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Monkeewrench #10
Ice Cold Heart: A Monkeewrench Novel
Minneapolis detectives Leo Magozzi and Gino Rolseth join Grace MacBride and Monkeewrench to uncover a dark and ugly conspiracy that reaches deep into the safety of homes in this latest electrifying thriller from New York Times bestselling author P. J. Tracy.
It's a bitter winter in Minnesota--too cold to kill. There hasn't been a murder for a month, but the lull quickly comes to an end for Detectives Leo Magozzi and Gino Rolseth, when they're called to the gruesome homicide of Kelly Ramage. Found in a friend's vacant house, this was no random attack, and clues reveal that she was living a very dangerous secret life. Magozzi and Gino trace her steps back to an art gallery where she was last seen alive. The gallery seems like a dead end, but the art is disturbing and exploitative. It may very well be inspiring a sadistic killer, because in this instance, art doesn't imitate life, it imitates death. Tipped off about a year-old murder that is a mirror-image of Kelly's crime scene, Gino and Magozzi enlist the aid of Grace MacBride and her eccentric, tech genius partners in Monkeewrench Software to help them decipher the digital trail that might connect the cases. As coincidences emerge, Magozzi, Gino, and the team have to work around the clock at breakneck pace to unravel a series of clues that form the framework of a larger, more sweeping, and insidious conspiracy than any of them could have imagined. Is Kelly the last person to die or just the most recent? And is there any way to stop it?
It's a bitter winter in Minnesota--too cold to kill. There hasn't been a murder for a month, but the lull quickly comes to an end for Detectives Leo Magozzi and Gino Rolseth, when they're called to the gruesome homicide of Kelly Ramage. Found in a friend's vacant house, this was no random attack, and clues reveal that she was living a very dangerous secret life. Magozzi and Gino trace her steps back to an art gallery where she was last seen alive. The gallery seems like a dead end, but the art is disturbing and exploitative. It may very well be inspiring a sadistic killer, because in this instance, art doesn't imitate life, it imitates death. Tipped off about a year-old murder that is a mirror-image of Kelly's crime scene, Gino and Magozzi enlist the aid of Grace MacBride and her eccentric, tech genius partners in Monkeewrench Software to help them decipher the digital trail that might connect the cases. As coincidences emerge, Magozzi, Gino, and the team have to work around the clock at breakneck pace to unravel a series of clues that form the framework of a larger, more sweeping, and insidious conspiracy than any of them could have imagined. Is Kelly the last person to die or just the most recent? And is there any way to stop it?
336 pages, Paperback
First published August 22, 2019
409 people are currently reading
5026 people want to read
About the author
P.J. Tracy
24 books1,773 followersPJ Tracy is the pseudonym of mother-daughter writing duo P.J. and Traci Lambrecht, winners of the Anthony, Barry, Gumshoe, and Minnesota Book Awards. Their ten novels in the Monkeewrench series, MONKEEWRENCH, LIVE BAIT, DEAD RUN, SNOW BLIND, SHOOT TO THRILL, OFF THE GRID, THE SIXTH IDEA, NOTHING STAYS BURIED, THE GUILTY DEAD, and ICE COLD HEART have become national and international bestsellers. PJ passed away in December 2016, and Traci started a new series set in Los Angeles, featuring Detective Margaret Nolan. DEEP INTO THE DARK, DESOLATION CANYON, THE DEVIL YOU KNOW, and CITY OF SECRETS are available anywhere you buy your books!
THE DEEPEST CUT, the eleventh Monkeewrench novel will be released on September 9th, 2025.
Learn more about PJ Tracy at pjtracy.com
Follow them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PJTracyAuthor/
Look them up on Amazon: http://amazon.com/author/pjtracy.com
THE DEEPEST CUT, the eleventh Monkeewrench novel will be released on September 9th, 2025.
