The years spent waiting for P. J. Tracy to bring us a new Monkeewrench book was well worth the wait. The Deepest Cut brings the Monkeewrench group back to do what they do best.

Having only previously dipped into the Monkeewrench series with the previous novel, I picked up The Deepest Cut by P.J. Tracy without any hesitation, and I’m pleased to say it stands confidently on its own. The Monkeewrench crew are back with another twisty, gripping tale that kept me guessing from start to finish.

Each character is distinct, well drawn, and their chemistry brings the story to life. Even for those unfamiliar with earlier books, there’s enough depth and nuance for new readers to connect with them straight away. The interplay between the team is witty and sharp, adding warmth and a touch of humour to the otherwise taut narrative.

Tracy’s plot is well constructed and the story is peppered with clever twists and turns that never feel forced. The pacing is brisk but never at the expense of character development or atmosphere.

The Deepest Cut is a great addition to the Monkeewrench series and a satisfying standalone read for newcomers. If you’re in the mood for a cleverly plotted, character-driven crime novel with plenty of surprises, this thoroughly entertaining and expertly crafted crime thriller is well worth picking up.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley UK for the ARC

Reading a new Monkeewrench novel just makes me happy. In this latest installment, Wolfgang Maurer is serving his sentence in a maximum security mental hospital and plotting revenge on Leo Magozzi, Gino Rolseth, the Monkeewrench crew and the two women who testified as witnesses in his trial. When he escapes during a power outage, the detectives and Monkeewrench are highly motivated to track him down and keep themselves and those they love safe. One of the primary tensions in this novel is the imminent retirement of Magozzi, and the fear that something terrible will happen to him on his last day on the job.

The Deepest Cut is typical of the other novels in the series, and it has been a joy to see the characters develop over the years, fall in love and bring new people into their found family. I continue to enjoy the relationships that this group of quirky, highly intelligent computer wizards have created. This particular novel was not as exciting as some of the others, but it was enjoyable nonetheless.

Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the digital ARC of The Deepest Cut by P.J. Tracy. The opinions in this review are my own.

Minneapolis homicide detective Leo Magozzi is ready to celebrate his retirement with Grace MacBride and their daughter Elizabeth. Grace is the founder of Monkeewrench Software along with her friends and computer geniuses Harley Davidson, Annie Belinsky and Roadrunner. When a high-level criminal, Goran Stankovic, escapes from The Hague, the search is on from all local and international law enforcement agencies, including Monkeewrench. When another criminal, Wolfgang Mauer is missing, they know that there is a connection between the two men, but what? As Monkeewrench uses their computer resources to aid the police, Leo is tracking information with his long-time partner Gino Rolseth, while others are planning his retirement party. As intel is followed, dead bodies found, they slowly follow the trail of both men. Will they finally find and take them down, dead or alive? A very complicated story, but if you have followed this series, you will enjoy the update on beloved characters. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (paytonpuppy)

I had the best time reading The Deepest Cut by P. J. Tracy.
I really enjoyed the character development of these characters. The mystery and murder in this book were interesting and well written.
A plot both suspenseful and intriguing. I was kept glued to my kindle.

P.J. Tracy’s The Deepest Cut is a riveting addition to the murder mystery genre, one that perfectly balances relentless suspense with intelligent plotting. This is a story that wastes no time pulling the reader into its tangled web of secrets, lies, and dangerous revelations. While the novel juggles multiple threads and a wide array of characters, Tracy’s confident storytelling ensures that nothing feels muddled. Instead, every piece of the puzzle falls into place with remarkable precision, creating a narrative that is both sprawling in scope and razor-sharp in execution.

What makes The Deepest Cut stand out is its ability to maintain a breakneck pace without sacrificing depth. The story is packed with unexpected turns, red herrings, and clever misdirection, yet it never feels overwhelming. Tracy has a gift for layering tension, allowing the suspense to build organically while keeping readers constantly on edge. Just when you think you’ve pieced together what’s happening, the narrative pivots, revealing another layer of deception or another shocking twist that keeps you turning pages late into the night.

The characters are a cornerstone of the book’s success. Tracy populates the story with a cast that feels authentic, each one bringing their own complexities, flaws, and humanity to the forefront. Whether it’s the sharp, determined investigators or the morally ambiguous suspects, the characters are written with enough nuance to keep readers invested not only in the mystery itself but in the fates of the people entwined in it. Relationships between characters add an emotional undercurrent to the dark storyline, reminding us that behind every crime are lives forever altered.

