Rusty Nail: A Jacqueline 'Jack' Daniels Mystery

Written by J.A. Konrath

Narrated by Susie Breck and Dick Hill

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—all were involved in one of Jack’s previous cases. With her stalwart partner, Herb, 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 has 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 Lt. Jack Daniels’ third, and most exciting, adventure yet.

“Konrath creates the perfect blend of pulse-pounding thrills, side-splitting humor.”— David Ellis,author of In the Company of Liars

“Jack Daniels is a detective for the new millennium: sharply witty, deftly wry, and unabashedly cleve." —James Rollins, author of Black Order

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio
• Release date: Sep 6, 2011
• ISBN: 9781455839452

J.A. Konrath

Joe Konrath has sold more than two million books in twenty countries. He’s written over thirty novels and over a hundred short stories in the mystery, thriller, horror, and sci-fi genres. He’s twice won the Love is Murder Award for best thriller, and has also won the Derringer Award, and the Ellery Queen Readers Choice Award, and has been nominated for many others including the Anthony, Macavity, and Gumshoe. Konrath edited the collection These Guns for Hire, and his fiction has appeared in dozens of magazines and anthologies including Ellery Queen, Alfred Hitchcock, Cemetery Dance, The Strand, Thriller edited by James Patterson, and Wolfsbane & Mistletoe edited by Charlaine Harris (True Blood). He’s considered a pioneer in self-publishing. His blog, A Newbie’s Guide to Publishing, gets several million hits per year, and Konrath has been featured in Forbes, Entertainment Weekly, Newsweek, Playboy, USA Today, Time, Woman's World, the LA Times, and the New York Times among many other periodicals. He also blogs for the Huffington Post. Find out more at www.jakonrath.com.

Reviews for Rusty Nail

[funstm · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Holy fk. My last review compared this series to a Law and Order SVU episode. This one takes it straight to Criminal Minds territory. This was fantastic. I've spent the last five minutes cackling hysterically over the ending and Phin and Harry. Fk. This was great. It is pretty graphic though. And pretty disgusting. It's a lot more crass than the first two. But it's still extremely well written and funny and riveting. The plot is full on. I felt sorry for Jack - all the bad news that kept hitting her was horrible. Plus all the hits Herb kept taking. But she's totally badass. And Herb is ready to eat. The cat gets me everytime. A purring sound made me turn around. Mr. Friskers was sitting in McGlade’s lap, a dead rat in his jaws. “Good kitty,” Harry said. “Good fucking kitty.” And he continued to pet him until the ambulances arrived.Konrath, J.A.. Jack Daniels Series - Three Thriller Novels (Whiskey Sour #1, Bloody Mary #2, Rusty Nail #3) . Kindle Edition. Well...the cat and Harry. I can't recommend these books highly enough. They're amazing.

[booknookretreat7 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Another awesome installment to the Jack Daniels series!

A small backstory:

Jack has her hands full this time as she takes on a family of crazy killers that are out to get her and it is somehow tied to her old case of the Gingerbread Man. In this story though, Herb is not helping her as he has some issues of his own and is not able to be by her side for the hunt of these killers.

Jack's old partner Harry tries to help but he is more of a hindrance and when Harry's fiancée (Holly) steps in to offer her services as she claims to be a private investigator, something just feels off to Jack, but against her better judgment she lets Holly help her out a little bit on the case. Jack eventually regrets the decision of Holly helping as things become twisted putting everyone in jeopardy and harm's way!

Who are these killers? How are they tied to the Gingerbread Man case? How does Holly hinder the case? Does Jack catch the killers? No spoilers here as you will just have to read the book!

Thoughts:

This book kept me in high tense mode throughout the whole story as the character, Jack becomes involved in some stuff that is almost over her head and she has to use all her skills to get herself out of the situations she finds herself in.

I had quite a few chuckles as again Jack throws out funny quips once in awhile which gives some light-heartedness to her character. I really like the character Jack as she is a no-nonsense type with a sassy attitude and each book I love her just a little more.

