the writing was ok-but the tired old serial killer obsessed with a cop-and a serial killer named the gingerbread man at that-it was ok ( )

Fun murder mystery.Email this reviewKIRKUS REVIEWA rapid-fire debut thriller that dares to ask who?ll come out on top: Jack Daniels or the Gingerbread Man?The stakes aren?t as obvious as they sound. The Gingerbread Man is a psychopathic serial killer who kidnaps, tortures, tortures, tortures, and kills selected young women from the Chicago streets, and Jack (n?e Jacqueline) Daniels is the Violent Crimes lieutenant who?s caught the case but can?t catch the perp. On the contrary: The killer announces his attachment to the lead officer by going after her, leaving doctored chocolates in her car, breaking into her apartment, and taunting her with the obligatory phone messages. While she?s trying to turn the tables on him, Jack is crossing swords with a pair of FBI clones, cracking jokes with her partner about how she can?t even hang on to her live-in boyfriend, applying to a dating service, and watching as the Gingerbread Man gives the nice accountant she?s been set up with the shock of his life before snatching his next victim and tying her up in his basement. Can Jack shake her bad luck and bring in her quarry before he kills her and blows up half the Windy City?Plotting, personalities, and gallows humor are all standard-issue. Konrath?s most distinctive contribution to the serial-killer genre, apart from seasoning it with a savvy heroine who just can?t keep a man, is some seriously gruesome sadism that should keep the kiddies away.

The 1st book in the Lieutenant Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels series. Jack & her detective partner Herb are on the case for a serial killer dubbed "The Gingerbread Man" & it's cat & mouse as the bodies pile up from this vile & twisted killer. Add interference from the FBI & a date gone wrong & it's a "cocktail" worth reading. I will definitely keep reading the series ( )

This one surprised me. I mean, I always expected to like it - it's your typical crime fiction and that rarely disappoints. But I really enjoyed this and I was surprised by just how much I loved it. Jack was a funny character and the plot was interesting and kept me riveted. There were some really great life quotes in here too. Little gems that just made it that extra bit worthwhile. One thing that did get me - I think the hate for the FBI was a little over the top - like looking for a horse really? Oh and I loved Jack's mum - she was awesome - can't wait to see more of her. And I liked Phin - and I was excited to see that he gets his own series. I thought he was going to be a love interest but doesn't seem to be the case. And Harry seems like a jackass but that's what makes him loveable.

So yeah, I'll be picking up the rest of the series asap. ( )

Thought I would hate it because of the "killer" and the way he killed and thought about giving it up. Overall it was good and I enjoyed it. I like the main character, Jack Daniels.3 Some parts seemed murder mystery cliche. ( )