Disclaimer - I hadn't read any of the previous 8 books in this series. I didn't feel like I was missing out on anything other than character familiarity because all of the recurring characters and their connections were described pretty well. I was thankful for that and for not being confused.

The story immediately piqued my interest as the action started from the very first chapter. I admired how easily and seamlessly the pages turned, and that many of the chapters jumped from one character's story to another, building up to solving the murder-mystery.

The characters were likable and I felt engaged all the way through.

was a gripping thriller that took you to every aspect of trying to figure out what was really going on and what was going to happen next! This was such an amazing book and I can’t wait to see what else is released from this author!

First, I highly recommend reading the earlier books first. but this one is a great addition to the series with twists and turns and a wonderful storyline.

I adore the Monkeewrench series and loved, loved, loved the first 3 books especially. This book, the 9th in the series, is another great addition to the Monkeewrench team's story. It can be read as a standalone, but you will enjoy it so much more if you've read at least a few of the prior books. Tracy's character development is always awesome though, so you won't have trouble following along.

What a wild ride from beginning to end! It would have been easier to understand who everybody was if I had already read the previous books in this series. However, I enjoyed the Midwest setting and fast pace of the story. As the murders piled up, it was interesting to see how everything connected. I definitely plan to go back and read this series from the beginning so I can get better acquainted with the continuing characters. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of The Guilty Dead. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.

The Guilty Dead is part of the Monkeewrench series by author P.J. Tracy. One year after the apparent suicide of his son Trey, Gregory Norwood is found dead in his home. Is it suicide or is something more sinister at play? When detectives Leo Magozzi and Gino Rolseth start investigating, it becomes clear that it is not an open-and-shut case. With no suspects, but some confusing digital evidence, the Minneapolis Police Department calls on Monkeewrench Software for assistance.

I am usually a fan of police procedural thrillers, but the author gave away too much from the outset to grab my attention. Too many pieces of the puzzle were thrown into the air and the author took too long to connect the parts. I did not really feel invested in the characters and found it difficult to become engrossed in the story. In a genre full of exciting police procedural thrillers with unexpected twists and turns, The Guilty Dead does not rank high enough for me to give it a ringing endorsement.

A year after the suicide of his troubled son, Gregory Norwood is found dead in his home of an apparent – but unlikely – suicide. While Detectives Gino and Magozzi investigate, the Monkeewrench team uses their latest technology to home in on suspected terrorist threats in the city. The investigation into Norwood’s death not only unravels family secrets but connects both family deaths to the tragedy the Monkeewrench team is working so hard to prevent.

Having started this series at book 7, I’m now three books in and wishing I had all the time in the world to go back and start at the beginning. At this point, I really enjoy the connection between the Monkeewrench team members, watching the relationship between Magozzi and Grace deepen, and more than anything, getting to be “present” for all of Grace’s personal growth. Unfortunately, this book focused much more heavily on Detectives Magozzi and Gino, and Grace and her team felt more like supporting actors than major players. While I appreciate getting to know Magozzi better, and the story was still very well written, I definitely felt Grace’s absence, and I missed the quirky comradery of the Monkeewrench gang.

If you are already in love with this series, you’ll want to read this. If you are new to the series, I’d start with an earlier installment, so that you come into this one loving them already. ;)

Note: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley. I pride myself on writing fair and honest reviews.

I've been a fan of this series from the beginning, reading about the Monkeewrench gang of IT geniuses has always been entertaining. This latest entry in the series concentrates less on Monkeewrench and more on the police detectives in Minneapolis who usually work with them . Two separate cases intertwine starting with the death of a local millionaire. The plotting is meticulous and you'll find yourself tearing through the book. Highly recommended!

It was so good to see these characters again, I have loved them since the first book and I eagerly look forward to continuing stories with them.
The thing I like the most is the progression of the characters, and I really like hearing their background story. Learning more about Harley was appreciated, I hope we can learn more about the other characters as well.

Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for a copy of this book to read and review. I finished this book in August.

I was given a copy of this book by the publisher, so was unaware that it was a book far into a series of books. While this would normally cause a lot of issues with plot and character development, I did not feel that way at all. I was drawn immediately into the story line and while I'm sure I have a lot of background to learn on the characters, it did not impede my enjoyment of the book. Loved that the story was based in Minnesota, where I spend some of my favorite years as a young adult! A fairly quick read as the pace is fast and intriguing. A mix of drama, murder, and terrorism. I definitely will want to continue with this series and catch myself up on some of the characters from the previous books.

This is an entertaining police procedural crime thriller set in the present time. The story begins with several murders which are disguised as accidental drug overdoses and a suicide. The subsequent police investigation moves at a brisk pace through to an exciting and mildly surprising conclusion.