The banter between the characters in these books are enjoyable along with crime scene busting action of these stories just makes these books all around great reads. I am planning on reading the whole series as I have just been truly enjoying the writing style of this author and wished I had stepped into these books a long time ago.

Once again there are twists and turns throughout each chapter that kept me rolling right along with actually reading the last 50% in about 24 hours as I just could not put it down with all the action that was taking place within these pages! Giving this book five "Crazy Killers" stars!

[vesper1931 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Lt Jack Daniels has received some snuff videos, made worse because she knows the people killed. They were all involved in one of Jack's previous cases. Jack investigates to find out who and why.
An interesting, gruesome and very readable mystery

[mitabird · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

There were so many things that were wrong with Rusty Nail. Once again, the plot was over the top, the villain was ridiculous and the killings excessive to the point of gratuity. I ended up skimming the last 50 pages just to see if my thoughts on who the killer was correct (and it was), but I couldn't have cared less about what happened to any of the characters. Some of the humor was funny, but some of it was forced and inappropriate in light of what was going on in the story. This is a series that I will not continue reading.

[lauren2013_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Rusty Nail
3.5 Stars

In her latest case, Detective Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels begins receiving snuff videos documenting the horrific deaths of several people involved in The Gingerbread Man investigation. As she and her partner follow the clues, Jack soon realizes that they are in pursuit, not of the average psychotic copycat, but a clever and determined killer out for revenge.

***Warning***: The books contains numerous graphic and brutal descriptions of violence and death. As someone who is not at all squeamish, the details are excessive and over the top even for me.

Jack is an exceedingly likable heroine, and her inner musing are very amusing. The gallows humor in her sarcastic banter with Herb and the other characters does not completely balance out the gruesome details, but it does provide some much needed comic relief.

That said, there are moments in this book where Jack behaves in some very unprofessional and even TSTL ways. It is very difficult to accept that a seasoned detective would break protocol and allow a civilian to tag along on an investigation. The explanation that Jack is lonely and in need of friendship just doesn't cut it.

The mystery is where the story truly suffers. To begin with, the identity of the villain is obvious from the moment they are introduced. Considering the unisex name, Holly's insinuating herself into the investigation and the fact that no woman in her right mind would willingly marry Harry McGlade, there is no possible way it could be anyone else.

Dick Hill and Susie Breck's dual narration is an added bonus as they manage to convey the personalities of the various characters so well.

Overall, an exciting and well-paced thriller despite the minor annoyances and I'm looking forward to listening to Dirty Martini in the near future.

[khakimoose-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

pretty gory - compared to the previous stories. sat on the edge of my seat a few times, hard to put down (other than to get a breather from the gore). cannot wait for the next one!!

[miyurose_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

J.A. Konrath is brutal. He can dream up some of the sickest, most twisted things I’ve ever seen in print (maybe a little bit of influence from Albert Fish here?). Yet it’s not overwhelming, tempered by Jack’s competency and sense of humor. These books keep me engaged, and there was a twist at the end of this one that I didn’t see coming until it was upon me.

[bpascoe-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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.

[carmenmilligan · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

J. A. Konrath knows how to write a fast-reading-story! I finished this one as quickly as the other two, and am already looking forward to the next one. What CSI, Criminal Minds and Law & Order: SVU did for gruesome murder mysteries on television, Konrath does on paper. He goes just to the edge with his descriptions and personas, then ties it up nicely with a very satisfying ending. If you love a good mystery that doesn't hold back on the darkest side of killers, wrapped in humor and made personal, this is the series for you.

[bookconcierge · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Book on CD read by Susie Breck and Dick Hill.