Learn more about PJ Tracy at pjtracy.com
Follow them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PJTracyAuthor/
Look them up on Amazon: http://amazon.com/author/pjtracy.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 547 reviews
August 9, 2019
This is one of my favourite series, with much loved characters, set in a bitterly cold and snowy January in Minneapolis in Minnesota. Leo Magozzi and Gino Rolseth, MPD detectives are visited by a psychic, Blanco Szabo, wanting to report the future murder of a woman, but no details that could help identify the potential victim. A sexually unfulfilled beautiful married woman, Kelly Ramage, with inclinations that veer towards BDSM, leaves home for a secret sexual assignation that ends in her horrific murder. The anonymous, controversial artist, Rado, is exhibiting disturbing art pieces and video that suggest the killer is inspired by his work. After meeting a protester outside the art gallery, it becomes clear to the police that there is at least one other murder victim with a similar MO.
The Monkeewrench team of IT geniuses Grace, Harley, Annie and Roadrunner have been commissioned by cryptocurrency Bit Monster to improve their security after it had been hacked, resulting in huge losses. Roadrunner saves a neighbour, Petra's life, on a night where the freezing temperatures come close to claiming her life. Petra is searching for a notorious Balkans war criminal, Peter Praljik, last known to be in Minnesota. In the most twisted of narratives, there are further murders as the multiple threads begin to slowly connect after Leo and Gino join forces with Monkeewrench in a dangerous investigation. There is much joy to be observed from the closely bonded Leo and Grace, and their 5 month old daughter, Elizabeth, warmly embraced by the extended family that is the entire Monkeewrench crowd.
This is another wonderful addition to a beloved series which I have followed right from the beginning. I love the atmospheric wintry location with characters I adore and whom I have seen develop through the series, particularly Grace who has become marginally less paranoid as her relationship with Leo, and the birth of Elizabeth, with their calming and grounding influence. Roadrunner, for the first time, becomes emotionally entangled with Petra, partly because both of them have different but desperately traumatic backgrounds. This is an intense read, touching on the bleak history of the Balkans, and the unspeakable events that occurred there, and the ruthless, vicious perpetrators, some of whom ended up in the US in this novel. Fans of this series will love this, as indeed will crime fiction fans who have yet to encounter the MPD detectives and Monkeewrench. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
The Monkeewrench team of IT geniuses Grace, Harley, Annie and Roadrunner have been commissioned by cryptocurrency Bit Monster to improve their security after it had been hacked, resulting in huge losses. Roadrunner saves a neighbour, Petra's life, on a night where the freezing temperatures come close to claiming her life. Petra is searching for a notorious Balkans war criminal, Peter Praljik, last known to be in Minnesota. In the most twisted of narratives, there are further murders as the multiple threads begin to slowly connect after Leo and Gino join forces with Monkeewrench in a dangerous investigation. There is much joy to be observed from the closely bonded Leo and Grace, and their 5 month old daughter, Elizabeth, warmly embraced by the extended family that is the entire Monkeewrench crowd.
This is another wonderful addition to a beloved series which I have followed right from the beginning. I love the atmospheric wintry location with characters I adore and whom I have seen develop through the series, particularly Grace who has become marginally less paranoid as her relationship with Leo, and the birth of Elizabeth, with their calming and grounding influence. Roadrunner, for the first time, becomes emotionally entangled with Petra, partly because both of them have different but desperately traumatic backgrounds. This is an intense read, touching on the bleak history of the Balkans, and the unspeakable events that occurred there, and the ruthless, vicious perpetrators, some of whom ended up in the US in this novel. Fans of this series will love this, as indeed will crime fiction fans who have yet to encounter the MPD detectives and Monkeewrench. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
August 4, 2019
4 stars for a satisfying mystery thriller. This is the second book that I have read by this author and I enjoy her books. The author bio says that the name P. J. Tracy is a pseudonym of a mother daughter team P.J. and Traci Lambrecht. P. J. passed in 2016 and Traci continues to write.
Minneapolis police detectives Leo Magozzi and Gino Rolseth join Grace Mac Bride and Monkeewrench(a software company specializing in viruses/malware removal) to unravel a conspiracy.
There are several different elements in this mystery: a serial killer, a woman searching for a war criminal and an art gallery showing sculptures of torture/murder.
There are other characters who help solve the mystery and I thought that the ending pulled all the treads together very well. This investigation takes place during a bitter cold snap, and the characters complain about the cold frequently.
