Sam is back from Afghanistan and has severe PTSD. He works at a bar with Melody who used to be in a famous rock band. They become friends but suddenly people that are connected to them end up dead. PJ Tracy normally writes the Monkeewrench series, and quite honestly, I like those books a lot better. A three star read for me.

4 stars

You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.

This is a good mystery/thriller that is a quick and easy read. Sam sustained a serious head injury in Afghanistan and is suffering from severe PTSD. He gets a job as a bar back in a club and is trying to deal with his injury and repair his failing marriage. One night Sam shelters his co-worker Melody who was beaten by her boyfriend. When the boyfriend turns up dead the next day, both Sam and Melody are suspects.

LAPD Detective Margaret Nolan's brother was recently killed overseas and is sympathetic to Sam and doesn't see him as a killer. Her partner disagrees. In addition to this murder, another detective is trying to catch a serial killer that is murdering young women. Events continue to get worse for Sam and Melody, and everyone wants the killers caught.

I don't know much about head injuries and PTSD, but it appears the author did their homework and does a good job of depicting Sam's symptoms and treatment. The author goes into quite a bit of detail, and it's just as big a part of the book as the mystery.

There are a few twists in the book, although I was able to figure out a few of them early on. It was still good to read how the author gets there, so it didn't spoil my enjoyment of the book. There are a few random events that seemed to just be thrown in, and you have to suspend disbelief for a few things, but overall, it was a fun book to read.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press. All opinions expressed in this review are mine.

Thanks to @minotaur_books and @netgalley for my e-arc in exchange for an honest review! Thus one came out last Tuesday, Jan 12!


TW: PTSD, alcoholism, death of loved ones

While I did find it a little slow and confusing in the beginning getting used to all the character names and the direction of the story, once I figured it out, I really enjoyed this book!

I haven’t read too many books that focus on a war veteran who has returned to “normal life” and trying to assimilate back into everyday life. This was very eye opening as the main character, Sam struggles immensely from PTSD, vivid dreams which border on psychosis, and alcoholism.

It turns out these vivid dreams he keeps having, about a fallen soldier, is trying to tell him something. This book also delves into the dirty world of the army and how they cover things up for the sake of power.

I recommend this book for people who want a refreshing take on life in LA- away from the touristy places. As well as, life after returning from Afghanistan.

This 1st in a series stars LAPD Detective Margaret Nolan and damaged veteran Sam Easton, whom she first meets as a murder suspect.

Sam suffers nightmares, episodes of amnesia, and PTSD from his time in Afghanistan. He works as a bartender. When friend and fellow employee Melody is beaten by her boyfriend Ryan, Sam takes her in. When Ryan is murdered, they both come under suspicion. Nolan and her partner catch the case.

The authors interweave a variety of unusual plot threads into this intricate mystery, a gripping thriller, with leads you will root for.

Although there have been some dozen books written by PJ Tracy (the pen name for a mother/daughter writing team), I have never read any of them before.

In this story, disfigured war veteran Sam Easton, suffering from and receiving treatment for PTSD is working as a back bartender. When fellow bartender and friend, Melody, is abused by a boyfriend, Sam tries to help her. Soon that abusive boyfriend turns up dead, as does Sam’s estranged wife. LA detectives, who have also been trying to track down a sadistic serial killer, turn their attention to Sam and Melody.

After I finished this novel, I read that it was supposed to introduce a new series about Detective Margaret Nolan. that was a surprise to me as the central and best developed character was Sam. Perhaps this was just an introduction to Nolan and future books will focus more on her.

Well written, with lots of colorful language, nothing was really a surprise and I did find myself skimming over some parts. Yet, I enjoyed the story and would certainly read the next in the series.

Thank you NetGalley and St Martin's Press for this arc.

I've read all and very much enjoyed the Monkeewrench series written by this author with her mother. I was a little hesitant to start Deep into the Dark, worried that it wouldn't have the same "vibes" found in the series. I truly enjoyed the intelligent, seemingly "damaged" characters of Monkeewrench but found them here as well. Okay, worth reading for me. I really like that she can write characters that overcome their past "traumas" to not only survive but thrive.

The first 20 - 25% seemed a little slow, as it was mostly introduction to the various characters and setting of seemingly disconnected story lines. After that point, it accelerated into a very high speed pace and didn't really let up. Yes, there was some gore and some really sick & twisted folks as well as some very relatable and likeable people. Overall and excellent read with just a whisper of an "end" too neatly "tied up" for me. But I will keep my eyes open for additions to this series.

