Cover Image: Deep into the Dark

Deep into the Dark

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Member Reviews

This is my first book of this author, unfortunately it did not work really well for me. According to the book title, this is a new series for Detective Margaret Nolan, but after I finished reading it, I did not see how the main character herself engaged enough starting from the first chapter until half of the book.

I enjoyed reading mystery/thriller books, but whenever the story is also a slow burn, I end up losing my interest to continue reading it, and this book (sadly) was a slow burn for me. Also, the story between Sam and Melody was taking almost the whole book besides Det. Margaret Nolan herself, both of the characters created a special bond so much which almost made me feel like reading a fiction book, not a mystery book.

With that being said, I liked the twist, I liked the tense part where the “bad guy” finally showed the face, but (unfortunately) Det. Margaret Nolan did not give much effort in order to reveal the mystery itself.

Thank you to Minotaur Books, St. Martin Press and NetGalley, for providing me the ARC of this book in exchange with my honest review.

3 stars

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This was my first P.J Tracy book and I, unfortunately, didn't love it. There was nothing overly bad about it but it just wasn't for me. I found there to be too many characters and a confusing storyline. It took me awhile to understand who was talking and what was actually happening in the story. The characters felt underdeveloped which was too bad.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

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An entertaining book. Sam Easton is at home after having been in Afghanistan. He seeks to rebuild his life, which is why he works and attends therapy. One day his friend Melody Traeger is beaten by her boyfriend and asks for his help. The next day Melody's boyfriend turns up dead, and Sam is the perfect suspect. However, Detective Margaret Nolan thinks Sam is possibly innocent. It is a book that kept my attention all the time. However, there were times when I had a hard time understanding what was happening. Despite this, I kept reading because of the curiosity it generated me. I wonder what story the next book will hold. I thank St Martin's Press and Minotaur Books for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for my review.

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For those of you newbies, P.J. Tracy is the pseudonym of Traci Lambrecht. Traci and her mom, P.J., co-authored the Monkeewrench series (which I loved) before P.J. passed away in 2016. Now Traci launches a brand-new series with Deep Into the Dark.

Trust me when I tell you that the P.J. Tracy magic still clearly comes through in this new book. Although it starts as a bit of a slow burn, which I think is necessary in the beginning of a new series when you’re learning to love new characters, it quickly accelerates, making me deeply care about what happens to Sam and Melody.

Deep Into the Dark meets all my mystery/thriller requirements. There’s strong character development, a fast-paced and engaging plot, and the added bonus of a serial killer bent on terrifying Los Angeles. Have I hooked you yet?

Be sure to check out this first book in P.J. Tracy’s new series, and, when you’re completely captivated, go check her backlist. You won’t be disappointed!

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This was a decent read, but I felt like something was missing. I didn’t love the book, but I also didn’t dislike it. It was strong writing and the pace was good. I also enjoyed the short chapters which kept me hanging on for more. I would like to see what else Tracy comes out with next.

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Deep into the Dark brings together two unlikely friends as they battle their demons while having to confront additional life obstacles. Sam Easton and Melody discover that someone is messing with their life and they will have to trust each other in order to survive. It was multi-layered suspense mystery that had me guessing up until the reveal who was behind all the killings. Looking forward for the characters introduced in this novel to continue on--there are more stories yet to tell about these dynamic characters.

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This is the first book I have read by this author, but I will be looking for more. This book was very intriguing and had me guessing to the end. I hope there is going to be more to this story and I can't wait to read it. Meanwhile I am off to read more by P.J. Tracy, who will soon be one of my new favorite authors

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DON'T EXPECT MONKEYWRENCH!

I don't know what I expected but I was so wrong. This is a much darker theme. I liked all of the characters but it took a while. Just enjoy something different. I did. The writing is as good if not better. I could not put it down I miss my monkey wrench crew but this is just another side to a very talented author.

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I found this to be an ok read. A bit plodding but interesting to power through. Will probably try it again soon. Thanks for the ARC!

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I loved the PJ Tracy books when they were written by the mother and daughter team. So clever, funny, and fast-paced. This was totally unlike those books. Not a trace of wit, and the story jumped between narrators far too much.

