'Cherry Bomb'

Audiobook by J.A. Konrath

The Bookworm

By Terri Schlichenmeyer

Throughout your life, you’ve probably noticed that there are two kinds of people: those who are late, and those who are not. 

The late ones stroll casually into a lunch, party, meeting or appointment 20 minutes after they’re supposed to be there, surprised to see you waiting. 

The on-time people are punctual to a fault, maybe even a little early.

Some people will be late to their own funerals. The rest would rather die than dally. But if detective Jacqueline “Jack” Daniels is late, the dead body won’t be hers. 

In the new audiobook “Cherry Bomb” by J.A. Konrath, a little procrastination on Jack’s part may instead mean the demise of the people she loves.

As funerals go, this one wouldn’t have been unusual had it not been for the phone call that Lt. Daniels received, graveside. The call was from Alexandra Kork — the original reason for the funeral — and she wasn’t phoning with condolences. Alex had killed one of Jack’s loved ones, and she had more murder on her mind.

Hours later, a photo of a bloody, duct-taped, tortured man was sent to Jack via a cell phone that Alex had furnished. The man had a wild look in his eyes, burns on his chest, and a rigged shotgun pointed at his head. Jack had 12 hours to find the identity of the man and save his life. But it didn’t end there.

Another man, and two hours … this one, personal. And very gruesome. And another, with just a minute’s warning, this one, almost killing one of the people closest and most important to Lt. Daniels.

But with the help of former partner (and possible half-brother) Harry McGlade, bank robber and part-time hustler Phin Trout, a Crimebago (mobile crime lab + Winnebago), and a few friendly fellow Chicago Police Department officers, Jack Daniels won’t let Alex Kork get away with murder. Even if it kills her.

If you haven’t read or listened to Konrath’s previous novels, stop and go get them, particularly the last one, “Fuzzy Navel.” Reading that book will make the experience of hearing this one so much better. You probably could listen to “Cherry Bomb” by itself, but going back one book will be more than worth your while.