Book #3 in the mystery / thriller series featuring Chicago police Lieutenant Jacqueline “Jack” Daniels. A serial killer is on the loose and the murders bear an uncanny resemblance to those of the infamous Gingerbread Man. The killer taunts the police, and Jack in particular, with videos and obvious clues meant to lead them to the killer’s lair – so they can become the victims. Jack’s partner, Sergeant Herb Benedict, spends much of this novel in the hospital, so she is left to her own devices.

I’ve had it with this series. I don’t like the “banter” between Jack and Herb (or Harry or Latham or Phin); it is adolescent bathroom and bedroom humor at best. Jack is an idiot ... “Oh, should I call for back-up or go into that dark house by myself without a cell phone and with a sprained ankle?” She’s more concerned with ruining her Manolo Blahniks and her new Armani suit than with actually paying attention to the clues that are virtually slapping her in the face. I spotted the killer about 200 pages before the “brilliant” Jack figured it out.

I think the series is just Konrath’s excuse to write sadistic torture scenes. There’s just nothing imaginative or creative about the book. On the plus side, he does manage to write a fast-paced thriller. I finished it in two days.

The audio book is capably performed by Susie Breck and Dick Hill, though I find Hill’s voice irritating and too much the same to differentiate characters easily.

[jiraiya_5 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

When people have the need to experience something funny, the lucky ones would simply talk to their boyfriends or girlfriends or spouses. Some others, if they aren't feeling creative, would sit back and watch reruns of Friends or Seinfeld. The bookish ladies, maybe, would take out their favorite or unread copies of Stephanie Plum. I myself, being let down somewhat by what youtube has to offer on the promise(Louis CK standup, Honest Trailers, Stsanders etc), opted weirdly for the third book of the most insanely gory and cruel thriller series I've ever read. J.A Konrath, who does not need to prove that he's funny, still owes it to his readers. This is because the comedy in his books balances out the violence that animates his villains. Rusty Nail was pretty violent. But there was not enough chuckle inducing humor in the book. I still found some positives here. Jack Daniels, a woman whose names shortens to a male name, meets another person with the same situation(I got this link by myself, as it's not spelled out in the book). The characters peopling Rusty Nail aren't Kafkaesque material, but they keep the plot going. The mystery element is strong in book 3. I mean you'll get quite a dose of sufficiency if you guess the identity of the culprit(psychotic monster). Sometimes you can write dozens of pages of analysis on one Petrarchan sonnet. Sometimes a 292 paged book is quite immune to both praise and negative criticism. I can say...that I found the first half of Rusty Nail slightly uneventful. Or that despite that, the pacing of the prose saved it from being definitely boring. Or that I liked that the aftermath of the book is full of repercussions for everyone in the story. The main character, Jack Daniels, exudes whimsy. She seems alive. She seems real and familiar. I don't know how much of that is just in my mind, and how much is deliberate from the author. Maybe she is such a mishmash of traits that she has a life of her own. Let me end by saying that Rusty Nail is not for people who don't usually read thrillers. But the regulars will find several snippets of value, and that is reflected in my rating and review.

[gecizzle · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Kork is an interesting nemesis, but Jack Daniels is boring as fuck. I found myself flipping through pages until I came to a bit about Kork or his family. Because, serial killers are fascinating, and cops suck.

2/5 just because the bits of torture porn were definitely worth reading. Other than that, Jack daniels can go fuck herself in her dirty asshole. Because boring is bad, and she should feel bad.

[jimmaclachlan · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Another good read & I was a bit surprised considering the reused plot elements, but I enjoyed it. Lots of action & excellent dynamics. I'm looking forward to reading the entire series now.

