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.

I did not know that this was part of a series when I accepted the book, I think I would've benefited from the prior books. It was definitely a good read.

This is the fourth book in this series but could be read as a standalone. I loved the characters and the mystery. This book grabbed me from the start and was hard to put down. I hope we will see more of Detective Margaret Nolan.

I didn't realize this was part of a series and haven't read the ones before this but it works well as a stand-alone once I figured out who the characters were. Homicide detective, Maggie discovers Bruce Messane--co-founder of Peppy Pets food--dead in his car with a bullet between the eyes. Of course in this city there are plenty of suspects as there are gang-bangers, drug dealers, kidnappings, and love triangles! What's not to like in a thriller? Kept me up too late but at least I was home safe!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

A seemingly random carjacking and the abduction of a wealthy businessman's wife seem unrelated but Detective Margaret Nolan must delve into dark secrets behind big business deals, sex addiction and drugs to find the connection and the answers to who committed these crimes and what does the Angel of Death have to do with these crimes.
A fast paced, well written thriller that hooks the reader and keeps the pages turning

P.J. Tracy has become a writer to reckon with. City of Secrets deserves a place on all the bestseller lists, and on every mystery lover’s bookshelf.

This novel is full of twists and turns, sure to keep readers turning pages deep into the night. Tracy’s characters are so well developed and three dimensional that every reader will relate to them. Highly recommended. #CityofSecrets #NetGalley #SaltMarshAuthorSeries

First book I've read from this series but that didn't hamper my following along. Lots of plot twists and character relationships to keep you turning pages.

Thanks Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the ARC! This was a fun and quick read. Overall it seemed like there were too many characters and too many chapters from different POVs. Got a little hard to keep track of who everyone was, or care that much about any of them. Would have liked a little more focus. Would have liked LA to feel a little more alive as well. For a story that takes place in an interesting city it sort of felt like it could have happened anywhere, and just happened to be in LA.

When homicide detective Lt. Margaret Nolan is assigned to what appears to be a drive-by shooting, it is only the beginning. The victim is Bruce Messane, a wealthy businessman killed in an area that is known for gang violence. Soon another case that doesn’t seem to be related turns out to be tied to the company they both founded. There was so much going on, all loose ends that do not seem to be related until the surprising end.

I really liked Maggie’s romantic attachment with detective, Remy Beaudreau, even though it isn’t allowed since they are in the same department. I liked Remy so much I want to go back to previous books in this series to learn more about him. This is the fourth book in the series, but it reads fine as a standalone.

Thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for this ARC of City of Secrets. This is my honest opinion.

Prepare for a thrilling ride through the streets of LA with the latest installment in the Detective Margaret Nolan series! Tracy delivers yet another page-turner packed with suspense, cleverly weaving together suspects, motives, and murder in a way that keeps you guessing until the very end. But it's not just the mystery that keeps you hooked – the evolving relationships between Nolan, Crawford, Remy, and Easton add a compelling layer of depth to the story. For those who enjoy a good mystery, this book delivers a satisfying read that's sure to keep you entertained.

My head was instantly spinning and trying to piece together all that was happening. There were multiple scenes with different people. I knew they all interconnected, but how. I was stumped on multiple occasions as the story unfolded. Just when I thought I had the plot figured out, another wrench was tossed in, then another. So good, I lost sleep reading. My first book by this author, and I can’t wait to read another.

“City of Secrets” by P. J. Tracy was a quick and easy to follow thriller that takes place in LA and revolves around the murder of a Pet Food CEO who’s company is too big to fail. Adding to this mystery is the fact that he was a sex addict who had an affair with his business partners wife, and she is kidnapped. There are many twists and turns and extra excitement when street fentanyl is found in pet food boxes! The main character is a female detective who is realistic and interesting as is her relationship with a fellow detective which has to stay a secret from the rest of their department. This book was an enjoyable read with a creative plot.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honey review.

4.5 STARS

Margaret “Maggie” Nolan’s job as a detective in the LAPD keeps her stress levels high solving complex cases with her more experienced partner. As Maggie delves into rich and famous juxtaposed with the underbelly of Los Angeles crime lords, she comes across a strange case of a wealthy man out of place in one of the most dangerous areas of the city. At first, it looks like a car-jacking gone wrong until she pieces together the victim’s backstory; he was about to sell his pet food company for many millions. Nolan, as she is referred to in the text, along with her support team, uncovers quite a bit of nefarious activity while dealing with the seamier side of life.

