martyfried's review
5.0
I really liked this one, perhaps it's my favorite of the series. It had a number of really likable characters in addition to the usual group. There was a good dose of the Monkeewrench group, who agreed to help a rural farmer, Walt, whose daughter went missing. He was an old-fashioned farmer who wasn't used to people like Monkeewrench, and it was interesting to see how they got to be close after a short time, even Annie with her inappropriate clothes, high heels, and disdain for country life in general. When a big storm was on the way, he worried that he might have to carry her from their motor home to the storm cellar, a feat that would take a lot out of an old man considering her ample size.
When detectives Leo Magozzi and Gino Rolseth discover that their case of a serial killer seems to be connected to the area of Walt's farm (partly due to the presence of lion's fur!), they decide to go out and join Monkeewrench there. Of course, they have to run into a huge storm along the way, and a discovery of dead bodies. Nothing's easy for these guys. But they don't complain - much. Well, not much considering how they complain about most everything.
This was one book I had trouble putting down. I'll be reading the next one soon that I got from Net Galley.
When detectives Leo Magozzi and Gino Rolseth discover that their case of a serial killer seems to be connected to the area of Walt's farm (partly due to the presence of lion's fur!), they decide to go out and join Monkeewrench there. Of course, they have to run into a huge storm along the way, and a discovery of dead bodies. Nothing's easy for these guys. But they don't complain - much. Well, not much considering how they complain about most everything.
This was one book I had trouble putting down. I'll be reading the next one soon that I got from Net Galley.
clak5686's review
4.0
I've enjoyed every book in this series and this one was no different. It's great to see the characters advance in their relationships. I like the progress. The story was engaging. The ending satisfying.
jessicamap's review
5.0
Big thanks to Putnam Books for the copy in exchange for my honest review!
While this was book 8 in the Monkeewrench series, I couldn't pass up a murder mystery/thriller based in Minnesota! NOTHING STAYS BURIED by mother-daughter duo known as PJ Tracy (PJ and Traci Lambrecht) could definitely be read as a standalone. I was worried that I'd be completely lost that far into a series, but I wasn't. I definitely want to go back and read the first books so I can get to know the Monkeewrench gang better!
The body of a young woman is found in a park and unfortunately for Detectives Leo Magozzi and Gino Rolseth, the crime scene is all too familiar. Months prior, a woman was found in a similar setting, but the killer was never found. Now the body count is rising and they have no leads. To make matters harder, a few FBI agents show up in Minneapolis to help, but their motives aren't completely revealed.
Meanwhile, at Monkeewrench Software, they are trying to find a new case to solve. Harley finds an old missing persons case that has gone cold. Marla, daughter of farmer Walk Gustafson, went missing without a trace 2 months ago and no one has any clue as to what could have happened to her, or where she could have gone.
It was very interesting reading about the characters that many other readers have grown attached to. While I didn't have the same connection to them as some, I felt that the character development was great even in book 8. Leo and Grace are having a baby together and they're excited for their new life that is about to begin - I'm sure there is a lot to this relationship that I have missed, but I'm definitely wanting to go back and read the other books. In this book it's definitely more focused on how these two investigations are affecting the lives of everyone involved. These killings are continuing, with no leads, and then is this missing persons case somehow tied in?
I did enjoy the few chapters that were from the killer's perspective. Definitely a dark and twisted individual. I will always love serial killer thrillers that dive into the mind of the killer. Even if it's just a little glimpse into their thought process or their motives. I find it fascinating - especially when an author does it so well. If it doesn't make you cringe or feel uncomfortable, then it's not a good enough serial killer!
Overall, I loved this! I loved it being set in Minnesota and knowing the areas they were referencing. Even the weather! This was a great thriller and mystery - no doubt about it that I'm going to find the first book, MONKEEWRENCH, now!
I give this 4.5/5 stars!
While this was book 8 in the Monkeewrench series, I couldn't pass up a murder mystery/thriller based in Minnesota! NOTHING STAYS BURIED by mother-daughter duo known as PJ Tracy (PJ and Traci Lambrecht) could definitely be read as a standalone. I was worried that I'd be completely lost that far into a series, but I wasn't. I definitely want to go back and read the first books so I can get to know the Monkeewrench gang better!
The body of a young woman is found in a park and unfortunately for Detectives Leo Magozzi and Gino Rolseth, the crime scene is all too familiar. Months prior, a woman was found in a similar setting, but the killer was never found. Now the body count is rising and they have no leads. To make matters harder, a few FBI agents show up in Minneapolis to help, but their motives aren't completely revealed.
Meanwhile, at Monkeewrench Software, they are trying to find a new case to solve. Harley finds an old missing persons case that has gone cold. Marla, daughter of farmer Walk Gustafson, went missing without a trace 2 months ago and no one has any clue as to what could have happened to her, or where she could have gone.
It was very interesting reading about the characters that many other readers have grown attached to. While I didn't have the same connection to them as some, I felt that the character development was great even in book 8. Leo and Grace are having a baby together and they're excited for their new life that is about to begin - I'm sure there is a lot to this relationship that I have missed, but I'm definitely wanting to go back and read the other books. In this book it's definitely more focused on how these two investigations are affecting the lives of everyone involved. These killings are continuing, with no leads, and then is this missing persons case somehow tied in?
