Chaser (Jack Daniels Book 18)

The characters have very weird names and it matches their very weird personalities. It takes a while to figure out who's who and what the hell is going on. About 60% into the book I finally started to like the direction it was headed. However, too many really off color jokes may stop you from getting past the first half of the book.

This is a very solid four, just-barely-edged-out-of five-star selection. Let me say at the outset, this particular book is NOT one of my favorite Konrath selections. Matter of fact, I’ll have to un-recommend it for anyone who’s squeamish (a huge problem for me) or who abhors, under any circumstances, humor that reduces itself to puns of an occasionally juvenile and scatological nature. I avoid the former, but have known to heartily embrace the latter.I liked this one because of its “latter,” regardless of all the one- and two-star naysayers, also because of the details I surprisingly find so many reviewers complaining about (someone once said, “In a tale I enjoy it’s not always the destination, it’s the journey.” Oh, yeah…that was me) and the frequent scene and character changes, the details that bring a setting alive. The characters are well-developed, although there are some mysteries that remain about their previous lives, each is very clearly good or evil, and even the good ones have an edge that makes you think might be worth exploring in greater detail. If there was anything I found annoying, it was Harry’s tendency, toward the end, to babble – even when he wasn’t whacked out under anesthesia. That and the name of Harry's pet capybara, who deserved better. But there's redemption in the self-deprecating and gallows humor, many of the intelligent folk I know aren't above engaging in such efforts, so in my life it's true to form; rather sad for those who do not.Unfortunately I have to shorten my list of absentee turnoffs with yet another caveat, because – although the primary plot does resolve – it leaves one fairly vital aspect open, which makes it a cliffhanger: My number one reason for marking any author DNR. (Konrath is probably the only author I've found over the last 20 years or so who could persuade me to essentially buy a subsequent edition, but for a more subtle reason than to get the cliffhanger resolved: I simply love reading his work. Matter of fact, of the dozen or so contemporary authors I consistently read, he is the only one whose newsletter I've signed up for and whose blog I am reading from day one.)If you’re still interested, and for those who are keeping score, here are the standings:(1) Zero paranormal/supernatural/magic components;(2) No profanity (I consider less than four instances to equal none);(3) No gooey romance;(4) One semi-explicit sex scene, but there is a somewhat consistent sexual undertone;(5) Violence (wet but not graphic enough to offend me and I'm pretty gore-sensitive);(6) No graphic child abuse;(8) No animal abuse;(9) No alternative lifestyle agenda or promotion;(10) Grammar and punctuation police, come ahead on: I know you'll find something.

Jack & Phin get sucked in again by Harry. There's a psycho on the loose that is terrorizing their friend Tom and a plastic surgeon who's disfiguring his victims in interesting ways. To top that off, The cowboy is still hunting for Jack & Phin's brother has escaped from prison. The collision course between all of these people is a rollicking good time full of violence, humor, pathetic whining, & of course Harry's new pets. Jack finally might be getting her mojo back

If you are uncomfortable with politically incorrectness this is not the story for you. If it does not bother you then you will have fun with this one.

When I was a child I LOVED the sideshow at the circus - all the different and VERY unusual characters on display. This book has characters stranger than anything PT Barnum could have ever imagined, all bound together in a complex but maintainable plot - you have to pay attention, but the characters are so crisply drawn that it is not a great effort to keep track. And the new characters keep arriving - the tension is high, and the plot keeps winding, unfolding and doubling back - and the ending is suitably exciting and bloodthirsty to satisfy the wildest taste. It's an exciting and a compelling read. And of course the characters and relationships from earlier books have to be reviewed, and while the book does end - it also leads to the next book.One warning from the beginning - each chapter is told from the point of view of a different character, so you need to be sure to check out the "title" at the head of each chapter, which tells you who is speaking. I missed that for the first couple of chapters, but confusion led to understanding and I thoroughly enjoyed the adventure.

first off, this was billed as a stand alone....now, I've read jack series numbers 1 and 2 and stopped to branch out back 7 years ago....came back to this one and all the characters started to confuse me...a lot of names get thrown to you early on but the more I read, the more I settled in and thoroughly enjoyed this book....I love the way KONRATH writes, a touch of gore.....a BIG touch of humor.....characters you LOVE....some you get tired of...it was a definite thrill ride all the way through but when I get to the ending I realize why I stopped at books 1 and 2....while they do well as stand alones, they end in extreme suspense akin to "who shot J.R." and makes you need to pick up another book and see what happens where last book leaves off and this is what I don't see myself shelving out money for anymore.....i'd rather see a bad ending that starts anew with next book then cliff hanging to reel in the big fish.....if you disagree with me, then take my word for it, you will LOVE this series as you read more....

I'm a huge fan but I found this one to be a little predictable and too neatly wrapped too easily. There was missing the interaction between the good and bad. Both were doing things on their own to thwart the other but didn't face each other until the final scene. Then...poof....over. Easy peasy. I expect more from these characters. It was more a story of psychological wounds and marriage counseling.

Another fantastic book featuring the funniest character ever to be written. The one and only Harry!Jack Daniels always feels like a co star when Harry is about.He Rocks!BookEater

I havent even finished this book yet, but had to say something !Brilliant read so funny in parts, and so dark in other parts.Harry McGlade he is some guy, hilarious and very annoyingI will be sorry when this book end's it's a real page turner.

This is another classic Jack Daniels book, perhaps a few too many innuendos especially in front of children but overall another great book.

Having previously read books by this author I bought it but quite disappointed. Not gripping enough for me

Love when previous characters come back in to play or book cross overs,couldn't put this down love the series cant wait for more.