This was another great entry in this series, it had a great mystery element to it and worked with the other books that I read. I was on the edge of my seat from start to finish and really enjoyed the feel of this. P. J. Tracy always does a great job in writing this and can’t wait for more in this world.

This was the fourth in a series starring Lt. Margaret Nolan, a homicide detective in Los Angeles. The story had many twists and turns and many other areas of law enforcement were brought in before this story came to a close. It was refreshing when characters from the previous installments were mentioned.

City of Secrets is the latest installment in a crime series that follows LAPD detective, Margaret Nolan, but definitely can be read as a standalone. The book begins with a murder of a rich executive whose body is found in a seedy section of LA. As Margaret investigates, she's taken down a rabbit hole of deviant behavior and violence. This is the second book I've read in the series, and I really enjoyed the City of Secrets. The characters and dialogue feel authentic, and there's a little of everything, romance, crime, mystery. I definitely recommend! Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

Los Angeles Police Detective Margaret Nolan and her partner have worked many different cases, and sometimes things weren't as they initially appeared. When they’re called to the scene where it appears a man may have been killed in a car-jacking. Then it's discovered the victim was a founder of a company about to sell for millions of dollars. (Wouldn't it be called an attempted carjacking since the car wasn't stolen??)

I have to admit to finding the beginning of the book to be confusing. There were so many characters and none of them had even a bit of a backstory for the reader, so my head was spinning. It didn't help when I found out Maggie, Nolan, Margaret, and Mags were all the same person. (I wish writers wouldn't do that.)

HOWEVER!! Once things started making sense to me, I found myself fascinated by the storyline! There was quite a bit of mystery and a few twists to keep readers on their toes.

A note to my dog-loving friends: The dog-napped Corgi wasn't harmed, and the emaciated street dog was taken to the Humane Society. (That led to my favorite line in the book: "The pathetic creature broke her heart and it would probably be euthanized, but at least it wouldn't suffer anymore. Seeing a hurting child or animal was like a gut punch.")

Many thanks to both #MinotaurBooks and #NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of City of Secrets. This book is #4 in the Detective Margaret Nolan series, with the expected publication date of August 20, 2024.

One of the best detective series out there! Strong, well-developed cast of characters, complex and intense plot, layers of secrets and red herrings with the right mix of personal interaction - everything you need to keep you gripped to the end. A must for all detective fans.

City of Secrets is #4 in P.J. Tracy's Margaret Nolan series, but you don't need to have read the earlier books to enjoy this one (although I think it would have helped me keep better track of the characters if I had read the previous books). This time, Nolan is investigating the murder of a pet food titan which at first looks like a carjacking gone wrong. But when his former business partner's wife is kidnapped, it becomes clear that there's more to the story.

This book was action-packed with lots of different threads and characters to keep track of. The story was a bit convoluted at times, but it definitely captured my interest. Some of the characters, especially the bad guys, were pretty one-dimensional, but the fast-moving plot helped to gloss over this fact.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This review is opinion and my opinion only. This is my first book by P.J. Tracy. I feel this is a well written story. P.J. Tracy knows how to keep you interested in the story and characters.
This story is about Detective Margaret Nolan. She was given the case of the murder of the pet food CEO Bruce Messane. He was found dead in the gang ravished area of Culver City. Why was he killed? Read the book.
P.J. Tracy knows how to write a multidimensional characters which helps to pull you into the story. There was a good mix of twist and turns to keep you guessing and wanting more. It was hard to put down.

I liked this one okay . It was well paced and enjoyable but found it slow to get into but not a bad read
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review book

Margaret Nolan is a LAPD Detective. What first seems like a fatal carjacking develops into a kidnapping, sex, drug busts, and untraceable suspects, which may have something to do with it. I have read a lot of Tracy’s books, and this does not disappoint. You know her characters very well and you know how Margaret feels about them. I love how she furnishes favorite coffees and Twizzlers. I am amazed at how the various scenarios play out and somehow weave into the first crime. Great book.

A police procedural story that starts as one case. Then as the book progresses that one case leads to so much more. Several departments become invested in the outcome. I like the details, the mess some of the characters make of their lives, and the final outcome. A good mystery to be solved. I liked the pace of the story.

DNF @ 20%. It was kind of slow moving and I found I didn't really care for any of our characters. I did like the portrayal of Los Angeles (native here), but simply found myself uninterested in the overall plot.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Maggie's newest case of a deceased male found dead in his car. When they identify the individual, they don't realize the many directions it will take. This book kept me glued to the plot until the very end.

law-enforcement, Los Angeles, veterans, consultant, murders, crime-fiction, crime-thriller, noir, friends, friendship, triggers, toxic-people, psychological, suspense, threats, lies, procedural, investigations, abduction, tense, high-finance, criminal-element, twisty, series, drugs-issues, relationship-issues, relationships, stress, PTSD, family-drama, family-dynamics, famous-persons*****

More suspects than kibbles in a bag of pet food. The investigations into the murders and abduction are full of incredible twists and sneaky additions, as are the entwined lives of detectives in Homicide division in LA. Not a book to read for relaxation, but one to exercise the mind in attempt to solve it from the lawn chair.
I requested and received an EARC from St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books via NetGalley. Thank you.

