Bloody Mary

Publisher's Summary

Start with a tough but vulnerable Chicago cop. Stir in a psychopath with a unique mental condition that programs him to kill. Add a hyperactive cat, an ailing mother, a jealous boyfriend, a high-maintenance ex-husband, and a partner in the throes of a mid-life crisis. Mix with equal parts humor and suspense, and enjoy Bloody Mary.

When Jack receives a report of an excess of body parts appearing at the Cook County Morgue, she hopes it’s only a miscount. It’s not. Even worse, these extra limbs seem to be accessorized with Jack’s handcuffs.

Someone has plans for Jack. Very bad plans. Plans that involve everything and everyone that she cares about.

Jack must put her train wreck of a personal life on hold to catch an elusive, brilliant maniac—a maniac for whom getting caught is only the beginning…

Crack another case with Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels.

©2005 J.A. Konrath; 2005 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

GREAT

GREAT BOOK EASY LISTENING. LOVE THE PLOT. CANT GO WRONG WITH KONRATH.

7 of 7 people found this review helpful

No complaints! It's a great series

Jack Daniels and crew are such a great bunch, you never know who is going to pop in for their debut. This story has it's elusive serial killer, identity appearing half way through the book, and Jack again becoming a target. She just gets under these guys skin for some reason.
The killer almost seems to be a side story for me, cause I just love the main cast of characters. Jack, Herb, Harry keep the story rolling with personal lives that are sometimes a hoot, and the next minute you're feeling their pain.
Jack's life seems to be a believable one, dedicated to her job, but wanting a personal life and things never seem to work out for her. When she does find happiness, a wrench always gets thrown in.
Intriguing characters, lots of suspense and action makes this series a winner.

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

Good series but GRAPHIC violence.

This is book two in the Jack Daniels series and delves deeper into Jack's personal life with the presence of her mother and her ex-husband who comes back to Chicago.

As with book one there is extreme graphic violence written in way more detail than is required so if you are squeamish I would stay away from this series.

Jack has a lot of personal ups and downs in this book and as a result is more emotional than in the previous book and yes she does break down and cry but in the context of the story there is good reason for her response so I don't think she should be faulted for it. Cops are human too - I would be concerned if she wasn't bothered by the sick things that the serial killer does and gets away with in parts of this book.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Pour Me Another

Would you listen to Bloody Mary again? Why?

Yes. J.A. Konrath is a pro at writing a hard boiled mystery but his special weapon is his comedic talent. It is the perfect companion to the violence cops face each day. This man has literally had me laughing out loud throughout this book and the first one in the series - Whiskey Sour. I will indeed listen again in the future for any hidden gems I might have missed this time round.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Bloody Mary?

I love the relationship between Jack and her partner.

What does Dick Hill and Susie Breck bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Dick Hill always brings a great experience & Susie Breck has become Jack Daniels. And she had to earn that from me. I wasn't sure I liked her in the beginning. But she is just right.
Dick Hill is a master story teller. I can actually see the facial expressions from his voice.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I don't like to talk story line. I think it could easily be a spoiler and I do not want to rob anyone of their enjoyment of this book.

Any additional comments?

Yes. J.A. Konrath doesn't squander words. He isn't a writter who uses filler, for which I am grateful. But know this, he can express more and paint a picture of each scene better than 100 other authors who use 3 times the words. Consequently, I am able to visualize what is happening as it I were a fly on the wall. I'm off to start Rusty Nail, the 3rd book in this series.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Love them all!!!

I love all the books in this series. Period!!! Bravo Jack Daniels.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

The series just keeps getting better!!!

Would you consider the audio edition of Bloody Mary to be better than the print version?

All of Konrath's books are amazing on audio. Dick Hill and Susie Breck are amazing narrators. Its hard not to fall in love with the characters, well the good guys anyways!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Bloody Mary?

The cat was hilarious!!!! Harry continues to be ridiculously funny! Jack dating was also funny

Which character – as performed by Dick Hill and Susie Breck – was your favorite?

Harry is the best although I love them all!

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

The taglines are already great. And this series would make a hilarious tv series!

Any additional comments?

I highly recommend this series!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

great listen!

I enjoyed this second book of the Jackie Daniels books. The plots are somewhat predictable, but enjoy the characters. I like the male/female voice characters as it adds to the listening enjoyment.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Great Writing with too many BAD turns

This writing is fabulous even captivating but the continual violence that is meaningless and not related to the plot ruins it completely. It takes a perfectly enjoyable book and makes it total CRAP! The violence against elderly side-plot characters is gratuitous at best and just plain mean at worst! I kept thinking it was a mistake and that it would all work out fine in the end but it just didn???t end. Don???t waste your time on this series, the writer has no perspective on good vs. evil.

6 of 9 people found this review helpful

Beware! Graphic violence and weak heroine.

The premise for the book of a hard boiled, sarcastic, women detective was a good idea. However, the constant reference to her partner Herb, and his disgusting eating habits gets old real fast. The incredible amount of exteme violence especially to woman and children, was not needed to move the plot along. I actually would fast forward through the graphic, sick violence, hoping the book would get better. Not to disapoint, the book got worse! Jack Daniels is supposed to be a trained, experienced hardened cop able to defend herself and other. When others are in grave danger, all she does is sit on the kitchen floor and sobs! Next, the scene at the warehouse was staight out of a Saturday morning cartoon where the herione, lays sobbing helplessly while harm is being done to others! "Please!" I turned to book off right after that scene. And, I so regret oredering the series, and wish I could exchange this horrific series for a well written, beleiveable cop story, with a stronge female character, not one who lies sobbing on the floor.

6 of 9 people found this review helpful

One hell of a whack-a-do antagonist

This book has one seriously good villain. He's vicious, crazed, and entirely off his nut. There's a fair amount of carnage. Aside from this being a good book, that might be what stands out the most for me. For all of the villain's rampaging badness, Konrath manages to write everything in a way that is neither too graphic or distasteful. I would have thought it a fine line to navigate, but he does it will skill and subtly. The end result is a compelling book with one hell of a whack-a-do antagonist and a plot that doesn't lose the audience in the unpleasant and unnecessary details of that character's acts.

Brilliant

Great story brought to life with fantastic narration! Hats off to Mr Konrath, Hill and Ms Breck! I bought the whole series based on this!