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Jack Daniels Stories Kindle Edition
FIFTEEN TALES FROM THE WORLD OF JACK...
Lt. Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels is known by thriller readers worldwide, with millions of novels sold. But did you know Jack has also appeared in dozens of ridiculously fun shorter works?
This collection contains two fistfuls of Jack stories, written by bestselling author JA Konrath.
Join Jack as she fights crime, slings justice, and dishes out some cool servings of mystery enjoyment. Along for the ride are some of Jack's craziest and most memorable cohorts.
It's a wild trip, available as a collection for the very first time.
These were previously published in magazines and anthologies, and many are long out of print.
On the Rocks - Suicide or murder? Lt. Jack Daniels solves a locked room mystery.
Whelp Wanted - P.I. Harry McGlade becomes a dognapper in order to stop a dognapper, or something like that.
Street Music - Phineas Troutt hunts a prostitute through the dangerous streets of Chicago. Are his intentions pure?
The One That Got Away - The Gingerbread Man (the villain from WHISKEY SOUR) hunts one final victim.
With a Twist - It looked like the man fell from a great height, but the body is in his living room. Jack Daniels solves another impossible crime.
Epitaph - Phin Troutt takes on a Chicago street gang with vengeance on his mind.
Taken to the Cleaners - Harry McGlade tries to solve a difficult mystery, but mostly just goofs off.
Body Shots - Jack Daniels faces her most challenging case yet; a school shooting. But does she know more about the perp than she realizes?
Suffer - Phineas Troutt has taken some questionable jobs, but will he murder a man's wife?
School Daze - P.I. Harry McGlade investigates a private school, but he's not entirely sure why.
Overproof - While shopping on the Gold Coast, Jack Daniels notices traffic has come to a stand-still. When she realizes what the problem is, she's confronted with her own mortality, and the possible deaths of hundreds.
Bereavement - How badly does Phineas Troutt need a fix? What is he willing to do?
Pot Shot - Detective Herb Benedict just wants a home cooked meal. But his plans get interrupted by a very determined sniper.
Last Request - Phineas Troutt picks up a hitchhiker, with deadly results.
The Necro File - Harry McGlade investigates some bizarre murders in this hilarious, gore-filled mini-epic. (Author's note: This is easily the funniest thing I've ever written, but it's also very offensive. Let the reader beware...)
That's about 65,000 words of Jack Daniels and friends.
JACK DANIELS STORIES VOL. 1 by J.A. Konrath
Same Jack. Faster pace.
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.
Jack Daniels Stories Vol. 1
Bad Language - 4
Scary - 6
Violent - 5
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.
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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
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
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
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 : B003AKY6GG
- Publisher : (February 28, 2010)
- Publication date : February 28, 2010
- Language : English
- File size : 651 KB
- Simultaneous device usage : Unlimited
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Print length : 242 pages
- Best Sellers Rank: #234,689 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #2,103 in Private Investigator Mysteries (Kindle Store)
- #2,842 in Private Investigator Mysteries (Books)
- #3,869 in Psychological Thrillers (Kindle Store)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

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
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.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers enjoy these short stories and find them fast-paced and quick reads. The writing style receives mixed feedback, with some praising the superb writing while others note bad syntax. Customers appreciate the character development, particularly the different leading characters in each story, and find the humor top-notch, with one customer mentioning they laugh out loud while reading. The story quality receives mixed reactions, with some finding the detective work interesting while others find them boring.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers thoroughly enjoy these short stories, finding them engaging and fun to read, with one customer particularly appreciating the hooker story.
"...I also appreciated the introduction to each story, in which Konrath laid out what inspired a story, what he was trying to do with it, and how he..." Read more
"...he wants (which may or may not include food/sex) was as usual, a delight to read. And Phineas Trout... I have a soft spot for Phin...." Read more
"...is an author whose work is thoroughly fun, fast paced and a great read Mark J Weinberg" Read more
"...I enjoyed the story featuring Herb Benedict, too, feeling that it gave me more insight into the character, which will come into play in reading the..." Read more
Customers enjoy the humor in the book, describing it as top-notch and very witty, with one customer mentioning it makes them laugh out loud.
"...I enjoyed each and every one, and often found myself laughing out loud...." Read more
"...of sixteen short stories not only satisfied my hunger but tickled my funny bone and got my brain twitching at the same time...." Read more
"...it as it fully lives up to Konrath's offensive warning, but the humor in it was good, and I especially liked his Clive Cussler touch of having Jack..." Read more
"...Konrath says it's one of the funniest stories he's written as well as very offensive...." Read more
Customers appreciate the character development in the book, featuring different short stories with various leading characters, and one customer notes how it provides background on the Jack Daniels characters.