I did enjoy the few chapters that were from the killer's perspective. Definitely a dark and twisted individual. I will always love serial killer thrillers that dive into the mind of the killer. Even if it's just a little glimpse into their thought process or their motives. I find it fascinating - especially when an author does it so well. If it doesn't make you cringe or feel uncomfortable, then it's not a good enough serial killer!
Overall, I loved this! I loved it being set in Minnesota and knowing the areas they were referencing. Even the weather! This was a great thriller and mystery - no doubt about it that I'm going to find the first book, MONKEEWRENCH, now!
I give this 4.5/5 stars!
canada_matt's review
4.0
A different P.J. Tracy emerges in this piece, primarily because one of the duo has passed on, leaving the legacy on the shoulders of the younger. It was also the first ‘book’ in the series I read, the others having been of the audio variety. After the daughter of a farmer goes missing, the local sheriff calls in a favour from Monkeewrench to help piece this all together. Grace MacBride, well into her pregnancy, is happy to oblige and the team makes their way into rural Minnesota to assist. One interesting clue found close to the scene is blood traced back to a member of a Mexican drug cartel. Meanwhile, in Minneapolis, Detective Leo Magozzi is pondering his recent move to the country and the fact that he will soon be a father. Alongside his partner, Gino Rolseth, they banter about anything that comes to mind, at least until a call comes in. It’s a body, slashed and dumped, but there’s also a playing card tucked inside the clothing. Could it be the killer that the MPD Homicide team has been hunting; a serial killer perhaps? When more bodies emerge, each with another playing card, Magozzi and Rolseth are baffled as to how they will solve this case. When the FBI sweeps in to take control of the case, both detectives are confused by the federal presence and unwilling to simply walk away. Meanwhile, Monkeewrench has been running some searches for Magozzi and found a few pieces of information that might tie-in to the case they have been working. Could the two be connected? With a story that moves from Minneapolis to a farming community, no one is safe with a killer on the loose and another one prowling the woods! Tracy, in whatever incarnation, is truly captivating in yet another novel and keeps the reader glued to the page well into the night. Recommended for series fans who love what they have read and are ready for a slightly different flavour in this piece.
I continue my summer reading binge of P.J. Tracy’s work, having been forced to pick up a book for the first time with this series. In their written form, the stories have not lost their momentum, even while I am forced to create accents and banter dialogue in my mind. This proves that Tracy’s work can transcend the audio medium and still come to life on the page. This novel is again able to mix great mystery with strong characters and deliver a knockout punch. The Magozzi/Rolseth banter remains strong and offsets some of the more gruesome aspects of the narrative. Of great interest in the realm of characters is how Magozzi and MacBride are each handling the pending parenthood that is surely just around the corner. Tracy offers the reader glimpses into both their psyches and permits some self-reflection on how things will change in the coming months (book or two?). I am eager to see this change in the next book, presuming there will be a birth before too long. The rest of the gang (both police and Monkeewrench) continue to dazzle and keep the reader on their toes for a variety of reasons. I was pleased to see a strong narrative and an interesting two-pronged story that neither dragged nor jumped without offering substantial progress. While P.J. Tracy commonly offers two cases, the reader is rarely left feeling unfulfilled during the gaze into the case’s progress. Using a constantly revolving group of characters, Tracy is able to push the narrative forward in interesting ways and never forces the reader to accept subpar writing or storytelling. These novels move away from the traditional police procedural and permit P.J. Tracy to entertain the reader with strong storylines, perfect for a vacation or summer binge. With one novel left (at this point) to read, I am beginning to face the reality that the binge is almost done, but I want more. Truly a sign of powerful writing!
Kudos, P.J. Tracy, for another wonderful piece. You have done your mother proud by keeping the story going. Write and think of her, always!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/248185-a-book-for-all-seasons
I continue my summer reading binge of P.J. Tracy’s work, having been forced to pick up a book for the first time with this series. In their written form, the stories have not lost their momentum, even while I am forced to create accents and banter dialogue in my mind. This proves that Tracy’s work can transcend the audio medium and still come to life on the page. This novel is again able to mix great mystery with strong characters and deliver a knockout punch. The Magozzi/Rolseth banter remains strong and offsets some of the more gruesome aspects of the narrative. Of great interest in the realm of characters is how Magozzi and MacBride are each handling the pending parenthood that is surely just around the corner. Tracy offers the reader glimpses into both their psyches and permits some self-reflection on how things will change in the coming months (book or two?). I am eager to see this change in the next book, presuming there will be a birth before too long. The rest of the gang (both police and Monkeewrench) continue to dazzle and keep the reader on their toes for a variety of reasons. I was pleased to see a strong narrative and an interesting two-pronged story that neither dragged nor jumped without offering substantial progress. While P.J. Tracy commonly offers two cases, the reader is rarely left feeling unfulfilled during the gaze into the case’s progress. Using a constantly revolving group of characters, Tracy is able to push the narrative forward in interesting ways and never forces the reader to accept subpar writing or storytelling. These novels move away from the traditional police procedural and permit P.J. Tracy to entertain the reader with strong storylines, perfect for a vacation or summer binge. With one novel left (at this point) to read, I am beginning to face the reality that the binge is almost done, but I want more. Truly a sign of powerful writing!