Tracy’s prose is as sharp as the title suggests—crisp, cinematic, and full of atmosphere. The descriptive passages immerse the reader in each setting, while the dialogue maintains a natural rhythm that both reveals character and propels the plot forward. There’s an elegance in the way Tracy balances vivid detail with a fast-moving narrative, allowing the story to be both gripping and highly readable. This combination makes the book accessible to casual readers while still satisfying fans of complex, intricately plotted mysteries.

Beyond the twists and suspense, The Deepest Cut also explores deeper themes. Tracy touches on the lingering effects of trauma, the weight of secrets, and the moral complexities of justice. These layers give the book resonance beyond its central mystery, making it not just an entertaining thriller but also a thoughtful exploration of human behavior under pressure. By weaving these themes into the action, Tracy elevates the novel into something richer than a straightforward whodunit.

In the end, The Deepest Cut is a gripping, well-constructed mystery that demonstrates why P.J. Tracy’s work continues to attract devoted readers. With its intricate plotting, emotionally grounded characters, and writing that keeps the tension high from the first page to the last, it’s a standout entry in the series and in the crime fiction genre as a whole. For anyone who enjoys fast-paced murder mysteries with real heart and intelligence behind them, this is absolutely a must-read.

Well... it's been a wee while, hasn't it? But I was very excited to see a new Monkeewrench book was coming, and snaffled it up as soon as I saw it available.
Sadly though, and it could have been everything to do with the length of hiatus, or it could have been that I was overexcited, but satisfaction did not match expectation for me at all.
It's not an original story. It actually follows on from a previous book with the perp from that one escaping from prison. To be honest I'd mostly forgotten what happened in the previous book so I did find it hard to "get into it". Maybe I would have been better off re-reading the Ice Cold Heart, but quite frankly, I don't have time.
The story was also quite weak, and due to its nature there was little mystery, just a game of cat and mouse.
But... all that said, it was good to reconnect with some familiar, well loved characters who I had previously had a great relationship with so it was great catching up with them. I mean, we had 10 great books together.
But, sadly, I think this series probably should have stopped there. I don't know why the author decided to resurrect it after the six year break. There have been a few books published since the sad death of Traci's Mum PJ in 2016 which I think they worked on or mapped out together. Maybe the sea change here is the decline of PJ's influence? Either way, I think I'll leave it here
my thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

It’s good to be back with the Monkeewrench gang after a six year hiatus. In this episode Wolfgang Mauer, a sadistic killer locked up in a maximum security mental hospital has managed to escape. Mauer was previously arrested by Minneapolis homicide detectives Leo Magozzi and Gino Rolseth, with the help of cyber sleuthing by the Monkeewrench crew, after he killed several women. Now he has a hit list with all their names on it, as he plots his revenge on those responsible for imprisoning him.

This is more of a thriller and police procedural than a mystery, as we know from the outset who the villain is and what he plans to do. Mauer is cruel and cunning and clearly has outside help but will he be able to carry out any of his plan against a clever, tech savvy bunch using all their tricks to find out where he is hiding and what he is planning?

When Mauer escapes, Leo is working his last day before retirement, planning to spend more time with Grace and their daughter who is now a toddler, so there is some humour at his expense as his colleagues plan his farewell. I would have liked more focus on the Monkeewrench gang. They are such a unique group of people bound together by having all suffered trauma of one form or another. We do get an update on their lives and relationships, but I miss the repartee and interactions that so delighted readers earlier in the series.
The plot unfolds steadily with mounting suspense as Mauer leaves a trail of bodies, kidnaps a boy and becomes re-acquainted with an old partner in crime. There is plenty of action wrapped up with a thrilling ending. Fans of Monkeewrench will enjoy reading this next (possibly final?) episode in this excellent series.

Leo Magozzi hat sich nach der letzten Schusswunde, die ihm Wolfgang Maurer verpasst hat, entschlossen seinen Job, den er zehn Jahre ausgeübt hat, an den Nagel zu hängen, damit seine kleine zweijährige Tochter Elizabeth nicht im Zweifel ohne Vater aufwachsen muss. Schon sein Großvater hat ihn jung vor so einem Schicksal gewarnt. An seinem letzten Arbeitstag im Frühling sieht der 42-Jährige freudig einem anderen Leben, einer anderen Identität und einer neuen Zukunft entgegen. Er wird die Rolle als Vollzeit Vater übernehmen. Die Geburt und die kleine Tochter haben Grace in gewissem Rahmen weicher gemacht, auch ein Lächeln umspielt schon mal ihre Lippen. Trotzdem traut sie Erwachsenen, aufgrund ihrer düsteren Vergangenheit, immer noch nicht über den Weg. Verletzlichkeit kann einen umbringen.
Nach einem nächtlichen Frühjahrssturm, von dem auch das Sicherheitskrankenhaus für psychisch auffällige Kriminelle betroffen war, erhalten Jogger im Park und anliegenden Wald übers Handy die Warnung, dass ein Insasse entkommen ist und man sich in Sicherheit bringen soll. Sie sind auf dem Weg zu ihren Autos, als sie einen Körper finden.
Dundas County Sheriff Iris Rikker ist zuständig, die Flucht des verrückten Killers zu untersuchen und ihn aufzuspüren. In der Nähe der Leiche wurde ein Gefangenenanzug gefunden. Iris hat in ihrem ruhigen County, in ihren zwei Jahren erst einen Mord mit bearbeiten müssen. Der Flüchtige hat sich wahrscheinlich vom Opfer Kleidung, Auto und Telefon genommen. Das Opfer ist noch nicht identifiziert. Seine Fingerabdrücke sind in keiner Datenbank.
Unterdessen soll am nächsten Tag bei Harley eine große Abschiedsparty für Leo stattfinden. Aber immerzu muss er dran denken, dass es machen Cop noch an seinem letzten Tag erwischt hat.
Kapitel für Kapitel führt die Autorin die Protagonisten der Monkeywrench Geschichten wieder ein. Sie nimmt sich Zeit für die vielen Beteiligten. Basis für die Ereignisse in diesem Roman bildet die Geschichte im vorangegangenen Serienteil. Auf besondere Art wird der Fall so vervollständigt.

Fazit: Ein schönes Wiedertreffen der ganzen Familie um die Monkeywrenchs, eingebettet in einem spannenden Rahmen.

The Deepest Cut is a mystery/thriller by @pjtracyauthor, published by @crookedlanebooks. PJ Tracy is the pseudonym of mother-daughter writing duo P.J. and Traci Lambrecht.

Previously, Detectives Leo Magozzi and Gino Rolseth arrested a sadistic pair of killers with the help of Monkeewrench, their cyber-sleuth friends and partners. One of the killers is sent to a maximum security mental hospital where, Mauer plots his escape and vengeance, scheming to hunt down those he blames for his life sentence.

When Mauer escapes, an inexperienced county sheriff is thrown head-first into a massive manhunt for the murderer. When she finds three bodies and discovers that Mauer has kidnapped a young boy, she realizes that Mauer’s escape was just the beginning. With many lives on the line, Magozzi, Gino, and Monkeewrench join in the desperate search effort. The longer he’s at large, the more people will die, and Mauer is on a mission to find those who sentenced him, so they all have targets on their backs.

MY THOUGHTS
If you haven't read any of PJ Tracy's books, do yourself a favour - they're all great reads, and this one is by exception. This book is tightly written, the dialogue clever and the suspense is palpable throughout the book. The Deepest Cut continues the stories of these much-loved characters, while seeing them investigate a new case as well. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.

An escaped murderer hunts those who imprisoned him

Minneapolis homicide detective Leo Magozzi is all set to retire in twenty four hours at the age of forty two. He enjoys his life with Grace, the woman he loves, and the young daughter they share, and he has decided he has seen enough of the worst of mankind and should leave the job before he ends up dead. But it turns out the job isn't done with him quite yet. He and his partner Gino Rolseth solved a brutal case a year earlier, the kidnapping, torture and killings of multiple women committed by a pair of men. One of them, a war criminal from the Balkan war, had died in police custody while the other, Wolfgang Mauer, was convicted and placed at a security hospital, i.e. a prison for the criminally insane. That second man has just escaped, and has a hit list of the eight people he blames for his mentor's death. On that list are, of course, Magozzi and Rolseth, but so are the four people who form the Monkeewrench software crew (one of whom is Magozzi's Grace) who had contributed their cyber skills to the case, as well as two young women who had been victims of the two criminals and had helped bring them down. The manhunt for Mauer is spearheaded by a relatively inexperienced county sheriff, who discovers the dead bodies Mauer has left in his wake as well as the fact that Mauer has kidnapped a young boy. Who is the hunter and who is the hunted in this scenario? Magozzi, Rolseth, the Monkeewrench crew and the two other women on the list know that they are up against a savage and merciless killer, and if they don't find and stop him one or more of them will be his next victim(s).
It has been six years since the last Monkeewrench novel was released, but this one was well worth the wait. It many ways it is a continuation of that last release, Ice Cold Heart, although it isn't necessary for readers to have read that or any previous Monkeewrench books in order to enjoy this one...author P. J. Tracy (really Traci Lambrecht, the surviving member of the mother/daughter team that was P. J. Tracy) provides sufficient backstory information to enable a new reader to catch on quickly to the quirky group of characters that populate the book and their histories without overdoing it. And what a group they are! Well-developed, flawed people who have come together to form connections that have helped heal their many wounds. As is the norm for this series, The Deepest Cut is a fast-paced read that grabs its audience from the very first pages and doesn't let go until the end. It has elements of a police procedural, plenty of tech elements given the Monkeewrench group's talents, and enough humor to occasionally lighten the mounting tension as Mauer seeks his revenge. Fans of the series should be well pleased with this latest (and long awaited) continuation, while readers of John Sandford, Michael Connelly and Isabella Maldonado should give it a try (and in so doing will likely want to go back and read the whole series). Many thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for allowing me access to this clever thriller in exchange for my honest review.

My thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Deepest Cut’ written by P J Tracy in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

With outside help Wolfgang Mauer escapes from the Gustavus Adolphus Security Hospital as he has plans to destroy the entire Monkeewrench team as well as Detectives Leo Magozzi and Gino Rolseth. Although Magozzi is about to retire, the partying needs to be put on hold until Mauer is detained and thrown back into a secure environment once again.

I’m delighted that after a long break the PJ Tracy duo have written another Monkeewrench thriller, the 11th in the series, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed meeting up with the wonderful Grace McBride, Annie Belinsky, Harley and Roadrunner, not forgetting my favourite detectives Leo Magozzi and Gino Rolseth. The story takes a while to get going but when it does I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. The plot is brilliantly written with plenty of suspense, twists and turns, bloodshed and ever-increasing tension, and although it can be read alone this series is so gripping I’d strongly recommend reading from book one – I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.

Reading a new Monkeewrench novel is like visiting an old friend you haven't seen in years but often think of fondly!
Minneapolis PD detective Magozzi is retiring, taking his grandfather's long-ago advice to get out before he burns out or is taken out, but on that same day there are 2 prison breaks in different countries that put Magozzi and his partner, family, and close friends (the Monkeewrench crew) in danger. Most (all?) of the characters that any Monkeewrench fan knows and loves make an appearance as the team works with the Minneapolis PD and Dundas County Sheriff's Office to find the escaped convicts. I think one can enjoy The Deepest Cut without reading previous books in the series (and in fact, it has been long enough since the last one that I didn't remember it all that well), but I think knowing the full backstory of the various characters probably makes it more personal and interesting. The story itself is fast-paced with lots of tension, broken by the occasional bit of humor.

I was delighted to see another entry in the Monkeewrench series from P. J. Tracy in the NetGalley queue. P. J. Tracy was the pseudonym of mother and daughter writing duo P. J. and Traci Lambrecht. They created the Monkeewrench team, a group of crack cyber and software professionals in the Twin Cities. The first book in the series, Monkeewrench (Putnam, 2003), won the 2004 Anthony and 2004 Barry awards for best first novel. They wrote seven more books about the Monkeewrench gang and their growing involvement with the Minneapolis police before P. J.'s passing in December 2016. The series has won Anthony, Barry, Gumshoe, and Minnesota Book awards. I feared the 10th title about the avant garde detectives, published in 2019, was the last. Since then Traci launched a new series set in Los Angles with LAPD Detective Margaret Nolan. But here we are and a new Monkeewrench adventure called The Deepest Cut (Crooked Lane Books, 2025) is set to be released in early September.

This latest title pulls in characters from #10, Ice Cold Heart (Crooked Lane Books, 2019), including Wolfgang Mauer, the adopted son of Rado, the psychopathic artist who was at the center of #10. Not surprisingly, Mauer has sizable issues of his own and has been sentenced to a maximum security mental hospital for multiple murders. He plots revenge against the law enforcement officers and the investigators who put him there and arranges to escape to execute his plans. The Monkeewrench squad and their Minnesota law enforcement friends are among his targets. He kidnaps a 10-year-old boy along his exit route, increasing the need to locate Mauer quickly. The Monkeewrench crew use their expertise to uncover the hidden stash of crypto funds that Mauer planned to fund his comfortable life in a country without a US extradition treaty.

Followers of the series will have no trouble sliding back into the Monkeewrench world with their over-the-top personalities and the complicated crimes they help investigate. This is not the place for new readers to start; fortunately the earlier books in the series are readily available. Recommended.

