of fruit that's been in the refrigerator forever and might be a lime. Or not. It may not even be fruit. So I put it back and think about cooking some pasta but that seems like a lot of work for just lunch, so I go take a nap.
Around three I get up, ready to start my work day, but first I need to eat something. Do pizza places deliver at three? I make a few calls. Nope, no one delivers before five.
I check the fridge. The lime thing is still there, but it looks like it moved from where I saw it last. How odd. Did it move by itself? I'm really hungry, so I decide to give it a try.
It's not a lime, because limes don't have bones.
When I finish eating, I sit down at my computer and write my daily quota, thirty pages.
Q: What's next for Joe Konrath?
Joe:This Spring, Carson's will be releasing my signature scent, called Nocturnal Emission. Available in parfum, eau du toilet, cologne, and roll on. I like the roll on. It tickles my armpits. My goal is to make enough money to buy Nebraska. Then I'll rename it Joebraska, and invite all of my friends to visit. We're going to have a big party in the state capital, Joemaha. You can come, if you want.
Q: Do you want to talk at all about your books?
Joe: Nope. Not really.
From the Back Cover
If you want something to do for the next two years and insist on reading every Konrath novel, here are the order the author recommends:
WHISKEY SOUR
BLOODY MARY
THE LIST
RUSTY NAIL
AFRAID
DEAD ON MY FEET
DIRTY MARTINI
FLEE
ORIGIN
SHOT OF TEQUILA
JACK DANIELS STORIES VOL. 1
TRAPPED
FUZZY NAVEL
CHERRY BOMB
SPREE
DRACULAS
DYING BREATH
JACK DANIELS STORIES VOL. 2
HOLES IN THE GROUND
SERIAL KILLERS UNCUT
ENDURANCE
THREE
SHAKEN
STIRRED
EVERYBODY DIES
HAUNTED HOUSE
LADY 52
TIMECASTER
JACK DANIELS STORIES VOL. 3
RUM RUNNER
WEBCAM
GRANDMA?
TIMECASTER SUPERSYMMETRY
LAST CALL
HIT/EXPOSED/NAUGHTY
DISTURB
WHAT HAPPENED TO LORI
WHITE RUSSIAN
JACK DANIELS STORIES VOL. 4
SHOT GIRL
65 PROOF
STOP A MURDER COMPLETE CASES
CHASER
BANANA HAMMOCK
THE NINE
OLD FASHIONED
SECOND COMING
BITE FORCE
CLOSE YOUR EYES
JACK ROSE
TIMECASTER STEAMPUNK
About the Author
Product details
- ASIN : B00BBE4E5Q
- Accessibility : Learn more
- Publication date : February 4, 2013
- Language : English
- File size : 1.9 MB
- Simultaneous device usage : Unlimited
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Print length : 289 pages
- Page Flip : Enabled
- Book 3 of 24 : Jack Daniels
- Best Sellers Rank: #127,031 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #1,034 in Serial Killers
- #2,185 in Serial Killer Thrillers
- #2,929 in Police Procedurals (Kindle Store)
- Customer Reviews:
About the authors
Joe 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
JA Konrath is the author of WHAT HAPPENED TO LORI BOOK 1 and BOOK 2, a gearshift duology meant to take thriller fiction to the next level.
Joe also wrote twelve novels in the 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, Fuzzy Navel, Cherry Bomb, Shaken, Stirred, Rum Runner, Last Call, White Russian, and Shot Girl. More coming soon.
Jack Daniels also appears in the novels Dead On My Feet, Dying Breath, Everybody Dies, Shot of Tequila, Flee, Spree, Three, Timecaster Supersymmetry, Banana Hammock, Lady 52, and Serial Killers Uncut. She's also in the novellas Floaters, Burners, Planter's Punch, Babe On Board, Racked, Straight Up, October Dark, Jacked Up!, Beat Down, Cheese Wrestling, Abductions, Watched Too Long, and Babysitting Money, and the collection Jack Daniels Stories.
Wow, that's a lot of Jack.
