Rusty Nail    by J. A. Konrath Order:  USA  Can Hyperion, 2006 (2006) Hardcover, CD Read an Excerpt     Reviewed by Mary Ann Smyth If you look for gore, horrific behavior, kidnapping, suspense, action, torture, death and decay - as well as a laugh a minute - in your reading, J. A. Konrath's Rusty Nail is the thriller for you. Jack Daniels, heroine of Rusty Nail and two previous novels in the series – Whiskey Sour and Bloody Mary – is stalked by ghosts of the Gingerbread Man, a maniac who killed and tortured for his own pleasure. A Chicago cop, Jack is being sent snuff videos. Knowing the victims only strengthens her resolve to get the fiendish killer off the streets. She also has to pacify the two particularly dumb FBI agents who dogged her footsteps in Whiskey Sour. It's hard at times to reconcile brutal acts with quick-witted repartee, but Konrath pulls this off. The one-liners are as brilliant as the horror is decidedly innovative. Jackie is a story in herself – a woman to admire as she bucks the system to accomplish her goals. The action never seems to stop: fast-paced and breathtakingly hard-hitting. Just be sure to have remedies handy for a roiling stomach and weird dreams after reading Rusty Nail. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Mystery books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews