PJ Tracy, author of the popular Monkeewrench series, is a new-to-me author. Originally the mother-daughter writing duo of P.J and Tracy Lambrecht, after the death of PJ in 2017, daughter Tracy continued writing under the same pseudonym. Deep into the Dark is the first book in her new series and is a slow burn, character-driven story with just enough mystery to keep me turning the pages and quite dark subject matter.

The chapters are short and pivot between different characters, giving readers a variety of perspectives. But while the series features Detective Maggie Nolan, she shares a surprising amount of the spotlight with Sam Easton, a mentally and physically scarred war vet and his coworker Melody Traeger. Despite this different focus, Tracy gives her characters depth and hearty doses of emotional baggage to contend with, which makes for an interesting cast. I applaud the author for not holding back on the darker subject matter, particularly the intense effects of PTSD on war vets and how it influences their family members, but sometimes this focus took precedence over the murder investigation.

I enjoyed this book, but I was disappointed that I guessed the culprit early on and felt that the plot unraveled a bit at the end requiring me to suspend disbelief in how things panned out. Perhaps there was just too much going on, particularly when we're just getting to know Maggie.

This was a bit of a mixed bag for me but I overall I enjoyed it and think the main characters and general premise have good promise for a new series. I liked that the author doesn't shy away from big topics and I'm hoping Maggie becomes more of the focus in future books so readers can connect with her as the main character of this series.

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Minotaur Books, St Martin's Press for my advanced digital copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.

At the beginning, I didn’t think I was going to like this book. There were a ton of big words, that I had to look up the definitions for, so I was getting confused. After about a fourth of the book, it really took off. It grabbed my attention and held it for the remainder of the story. I ended up really enjoying the mystery, glad I did not give up.

This is clearly a PJ Tracy book with the intersecting stories common in the Monkeeswrench series, but, just as clearly, we're no longer in the midwest anymore. A little bit noir, a little bit psychological thriller, and a little bit police procedural, Deep into the Dark was a enjoyable read that kept me guessing..

Thanks to St Martins Press for access to a digital ARC via NetGalley.

3.5 Stars
This is the first book I have read by PJ Tracy and I was not disappointed. This story is a combination of two interconnected storylines of a serial killer in Los Angeles and the death of the abusive boyfriend of former junkie turned bartender Melody, Melody turns for help to her friend at the bar, Army veteran Sam Easton, who suffers from PTSD and is trying to get his own life together. In the eyes of one Senior LAPD Detective, Sam is the primary suspect but his subordinate, Detective Margaret Nolan, disagrees and leads the investigation. The book is fast paced, with complicated characters and some twists and turns that will keep you turning pages. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have read all of P.J. Tracy's Monkeewrench series and have enjoyed them all. This book is the start of another series by her set in Los Angeles. Sam Easton is back from Afghanistan and is separated from his wife. He is working as a bartender and is helping Melody Traeger who was beaten by her boyfriend, Ryan. When Ryan turns up dead, Sam becomes the major suspect. LAPD Detective Margaret Nolan cannot believe that Sam is guilty. How can she prove Sam's innocence?
This book explores obsession, revenge and grief. I found the characters well-developed and the plot action-packed. Even though the murderer was not a complete surprise, I do look forward to the next book in the series. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Minotaur Books for a free copy for an honest review.

If you love mysteries, you will love Deep into the Dark by P.J. Tracy. The characters are fabulous and their backgrounds lead you to continually wonder "what if..."
Sam recently returned from Afghanistan. He is seriously suffering from PTSD. His wife has left him, he can barely hold on to a job and he is having blackouts.
Melody is a bartender at the high end bar in which Sam also works. She too has a past that leaves the reader wondering whether or not she is capable of the evils that are occuring in the story.
The whole "whodunnit" leads to fabulous pacing. I easily read it in two settings because I needed to know who was involved in the various murders.
Thank you to Netgalley for this review copy. I look forward to reading more of Tracy's novels.

