This book is the fourth in the Detective Margaret Nolan Mystery series and it is a great read for fans of police procedurals. At just about 300 pages you won't want to stop reading until the end and it is just the right length to deliver a great story and keep your attention until the very end. If you haven't started the series yet, what are you waiting for? PJ Tracy does not miss.

City of Secrets is the 4th book in the series that follows LAPD Detective Margaret Nolan. When the LAPD is called to an apparent car-jacking scene, it seems pretty cut and dry. But then the victim turns out to be the CEO of a pet food company that is trying to be sold for millions…and then the next day a former partner of the murder victim is kidnapped. Detective Nolan and her partner, along with the rest of the LAPD, race against the clock to connect the dots of what is going on with this pet food company that lead to murders and kidnapping.

I have enjoyed all the books so far in P.J. Tracy’s Detective Nolan series. I enjoy all the characters and how the stories are intricately woven together.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a review.

I've been reading PJ Tracy for 20 years and still really enjoy her. It makes me smile with all the big, $20 words she uses sometimes, though. The plot and characters were good and engaging, and I was able to keep track of who was who and what was going on (which is often really hard for me).

This is a first time I've read this author, but it will not be my last. If you like police procedurals with a strong female lead you'll enjoy this book. Maggie and her partner Al are tasked with finding the killer of what looks like a car-jacking, but it turns into much more. The author weaves multiple plots into an compelling novel with interesting and relatable characters.

You can read this as a standalone, like I did, but I would encourage you to start at the beginning. I'll now be reading the previous books in the series even though the author does provide background to get readers up to date.

I received this advance review copy from NetGalley & the publisher for my honest review.

Tracy is a new to me author and I will definitely check out more books in this series!
I thought this was a well written police procedural full of action and suspense. I really liked Margaret and her love interest.
I think enough background was given for this to be a standalone. From a relationship standpoint, this would be best read in order
I had an ARC of this book but ended up listening to the audiobook and I really enjoyed the narrator.

Gripping fourth installment in the Detective Margaret Nolan series with a head-scratching mystery that just keeps the bodies piling up. I loved the great pacing, the intricate plot, and the satisfying character arc. Awesome series for lovers of crime drama!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy. These opinions are my own.

City of Secrets certainly lives up to the title! This book kept me guessing all the way through and although there are a lot of characters to remember, PJ does a great job tying them all into a great conclusion to the book. I will definitely look forward to what PJ writes next. I would definitely recommend giving this book a try!

Real Rating: 3.75* of five

Starting a series with book four is never ideal. I felt no investment in the Maggie/Remy subplot, but really didn't expect to once I twigged that the series was multiple books along.

That said, the dynamic between Maggie Nolan and Al Crawford, her policework partner, was an effortless joining of process. In large part that's because the pseudonymous Tracy partners really involve us in the way the investigation goes. This book, and I presume the entire series (as series authors seldom change tones radically this early in one), exemplifies the charms of the police procedural...that sense of being in on the action, a fly on the wall.

That's a wonderful way to build a series IMO because it gives the plotting a major through line without the need, at times, to contrive things just to keep up the pace. Of course the police work is a reductive fantasy version of the real thing, granted – stipulated – understood but it's the mystery reader's vision of it from countless other iterations, so it works. It also means one knows, if the series mystery world is not a new and fresh experience, that ornamental plot devices stand out. There are "dark sexual secrets' in the murder victim's life. Cheap, brummagem time-waster from the get-go, and, with Margaret's dull "romance" as the other lusterless sex distraction, means I spent a lot of time rolling my eyes.

The existence of a well-stocked larder of interesting side-characters, however, both redeemed and further irked me. I'm quite sure they've been here before, but I haven't. I'm on the fence about picking the series up but if I do, the first trip will be back to #1 before anything. I really want the answer to one burning question: <I>Why does Ike like licorice?</I>

Note for animal lovers: despite some suspense on the matter, no abuse or harm occurs and past wrongs are righted.

P.J. Tracy has always been a favorite author of mine since the Monkeewrench series was published, and the City of Secrets does not disappoint. Her crime novels are written in a gritty style with fascinating characters and non-stop action. Detective Margaret Nolan steps into the underground crime world of L.A. by responding to a car-jacking which in turn reveals twists and turns of a failing corporation turning to murder. Tracy has always developed her characters in an interesting way and the pace of this story is non-stop. I look forward to future Magaret Nolan characters that are so expertly introduced in her novels.

Thank you to St. Martin's Publishing Group and NetGalley for an advanced reading copy of this book.