The story is almost entirely plot-driven with little character development. Of course, character development was probably done in the previous eight books in this series. This book can be read as a standalone without difficulty and may encourage a newcomer to the series to read the earlier books.


Recommended.


Thanks to the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, and Netgalley for providing a copy of the eBook. The comments are my own.

Murders made to look like a suicide?

“Trey Norwood is dead from a suspected heroin overdose”. This bit of “breaking news” comes back to haunt Minneapolis Detectives, Leo Magozzi and Gino Rolseth, when exactly one year on, they are called to the house of Trey’s father because he is found with a single bullet to his head and the gun on the floor beside him. It looks like his son’s suicide was too much to bear, and he has killed himself. But is this really suicide?

Grace MacBride is Leo Magozzi’s partner and is due to give birth to their first child. She hopes that the computer program she’s co-writing with fellow programmers Annie and Roadrunner, and their leader, Harley Davidson, is finished before the baby arrives. The software they are working on will help speed up FBI Special Agent Dahl’s frantic search to uncover those involved in a terrorist plot aimed at destroying Minneapolis.

PJ Tracy’s two storylines weave together with ease. All the characters are strong and believable. My biggest regret is that I’ve not read the previous books in this series, so there were times I felt that I didn’t know the full history of how all the main protagonists connect. However, that is a very slight niggle, and hopefully, I won’t have this problem with the next book in the series, because I am so looking forward to reading it.

Treebeard

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.

It is always such a treat to head back to Minnesota and spend time with the Monkeewrench Gang again. As always, I was sucked right in to the story, loving the reunion with these characters who feel so real to me.

The mystery was fascinating and I loved trying to guess who the bad guy was. The setting came to life and I felt like I was right there in it.

I highly recommend this book to lovers of mysteries and lovers of the Monkeewrench Gang, however you can pick this one up and read it and not feel lost even if you’ve never read any of the other books in the series. But I do recommend you go back and read the rest of the books in the series when you’ve finished this one. It is a fabulous series and this is a great addition to it.

One of the funny things about reading a series is that if/when there’s a longish wait between books, you can forget how much you like—and how much you’ve missed—those characters, and all the little details of their lives that you’ve learned.

So it was with me and the “Monkeewrench” gang (which first appeared in the 2004 book by the same name), and whom I’ve eagerly followed ever since. I’d check the web every once in awhile to see if a new book—the ninth in that series, now—was due, only to be disappointed. 

The wait is finally over, though, and—thank the stars—The Guilty Dead does not disappoint.


The Monkeewrench team of cyber-tech experts (aka hackers)—a cobbled-together oddball squad of misfits who share, among other things, sordid/unhappy pasts, distrust/dislike of Big Government, and, obviously, solid geek skills—is intact, and still working from their “office” digs in one of the member’s fancy Minneapolis mansion. They still operate mostly on the down-low, although they’ve taken some semi-legit jobs, too. They still have a love/hate (okay, both “love” and “hate” might be a tad strong… let’s go with “mutually, grudgingly tolerant”) relationship with the police force.

But, other things have changed—grown, evolved—in the interim… none more life-altering than the team’s prickly, badass, tough-gal-of-a-leader, Grace MacBride, not only continuing to see Monkeewrench’s previous nemesis, Detective Leo Magozzi, romantically… but opting to have the love chid their union has created.

This time out, the team splits their energies on multiple, simultaneous jobs: designing a program that can help to identify serious threats; aiding Magozzi and his partner, Rolseth, in figuring out who is behind the murder of a wealthy, beloved philanthropist; and helping the FBI locate a probable local terrorist cell (before it can carry out its grand mission)… all while Grace is due (with the wee MacBride-Magozzi) at any moment.


There is so much to appreciate about The Guilty Dead. First, it’s always good seeing character growth and having new dimensions added, and Tracy accomplishes that. Also, I was so pleased there wasn’t much rehashing of all the old back stories—just a smidgen, so that a newbie would be able to follow along and enjoy the story without feeling lost, while long-time readers of the series wouldn't feel compelled to yawn.


The Guilty Dead is also au courant, with ripped-from-the-headline plots, sub-plots, and attitudes. Interweaving family issues and entanglements with politics and the sort of threats we hear about every day, Tracy produces a tale with some surprising twists and turns, and a nice amount of suspense. 

Read it all in a couple of sittings, or space it out over a week or two, it really doesn’t matter; The Guilty Dead delivers, and proves itself worth the wait.