"...story featuring Herb Benedict, too, feeling that it gave me more insight into the character, which will come into play in reading the remaining..." Read more
"The authors characters reflect his assumptions. Jack a well qualified female homicide detective demands and gets respect...." Read more
"...It goes right along with the gritty characters he brings to life on the page...." Read more
"...This is a collection of short stories featuring his primary characters. Very enjoyable! And . . ...." Read more
Customers find the book to be a great collection, with one mentioning it's right up their alley.
"This is a great collection for fans of the Jack Daniels crowd...." Read more
"...Frank has put together a decent little collection here that shows off Jackie a bit, but allows Harry to steal the show...." Read more
"...This anthology is right up your alley. Nearly a dozen short stories from the world of Jack Daniels. Have one or two for the road...." Read more
"Another great collection from one of my favorite authors!! Has all of my favorite characters in one place. Great collection of short stories!" Read more
Customers appreciate the pacing of the book, describing it as fast-paced and a quick read.
"...is an author whose work is thoroughly fun, fast paced and a great read Mark J Weinberg" Read more
"It was easy Summer read. It went quickly and was enjoyable. It was a good book to pick up and put down." Read more
"Loved it. This was a great read and a perfect quick read - lunch time, that waiting time at the doctors...." Read more
"Great read. The shorts are fast paced and surprising. Enjoy anytime you have a few minutes to spare. Will definitely read more from this author." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the stories in the book, with some finding the detective work interesting, while others find them boring.
"...Now, in these stories, Jack solves some more direct mysteries (including two locked room stories--old school!)that don't take a whole novel to unwind..." Read more
"...The last story was definitely strange. Anything with Jack is good, but the one with the school shootings was heartbreaking...." Read more
"...are great ways to gain insight into character, personality, backstory and motivation." Read more
"These stories are gritty, sometimes funny just like the characters...." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the writing style of the book, with some praising the superb writing while others criticize the bad syntax.
"I enjoyed the confident and no-nonsense writing style of this mystery writer...." Read more
"...I enjoyed these other than some of the grammar issues." Read more
"This author is great at keeping you intrigued and a wonderful writer that is excellent at suspense and Gore...." Read more
"...Bordering on perversion, they went past believability. Violent beyond gross...." Read more
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on August 4, 2010Jack Daniels Stories is a treat if you are already a fan of the series of novels featuring Lt. Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels. Over several mystery novels, Konrath has established Jack and a coterie of supporting characters, including partner Herb, dying badass Phin Trout, and tacky detective Harry McGlade, in a tough world of Chicago crime and justice. Now, in these stories, Jack solves some more direct mysteries (including two locked room stories--old school!)that don't take a whole novel to unwind, and the supporting characters get to step to the front and become the main protagonist in several stories each. I enjoyed each and every one, and often found myself laughing out loud. I also appreciated the introduction to each story, in which Konrath laid out what inspired a story, what he was trying to do with it, and how he felt about the finished product.
If you are new to Konrath and the world of Jack Daniels, this is a very good jumping on place and a chance to sample Konraths style before jumping into the novels.
At the time I purchased it, this collection was selling as a Kindle download for just $2.99 and I found it to be quite a bargain. If you know you are going to love Konrath's short stories, an even better deal is 55 Proof for $4.99, which contains all of this book's stories, plus all those from 3 other collections by Konrath as well.
- Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2014It's been awhile since I've read anything as good as a Jack Daniels thriller. And I desperately needed a crime fix. This anthology of sixteen short stories not only satisfied my hunger but tickled my funny bone and got my brain twitching at the same time. Jack was on her game in several stories, along with her equally sharp partner Herb Benedict, and the locked room mysteries were hard to crack. Harry McGlade, the lovable private detective who couldn't care less about why you want his services so long as he gets what he wants (which may or may not include food/sex) was as usual, a delight to read. And Phineas Trout... I have a soft spot for Phin. Maybe its the poor cancer victim struggling with pain and drug addiction.. maybe its the bad boy who-gives-a-damn attitude even the most ladylike find attractive. Either way, his stories, though fewer then the others were given, were just as entertaining. But nothing beats Harry's sharp wit - Rotisserie, Rheumatism...
- Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2010I'm sure we've all been in this position. You just finished a book you really enjoyed and now you're wondering
what to read next. You pick up a couple of different titles from your bookshelf,. start to read a chapter or
two and find that nothing really grabs you.
I had that problem a few weeks ago when a friend suggested that I read the first in the "Jack Daniels" series
of J A Konrath books,. for this suggestion I owe her a HUGE debt of thanks.
I began with Whiskey Sour which introduces the main character Det Jack Daniels and a supporting
group of wonderful characters. Well, here it is six weeks later,. and I have exhausted the entire series
available up to this point and am eagerly awaiting the next installment due out in October.
