โ Scribed by J. A. Konrath
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
Konrath's fourth drink-inspired mystery to feature Lt. Jacqueline Jack Daniels (after 2006's Rusty Nail) is a particularly potent mix of equal parts mirth and mayhem with a dash of sex and a twist (or two) of plot. When an extortionist prefaces his demands for a payoff from the city of Chicago by spreading enough botulism toxin to cause more than 30 deaths, Jack's previous successes and her resultant celebrity are enough to put her in charge of the case. The poisoner has more tricks up his sleeve and unleashes an almost unimaginable arsenal of toxins. Despite a horrific death count, Konrath infuses plenty of humor. Best of all, he gives the reader ample opportunities to stay abreast of or even ahead of his sleuth, but it will take a clever reader to unravel the subtle clues embedded in the story. Konrath's latest should be taken straight, no chaser needed. (July)
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Chicago homicide cop Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels returns in this hard-edged thriller. Someone who calls himself the Chemist is poisoning food in the city's grocery stores and restaurants. When the Chemist demands $2 million to stop the killings, the superintendent of detectives puts Jack in charge of the caseโbecause fast-talking Jack has plenty of experience dealing with serial killers, having gone up against three of them already (most recently in Rusty Nail, 2006). Like Jeffrey Deaver, Konrath ratchets up the suspense until readers don't dare stop flipping the pages; the characters are sharply drawn; and the dialogue sounds like real (though funny) people talking (a decided improvement over some of the earlier volumes in the series). Also like Deaver, Konrath clearly understands the importance of creating a believable, interesting villain. A solid success for those who like to mix comedy and grit. Pitt, David
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