I have long been a fan of P.J. Tracy's Monkeewrench series and was excited to see a new venture, that I hope will become a series. Deep into the Dark did not disappoint. This book has many levels, Sam and Melody are damaged people, one from her choices and relationships, one from his experience in Afghanistan. They are each connected to victims of serious crimes that may or may not be related. LAPD Margaret Nolan's investigation pulls the separate threads together and everything comes together in an exciting conclusion. Thsi book is clearly well researched, and the author's description of Sam's PTSD, Melody's mindset as a victim of abuse, and Det. Nolan's complicated personality add depth to this book. I am looking forward to more in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was gripping, fast paced and crazy - what more can you ask for in a book? I can't wait to read more by PJ Tracy.

Pick this up if you love a fast paced thriller.

I've read and very much enjoyed a couple of other books by this author, so I was delighted to be approved for a pre-release copy of this one through NetGalley. And I'm happy to say it did not disappoint.

Two 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. In the other, Sam Easton, a former electrical engineer who's 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's alone with his nightmares and hallucinations and has only his job for solace. But when his co-worker, Melody, gets beaten up by her snobby boyfriend, he's 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 isn't 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.

Melody's boyfriend may be out of the picture, but it soon becomes clear that someone else may be stalking her (and possibly Sam as well). Meantime, they meet up with a young and very rich filmmaker wannabe who leans toward being totally nuts - and he shows them a script he thinks would be perfect with Sam and Melody as the stars even though they have no acting experience whatsoever.

Everything comes together at the end (well, not everything; this is the first book in a new series, so bread crumbs leading to the next one are left on the ground). And therein lies one of the things I wasn't so crazy about; the main character in the series is supposed to be Margaret. But it's Sam who, to me at least, unquestionably steals this show (even if, PTSD notwithstanding, he came across as a little too "perfect"). Margaret's character, on the other hand, isn't nearly as well developed - so in the end it's Sam, not Margaret, about whom I'd love to read more (of course, who's to say he won't make future appearances - if I get a vote on that score, it's a resounding yes).

That said, the series is off to a strong start and I look forward to the next one. Thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy.

Deep into the dark was a great read. Fast paced and a good thriller. Start to an awesome new series. Sam, Melody and Nolan are awesome characters. There’s a touch of what seems like romance in the future books. The story just takes off right from the first page.

This is my first book by P. J. Tracy and it certainly won’t be my last!  After Melody’s boyfriend gives her a black eye,  she turns to Sam, a coworker who suffers greatly from PTSD after serving in Afghanistan.  The next day her boyfriend turns up dead and Sam becomes a prime suspect in the case.  New comer Detective Margaret Nolan isn’t so sure that Sam is guilty and she sets out to prove it to her older, more experienced partner. Unfortunately, another murder the very next day makes Sam look even more guilty, but is he?   Meanwhile there is also a serial killer in LA, killing women on the street, and it looks like the two cases just might be connected, but how?  Filled with complex characters this was a fast paced read that leaves you rooting for Melody and Sam.  A couple I wouldn’t mind seeing more of in future books along with Detective Nolan.

Really enjoyed this introduction into a new series. The characters were so well defined. The story was filled with twists and turns. Three characters are introduced Sam , Melody, and detective Nolan. The characters each are dealing with demons of their own The author explores obsession, revenge, and grief

Sam Easton came back to LA from his second stint in Afghanistan with half his face scarred and a bad case of PTSD. His wife Yuki had moved out because she had waked by his screams too many times. He had a job working the bar back at the Pearl Club. Melody Traeger was a bartender there and the two were casual friends. Melody had a boyfriend, Ryan. He was very jealous, and one night he tells Melody to quit her job. When Melody says she won't, he slugs her, giving her a black eye. She shows up at Sam's at midnight and sleeps on his couch.

When Melody checks her home the next day, she finds someone has come in through a window and left a huge bouquet of red roses. She assumes it was Ryan, and was very annoyed that he would break into her home. However, she soon finds that someone has killed Ryan that morning, and she has a secret staulker. Sam is one of the prime suspects for Ryan's murder which becomes a case for Margaret (Maggie) Nolan and her partner Al Crawford. Maggie's brother Max died in the service, and she has sympathy for Sam, but Crawford thinks Sam is slam dunk for the murder.

Things get pretty dicey when there is another murder and Maggie and her partner Al Crawford have their work cut out. There is a lot of suspense and you won't be able to put the book down as you draw near the end. Are these murders connected to those of the Monster who is brutally killing women? And then, what the story on the black jeep that has been seen near more than one crime scene.