Peppy Pets’ Problems Precipitate Plentiful Police Presence!

And I mean plentiful. In the opening scene we are witness to the murder of the CEO and co-founder of Peppy Pets. When Bruce Messane, a successful business executive, is murdered just as his company was ready to be bought out for huge profits, someone like LAPD Detective Margaret Nolan and he crack team are brought to the scene. Of course, when a Peppy Pet’s employee goes to Messane’s house, it was found to have been invaded by burglars. Another investigation begins.

Almost immediately following that, the wife of Dr. Rome Bechtold, the other co-founder of Peppy Pets, was kidnapped. Dr. Bechtold now no longer was part of Peppy Pets, but had returned to his veterinary practice and so a different team was brought into that.

Before long there is another kidnapping and another murder and a whole lot more complication. Nothing goes easily or quickly in any good crime novel, does it? And this is a good crime novel!

This is the second Detective Margaret Nolan novel that I have read and it will not be the last. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good police investigation mystery. I thank NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read and honestly review it.

Thank you to the author, St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the eARC of this book in return for my honest review. This is the fourth book in the Detective Margaret Nolan series set in Los Angeles, and it's a 4 out 5 star read for me.

Detective Maggie Nolan and her partner, Al Crawford are called out to the scene of what appears to be a fatal car jacking. Suspiciously the victim was about to sell his company for millions, and the next day the partner's wife is abducted. In order to figure things out Maggie and Al are drawn into the world of big business, sex and violence.

Maggie is a strong lead character. Intelligent, very relatable and likeable. There's a romance between Maggie and Al but it doesn't detract from the overall book. Lots of secondary characters. Whle the book could be read as a stand alone, it could be an asset to read the earlier books in order to familiarize yourself with the secondary characters. Or just to read them because you liked this novel, as I plan to do.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

P. J. Tracy’s “City of Secrets” is the fourth installment in the Detective Margaret Nolan series, and it continues to deliver the intricate plotting and rich character development that fans have come to expect. The story begins with the discovery of a body in a high-profile location, leading Maggie and her team into a web of deceit that spans the city’s elite and its underbelly.

The novel explores themes of trust, betrayal, and the moral ambiguities that law enforcement officers face daily.

Detective Margaret Nolan is a compelling protagonist whose sharp intellect and unwavering determination drive the story forward. The supporting characters, from the enigmatic suspects to the dedicated members of Maggie’s team, are well-drawn and contribute significantly to the story’s tension and intrigue.

Tracy excels at creating multi-dimensional characters whose personal struggles and professional challenges are intricately woven into the fabric of the mystery.

Tracy’s writing is elegant and gritty, capturing the essence of Los Angeles with vivid descriptions and a keen eye for detail. The dialogue is sharp and realistic, reflecting the high stakes and intense emotions that permeate the story.

“City of Secrets” is a standout entry in the Detective Margaret Nolan series, showcasing P. J. Tracy’s ability to craft a compelling and multi-layered mystery.

4.5🌟

P.J. Tracy's 'City of Secrets' is the fourth book in the Detective Maggie Norton Series. P.J. Tracy is the pseudonym for Traci Lambrecht, and she started these books with her mom.

Maggie and Al are called to crime scene, which end up being the killing of a CEO of Peppy Pet. He is in the part of town he has no reason to be. Sam Easton is asked by his mom to check on a friend whose wife has been kidnapped. Soon, these two crimes become entangled in a mess of other things. Just how big will this case become?

There's a lot going on in 'City of Secrets '. Tracy ties it all up nicely. I was intrigued from the beginning. Maggie and Remy's relationship development is notched up a bit. Sam continues to battle demons but may have a new job on the horizon. His relationship with Melidy takes a step forward. Tracy is developing all the characters, not just the main ones, that gives great depth to the book.

Published August 20, 2024

Thanks to Netgalley, St Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, and Lambrecht for the E-ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

😊Happy Reading 😊

#Netgalley #Stmartinspress #minotaurbooks #pjtracy #cityofsecrets #arc #readmytbr #readaway2024

Another good book, but again too many characters. That is the only detracting thing about the book. I love Nolan and the good side characters although the others can be icky. The author slowly weaves the story together from what seems disparate parts leading to a satisfying conclusion.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for providing an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

I love this author and this series!!

The characters are well rounded, the story is always interesting and fun to follow. I really hope this series continues for many more episodes!

I highly recommend this author and this series, you don't have to start with the first book Deep into the Dark. But this series is wonderful, so you should!