4.5 stars

Being a fan of PJ Tracy's Monkeywrench series, I was excited to jump into Deep Into The Dark the first of her new series. And I was right to be excited. Deep Into the Dark introduces us to Margaret Nolan and her partner Al Crawford, Detectives in the LAPD's Homicide Special Section, and Remy Beaudreau, also a detective within the Division. As the cases start piling up, a common denominator seems to be Sam Easton, military veteran, Afghanistan survivor- but barely as he copes with physical and PTSD damages. Also on the radar is Melody Traeger, co-worker or maybe more to Sam Easton. PJ Tracy immediately draws us into these new characters, and it was evident that there was much more to discover about each of them. There was enough mystique about each person in this story that I really was suspicious of them all at some point. Tracy's use of PSDT, abuse and homicide kept me on edge throughout. While I believe the detectives, especially Margaret Nolan, are the basis for the series, it was Sam Easton who was the most developed character in this book. As with many first books in a series, there is a lot to introduce to the reader, so enough was set up that I am very interested in continuing to get to know the others, because we were left with the impression there is a lot more to know. I highly recommend Deep Into the Dark, and anxiously await the second in this series.

First off thank you @netgalley and @minotaur_books for this ARC. This book was published on 1/12 so you can get your copy today!

Review: ⭐️ ⭐️/5. This one unfortunately did not do it for me. I think a lot of it had to do with the layout of the ARC copy. It made it hard to tell when it was going from one set of characters to another, often leaving me confused and having to re-read to figure out what just happened. I am 100% sure this is why my rating dropped. The premise was good, however I feel the flow was off (again could be due to layout). I liked the ideas of Sam’s blackouts and “visions” but they kind of left that aspect hanging! I would recommend making your own decision on this one, but overall just didn’t cut it for me.

Deep Into The Dark – PJ Tracy

Sam Easton is a former soldier, who still struggles with PTSD from his last tour in Afghanistan, where his entire team was wiped out by an IED. Miraculously (or not) he survived, but with extensive injuries to one side of his face, that remain, along with the frequent nightmares. He sees his therapist weekly and works as a barback in one of many of L.A.’s establishments. His wife finally left three months ago, and Sam is still trying to put his life back together. He works with a young woman, Melody Traeger, who battles her own demons. A former band member of Poke, with the stage name ‘RoxyCodone’, she has put her past and her drug addiction behind her as she struggles to gain a sense of normalcy. When Melody is assaulted by her boyfriend, Sam looks out for her and offers her a place to stay.

Margaret “Maggie” Nolan is one of LAPD’s Homicide Detectives, and she and partner Al Crawford have just caught a case – a young woman who has been brutally killed and left for dead in a hotel room, a suspected victim of the ‘Miracle Mile Killer’. A task force has been formed; headed by fellow Detective Remy Beaudreau, who is determined to catch the killer, despite very few leads thus far. Maggie’s brother was also a war casualty, and she still struggles with his loss.

When Melody returns to her apartment, she finds someone has left her roses after climbing through a window – she assumes it’s Ryan trying to make amends, but he denies being the sender. Mel also notices a Jeep out in the street – she’s fairly certain she’s seen that Jeep before and wonders if she’s being followed. Fearful of the possibility of an unknown visitor, she looks to Sam for assistance. Then, her boyfriend Ryan is found dead, with another murder soon following in its wake, and Sam quickly comes under suspicion.

As Maggie and her team hunt for a killer, Sam and Mel take refuge, as they try to protect themselves from an unseen, yet relentless enemy. But he may be even closer than they think, as Sam also learns that some nightmares do come true…

I have long been a fan of P. J. Tracy’s Monkeewrench series, so I was super excited to see that a new series was in the works! Initially a mother daughter writing team, Tracy Lambrecht has taken a firm grip on the reins after her mother’s death, writing a gripping, page-turning, action packed thriller - with a true-to-life exploration of PTSD through Sam’s eyes - amidst murder and mayhem in the seedy background of the City of Angels. I can’t say enough! A great read, with all the promise of a fabulous series to come!

I received this book as an Advance Reader Copy from Netgalley, in exchange for an objective review. Do you love to read?? Visit netgalley.com and start reviewing books today!!