Other novels include the thrillers Origin, The List, Disturb, Timecaster, Afraid, Trapped, Endurance, Haunted House, Webcam, Grandma?, Holes In The Ground, and Draculas. Other novellas include Fix, Hit, Naughty, Exposed, Rescue, and Wild Night is Calling.
He also writes the Stop A Murder mystery puzzle series, where you become the sleuth and solve brain teasers to try and catch a killer.
And, finally, he writes erotica under the pen name Melinda DuChamp.
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
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find this book to be a thrilling page-turner with plenty of twists and turns, and they appreciate its fast-paced narrative. The writing is well-executed with no grammar or spelling errors, and customers enjoy the humor, with one noting the witty dialog. They love the characters, particularly the banter among them, and find the book better than previous installments in the series. The gore content receives mixed reactions, with several customers finding it excessive.
AI Generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the book highly readable and enjoyable, with several noting it's better than previous installments in the series.
"...This is the third book in a series, and it builds upon characters and events in the first two books, but the author weaves in just enough..." Read more
"...There was plenty of wisdom and irony. I do think it's an ok book in this genre...." Read more
"...But! I do enjoy all other aspects of LT. Daniels' character. She is fun to follow and I will be finishing the series...." Read more
"...has always been about mixing the chills and laughs and this novel delivers in spades. I just found myself not as interested. "..." Read more
Customers find the book suspenseful with many twists and turns, plenty of action throughout, and a flowing storyline.
"...Part thriller, part mystery, Detective Jacqueline (Jack) Daniels is faced with a cruel serial killer who has ties to previous cases of hers...." Read more
"...along with great character development and just enough clues to make you keep thinking, even when you’ve stopped reading for a while...." Read more
"...Konrath doesn’t disappoint with a fast paced book with a few unexpected twists and turns and some great laughs...." Read more
"...She is fun to follow and I will be finishing the series. Great mysteries and exciting page turners!..." Read more
Customers enjoy the book's humor, finding it highly amusing and cringe-worthy at times, with one customer highlighting Jack's signature sarcastic wit.
"...Humor is woven throughout to keep it from getting too dark, and this really helps an otherwise gruesome story from getting too morbid...." Read more
"...not the laugh out loud humor Konrath promises, but some decidedly fun parts to counteract the gruesomeness of the tale)..." Read more
"...a fast paced book with a few unexpected twists and turns and some great laughs...." Read more
"...the book did have its whimsical moments and it did make me laugh out loud more than once - it's the reason I relented and gave this nasty book three-..." Read more
Customers love the characters in the book, particularly appreciating the good banter among them and the well-developed villains.
"...Herb, Harry, and even Harry’s fiancee, Holly, were all fascinating characters that helped make Jack that much more human when she tried her best to..." Read more
"...It does. It works perfectly to help define the character. And believe me, this is far from the most horrendously violent description in the book...." Read more
"...I did enjoy the dark humor and the characters development. There was plenty of wisdom and irony. I do think it's an ok book in this genre...." Read more
"...that issue, I had fun with Rusty Nail, and that's mainly to a good cast of characters who anchor the book in stakes that feel like they matter...." Read more
Customers enjoy the pacing of the book, describing it as a fast-paced thriller with quick action and a steady narrative flow.
"...The story moves at a steady pace, building to a pulse-pounding climax...." Read more
"...along with great character development and just enough clues to make you keep thinking, even when you’ve stopped reading for a while...." Read more
"JA Konrath doesn’t disappoint with a fast paced book with a few unexpected twists and turns and some great laughs...." Read more
"...beyond grade school, possesses super intelligence, trigger fast reaction to any adverse situation, exceptional cunning and plotting in snaring the..." Read more
Customers praise the book's writing quality, noting it is well told with no grammar or spelling errors, and one customer mentions it's a page turner.
"...2. The Ending. I love the way the author wound up the story in a way I didn’t expect. 3. Jack...." Read more
"...And, of course, my number one criteria: no grammar or spelling errors!..." Read more
"...I still give the book 4 stars because I still love the author's writing style. I did enjoy the dark humor and the characters development...." Read more
"...Be sure to check out the Audible companion - super great narration!" Read more
Customers find the book engaging, describing it as a thrilling page-turner that keeps readers hooked and wanting more.