~GlamKitty

The Guilty Dead is the 9th book in the Monkeewrench series. Gregory Norwood, a wealthy Minnesota businessman with political ties, is found dead of an apparent suicide on the one-year anniversary of his son's death by overdose. The police believe it's an open and shut case at first until they find another body at the scene. The case quickly escalates into a complex murder investigation. The local police are also dealing with terrorist threats related to tracking software being tested by the FBI. The software, developed by Monkeewrench, will enable law enforcement to track terrorists world-wide.

This book is complex with lots of action, intrigue, murder and mayhem. The characters are all well developed with their own individual strengths and weaknesses. This is the first book in the Monkeewrench series that I have read. I think I might have understood the characters, the software company and some of the nuances of the plot better if I had read more of the series. I enjoyed this story despite jumping into things on the 9th book. I'm going to backtrack and start at the beginning...then re-read this book when I through the first 8 of this series. I definitely liked the characters, the suspense and the premise of this book. I think I would enjoy it more a second time after learning more background on the characters and Monkeewrench. I already have book 1 on hold at my local library!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Crooked Lane via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

Never come into a series at #9. There is some back story that I missed so it was hard to develop a relationship with these characters.

Wealthy businessman Gregory Norwood is found shot dead in his home on the first anniversary of his son Trey's drug overdose. Along with a recent diagnosis of terminal cancer, it seems that grief and despair had driven Norwood to commit suicide. But Minneapolis homicide detectives Gino Rolseth and Leo Magozzi soon find clues that indicate Norwood had been murdered. There are also signs that a photographer had been on the Norwood grounds that morning and has now disappeared.

The Monkeewrench crew are ready to beta test a prototype system that can help law enforcement detect planned terrorist activity. The FBI wants Monkeewrench to use the system to confirm chatter that an attack on Minneapolis is imminent. And Monkeewrench co-founder Grace MacBride is eight months pregnant and looking forward to the birth of her first child.

The two subplots come together in a terrifying, thrilling conclusion. This was another great read in the Monkeewrench mystery series.

I received an eARC via Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and provided this review.

I am once again very grateful to NetGalley for providing me with a Kindle copy of this book to read and honestly review. I am especially grateful because they have re-introduced me to the "Monkeewrech" gang, of which this is book 9 in the series. I read and thoroughly enjoyed the first 4 books, and then for some inexplicable reason lost touch for around ten years. Actually i suspect that books 5 and 6 are in boxes in the loft, unfortunately there are at present three bookshelves in the bedroom full to bursting with books waiting to be read, but after finishing this excellent thriller a trip to the loft may be in order.
For those of you out there who have not yet read any of the series, let me assure you this book could be read as a standalone story without spoiling your enjoyment, though expect to find yourself hooked and wanting more. As usual the characterisation is superb, a plot full of twists and surprise, fast paced and gripping from first to last, with action and drama a plenty. Topical with a terrorist plot to bomb Minnesota seemingly imminent and our heroes providing the FBI with there expert computer skills to identify suspects, but could Gino and Magozzi's murder mystery and possible cold case error be linked, i will say no more to spoil my fellow readers enjoyment.
Completely and utterly recommended.

I really loved this book! My review is going to be short but that's because before I hit request on this book on NetGalley, I didn't realize this was part of a series! So, while I really liked this book, I need to go back to the beginning to really understand the characters, which will allow for a more detailed and full review.

But - it was great to read book 9 and not be completely lost. I do need more to feel really comfortable, but refreshing to not have to put the book down altogether because of not being caught up.

Love the characters - one reason why I am starting from the beginning. I love learning more about teams and how they work and don't work. Great story line, and it kept me guessing.

Can't wait to go back to the beginning!

This is the first book in the Monkeewrench Series that I have read, but it is the ninth book overall. Although this book works as a stand alone, after reading this one I would like to start at book one so as to get a better sense of the character dynamics and background.

The prologue definitely grabs your attention and makes you want to continue on. Well known Minnesota philanthropist Gregory Norwood's son Trey is found dead from a suspected heroin overdose. This does not come as a shock to those that knew Trey. One year later, on the anniversary of Trey’s death, Gregory Norwood is also found dead. It appears that Gregory’s grief has caught up with him and he has taken his own life. But certain things seem suspicious in this case, and the detectives question whether it was suicide or homicide. Detectives Leo Magozzi and Geno Rolseth try to piece together the strange case to ultimately find out what happened. The detectives soon find themselves tracking several different cases that all seem to be connected. One of them is a decade old murder that at first seemed inconsequential.

The Monkeewrench crew is doing some analyzing with a new algorithm and they discover that city hall might be a possible target for terrorists. The frantically race to crack the code before it's too late.

This is a tale of revenge, mistaken identity, and murder. Plenty of plot twists and misdirection keep you guessing along the way. I would recommend this book to fans of mysteries and thrillers.

I. received this as a free ARC from Crooked Lane Books on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.