One quote: Conversation between Leo and Gino-- "I mean, where's the fuming tirade over winter in Minnesota? At this point in January, you're usually gnashing your teeth and tipping over desks. You speak for millions of Minnesotans and we count on you to give voice to our grievances."
Gino rubbed his cheeks, trying to thaw them. "This is what acceptance looks like, Leo."
I read this book in 3 days and recommend it to police procedural fans..
Thank You Crooked Lane Books, P.J. Tracy and NetGalley for sending this ARC. #IceColdHeart #NetGalley
Minneapolis police detectives Leo Magozzi and Gino Rolseth join Grace Mac Bride and Monkeewrench(a software company specializing in viruses/malware removal) to unravel a conspiracy.
There are several different elements in this mystery: a serial killer, a woman searching for a war criminal and an art gallery showing sculptures of torture/murder.
There are other characters who help solve the mystery and I thought that the ending pulled all the treads together very well. This investigation takes place during a bitter cold snap, and the characters complain about the cold frequently.
One quote: Conversation between Leo and Gino-- "I mean, where's the fuming tirade over winter in Minnesota? At this point in January, you're usually gnashing your teeth and tipping over desks. You speak for millions of Minnesotans and we count on you to give voice to our grievances."
Gino rubbed his cheeks, trying to thaw them. "This is what acceptance looks like, Leo."
I read this book in 3 days and recommend it to police procedural fans..
Thank You Crooked Lane Books, P.J. Tracy and NetGalley for sending this ARC. #IceColdHeart #NetGalley
November 1, 2019
3.5*
I’m fairly new to this series, having read only the previous book The Guilty Dead. This latest release is book 10 In the very popular Monkeewrench series.
More often than not, the characters themselves can carry a book. Even when the story-line may not grab you, a creative author can cleverly develop a cast you will be immediately drawn to!
I have to admit, the story-line was a bit much for me. Too many complicated moving parts with only loose threads to tie it all together. Somewhere along the way I was left in a huge knot and couldn’t find a way out! Simply put…I was hopelessly lost!🙈
In a long running series it can become a delicate balancing act between moving the characters forward while hopefully presenting a captivating story-line. For this latest release it was the characters that ruled the day!
The Monkeewrench crew are all amazing and I’m quickly growing to love them all! Roadrunner and his shy quirkiness has stolen my 💖
A buddy read with Susanne!🍁
Thank you to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books and P.J. Tracy for an ARC to read and review.
I’m fairly new to this series, having read only the previous book The Guilty Dead. This latest release is book 10 In the very popular Monkeewrench series.
More often than not, the characters themselves can carry a book. Even when the story-line may not grab you, a creative author can cleverly develop a cast you will be immediately drawn to!
I have to admit, the story-line was a bit much for me. Too many complicated moving parts with only loose threads to tie it all together. Somewhere along the way I was left in a huge knot and couldn’t find a way out! Simply put…I was hopelessly lost!🙈
In a long running series it can become a delicate balancing act between moving the characters forward while hopefully presenting a captivating story-line. For this latest release it was the characters that ruled the day!
The Monkeewrench crew are all amazing and I’m quickly growing to love them all! Roadrunner and his shy quirkiness has stolen my 💖
A buddy read with Susanne!🍁
Thank you to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books and P.J. Tracy for an ARC to read and review.
October 17, 2019
I adore the Monkeewrench crew, they are each different, different back stories but all impressive.
Fine and Margozzi are the two detectives called on to investigate the badly damaged body of a young, married woman, while Monkeewrench is involved in a case involving bit coin and a inferior security system. Love how they all act around bAby Elizabeth. A softness comes out in each and every one.
This is another series I have read from the beginning. I was a little disappointed in the last book in series, but this one was much different, back to form. Although it was a bit more cringe worthy than I usually like, I found myself riveted by the turn these investigation took. So nice to see Monkeewrench taking more of a role. Also in this outing we see a possible new relationship for one of the Monkeewrench crew. Can't wait till the next in series to see what happens with this relationship. Good mystery, good characters, s generally well rounded series.
ARC from Netgalley.
Fine and Margozzi are the two detectives called on to investigate the badly damaged body of a young, married woman, while Monkeewrench is involved in a case involving bit coin and a inferior security system. Love how they all act around bAby Elizabeth. A softness comes out in each and every one.
