Dirty Martini (Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels, #4) (Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels Mystery)

by J.A. Konrath

This book wasn't without it's problems and most of those centered around the romance. The romance between Jack and Rick was an unnecessary complication that added nothing and did more harm that good. She kept going on about loving Latham and him being her fiance and it made me mad and uncomfortable to see her betrayal - regardless of how she has her epiphany of how she's sabotaging her relationship due to her own insecurities. I was actively hating Jack for the first two thirds of the book. If the plot wasn't so engaging I may have decided not to continue with the series. But, Konrath does know how to write a great crime thriller - even when the characters are stupid.

That said, the romance wasn't the only thing that let the first two thirds down. Jack and Herb are on rocky ground - Herb's being torn between his wife and the job - so he decides to move to robbery and that puts him on the outs with Jack. Which would be fine except it means Herb basically isn't present in this book. I like Herb. And the easy banter between them. It felt empty without him.

Mary, Jack's mum, is out of town - so she's not onscreen. Although her one scene is pretty great. Her letter to Jack telling her by the way, her father is really alive and kicking is killer. “Mom, I was cleaning up in your room, and I found the letter.” “Oh, don’t be upset. So I exchanged a few dirty letters with a few men. I find the written word much more erotic than pornographic movies. Though I did date this one gentleman who took me to a peep show once —” “Not that letter, Mom. The other one, with my name written on it.” My mother paused. “Oh. That letter. Did you read it? Of course you did, or you wouldn’t be calling. Unless you’re asking my permission to read the letter, to which I’ll politely answer no.” “Dad is alive?” Mom sighed, as if I was such a disappointment she couldn’t bear it. “I honestly don’t know. He might be. I really don’t care, one way or the other. Did you read the part when I wrote that you were the one good thing I did in my life? Did that make you cry? I cried when I wrote it. But, truth told, I’d been hitting the schnapps.” I rubbed my eyes. “Mom, don’t you think this is something we should have discussed before you died?” “Well, I’m not dead, and we’re discussing it right now.”

Konrath, J.A.; Kilborn, Jack. Dirty Martini - A Thriller (Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels Mysteries Book 4) (pp. 68-69). Kindle Edition. Mary is hilarious. And I love the way she messes with Jack. Latham is in hospital. Phin is nowhere to be found in this book. And Harry is a no show for 95%. Jack is kind of depressing without her cast of characters.

That said the plot was action packed and engaging. When Harry did make an appearance it was epic. His prosthetic hand - jezus. I watched peripherally as Harry tried to adjust the air-conditioning vent using his prosthesis, and snapped it right off. He pondered it for a moment, checked to see if I noticed, and then hid it under his seat.

Konrath, J.A.; Kilborn, Jack. Dirty Martini - A Thriller (Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels Mysteries Book 4) (p. 184). Kindle Edition. And Mr Friskers (the cat) didn't forget to cause trouble.

So the book starts of average and steadily climbs quality. It redeemed itself in the end but I can't ignore that two thirds had me cringing. Still - even the bad parts are well written and are solid police procedural. 4 stars. Edging on the lower side.