"...The story moves at a steady pace, building to a pulse-pounding climax...." Read more
"...Despite the dark nature of the subject matter, there are shining moments when you want to pump your fist in the air and cheer, and moments when you..." Read more
"...Great mysteries and exciting page turners! Be sure to check out the Audible companion - super great narration!" Read more
"...(I skipped those segments.) It also has suspense and humor and kept my interest...." Read more
Customers have mixed reactions to the gore content of the book, with some finding it very gory and too violent, while others appreciate the detailed descriptions.
"...But the hard truth is that the violence and the aftermath of the violence is decidedly graphic, gruesome and, in some cases, a bit gratuitous, no..." Read more
"...I mean, this story wasn't just gory, it was filthy and if I was queasy I think I probably would have vomited more than once...." Read more
"...The scenes of binding and torture are cringe-worthy and excruciating to read let alone imagining it actually happening...." Read more
"Gets a little gory but super heroine Jack always prevails. Mr Friskers does his part too. This one has a happy ending" Read more
Reviews with images

Detective humor!!!!
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 20194.5 out of 5 stars. RUSTY NAIL is my first book by J.A. Konrath, and I now consider myself a fan. This is the third book in a series, and it builds upon characters and events in the first two books, but the author weaves in just enough information that I wasn’t lost without recapping everything. Part thriller, part mystery, Detective Jacqueline (Jack) Daniels is faced with a cruel serial killer who has ties to previous cases of hers. As she attempts to track down this new killer, she must determine if it was an accomplice or a copycat of the original. She works with her partner, Herb, a handful of FBI agents, and a collection of officers in various jurisdictions. Interspersed with this is the marriage of her former partner, Harry, a romance with an ex, and coping with her feelings surrounding her mother who is in a coma in a skilled nursing facility.
Plot
The main plot is the mystery, told in first-person POV from Jack’s perspective, as well as various third-person POVs, including the killer. The story moves at a steady pace, building to a pulse-pounding climax. Humor is woven throughout to keep it from getting too dark, and this really helps an otherwise gruesome story from getting too morbid. I prided myself on figuring out who the killer was only to be floored when I was wrong. But in retrospect, everything I needed to know was skillfully placed throughout the story.
Characters
I had some difficulty connecting with Jack at first. She’s rough, tough, and really hard around the edges, but as the story unfolded, I saw softer sides of her, including her visits with her unconscious mother, the way she cares for her mother’s cat, who clearly can’t stand Jack, and even her broken heart. Herb, Harry, and even Harry’s fiancee, Holly, were all fascinating characters that helped make Jack that much more human when she tried her best to be inhuman.
What I Enjoyed About RUSTY NAIL
1. Plotting. Great plot with lots of twists and unexpected surprises.
2. The Ending. I love the way the author wound up the story in a way I didn’t expect.
3. Jack. It took me a bit to warm up to her, but once I did, I loved her more than just about any detective I’ve read in a long time.
4. Harry. Jack’s former partner, Harry McGlade, is a soft, pasty, gross mess of a man, but he has some of the best lines in the book.
5. Evil. The villains on Criminal Minds ain’t got nothin on Konrath’s bad guys.
Bottom Line
Gripping thriller/mystery with great characters and a plot that never lets up.
- Reviewed in the United States on July 29, 2013One of the things I find interesting about this author, who is, by the way, a man (Joseph Andrew Konrath), is his evident fascination with designer clothing. :-) He always describes exactly what Jack is wearing – other characters too – and drops a lot of high end names. In this book alone he rattles off fashion names like Dior, Armani, Ralph Lauren, Emmanuel Ungaro, London Fog, Levi’s, Kathleen B, Versace, Louis Vuitton, DKNY, and Bob Mackie. Interesting, but strange, to find this bit of high fashion awareness amid Konrath’s evident love of gore and weaponry. Perhaps hoping to entice a female audience (his protagonist is a female, after all) and convince them to put up with the graphic savagery because the author is so obviously fashion aware?