This is another series I have read from the beginning. I was a little disappointed in the last book in series, but this one was much different, back to form. Although it was a bit more cringe worthy than I usually like, I found myself riveted by the turn these investigation took. So nice to see Monkeewrench taking more of a role. Also in this outing we see a possible new relationship for one of the Monkeewrench crew. Can't wait till the next in series to see what happens with this relationship. Good mystery, good characters, s generally well rounded series.
ARC from Netgalley.
August 15, 2019
What the best mystery series all seem to have in common is a group of characters that you come to care about. Even though this is only the second Monkeewrench book I’ve read, this series definitely fills that bill.
In this, the tenth book in the series, Mogozzi and Rolseth are investigating the murder of a beautiful young married woman seemingly caught up in a sex game gone wrong. But was the murder really inspired by an art exhibit that would fall under the “I know pornography when I see it” genre?
Meanwhile, the Monkeewrench gang is working to solve the hack of a cryptocurrency company that resulted in the theft of $40 million. After awhile, the coincidences and connections start piling up. If believability is important to you, this may not be the story for you.
Tracy uses the winter in Minnesota as an additional character. It was enough to chill you, just reading the descriptions. I was glad to have read this during the hot and humid weather of August.
My thanks to netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for an advance copy of this book.
In this, the tenth book in the series, Mogozzi and Rolseth are investigating the murder of a beautiful young married woman seemingly caught up in a sex game gone wrong. But was the murder really inspired by an art exhibit that would fall under the “I know pornography when I see it” genre?
Meanwhile, the Monkeewrench gang is working to solve the hack of a cryptocurrency company that resulted in the theft of $40 million. After awhile, the coincidences and connections start piling up. If believability is important to you, this may not be the story for you.
Tracy uses the winter in Minnesota as an additional character. It was enough to chill you, just reading the descriptions. I was glad to have read this during the hot and humid weather of August.
My thanks to netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for an advance copy of this book.
October 10, 2019
Ice Cold Heart by P J Tracy was a pleasant surprise because, with a title like this one, I was expecting a romance but instead read a police procedural that was a satisfying mystery. Minnesota detectives Magozzi and Rolseth are called to a crime scene: the victim is Kelly Ramage, a young woman who was brutally murdered and was last seen as a guest at a local art gallery. The murder resembles a similar crime investigated unsuccessfully a year ago in Los Angeles and may have been committed by the same perpetrator. The police enlist the help of Monkeewrench Software to aid in deciphering thefts of crypto currency which may be linked to the murders. And the fear is that more killings may occur. The novel includes many interesting characters who may or may not be connected to the crimes. All is revealed at the very end and the reader will be led astray many times. This is the tenth book in the Monkeewrench series but the novel reads well as a standalone. Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 10, 2019
Another brilliant entry in the Monkeewrench series which is still amazingly good after ten books. The characters are like old friends now and I look forward to every meeting with them.
Magozzi and Grace have their baby girl now and have taken to parenthood with ease. The Monkeewrench team are as usual except Roadrunner who breaks out of character after he meets a woman! Who would have thought:) We see a lot of the team in action in this story which is always a good thing.
Meanwhile Magozzi and Gino are called to investigate a particularly nasty murder and slowly find that their search for the killer is somehow entwined with the Monkeewrench team's financial investigations. Then of course there is a dramatic finale with last minute rescues and lot of bullets flying around.
I thoroughly enjoyed it all and hope for many more of these books in the future!
Thanks Netgalley for the chance to read and review this book.
Magozzi and Grace have their baby girl now and have taken to parenthood with ease. The Monkeewrench team are as usual except Roadrunner who breaks out of character after he meets a woman! Who would have thought:) We see a lot of the team in action in this story which is always a good thing.
Meanwhile Magozzi and Gino are called to investigate a particularly nasty murder and slowly find that their search for the killer is somehow entwined with the Monkeewrench team's financial investigations. Then of course there is a dramatic finale with last minute rescues and lot of bullets flying around.
I thoroughly enjoyed it all and hope for many more of these books in the future!
