Summer

22 October 2010

SHAKEN: Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels Mysteries #7 - J A Konrath

My thoughts on SHAKEN: Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels Mysteries #7....J A Konrath starts the book with the following: that the reader of the Kindle version has a choice...he's trying something new and wrote the story twice..not two stories, but the story written two ways. One was the linear regular way and the other was out of sequence. He wanted to know what the reader thought of each.
I went out of sequence since I don't mind reading a book that way so long as I have a wee cranium's up for the jump in time. Joe complies and I did just fine.
This is a thriller in the finest sense of the genre. Mr. K is a killer who Jack has been tracking for 20 some years. The story goes back and forth through time, beginning with Jack's realization that she has been abducted.
The rest of the book is bringing the reader up to date on Jack's life over the past 20 years, going from rookie cop to private sector investigator. And hunting Mr. K.
I enjoyed watching her learn about Armani and Ralph Lauren clothing in the 80s when she mostly shops at Sears.
What I like most about this series (and this author) is laughing and being freaked out in the same chapter. Dry humor that has me laughing out loud and the graphic scenes that has me squinching myself into my chair to get far away from the murder/torture being depicted on the page. That's talent and a very good book.
Favorite characters....Jack definitely since she's so sure of herself and she's the good guy. Herb and harry, especially Harry, since he makes me laugh. I surround myself with people like Harry. I do love to 'snort laugh'. Herb is a sweetie and a good friend to Jack. My friends are like that too.
I read this in one day, peeps!! It was difficult to put down, so I didn't.
The book had a helluva WTF cliffhanger and I cannot wait to read STIRRED, the collaborative work of art of Joe Konrath and Blake Crouch. Blake is the author of the extremely terrifying DESERT PLACES, LOCKED DOORS, ABANDON, and SNOWBOUND....I have read one and working up the nerve to read the rest.
Go forth and read the Jack Daniels series and anything else that J A Konrath/Jack Kilborn has written and anything he has collaborated on, and, hell, anything he recommends...no, I'm not sucking up, he's just never steered me wrong.

Five not sucking up this is damn good sparkly diamonds.....

2 comments:

Ann Summerville said...

I only like to be gently scared. Thanks for the great review.
Ann
Cozy In Texas

Vickie said...

Ann: Thank you for visiting. This is definitely not a gently scary book. Thank you for the compliment.