I am one of those readers who doesn't like to give too much away in discussing the books but let me
assure you that once you begin the series you will be caught up in the characters and plot of all the books
and wish you could read slower to savor the enjoyment longer.
My friend did me a huge favor in suggesting this author and I'm sure you will agree with both of us that this
is an author whose work is thoroughly fun, fast paced and a great read
Mark J Weinberg
- Reviewed in the United States on July 29, 2013I went into this thinking that the Jack Daniels character would be the star of all of the stories, but she isn't. However, She is the main character in, "On The Rocks," "With a Twist," "Body Shots," and "Overproof." I believe, 4 of the 12 stories, and is mentioned in most, and a supporting character in others. In "Whelp Wanted," it's Harry's obnoxious frenemy, Harry McGlade, who is the star, as he is in "Taken To The Cleaners," "School Daze," and "The Necro File." Phineas Troutt takes front and center in "Street Music," "Epitaph," "Suffer," "Bereavement," and "Last Request." Her partner, Herb Benedict, headlines "Pot Shot," and none of the main characters is featured in "The One That Got Away." Even the one series character it featured, The Gingerbread Man from "Whiskey Sour," isn't the lead character in that story, which is told from the viewpoint of his intended victim. So Phin wins the most stories lottery in this collection of shorts.
In general I enjoyed the stories. Certainly, a short story does not allow the depth of development that a novella or novel does, and that showed. While I wasn't fond of the picture the stories painted of Phineas Troutt, preferring what I know of him from the three series novels I've read, I tended to enjoy his stories the most. Of the stories featuring the Jack Daniels character, "Body Shots" was, to me, the best of the lot. I enjoyed the story featuring Herb Benedict, too, feeling that it gave me more insight into the character, which will come into play in reading the remaining series novels.
The last story in the collection, a Harry McGlade short, bears an "Author's Note," warning the reader that he considers this the funniest thing he's ever written, but also the most offensive. He was correct on both counts. I can't say I enjoyed it as it fully lives up to Konrath's offensive warning, but the humor in it was good, and I especially liked his Clive Cussler touch of having Jack Daniels ask Harry if he'd every read J.A. Konrath's "Bloody Mary."
One of the things I did notice was the lack of fashion reporting. In the first three novels of the series, every time the main character (and sometimes other characters) appears, Konrath meticulously describes what she is wearing, name brands and all. That only appears once in four stories in the collection ("Body Shots" at location 2085 on Kindle). Guess the fashion descriptions must have cut too deeply into the allowed word count!
If you like the Jack Daniels series, you'll like these short stories. I always like reading shorts featuring characters from the series I follow. While the shorts can't match the character and plot development of a novel, they are great ways to gain insight into character, personality, backstory and motivation.
Top reviews from other countries
- elizabethReviewed in the United Kingdom on June 26, 2012
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant , funny , laugh out loud A +++++
The best collection of short stories I've ever read , this guy is Awsome and soooo funny . My favorite story was the last one , about necrophilia , loved how it was written , loved Harry and it was one of the funniest stories I've read . Konrath is superb , He's fast becoming my favorite author . 5 stars from me <3
- SandyReviewed in Australia on October 20, 2014
5.0 out of 5 stars and loved them, reading this book of short stories was ...
Having read all the Jack Daniels books, and loved them, reading this book of short stories was quite fun, and I have to say that even after being warned about Harry McGlade in The Necro File story, I laughed so loudly, it really was hilarious and of course quite off tap, maybe for some it could be offensive in the politically correct department, but if you know Harry then what else can you expect, I loved it and wished there was more of his hilariously insane and inappropriate stories. I don't see why Harry cannot have his own book. I would read it for sure.
- Misfit MaliceReviewed in Canada on December 9, 2020
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!
I've been reading the stories of J.A. Konrath for the past 2 weeks non-stop! I'm on the seventh book, right now, and never I've been disappointed!
- T R JacksonReviewed in the United Kingdom on July 23, 2013
4.0 out of 5 stars Good variety
Excellent range of short stories. Some serious and others humourous with a little bit of horror thrown in.
Recommended buy for JD fans
- WendyReviewed in the United Kingdom on January 19, 2015
3.0 out of 5 stars Great, apart from the Harry McGlade stories, which are stupid
As always, I enjoyed the stories featuring Jack Daniels. The author states that with regard to Harry McGlade, you either love or hate him - I'm in the second category. This character definitely lets the author down; it's as though he has to write some awful stuff to make the good stories seem better.
I don't appreciate a character that has a casual opinion of animal abuse, and is downright stupid a lot of the time. The comments he makes are just that - stupid. I had to stop reading the stories containing this idiotic character. The character of Jack Daniels would most certainly not have anything to do with him, so it's disappointing when she is dragged into his silly stories.