I also like that he knows the area in which these novels take place very well. The home base for Jack Daniels is Chicago. Konrath is shown in Wikipedia as being from Skokie. So far he’s journeyed south to Carbondale, IL in “Bloody Mary,” and here in “Rusty Nail,” he visits Gary and Indianapolis, IN. Write what you know, or in this instance WHERE you know.
This story builds on the story from the first novel of the series, “Whiskey Sour.” All those involved in that storyline return in this novel (well, at least all those who survived that storyline), plus a new lineup of baddies to color your next nightmare. And, as he did in the last novel, even Mr. Friskers gets in on the action. And there is definitely a lot of action in this novel, as well as quite a bit of humor (still not the laugh out loud humor Konrath promises, but some decidedly fun parts to counteract the gruesomeness of the tale), along with great character development and just enough clues to make you keep thinking, even when you’ve stopped reading for a while. Despite the dark nature of the subject matter, there are shining moments when you want to pump your fist in the air and cheer, and moments when you can’t keep from grinning at Jack’s sarcastic wit. The more I get to know Jack, the more I like her, flaws and all.
And, of course, my number one criteria: no grammar or spelling errors!
But let’s address what I hear most from others who have read one or more books in this series: the graphic nature of the violence. Konrath states in the Introduction to this novel that he has gotten complaints that his work is too graphic, but he replies: “… As in the rest of the series, I never have graphic depictions of violence or carnage. I use minimal description of violence, and let readers fill in the blanks. …” Hmm. I beg to differ, but perhaps the term ‘graphic’ is in the eye of the beholder. Maybe he thinks that if he’s just describing old injuries, as he does the self-inflicted injuries of Bud Kork in this novel, that it isn’t graphic. Or may he thinks his description of the videotaped torture and murder of another character, first being skinned and then killed by a slit throat isn’t graphic because he doesn’t describe each strip of flesh being pulled off with a set of pliers. As a reader, I certainly could ‘fill in the blanks,’ but that doesn’t mean the nature of the writing didn’t help. In another place, the killer tells his victim that he plans to make an incision, pull out the victim’s intestines and make the victim eat them. Later, he writes : “(Character’s name) tries to scream, but he can’t – his mouth is full.” Yeah, nothing graphic or violent there. And by the way, that one sentence is the entire chapter.
Then there is this little section, from Chapter 43, I think (position 3615 of 4375/82% if you’re a Kindle reader). You should probably know that the bristles of the hairbrush mentioned here have been replaced with nails:
Alex plants her feet, rears back, and slams the hairbrush onto McGlade’s thigh. The nails penetrate a good inch, anchoring themselves into bone.
McGlade screams like a train whistle.
Yeah, nothing too graphic there.
Now, I’m not saying that the descriptions don’t dovetail with the extreme violence Konrath wants you to understand the villain is capable of enacting. It does. It works perfectly to help define the character. And believe me, this is far from the most horrendously violent description in the book. But the hard truth is that the violence and the aftermath of the violence is decidedly graphic, gruesome and, in some cases, a bit gratuitous, no matter what Konrath may believe.
So, if you don’t have the stomach for this type of writing, you probably shouldn’t read the books. I wish I could tell you that you could just skip over those parts and still enjoy the book. You can’t. Konrath is a wizard at weaving the threads of his story in such a way that if you skip over anything, your understanding of the entire picture will have a definite hole!
So, did I like the book. Yes. I did like it. Yes. I will read the next one in the series, “Dirty Martini.” But, I’ll probably take a break and read something a bit lighter and fluffier first. Maybe I’ll try “Out of Circulation” (A Cat In The Stacks mystery) or “The Good, The Bad, and The Witchy” (A Wishcraft mystery). Both will satisfy my love of a nice little mystery, while moving away from explicitly gruesome description.
- Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2025JA Konrath doesn’t disappoint with a fast paced book with a few unexpected twists and turns and some great laughs. Don’t get me wrong, Jack Daniels never fails to get into some major trouble too. And of course the only way to save her is by continuing to read her to safety again.
