Shot of Tequila

I love this author and this book!
I am that kind of girl who likes very vivid and gritty stories. Especially when reading horror or thriller novels. The more graphic, the better.
This author gives me everything I want and more. I have to admit, there was a moment in this one that was hard even for me to take. Still, a story that can bring out those emotions, that make you so uncomfortable that you wanna throw the book at the wall in fear for what is happening... yup.
I had to add this author to my favorite authors list at only 2 reads. Both kept me up at night and were outstanding writing!
Can't wait to read more. I have lots more on my Kindle ready to be read.

After listening to 2 hours of the audio, I quit, for at least one reason that no other review seems to mention. (Please add comment if I overlooked your review.) The writing is ok, but the characters are all stereotypical. Initially, I found the main villain Tequila interesting, but as time went on, the story became ever more preposterous. Both the publisher's summary and other reviewers say that this episode in the series about Detective Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels is atypical, so I might give another a try. I don't mind horror if leavened by black humor. (See the movie "Get Out.")

I usually don't review books of which I've read less than half, but this book is misclassified as a mystery and is more like fantasy or science fiction. show more Tequila is like a super-villain, whose feats of speed and strength exceed all possible expectatio of a normal human being. As a result, the book takes on a kind of comic-book character. There is an audience for formulaic thrillers, but the only mystery here is not the search by the detective but (mild spoiler)who framed Tequila.. One distraction is that the author seems to love to brag about his knowledge of guns and other legal weapons. Another is his penchant toward "action, explicit violence, gore and stupid bad guys," as another reviewer (Wynn) put it.

Tequila is a bookie's collection agent and hit man. His outstanding redeeming quality are is that he loves and cares for his older sister, now 30 and suffering from the genetic disorder, Down syndrome. He also has a certain sense of justice, taking only what his boss is owed and no more, treating people with respect until they cross him. The reason I quit is this:
At a certain point, Tequila is trying to escape his cohorts through a heat shaft. He eventually succeeds in climbing out by using his shoulder holster, which has electromagnets that hold his two automatic pistols in their pockets. Since the heated steel walls burn his hands and feet, he uses these in each side of the shaft to pull himself up, by successively switching the magnet on and off.
Very clever and novel, except that such a strong electromagnet would require substantial power which, since it is not plugged in, would require a very big, heavy battery. Not even Elon Musk could solve this problem! This fact is neither mentioned nor explained when the author originally described their workings. Since their function was simply to keep the guns from falling out, I could imagine it barely possible, although I should have been forewarned when the author mentioned that it prevented someone else from taking the weapons from him. show less

audiobook, crime-fiction, procedural, noir, mafia, mob, Chicago

Violent men breed more violence. Lots of murders and beatings all centered around a debt collector who is kindness personified to his sister with Downs Syndrome. You just keep reading even though you want to stop witnessing the madness. Good writing with a tough subject.
Luke Daniels is one of my favorite narrators.

A fast paced thriller with loads of action, some great dialogue, blood, gore and murder. A little different to the rest of the Jack Daniels series as this is set 10 years before the start of the series and Jack takes a lesser role with the main focus being on Tequila.

I know that I had read a Jack Daniels mystery once before a long time ago, but I remembered it as being more humorous and less bloody than this one. A good story, but I won't go out of my way to read another one. Too much gratuitous violence for my taste.

Another Jack Daniels book and another fast paced read.

What happens to a hitman when his boss gets robbed and he gets framed? Tequila goes on the run and stays there because everyone is chasing him. The thing is, he's not a good guy, and he probably deserves what's coming, but it just doesn't seem fair to die for someone else's crime.

If you liked the other Jack Daniels books, you'll love this one. If it's new to you, be warned Konrath doesn't write for the faint of heart.

I recommend this book to anyone who likes hard boiled crime with a sense of humor.

This book is listed as 6.5 in reading order. I've read the "Jack Daniels" series in order (I'm on #7) and I would have to say that this is a kind of introduction to her and her partner Herb. In this book Herb is skinny and Jack is still married and it gives a little in site to their partnership. This fast paced story involves the Mob, murders, money, mistaken identity, hit men, animal abuse, and gore. Not for the fainthearted or PC people. Konrath writes detailed killings, fight scenes, and doesn't use PC words.