Kudos, P.J. Tracy, for another wonderful piece. You have done your mother proud by keeping the story going. Write and think of her, always!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/248185-a-book-for-all-seasons
jess_reads_books's review
4.0
The Monkeewrench crew is back at it in the 8th installment of this series! Centered around Minneapolis homicide detectives Leo Magozzi and Gino Rolseth, who have been sent to a crime scene in a heavily wooded park, where the scenario feels too familiar to be a coincidence. A playing card found on the victim’s body leads the detectives to think another case may be connected and that a serial killer is on the hunt. At the same time, Grace MacBride and the crew at Monkeewrench get a call from a sleepy town nearby concerning a missing woman and possible cartel connections.
The Minneapolis detectives soon find their case tied to Monkeewrench’s investigation. With a violent criminal and cartel connections, the two groups are in for a wild, violent ride. The potential for this killer to be after the goal of completing an entire deck of murders, puts things in fast motion. Unlikely connections between the two cases weave the pieces of a puzzle filled with pure evil at its center. Can the detectives stop this killer before bodies pile up? What happened to this missing woman? Is she just another body in the deck?
Before receiving access to this ARC, I had never read one of the Monkeewrench series books. Despite my lack of reading the seven previous releases, I was able to understand the connections between characters and the current plot line. There were certainly times where specific things were mentioned that I felt confused on from lacking the backstory, but these instances did not hinder my enjoyment of the novel. Tracy created a story that was both captivating and terrifying. The reality that events like these could easily happen in a small town made the story an addictive read. The character development was complete and the reader was able to truly bond with each character throughout the story. Not having read any of Tracy’s work in the past, I was not familiar with the way narratives switched between characters as the chapters changed. I was caught off guard initially by this formatting, but was able to pick up on the changes easier and adapt the further I read.
NOTHING STAYS BURIED is a perfect novel for fans of the thriller genre who are intrigued by serial killers and scenarios that could happen to anyone. I would highly recommend picking this novel up regardless of if a reader has past experience with the Monkeewrench series or not. This book has been intrigued to head back and read the seven novels that came before in this series!
Thank you to G.P Putnam’s Sons and P.J. Tracy for providing me early access to this galley through Penguin’s First to Read program in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
The Minneapolis detectives soon find their case tied to Monkeewrench’s investigation. With a violent criminal and cartel connections, the two groups are in for a wild, violent ride. The potential for this killer to be after the goal of completing an entire deck of murders, puts things in fast motion. Unlikely connections between the two cases weave the pieces of a puzzle filled with pure evil at its center. Can the detectives stop this killer before bodies pile up? What happened to this missing woman? Is she just another body in the deck?
Before receiving access to this ARC, I had never read one of the Monkeewrench series books. Despite my lack of reading the seven previous releases, I was able to understand the connections between characters and the current plot line. There were certainly times where specific things were mentioned that I felt confused on from lacking the backstory, but these instances did not hinder my enjoyment of the novel. Tracy created a story that was both captivating and terrifying. The reality that events like these could easily happen in a small town made the story an addictive read. The character development was complete and the reader was able to truly bond with each character throughout the story. Not having read any of Tracy’s work in the past, I was not familiar with the way narratives switched between characters as the chapters changed. I was caught off guard initially by this formatting, but was able to pick up on the changes easier and adapt the further I read.
NOTHING STAYS BURIED is a perfect novel for fans of the thriller genre who are intrigued by serial killers and scenarios that could happen to anyone. I would highly recommend picking this novel up regardless of if a reader has past experience with the Monkeewrench series or not. This book has been intrigued to head back and read the seven novels that came before in this series!
Thank you to G.P Putnam’s Sons and P.J. Tracy for providing me early access to this galley through Penguin’s First to Read program in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
eve1972's review
5.0
Pretty good cover on this one. I like how the title and authors name appear to be partially buried. Nice touch that. It does lose a star because the author's name is WAY too big IMO.
So wow was this a fantastic read. I'll admit right upfront that I haven't read any of the previous books in this series. That said this could be read fine as a standalone. Of course, I am sure that the relationships, etc. are more fully explored through the first seven books, but I never felt lost reading this one.
It was fabulously well written and paced. The plot was interesting. There were twists and turns. There were a TON of characters which I find sometimes can be confusing as the names start to all blend together. That was not the case in this book. I had no trouble keeping who was who straight. The book was very atmospheric and the descriptions of places and characters vivid. I especially was fond of Walt.
Honestly, I don't have much more to say about this one. I loved it and will for sure be going back to read the first seven books when time allows. Two HUGE thumbs up from yours truly.
sandyd's review
4.0
Serial killer, drug cartels, Minnesota farmlands and Minneapolis parks, and a bunch of computer geeks and homicide detectives are all featured in this mystery (eighth in the series).