The characters seem very real, and the story is well put together. This looks like a great new series, In this first book of the Margaret Nolan mysteries, it appeared that Sam and Melody are the main characters.

I was curious about the title Deep into the Dark. From a psychological stand point it could mean going places in the mind that are seldom sought out, places that are not easily explained. This book lived up to and often beyond my expectations. The protagonist is a deeply flawed survivor of the war in the middle east who suffers from a severe case of PTSD. He is intelligent and with the help of a skilled psychiatrist he is working through nightmares and the broken parts of his mind. Throw in a brutal serial killer and a few good homicide detectives who are working to capture the killer and you have a book worth reading. The story has lots of twists that keeps the book
interesting from beginning to end.

I received an Advanced Reader's Copy from the author and St Martin's Press through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.
#DeepintotheDark #NetGalley

A very satisfying read with fun characters that I'd certainly like to meet up with again. Enough twists and turns to keep the reader engaged and all in all, a promising start for a new series.

Deep into the Dark by P.J. Tracy was an ARC from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books in exchang for an honest review.
This is the first book of the author's I have read and I will be looking for more. Margaret Nolan is a Detective in Los Angeles looking into murders on the Miracle Mile. She meets Sam, a veteran of 2 tours in Afghanistan who is dealing with PTSD and a traumatic brain injury. He is recently separated from his wife, who could not help him with his problems any more. Sam works in a bar with Melody, his boss. When Melody's boyfriend beats her his body is found and Sam becomes a suspect. As Nolan and her partner investigate, you see the characters insight and begin to understand them.
The author did her research on PTSD and TBI's and it shows. The ending races up and I am looking forward to more books by this author.

I loved the style it is written in because it gives you windows to the perspectives and thoughts of various characters which makes it very interesting. Not to say it has you flying through pages to figure out the mystery. at a point i thought the book had hit its peak and that it wouldn’t be so good at the end but i was wrong! I enjoyed the intensity, the mystery, and how you figure out what is happening along side the characters. I did kind of guess who was who and all, but it still engaged me enough to the point that i was flipping pages trying to get to the end! Definitely recommend it if you’re looking for a detective feel, psychological mystery fast read! you go from brain to brain of each character making it very interesting and very fun...fore sure want to read more by P.J. Tracy !

A good thriller that will keep you engrossed. There is a serial killer on the loose and he needs to be found before someone else dies. A good cast of characters, including a vet suffering from PTSD. Plenty of twists to keep you guessing. This is the start of a new series that I would continue to read in the future. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

Sam is a combat vet with PTSD. He is plagued with horrible nightmares from all the horrors he lived through. He has so much to deal with in his life. There were so many characters and two separate mysteries that it made the story very hard to follow.

Sam Easton has returned from his second tour of duty in Afghanistan, severely wounded and disfigured after an IED explosion, and suffering severe PTSD symptoms. He is separated from his wife; he is a trained engineer who now works in a bar; and he is undergoing therapy to escape nightmares and hallucinations. When his co-worker at the bar, Melody Traeger, is beaten by her boyfriend, she turns to Sam for help. The next day, the boyfriend is found murdered, and suspicion immediately points at Sam. LAPD Detective Margaret Nolan, and her partner, Al Crawford catch the case. Nolan lost her brother to the war and seems sympathetic to Sam and is not ready to throw him in jail while Al thinks it is an open and shut case. But when Sam’s wife is found murdered, the pressure just mounts. And at the same time, there is a serial murderer on the radar, and the lead investigator on that case suspects a connection. Sam and Melody avoid the police only to face even greater dangers. I wavered in rating the book between 3 and 4 stars, choosing the lower rating as I think it took too long to really get rolling and it wasn’t until I finished the book and looked back that I realized that this was the start to a new series featuring Detective Nolan. It is a promising start to a new series and I look forward to the next edition. P. J. Tracy was the pseudonym for the mother-daughter writing team who published 10 very entertaining Monkeewrench novels (the last of which came after the death of mother P.J. Lambrecht). Daughter Traci has decided to keep the name. My thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review the ARC of this novel.