I recently finished reading City of Secrets, the fourth installment in P.J. Tracy's Detective Margaret Nolan series. As a fan of mysteries, I was anxious to dive into this book, especially after I finished reading the previous books in the series before starting this one. I'm glad I decided to read this series from the beginning because the characters had undergone significant changes since book one, and if I had read it out of order, I would have found book four challenging.

Brief Storyline: The main character, Margaret Nolan, who the series is named after, takes on another murder case in book four, where a man is found dead in his car. Initially, the police believe it's a carjacking case until Margaret and her partner, Al Crawford, investigate the man's murder further. The man who has been murdered is the founder of a company that is about to be sold for millions, which makes Margaret and her partner believe that someone at his company may have murdered him. The further they investigate, the more questions arise along the way.

What I Liked: So far, each book has kept my interest when it comes to the cases that the characters have to solve. Just like with the MCs, I'm determined to find out who murdered the man in the car and why he was murdered in the first place, especially when the characters find out he was keeping secrets. This one, I couldn't figure out who was behind the murder, and I love it when I can't figure out who did it. I enjoyed reading about Margaret and how her relationship with Remy (who played a significant role in this book) was growing, even though they are in a tough spot due to working in the same division together. Then there was Sam Easton, who has significantly changed since book one, and I love that he is finding happiness not only with a new job but with Melody.

Issues I had with the Book: Once again, the book became overwhelming, with all the points of view being introduced, and it was hard to keep up with at times. I wish the book had focused more on the main character, Margaret, and her team of detectives and maybe I would have enjoyed this book and the whole series more. I do see the significance of some of the others that were in this book, but it was just confusing a times to keep up with it all.

Other than those issues, I did like the book, but I didn't love it. I give this book 3.5 stars, and I recommend this book/series to readers who have read P.J. Tracy's books before. I am glad I was introduced to P.J. Tracy's books because I do plan on reading her other series, Monkeewrench.

This was a procedural set in greater Los Angeles. The story line is excellent and grabs and holds your attention from the first page. However it has such a large cast of characters and is written in such a convoluted way that it shouldn’t be considered a stand alone. If the reader has not read the prior novels sequentially they will get lost and confused. Additionally, the ending (which is a very satisfactory conclusion) is, in actuality an introduction to the next novel. Thanks to Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC for an honest review.

Well written, has everything. It’s fast paced, murder, intrigue, kidnapping. Twist and turns a little romance. This is book four in this series but can be read as a standalone. Detective Margaret Nolanis witty, smart and fierce love her. Two thumbs way up.

This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart


Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

The series has settled into being the Detective Margaret Nolan series written by the daughter from the mother-daughter writing team. Detective Nolan, along with her partner, is sort of a main character, with supporting characters in her friends, family and love interests. But Sam Easton has a strong role, along with the people in his life.

The homicide case in City of Secrets is the owner of a pet food company. It's a twisty road to determine how he died. Then his ex-partner and wife are abducted. The ex-partner, a veterinarian is close to Sam's family. So the investigation here is suspenseful, especially as more bodies pile up.

On the personal side, Maggie is getting closer to Remi. They can't both work in homicide though. Sam is also progressing in his therapy, his relationship and now looking at a new job. These personal developments help to build the characters and make them more realistic.

There were a lot of additional characters in these cases which felt like a lot at times. The investigation was divided between two teams with one for the homicide and one for the kidnapping and that's what really spread the focus. The pacing was strong, though. Overall, I was happy to continues with the series and the main characters.

City of Secrets is the fourth installment of the Detective Margaret Nolan series, written by mother/daughter author duo P. J. and Traci Lambrecht under the pseudonym P. J. Tracy. Although it's part of a series, it can be read as a standalone novel, as the primary plot is a police procedural mystery.

Bruce Messane, wealthy co-owner in a pet food company about to go public, is found dead in his luxury car in a dangerous area in LA. It looks like Bruce was up to some seedy business that went wrong, but as Detective Maggie Nolan and her partner, Al Crawford, investigate, the twists and surprises take them on some weirdly unexpected paths to the killer.

This is my second Detective Nolan novel, and I can now say I'm consistently happy that I can't predict a dang thing while I'm reading Tracy's books. City of Secrets has a wild variety of characters and course changes during the story. The plot is tightly woven and fast paced, but there's enough room to get to know Maggie, Al, Remy, and the side characters well enough to care what happens to them as the tension escalates. I appreciate the threads of continuity from prior novels that show up as well, which help Maggie's world feel fully fleshed out.

City of Secrets is a fast, fun read. I'm becoming a fan of Detective Nolan as a character, and I'm looking forward to more novels in her thriller series.