Dark Read… Slightly Predictable



This is my first arc for NetGalley for the year 2021 and my first book by P.J. Tracy. I did enjoy the storyline my only downfall and the only reason that this is a four-star read is that I saw lots of the twists coming and for a person who loves thrillers that is not always a good thing.
Two different storylines are featured here, the first of which is catching the person, or persons, who have been racking up murder victims along Los Angeles' Miracle Mile. LAPD Detective Margaret Nolan and her partner, Detective Al Crawford - plus another notable character or two - are on the case but not having much luck. On the other, Sam Easton, a former electrical engineer who is suffering from PTSD as a result of an Afghanistan attack that killed everyone in his squad except him, is working as a bar back in a popular local pub. His wife has left him, so he is alone with his nightmares and hallucinations and has only his job for solace. But when his co-worker, Melody, gets beaten by her snobby boyfriend, he is eager to help.

But the next day, Melody's boyfriend dies of very unnatural causes, Maggie and Al are called in and Sam quickly becomes a prime suspect - at least in Al's eyes. Maggie is not as quick to put the finger on Sam, though; she recently lost her brother who was serving overseas, making her more sympathetic to what Sam's going through. A day after Melody’s boyfriend is killed Sam’s wife is killed brutally as well.

What follows in the pages to come is a who done it that tries to keep you guessing and a couple in Melody and Sam who need answers. I enjoyed the dynamic of the LAPD partners and will read more in this series I only hope that it is less predictable. Thanks to NetGalley and all involved for my arc of this book worth the read.

I was given a chance to read this book, thank you. I was not able to finish reading this book, through no fault of the author. I have read her Monkeewrench series and really enjoyed them. However, despite trying to get interested in this book two or three times, it just was not holding my attention. Possibly I was just not in the miood for this kind of book at the time

This is not Monkeewrench.

This is seriously over-plotted, with entirely too many crazies. Character study remains Tracy's strong suit and there are definitely people to care about here. Unfortunately the series rides on a woman whose main attributes seem to be a dead brother, the intuition to not arrest the wrong guy, and a girlish crush on a fellow officer. There is basically no police work in a book that purports to follow a police officer. This isn't terrible, but it is disappointing.

I received a free copy from NetGalley. Turns out this is the first in a new series and the main character is not who I thought it was. Sam, a vet with PTSD, is not the main character for the new series, too bad. He was well developed as a character and interesting to follow his story. His co-worker and friend also plays a large role. But the new series lead character is the detective who probably plays the third largest role in the tales. Two different cases going on. Possibly tied together but likely not, it was a pretty good page turner and I would read another in the series.

Whoa- Deep into the Dark by P.J. Tracy is a seriously good, dive deep into a mystery of a serial killer on the loose and Sam Easton is the number one suspect.. what really goes on during these intense blackouts from his PTSD. The writing captured my attention from the beginning and hello to real characters with flaws. This is one intense read, would make an incredible movie too! The characters are what get me...so real with their scars (Sam) or their secrets (Melody) and their brilliant detective work (LAPD Detective Margaret Nolan). The way the themes are interwoven to tell a story that had me struggling to figure out what would happen... alas all of my guesses were wrong! (Bonus to be wrong!) Well written, fine writing with characters that seem to pop out of the book and sit down beside you.

Thank you to NetGalley for this temporary, digital advance review copy for me to read and enjoy! As always, my opinion is voluntary and my own!

P. J. Tracy has written a very enticing mystery thriller. The Monster has been killing people in LA and the homicide detectives are having a hard time finding who he/she is. Sam Easton, ex military with severe PTSD knows a few of the victims and worries about his estranged wife and friends. Melody Traeger was involved with the abusive Ryan Gallagher until he was killed, and Melody got a surprising gift of two dozen red roses the night after her fight with Ryan where she was slugged in the face.. they weren’t from Ryan so who were they from and there is a mysterious black Rubicon Jeep that keeps showing up Melody’s and Sam’s homes. Who owns the Jeep?
The intrigue is amazing and keeps you reading. The character build is also very good. You feel what the characters feel. Thank you Minatour Books and NetGalley for a preview copy of this book.
#Netgalley #DeepintotheDark #MinatourBooks

“Predators, prey, parasites – that was Los Angeles in three words, and more often than not, it was hard to make a distinction between them.”—from Deep into the Dark

Sam is a wounded soldier back from Afghanistan fighting intense PTSD nightmares. Despite having an engineering degree, Sam works at the Pearl Club as a bar back. There he meets Melody, a bartender with an equally bad backstory. When Melody’s boyfriend is killed, both are on the top of LAPD detectives Nolan and Al’s suspect list. At the same time, a serial killer is stalking women in LA’s Miracle Mile.

My favorite part of the book was its adjective-filled noir’ish prose. It also portrayed the feeling of living in Los Angeles very accurately. Unfortunately, the dearth of red herrings, or even suspects, made the mystery much too easy to solve. Plus the final twist was totally unbelievable—even after reading it twice. For those reasons, Deep into the Dark gets 3 stars.

Thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

A standalone mystery by one of my favorite authors. Sam Easton is having a difficult time recovering from his time in the military. He is permanently scarred on one side of his face and his wife is having a difficult time helping him through the nightmares. Receiving professional help is beginning to make a difference, but probably not in time to save his marriage. Sam works with bartender Melody Traeger at the Pearl and they have become friends. When Sam and Melody become persons of interest in another case, LAPD Detective Margaret Nolan believes in Sam’s innocence while her partner, Detective Remy Beaudreau, who is investigating a third savage murder in three months, is not so sure. Sam suffers through periods when he believes he sees the ghost of one of his dead comrades, is he going crazy? A twisted mystery with a surprise ending. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)

Sam Easton is a broken man on the inside. Discharged from the army after being in a humvee explosion, he suffers from memory loss, blackouts, and night terrors. His situation doesn’t improve when his wife decides separation might be the best thing for him to be able to heal and for her to get back to the self that she’s lost.

Melody, a college student, is bartender at the Pearl Club where Sam also works. She’s trying to make a better life for herself after a downward spiral in her past led her to rock bottom.

After Melody is beat by her boyfriend, she turns to Sam, and the very next day her boyfriend is found dead. All signs lead to Sam but this is just the beginning. Someone has their sights set on both of them and will do nothing until they’re at his mercy.

I’m a sucker for thrillers like this so I was excited to read about Sam and Melody. Both damaged but trying to cope with present life while also trying to make a better future for themselves. How the killer messed with their minds by making sure they knew they were targets. The only thing I wasn’t too fond of was that I realized who the killer was early on in the book. His reasoning was a bit childish but I truly enjoyed the showdown at the end!

Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Minotaur Books for a copy of the book!

Longtime fans of the mother and daughter writing team P.J. Tracy have wondered whether or not daughter Traci would continue the Monkeewrench series after the death of mother P.J.
I haven’t seen the question answered definitively, but Traci has gotten off to an excellent start with the first book, Deep into the Dark (Margaret Nolan #1) of a new series.
Deep into the Dark is more than a standard police procedural. First there are the accounts of murders from two wildly different categories. LAPD’s storied Robbery Homicide Division aka RHD is investigating both sets. Margaret Nolan, a detective new to the famous boys club is investigating murders that involve Sam Easton, a terribly wounded veteran. This is also the story of two work friends protecting each other by trying to solve the murders they are involved in. Deep into the Dark is also a sensitive study of severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) with all of its fears and ugliness. Finally, this is PJ Tracy’s announcement that she has this covered, this launch of a new series.
Initially the serial killer investigation and the individual investigations seem to have no connections. Then Afghanistan veteran, Sam Easton, suffering from PTSD, seems to be connected to both homicide investigations. This doesn’t bode well for Sam, despite his alibis and his outstanding military career and connections.
Tracy’s writing is stunning at times. Two quick examples if I may: “Nobody who genuinely feared for their life thought about killing themselves; they just thought about survival.” and then: “…discomfited by the realization that she was hot for a human version of a redacted document, which said more about her than him.” My espn guess for the future: that so-called ‘redacted document’ will have a much stronger role in the next book of the series. What a sensitive way to describe serious hurting and what a great way to describe a puzzling character. Frankly I could pick examples of outstanding prose from almost every page.
Deep into the Dark is more Sam’s story than Margaret Nolan’s story. Not only was Sam the stronger character, there were two or three story lines that connect Afghanistan, Sam, and the serial killings that remain unresolved. I wonder if Sam will return, or if those questions will remain unanswered. Just like what happens in life. I hope Margaret becomes a more delineated character.
This book is darker than the Monkeewrench Gang, and –please forgive me for this- they weren’t any barrel of laughs. I highly recommend reading Deep into the Dark for its atypical crimes, and the sensitive portrayal of a doubly scarred man in deep pain who is trying his best.
Thank you to NetGalley for an Arc. The opinions are entirely my own.

This book did get dark. I enjoyed this thriller and it did keep me guessing/wondering (disclaimer: I’m perfectly happy to let an author lead down whatever path; I’m not one to try very hard to guess whodunnit). I think some story lines were introduced but not well developed although this appears to be the first in a series so maybe that’s intentional. The marketing blurb says it “features” Detective Nolan but she is not the top character to me. I hope Sam and Melody reappear as I liked them. I would read the next in the series to see how (and who) the author develops as well as see what the plot will be. I can easily see this as a tv show and featuring a vet with active PTSD would add some diversity and education to police shows.