There were also many folks who helped me out by inviting me into their homes, helping me tour their cities, or buying me food.
Huge thanks to the following:
Paul Abruzzi, Tasha Alexander, Wayne Thomas Batson, Bill Blume, John Bodnar, James O. Born, Stacey Cochran, Jim Coursey, Linda Darter, Charlie Davidson, Karen Dionne, Rebecca Drake, Moni Draper, Jane Dystel, Barry Eisler, Davi. Ellis, JT Ellison, Miriam Goderich, Lynne Hansen, Sean Hicks, Adam Hurtubise, Bill Johnson, Cynthia Johnson, Elizabeth Krecker, Rhonda Lukac, Steve Lukac, Terrie Moran, Bob Morris, Karen E. Olsen, Barbara Parker, PJ Parrish, MJ Rose, Tom Schreck, Steve Schwinder, Jason Sizemore, Alexandra Sokoloff, Jef. Strand, M.G. Tarquini, Robert W. Walker, Leslie Wells, James R. Winter, Beck. Zander, and Rick Zander.
And also, big thanks to the fans. Without you, Jack and I wouldn’t have this incredible career. You folks are the best!
ALSO BY J. A. KONRATH
Whiskey Sour
Bloody Mary
Rusty Nail
Praise for
Dirty Martini
“In Dirty Martini, Jacqueline ‘Jack’ Daniels is back, this time fighting a devious criminal who terrifies the entire city of Chicago...Konrath’s latest should be taken straight, no chaser needed.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Mix Konrath’s witty repartee with edge-of-the-chair suspense, over-the-top killing devices, and action that never takes a breather, and you have Konrath’s latest white-knuckle thriller. Not to be missed.”
—Library Journal
“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...Konrath clearly understands the importance of creating a believable, interesting villain.”
—Booklist
“It’s difficult as hell to balance wit with suspense and horrific violence with humor, but J.A. Konrath manages the feat deftly in his ‘Jacqueline “Jack” Daniels’ series of thrillers. Jack is a smart, sexy copy with a rocky personal life and a career that pits her strength and skill against the worst kind of evil—and she not only triumphs, but does so with humor and style. Spend some time with Jack and the people in her life; I can promise you, you won’t regret it.”
—Kay Hooper,
author of Blood Dreams
“A phenomenal thriller that never disappoints.”
—Lloyd Woodall,
Borders Group, Inc., Ann Arbor, Michigan
“J.A. Konrath has done it again. I’ve read every book, and I still want more.”
—Norman Goldman,
Barnes & Noble, Encino, California
“Dirty Martini changed my life. I don’t buy food or drinks any more, and I haven’t left my house in months. A scary, fantastic book.”
—Greg Swanson,
Waldenbooks, Peru, Illinois
“Filled with suspense, action, and comedy, and will leave you laughing out loud.”
—Paul Pessolano,
Borders, Snellville, Georgia
“I have never enjoyed a book more—it had me laughing so hard I was crying.”
—Jim Munchel,
Borders Express, Camp Hill, Pennsylvania
“J.A. Konrath’s best one yet.”
—Heather M. Riley, Borders,
Rockford, Illinois
“Jack is smart, tough, and totally believable. Dirty Martini goes down smooth.”
—Dave Biemann, Mystery One,
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Praise for
Rusty Nail
“Tougher than Kay Scarpetta, smarter than Stephanie Plum, Jacqueline Daniels rocks.”
—Alex Kava,
author of A Necessary Evil
“A heady mixture of chills and chuckles. You’ll drain this libation in a single sitting!”
—Julia Spencer-Fleming,
author of To Darkness and to Death
“Finely honed characters and a plot blessed with more twists than a drunk on a bender, J.A. Konrath has stirred up another addictive suspense novel that will leave readers salivating for more—and more.”
—Gayle Lynds,
author of The Coil
“Rusty Nail is twisted and violent, creepy and clever, fast, frightening, and funny. This is not your Granny’s thriller.”
—Anne Frasier,
author of Before I Wake
Praise for
J.A. Konrath’s previous novels
“Excellent smart-mouth thrills...my advice: Take a long sip.”
—Lee Child,
author of One Shot
“Snappy dialogue. Powerful action. A fabulous character to spend time with.”
—David Morrell,
author of Creepers
“Tough, gritty, and surprisingly touching.”
—M.J. Rose,
author of The Delilah Complex
“Violent thrills...engaging characters, true guffaws, and tighly knit subplots.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Konrath creates the perfect blend of pulse-pounding thrills and side-splitting humor.”
—David Ellis,
author of In the Company of Liars
If you loved
DIRTY MARTINI,
be sure to catch
FUZZY NAVEL,
J. A. Konrath’s latest
Jacqueline “Jack” Daniels Mystery,
coming in July 2008 from Hyperion.
An Excerpt, chapters 1 and 2, follows.
4:38 P.M.
KORK
IT’S QUIET IN THE SUBURBS. The only sound is from the cab that has dropped me off, making a U-turn at the dead end, then heading back down the quiet, winding road. Its taillights quickly disappear, swallowed up by the multitude of trees.
I walk up the driveway and look at the house. It’s a ranch, laid out in the shape of an L, occupying half an acre of green lawn speckled with fallen leaves. There’s a double-car garage, the door closed. I see Mom through the front bay window. She’s sitting in a rocking chair and reading a book—how much more stereotypical elderly can you get? I check the front door, and as expected it is locked.
I walk around the side of the house, running my hand along the brown brick, passing windows that should probably be washed. This is a big departure from the Chicago apartment. A lot more space. A lot more privacy. I’ve discovered that privacy is important. No neighbors for more than a quarter mile is a good thing. With all of the tree coverage, it’s like being in the middle of the woods, rather than only five miles away from O’Hare Airport.
I stop at the back porch—a slab of concrete with the obligatory lawn chairs, a wrought iron sun table, and a veranda—and I close my eyes, breathing in the cool autumn air. Somewhere, someone is burning leaves. I haven’t smelled that since my youth. I fill my lungs with the scent and smile. It smells like freedom.
The sliding glass patio door is open, and I decide to give Mom a lecture about that. Just because the suburbs are safer than the city doesn’t mean that all of the doors shouldn’t be locked.
I walk into the kitchen, catch the odor of home cooking. A pot is on the stove. I check the contents. Stew. I pick up the spoon, give it a stir, take a little bite of potato. Delicious.
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