Fuzzy Navel - A Thriller (Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels Mysteries Book 5) Paperback – February 6, 2013

That title is a bit dramatic, but I can't help it - this was the first story in the Jack Daniels series I actually liked (I gave Shot of Tequila a whopping five stars, but that's not a part of the official chronology of the original series because it's a prequel). I find these 'misadventures' of Jack Daniels passively entertaining and for the life of me can't ever seem to give one more than three stars, but this one - Fuzzy Navel - actually did it and made me give it four.From the start I was really intrigued. I was curious to see how this story was going to play out. This book gave us a firsthand account of what happens when good intentions go bad. The vigilante group, the TUHC ,or The Urban Hunting Club, was started by Greg Swanson to assassinate perverts and rapists after his own wife's harrowing experience. Unfortunately for Greg, he had to recruit two loonies obsessed with warfare and firearms. After that, things just sort of get out of hand and before they know it, the actions of James Munchel now labels them as cop-killers.After the frenetic actions of Munchel shooting at Jack Daniels and company at the scene of one of TUHC's latest murder victims, unsatisfied that Jack Daniels saw him, he suckers his cohorts, Paul Pessolano, and Swanson, to stake out Jack's house to snipe them from a distance. Oh, and throw in Alex Kork - who stages her own suicide and escapes the correctional facility - into the mix and its one big blender of hell bursting wide open on earth. At least for Jack.This might have been the first and probably only time I ever rooted for Jack to get the upperhand. If you've ever read any of my reviews of the previous books in this series, you'll know I detest this woman to the fullest. Oh, and don't get me wrong - that hasn't changed. For the life of me, I can't understand why everyone - except for maybe her mother, who she acts just like - is so crazy about Jack. Why the hell does a woman as selfish and ungrateful as Jack Daniels inspire so much loyalty from the people she continues to put in danger time and time again? But not to get myself started on that, it just means that in this scenario, Jack was the more likeable person - and that's saying much because I REALLY can't stand her.The whole time I was reading, I just couldn't wait to see how they got out of this nightmarish scenario. With Alex Kork keeping them hostage on the inside and then the TUHC keeping all of them hostage from the outside - I just couldn't see how anyone would win.One word about the cliffhanger at the end - for me, at least, there's no contest about who was done in. Unfortunately, before I ever got into the Jack Daniels series, I read Stirred as the conclusion to the Andrew Thomas trilogy by Mr. Blake Crouch. The collaboration between the two authors also served to be the conclusion of the Jack Daniels series as well. Back then I swore to never read another Jack Daniels book because I hated her character so bad. But somehow I went back on my word and now here I am leaving another review on fifth book in the series.Anyway, I'm bringing this up because I know what characters were left by the last book. There are two characters in particular that there are no mention of by the time the events in Stirred occurred. And now going back to read these books, I was always wondering in the back of my head what eventually happened to them. This cliffhanger is probably concerning one of them. Frankly, given Jack's reaction, it isn't too hard to figure out what happened. It's just too bad I can't leave a rant about it because it would be a spoiler.Congratulations, Konrath - you've done the impossible with this biased reader. You made me like Jack Daniels in this story - even if it was for just two seconds.

Wow! This story was crazy wild!A small backstory:Jack is back in yet another harrowing thriller as she is bombarded on all sides by killers! To kick off her bad day is when one of her criminals (Alexandria Kork a/k/a Alex) that she put behind bars and is in a mental institution escapes with the sole intent to not only kill Jack but to kill everyone that was involved in the case of putting her away.Then to make matters worse, Jack is involved in a sniper crime with some of her fellow officers and the snipers get upset with Jack for spoiling their plans so they track her to her house.The tension builds up for Jack when she finally makes it home because she is living with her mother plus her fiancée shows up and she walks into the house where a ticked off mental patient (Alex) is waiting!As things become heated within the house, all hell breaks loose when the snipers show up with plans of their own! A killer in the house and killers outside the house make this day one of the worst for Jack as soon enough everyone she cares about comes to her aid, but end up being targets for all the killers!Thoughts:I was just planning on reading a few chapters when I sat down to read this book, but the author wrote the book in "real time" which every chapter is an hour with a character viewpoint including the killer viewpoints as well and I ended up staying up most of the night reading the story as I couldn't put it down!There is tons of tension, suspense, and action abound within these pages along with psychological terror which kept my insomnia fueled!The humorous quips are back though so there was some light heartedness that kept me chuckling which helped break up the grinding tension of Jack's crazy situation she found herself in, but all in all this book just rocked along with ticked off killers that are ready to take down anything or anyone that gets in their way!The author decided to throw everything at Jack including the kitchen sink in this book which ended up giving my eyes and fingers a major exercise workout for most of the night! :)Giving this one five "Thriller Killers" stars!