This is the 11th in the Monkeewrench series. Even if you haven’t read the earlier books you will not be lost in the characters.
There are people being murdered by a prisoner that has escaped prison. The prisoner is wanting revenge for the death of his father. He is coming for the Monkeewrench staff.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC and to the publisher Crooked Lane books.

The Deepest Cut by P. J. Tracy is a highly recommended procedural featuring the Monkeewrench crew, cyber and software experts, who assist the Minneapolis PD and Dundas County Sheriff's Office. This is the eleventh book in the series. The plot continues the story started in the tenth novel, Ice Cold Heart from 2019. Readers new to the series will want to start with earlier novels or at least Ice Cold Heart before reading The Deepest Cut.

Wolfgang Mauer escaped from a maximum security mental hospital in a rural area and it set on revenge against those responsible for his incarceration, including Minneapolis homicide detectives Leo Magozzi and Gino Rolseth along with the Monkeewrench gang. He leaves a trail of three dead bodies and kidnaps a ten-year-old boy, Travis. Sheriff Iris Rikker is a new, inexperienced sheriff and needs the help of Magozzi, Gino, and Monkeewrench in the search before more lives are lost.

This is an action-packed fast-paced manhunt for Mauer and young Travis. The action follows both Mauer's actions and those searching for him. During this same time Magozzi is getting ready to retire to stay home with Grace MacBride (a member of Monkeewrench) and their daughter, Elizabeth. These are all well known characters for those who have been following the series and fans will be pleased to see them again.

The Deepest Cut will be best appreciated by Monkeewrench fans and those who have read the previous book in the series, Ice Cold Heart. Thanks to Crooked Lane Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The review will be published on Edelweiss, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

I thought the Monkeewrench series was over, but now there is a new book! This book is a little different from previous ones as there is less of a mystery to figure out and more of a continuation of past events involving perpetrators from the last book. There is still an investigation and a lot of great characters from the past make an appearance (the former English teacher who became a sheriff is one), but as the reader, you know what is happening right away as the narrative shifts from chapter to chapter so you hear from different characters including some of the perpetrators.

Despite knowing who is involved, there is still a lot of suspense and many twists. I loved getting an update on all of the main characters and their relationships and development. The book had the same edge of your seat hard to put down quality that I associate with the rest of the series. Hopefully there will be another one to read soon!

This is a fun, fast paced thriller with endearing characters. Part police procedural and part high tech criminal analysis, it grabbed me from the first page and I read it straight through in one sitting. This is the eleventh book in the Monkeewrench series and it can easily be read as a stand alone but why would you? I strongly recommend starting with the first book, "Monkeewrench," and reading the entire series. Highly recommended

Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an advanced reader copy.

P. J. Tracy returns to the world of Monkeewrench in this thriller. Minneapolis homicide detective Leo Magozzi is getting ready to retire to spend more time with the woman he loves and the daughter he adores. Before that can happen, Magozzi and his partner Gino Rolseth get involved in the prison escape of a sadistic killer that they had put behind bars earlier.

The killer is Mauer and Mauer has a plan. Recover the money he secreted away before he was caught and imprisoned and then kill the eight people on his hit lit that he most blames for his capture and imprisonment. He is more than willing to murder anyone who gets in the way of his plans.

Since he escaped from a mental hospital/prison in a small, rural Minnesota county, the inexperienced sheriff and her deputies are drawn into the case. They are the ones who discover the first three bodies left in Mauer's wake and set law enforcement in action when Mauer kidnaps a ten-year-old boy.

The story is told from multiple viewpoints. The Monkeewrench gang all appear and have their plans interrupted whether the plan is proposing to the woman they love or adding to their kick-ass fashion collection. The inexperienced sheriff's viewpoint is included. As is Magozzi's who is thinking that it might not be time to retire after all. And Mauer's viewpoint and that of some his villainous counterparts add chills to the narrative.

This was an engaging story. I love the relationship between Leo and Gino. The story was filled with interesting characters in a nail-biting plot.

The Deepest Cut by P J Tracy is the latest book in the Monkeywrench series.
I have read and enjoyed all of them. The last one had a slight cliffhanger with personal relationships— I was excited to read this one.
Leo Magozzi is getting ready to retire and stay home with Grace and his daughter.
When a mental patient escapes, he and his partner, Gino are on the hunt.
Grace McBride is part of the Monkeywrench gang. They help find the patient who is violent.
I liked the story – I was influenced by how much I really enjoyed all the other books and was glad for a new story involving the two detectives and Monkeywrench – It did feel like the final book and all the loose ends were tied up nicely –
I recommend the book and all the others in the series.