Top reviews from other countries
- John KentReviewed in the United Kingdom on January 18, 2017
5.0 out of 5 stars Easy read with a twist toward the end.
This was a free download and just decided to read it. I was not disappointed as the story kept my interest and the characters were believable. The injuries suffered were graphic to say the least so if you can't take horror then maybe it is not for you. It would make a good thriller movie in the same genre as a large number of other of that style. The main character displays the ability to shine in adversity which we all know that the hero or heroine will come through in the end. However it is the way an author portrays it in their writing that's important. I enjoyed the book and will be looking out for others.
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NefretReviewed in Germany on May 6, 2013
5.0 out of 5 stars Auch für Fans des sehr schwarzen Humors
Jack Daniels erhält einen anonymen Brief, der einen Film enthält, auf dem gezeigt wird, wie eine Frau gefoltert wird. Alles deutet darauf hin, dass ein Nachahmungstäter unterwegs ist, der den Mörder "The Gingerbread Man", wie er sich selbst nannte, kopiert.
Nach „Bloody Mary“ geht es mit „Rusty Nail“ weiter. Allerdings sollte man vorher unbedingt den ersten Teil, „Whiskey Sour“, gelesen haben, da sich dieser Thriller auf den Fall des Serienstarts bezieht und natürlich auch verraten wird, wer dort der Täter ist. Leider war dies bei mir nicht der Fall.
Von all den Büchern, die ich bisher von J.A. Konrath gelesen habe, gefiel mir dieses am besten. Ständig ist Action, es gibt eine Wendung nach der anderen. Allerdings ist das Buch auch extrem brutal. Hinzu kommt irrwitziger Humor. Wer nicht darüber lachen kann, wenn ein Folteropfer mit einer Ratte um seinen abgesägten Finger kämpft, der sollte die Finger von diesem Thriller lassen.
Da die Gewalt so überspitzt dargestellt ist und vor allem in den Köpfen der Leser abläuft, hatte ich keine großen Problem damit. Ich werde auf jeden Fall alle weiteren Bücher der Jack Daniels-Reihe lesen.
- davo 70Reviewed in Australia on June 30, 2016
5.0 out of 5 stars one of konrath's best.
J a konrath has done it again. A really good read.
- lauraReviewed in Canada on February 1, 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars great book and great author
This is the fourth book that I have read from this author. As usual, this book also contains funny, scary and "over the top" components. I am a fan of horror and crime books and movies and this is exactly the type of book that I like to read.
- 🐭 Miki101.MichaReviewed in Italy on April 4, 2013
5.0 out of 5 stars If You like it HOT - buy it on the SPOT!
If You like Your Heroines tough and Your drinks stiff, mix Yourself a triple Rusty Nail - A Thriller (Jack Daniels Mysteries) - ( or take the threesome: Jack Daniels Series - Three Thriller Novels (Whiskey Sour #1, Bloody Mary #2, Rusty Nail #3) ) - recipe always at the beginning of the thriller - and start with a new series.
And yet better if You like Jack Daniels - because that's the name of our more than tough, forty-something protagonist, Lieutenant in the Chicago Homicide Squad.
Had been there, seen it all, caught a lot more...
And this is the third thriller of a series that reached his (momentary) height with Stirred (Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels/Luther Kite Thriller) where a Super Serial Killer meets our - quasi - indistructable and beloved Detective...
But that's an entirely different story...
This time Our Lieutenant has to hunt not only one - no, a whole bunch of some nice human (?) beings who hunt, torture, and kill everyone that has to do with the death of the "Gingerbread Man". That infamous serial killer of young women from the first Whiskey Sour - A Thriller (Jack Daniels Mysteries) stopped by our Jack...
"Rusty Nail" is - like its predecessors - one of those books You want to read and finish without being interrupted by Your yelping dog, Your scratching cat, Your yelling spouse etc...
You will simply want to finish it.
And continue with the series!
You will find everything a good thriller should have: Frights, wits, black humour and all the twists and turns a good mystery needs.
All the crime novels about Jack Daniels are absolutely worth reading!
So have a good read and - Cheers!