[judiex · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Police Lieutenant Jack (Jacqueline) Daniels is back on the trail of a sociopathic mass murderer with connections to the gingerbread man from WHISKEY SOUR. She isn’t sure if it is the same person or a copycat. She does know that the victims are primarily people she knew, people connected to the previous case.The plot has many twists and turns as well as more gory details than I am willing to read. (I skipped those segments.) It also has suspense and humor and kept my interest. One funny scene has Jack calling a former boyfriend and immediately apologizing, saying she still loved him and asking if she could go to his place only to find she dialed the wrong number. Many of the characters from previous books are here: Her partner, Herb Benedict, FBI Special Agents George Dailey and Jim Coursey (whom she seriously does not respect), Harry McGlade, an obnoxious reporter with television connections, and the family of Charles Kork, the Gingerbread Man. New characters include Alex, an adult undergoing psychotherapy with a history of an abusive, religious fanatic father and Holly Frakes, competitive gun-lover and Harry’s fiancee. Jack makes several questionable decisions. She takes a competitive gun-loving civilian whom she barely knows with her on the investigation, going to places that are clearly illegal for non-authorized people to visit. She lets her cell phone run out of power.Jack’s mother is in a vegetative state, in a long-term acute-care facility, receiving artificial hydration and nutrition though she can breathe without assistance. Jack visited her frequently but said normal procedure called for her to schedule visits or call first so the staff could clean her up. “For what this place cost, relatives tended to get angry if the loved ones they were visiting had a dirty diaper.” Having visited many people in many nursing homes for many years, I have never called first and would never do so. Residents should be checked and cleaned regularly to prevent bed sores and other health problems. To have to call first would set off alarms that they residence might be providing inferior service. When Jack got there, she found they tried calling her but called her landline rather than her cell phone. She also had to wait ten minutes while they cleaned her mother. At that point, she should have involved an ombudsman and looked for another location for her mother.I liked the way technical terms were explained. Jack should have been familiar with them. When the FBI explained Vicky, the ViCAT computer to her, she thought, “Everytime they dropped by, they explained Vicky to me. Perhaps I had a sign around my neck that said, ‘Tell me again, I’m an idiot.’” Of course, the term was explained for the reader but Konrath uses the two words (“Vicky” and “ViCAT”) together so often that I wonder if he thinks his readers are idiots, to use his word.This book was a free Amazon download.

[josephlyoung · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Jack is once again in combat with members of the Kork family. A Bell jar with twenty human toes packed in salt found in Diane Kork's house. Having Bud Kork tell Jack and Herb that the root cellar is full of buried bodies and then confirming at least eighteen graves. Bud Kork beating his head into the floor hard enough to cause a skull fracture and resulting in coma. A Gingerbread Man being left with a note saying "I'm back". A video tape of the doctor who analysed the handwriting on the note being skinned. finally, an attractive young lady becoming engaged to Harry McGlade and when Harry convinces Jack to act as his best man and gets Jack to persuade Phin to give away Harry's bride. The bride actually befriends Jack and for the first time in twenty years, Jack has a friend. Things really start to come apart when Bud's common-law wife takes out the team who escort her from twelve years in prison to show where bodies are buried and then breaks out Bud Kork from the hospital. Their involvement with the wedding complicates Harry and Jack's Life to an entirely new level. Follow the twists in the plot and the heroic actions of all the principle players for the exciting turn from failure to success for Jack and some friends. A breath taking read.

[phyllisd_5 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Though I read it quickly, I did not enjoy this novel as much as the first two in the series. The killer seemed obvious and I thought that Jack came off looking rather stupid.

[patrickjiv_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Weirdest of the "Jack Daniels" series, was almost more than I could take.

[darrol_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Fairly absurd story. Violence makes Ellis's American Psycho look like a philanthropist; its creativity provides what little fun.

[bookwormteri · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Jack Daniels and her partner, Herb, are tracking down a possible copycat for a serial killer they already nabbed. Funny and thrilling at the same time. There were actually moments when I chuckled aloud (and get funny looks for doing so, but oh well). The bad guys are great bad guys, the good guys are wonderful as well. The only bad thing was that I figured out who done it too early in the book. Which just left me a little annoyed as the evidence looked Jack in the face and left her befuddled. I felt like I was watching a horror movie, y'know--"Don't go in there! Run away from the weird noise! Man, you are an idiot!" Oh well, a great read anyway.