This is the first P.J. Tracy book I've read and I was not disappointed. With a murder, a kidnapping, an embezzlement, a possible infidelity and a not so secret office romance, Tracy skillfully juggles the entire collection.
Her group of characters (as well as their conversations, a mixture of police quips and office banter ) make interesting contributions to the storyline as one situation flows into another one.
I would consider this story and style of writing as several steps above a cozy mystery. There is a noticable edge to descriptions, dialogue and topics. If you need a break from whatever you've been reading and like mysteries, this is a good choice.

"City of Secrets" by P.J. Tracy is a gripping thriller set in the heart of LA, where the murder of a Pet Food CEO sends shockwaves through the city. But this isn't just any murder mystery – it's a tale woven with scandal, secrets, and unexpected twists.

As the story unfolds, we're drawn deeper into a web of deceit, from the CEO's hidden affair to the shocking discovery of street fentanyl in pet food boxes. Each chapter brings a new revelation, keeping you guessing until the very end.

At the center of it all is a compelling protagonist, a female detective whose sharp wit and determination make her a force to be reckoned with. Her forbidden romance with a fellow detective adds an extra layer of intrigue, as they navigate their feelings while keeping their relationship under wraps.

Tracy's writing is sharp and engaging, making "City of Secrets" a fast-paced read that's hard to put down. The characters feel real and relatable, adding depth to an already captivating story.

In short, "City of Secrets" is a thrilling ride from start to finish. With its creative plot, memorable characters, and pulse-pounding suspense, it's a must-read for fans of the genre.

Thank you to Netgalley and Minotaur Books/St. Martin’s Press for access to the prepub ebook.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC.
Wow, this was a stunning book, I loved it, what a nail biter!
It was interesting to read about the dark underbelly of LA, instead of just the rich and famous enclaves.
I also liked Nolan and her team, who worked their hearts out to catch a murderer and kidnapper. The twists and turns of this mystery had my heart beating fast, it was that gripping. And the bad guy turned out to be a bad woman, which was a nice change!
Highly recommended. More please!

While I really enjoyed this book, I do feel like I would have enjoyed it better had I read the rest of the series. Although it is billed as a standalone, I can't imagine that there's no some backstory to the characters that I am missing. I had a bit of trouble keeping the wide cast of characters straight but I thought that there was a good, interesting variety of people to connect with. It had lots of action that was highlighted by the spare writing style. I loved how she writes. Will be going back to read the first in this series as this one was quite intriguing.

City of Secrets by P.J. Tracy follows Margaret Nolan in the fourth standalone installment of the Detective Margaret Nolan series. This is a good addition to the series. The story is intriguing and has multiple layers to hold a reader's interest. The characters are unique, and there are good twists and turns. A very good mystery and one I would recommend.

Los Angeles Police Detective Margaret Nolan and her partner have worked a lot of different cases, ones where things aren’t always as they appear. And it’s Nolan’s job to find the truth in the darkness around her. When they’re called to the scene of what looks like a fatal car-jacking, Nolan soon realizes her victim was a founder of a company about to sell for millions, and within a day of his death, his partner’s wife is abducted. As Nolan learns more about the victim and his life, she gets pulled into a disturbing world of sex, violence, and big business.

#NetGalley @StMartinsPress

I was super excited to get an ARC for this book, since I love the writing duo of PJ Tracy.

If you are not familiar with them, start at the beginning with the first Monkeewrench book. Pure gold.

I downloaded this book without even seeing what this was about, and I was not disappointed. The CEO is a pet food/supply company is dead. Why? There is obviously a mystery to solve.

This book had so many twists and turns. Loved it. The writing style is easy and smooth as always. And I always appreciate when a series regular shows some personal growth and you get to know and love repeating characters.

Can you read this without reading others in this series? yes of course. But why would you? It is so much more enjoyable to start at the beginning and get to know the people - I think this adds depth to what you read.

Is this s 5 star read? No. I didn't close it and go "wow". However, it is certainly above average and a quick, easy fun ride.

Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for the ARC which did not impact my review.

Maggie Nolan and the crew are back! This is book four in the series and like book three, this one has a full cast of characters, each with their own POV for us to hear and learn from. I like this as I feel part of the investigation, understanding the different parts and pieces as they come together. To quote Maggie: "Nolan thought about how every case was a puzzle - some were easy enough for a toddler to solve; others were those five-thousand-piece nightmares missing half of them, and you didn't even have the box that showed you what it was supposed to look like. But as you started putting together what you had, a picture began to take shape." I love puzzles, and City of Secrets is a fantastic puzzle in book format, while we work alongside of all the characters to solve the murder of Bruce Messane, co-founder of Peppy Pets. The story didn't surprise me as it came together, but I think that's because I was so caught up in absorbing all of the details. That aspect of the book I really liked. So back to the puzzle analogy, if you like puzzles and mysteries, I do believe you will like this book. Given the number of characters in the book I don't think this works as a stand alone. I feel you must read the series. You will not regret it. I am hopeful there will be a book five!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.