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A new series by the author(s) of the Monkeewrench series. This one is every bit as good as their previous series. Great characters, fast paced plot, a sense of humor and some unexpected twists.. I literally could not put this down. I nearly read it straight through (just a little sleep in between). Highly recommended

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3.5⭐/5⭐
Sam was in Army and his service in Afghanistan left him visibly scarred and diagnosed with PTSD. Now he is working as a bartender at a club. His wife has left him and now he is on his own to deal
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Melody Traeger is Sam Easton colleague. She is a student plus she works at bar too. Melody has her own history. One day she asked Sam to help her after she’s beaten up by her boyfriend. A day later, Melody's boyfriend is murdered, and Sam becomes a suspect. The two characters both are damaged and together created a thoroughly entertaining story.
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This is the first book of the series and the main patrogonist is LAPD Detective Margaret Nolan whon is investigating the case however her show is undoubtedly stolen by Sam Eastons.

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This is a great new series - the characters are strong, smart, flawed and believable. I would love to sit down with them to deep dive into this adventure/case over drinks!

The writing style is smooth, highly entertaining and educational (learned a few things about PTSD, the terminology associated with it) while my heart raced through the drama of the case.

If you enjoy Patricia Cornell or James Patterson, this new series will be a treat.

I look forward to more of this crime solving team.

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A intelligent and thoughtful thrill ride. Very character driven story, the author layers the story so the characters and plot really draw you in. Deep into the Dark was a mysterious and intriguing ride, I would’ve definitely recommend it.

** I received an electronic ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review of this book.

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I am a huge fan of the author’s Monkeewrench series so I could not wait to get my hands on this one. I enjoyed this one also and think it is a solid start to the new series. The writing was very good and kept me interested throughout. I liked the characters and I am interested in learning more about them as their stories evolve.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

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I have never read anything by P.J. Tracy before and this one was good. Storyline deals with PTSD, domestic violence, recovering from addiction...basically a lot of triggers. However, while the underlying "who done it" was a good one, I feel like I learned quite a bit about trauma and brain injury as well. The vocabulary was a bit high brow in some cases, but I looked them up and am now smarter. Recommended.

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An enjoyable thriller with two "wounded" protagonists trying heal and continue with their lives when they are suddenly thrown in a series of murders that seem to always circle back to them. It was a fun read that I was easily sucked into. Looking forward to reading more by this author!

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This was an ok thriller book. I felt that the author had not fully developed the characters, everything seemed wooden and without emotion. I could see Sam's voice clearly but everyone elses was dull.
THis was not the authors usual fast paced work.
Plus the plot was weak and we really didn't get a full understanding of the killer motives.
Just a subpar book and plot.

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Sam and Melody, each struggling with issues from their past, have formed a friendship after working together at a trendy Los Angeles bar, The Pearl. They find themselves embroiled in not one, but two murder mysteries, which puts them on Detective Margaret Nolan and her partner’s radar. Sam struggles with severe PTSD which has been resulting in creepy hallucinations and disturbing dreams. An unfortunate complication when dealing with the strange occurrences that Melody and Sam keep encountering.

After reading the book description and seeing the series is named after the lead detective, I was a little thrown by how little time was spent with Detective Margaret Nolan. I think a large portion was focused on Sam and Melody, which wasn’t a bad thing as I really enjoyed getting to know them and liked their characters. It was just a surprise. Sam and Melody are forced to rely heavily on each other, and I wonder about how their relationship will play out in future books or if they’ll even be in the coming books. The series is called Detective Margaret Nolan, so maybe not?

After being a big fan of the Monkeywrench series I was excited to pick up P.J. Tracy’s newest endeavor. Also, a bit nervous. When you’re a fan of a particular series and they come up with something new there’s expectations. It did take me a bit to get into the story, but when I made myself sit down and concentrate, the story was engrossing. It was easy to make out the killer once the person appeared on the page, and I did suspect how the situation would come to a head. I will say that even knowing that things got pretty crazy in the end making for an action-packed, crazy-town-finish!

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Deep into the Dark is one of the best books I've read in quite a while. Injured by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan, Sam is working on getting his life back together in LA while dealing with PTSD and the probable end of his marriage. Sam's good friend Melody, his coworker at a local lounge, knows she can trust him to help her out when she needs to get away from an aggressive boyfriend and an unknown stalker. But when others close to Melody and Sam are murdered, they become the top suspects.
With clever plotting, the story takes an unexpected turn when Sam and Melody both find themselves in danger. I read this book in one day and look forward to reading more works by this author. I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and am happy to have had this opportunity.

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