Maggie has several issues going on in this investigation including her intimate relationship with another detective, Remy Beaudreau, which if discovered, would be deeply frowned upon by her captain and department. Adding more complexities to the case, the victim, Bruce Messane, had a former partner; he and his wife are kidnapped but no ransom is demanded. Maggie struggles with the dichotomy of wanting to help serve and protect without internalizing all the death and evil she sees daily.

This book has several other main characters’ whose POV’s are part of the whole including Sam Easton, a wounded veteran who has become an ancillary assistant on some cases for Maggie and her partner, Al Crawford. Sam has his own struggles with PTSD while trying to find his place in the civilian world after having been involved in a deadly event in the first book, DEEP INTO DARK. While this book is billed as a standalone, it is a part of a series which are best read in order for the character development and total enjoyment.

With all the complex characters and their stories, readers will be challenged to try figuring out from the clues what is going on and why. I have enjoyed this series thus far, and look forward to seeing how things progress for Maggie in her job as well as what she and Remy will decide about their relationship going forward. The highlights and low-lights of LA make for an interesting backdrop of this intense and drama filled story.

The writing is fluid, the main characters are realistically likeable and the story was nicely detailed.

Review of Uncorrected Digital Galley

When a fatal carjacking proves to be a murder, Los Angeles Police Detectives Margaret Nolan and Al Crawford find themselves thrown into the middle of a twisted case. The victim, Bruce Messane, was the founder, president, and CEO of Peppy Pets, a pet food company which he was in the process of selling to Wilder Foods.

The next day, their case takes a strange turn when Nicole, the wife of Messane’s former business partner, Doctor Rome Bechtold, is kidnapped. When hints of drugs and financial mismanagement arise, the detectives find themselves with more questions than answers.

Who killed Bruce Messane? And why? And what does Nicole’s kidnapping have to do with the case?

=========

Fourth in the author’s Detective Margaret Nolan series, “City of Secrets” there is sufficient backstory for readers new to the series and for the book to work as a standalone. The suspenseful plot pulls readers into the telling of the tale from the outset.

The plot is complex and intriguing; unexpected revelations and plot twists keep readers guessing as the unfolding narrative takes some clever turns. With all the expected characters in place, readers are sure to be pleased with the continuing developments in the detectives’ personal lives.

Readers who enjoy police procedurals will find much to appreciate in this absorbing tale.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books and NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
#CityofSecrets #NetGalley

4 ⭐️ read - my first book by the mother/daughter duo writing as PJ Tracy.

I haven't read any of the other books featuring Detective Margaret Nolan, but I didn't feel lost in this particular story.
Like any good procedural/thriller, the authors weave in several seemingly disconnected incidents and then slowly start moving those points closer.
Nolan is trying to figure out these connections, all while keeping an office romance under wraps - without spiking a relationship she really wants while continuing in a job at which she excells.
The plot moves at a good clip with just enough twists to give a little zap at the end.
Enjoyable read.

What an excellent book. The story grabbed me from the beginning and kept me until the very last word. I love the characters and the suspense as they tried to figure out whodunit. I will definitely be reading other books by this author in the future.

City of Secrets is the fourth book in the Detective Maggie Nolan series by PJ Tracy. In this episode Nolan and Crawford (and the rest of the wonderful gang) are investigating the seamy side of Los Angeles, where the gangs and drugs proliferate. The original murder of the company executive of a popular natural pet food company leads the team to a kidnapping of the wife of the former partner. Why are gang members interested in pet food? There are so many different and competing bad guys that it is hard to follow the threads to the kingpins. Meanwhile Sam joins the SWAT team as a consultant and his first case turns out to be related to the first murder. Like the others in the series, there are multiple narrators including possible suspects.

There are also personal developments for Maggie/Remy and Sam/Melody which is part of the joy of modern mystery series. While you don’t have to read the other books in the series to enjoy this book, it is best to begin at the beginning with Deep Into the Dark. While you are at it, read the wonderful Monkeewrench series that the author wrote with her mother.

Thank you to Netgalley and Minotaur Books/St. Martin’s Press for access to the prepub ebook. I always told my patrons you can’t go wrong with a book from St. Martin’s Press.

Good murder mystery with lots of twists and turns. Likable characters with believable police work, and their frustration with all the zig zagging of this story. Good wrap up, but I would have liked a more thorough epilogue with what happened with the other characters involved, arrests, drug busts, more murder? Maybe in the next book we'll get a glimpse of what ultimately happens with the open cases not associated with the murder. The personal story of the main characters have moved the story arc forward and that was enjoyable. Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for an early read for an honest opinion.