Fuzzy Navel is the fifth book in the Jack Daniels series/books. TBH would suggest reading other 4 before hand so you can actually get a good feel for the characters. Jack(Jackeline)Daniels is a cop working with her partner Herb putting the bad men and women behind bars. Well, one escapes, a rather nasty one called Kork, (X Marine(ess) Psychopath) who seeks out Jack for vengence...Vendetta Vendetta! And before you start yawning and thinking,been seen and done, nope you have not, until you have read and digested this little gem of a book! Jack is already on a case, a group of snipers are targeting the naughty peeps in life and killing them off, but Jack gets more than she bargained for as the snipers turn their sights onto her. Add to that Jacks pschotic cat, Latham her fiance, Harry McGlade (PI) and Phin, throw in the mix a group of snipers and a rather peeved off psychotic killer and the fun begins in one house! Its fast paced, very very funny banter between the characters and a few bumps, scratches, bullets and bites that follow. This HAS to be the best Jack Daniels Novel Ive read yet! The humor and dialect kept me glued to each page, not to mention the bullet popping, chainsaw swinging lunatics! Fav part is when the psycho cat starts using Harry as a scratching post......Would recommend this!!! TY JA Konrath! Enjoyed!

This is the 5th novel in the Jack Daniels' saga. Still good reading, and still the same humorous streak as in the earlier stories. However, the novelty of Jack and her close relatives, colleagues, and friends all being the target of a psychotic loony is beginning to pall a bit. In this one, Alex Kork surfaces yet again with the sole purpose of getting revenge on Jack et al. However, thrown into the mix are a trio of pervert-hating snipers who each have their own agenda, and have cause to want Jack out of the way. A twist on a theme, but much the same theme. All OTT, but then, it is a story. I will continue reading the series, but mainly for the reason that I already have them on my trusty Kindle.

Just finished reading the Jack Daniels (detective) series by J A Konrath. They are each written in a different way - timelines/gore/perspective. My favourite line in them all has to be this from Fuzzy Navel: (Herb is Jack's overweight partner)Jack - "Does your wife know you're snacking between nutritious meals?" I ask. Herb's basset hound jowls are turned down; his serious face. "She suspects. Last night she found some powdered sugar on my tie. I spent twenty minutes trying to convince her it was heroin."BwahahahaBrilliant series!!! Read a couple last month, ended up buying the lot and re-reading some so I could read them all order.

Phew. Claustrophobic, violent, funny, exhausting.This book is set mostly in Jack's out of town house. There are 2 sets of villains against her and her only back up are injured themselves.The story is told by different characters a chapter at a time and I liked the overlapping-ness off this where you see the story from the different angles.This story is the most over the top and ludicrous so far. But I don't mind that type of story as long as I'm hooked. At times it seemed Tom and Jerry with the violence. If it was "bystander #3" they'd be dead with just a look, but because it's Jack or another named character they can withstand a lot of punishment.

This is the third Jack Daniels novel I've read and, like the previous two, is action packed, very fast paced, loads of violence and bodies....with a touch of humour via one liners thrown in.It's way over the top and obviously written in a tongue in cheek style. If you want a serious, believable action cop tale then this is not for you. Read it for what it is....a few hours of unbelievable action and exploits....pure escapism and not to be taken seriously.