Thanks Netgalley for the chance to read and review this book.
September 10, 2019
The Monkeewrench Gang went from being serial murder suspects in their eponymous first novel, to working hand and hand with Minneapolis homicide detectives Leo Magozzi and Gino Rolseth. Actually a bit more than hand and hand as Grace MacBride has just had a baby with Leo.
It’s been a long and devastating road indeed for the brilliant Monkeewrench Gang who went from designing educational computer games and earning a fortune, to working with law enforcement by doing forensic investigations and designing computer programs strictly for L.E. to maybe doing a white hack now and then. Maybe.
In Ice Cold Heart Magozzi and Rolseth are called out to a murder scene on a bitterly cold, miserable day. They find a beautiful young woman dead in an obvious BDSM scene. They just aren’t sure at first if it is murder or accidental. The coroner and a similar case in LA soon make it is clear the woman is a murder victim. The sister of the victim in the similar murder in LA also provides impetus to the detectives.
At the same time the Monkeewrench gang is investigating a 400 million robbery of a cryptocurrency exchange. Yeah, 400 million.
There are several threads in this mystery; serial murders, the BDSM scene, kidnapping, popular art by an elusive artist celebrating the BDSM scene and the torture of women, Balkan war criminals, Balkan organized crimes, and the huge heist of cryptocurrency. Too many threads? Not at all, because it works. Beautifully. PJ Tracy knows how to weave a story and makes it all come together.
Murder is always dark, but Tracy digs extra deep with her reminder of how women are sometimes just viewed and celebrated as denigrated commodities. She also dips her ‘pen’ into the horror of war crimes and how most of the war criminals escape their sins as outsiders soon forget.
My usual complaint, not enough Monkeewrench Gang, although they do have a new member, Elizabeth. Not much focus anymore on the characters, but a Monkeewrench member, Roadrunner, comes out of his shell a bit.
As usual this tenth outing of the gang in Ice Cold Heart has been a pleasure, but also a stark reminder of the darkness just hovering over us, and some might say, getting closer with the easy celebrations of the degradation of women.
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
It’s been a long and devastating road indeed for the brilliant Monkeewrench Gang who went from designing educational computer games and earning a fortune, to working with law enforcement by doing forensic investigations and designing computer programs strictly for L.E. to maybe doing a white hack now and then. Maybe.
In Ice Cold Heart Magozzi and Rolseth are called out to a murder scene on a bitterly cold, miserable day. They find a beautiful young woman dead in an obvious BDSM scene. They just aren’t sure at first if it is murder or accidental. The coroner and a similar case in LA soon make it is clear the woman is a murder victim. The sister of the victim in the similar murder in LA also provides impetus to the detectives.
At the same time the Monkeewrench gang is investigating a 400 million robbery of a cryptocurrency exchange. Yeah, 400 million.
There are several threads in this mystery; serial murders, the BDSM scene, kidnapping, popular art by an elusive artist celebrating the BDSM scene and the torture of women, Balkan war criminals, Balkan organized crimes, and the huge heist of cryptocurrency. Too many threads? Not at all, because it works. Beautifully. PJ Tracy knows how to weave a story and makes it all come together.
Murder is always dark, but Tracy digs extra deep with her reminder of how women are sometimes just viewed and celebrated as denigrated commodities. She also dips her ‘pen’ into the horror of war crimes and how most of the war criminals escape their sins as outsiders soon forget.
My usual complaint, not enough Monkeewrench Gang, although they do have a new member, Elizabeth. Not much focus anymore on the characters, but a Monkeewrench member, Roadrunner, comes out of his shell a bit.
As usual this tenth outing of the gang in Ice Cold Heart has been a pleasure, but also a stark reminder of the darkness just hovering over us, and some might say, getting closer with the easy celebrations of the degradation of women.
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
November 2, 2019
3.5 Stars
Detectives Magoozi and Rolseth are called to the scene of a crime where a woman name Kelly Rampage was murdered in what appears to be a sex game gone horribly wrong. Meanwhile the Monkeewrench team is involved in the theft of over $40 Million in Cryptocurrency. When more bodies are found with crime scenes that match Kelly Rampage’s in one way or another, Magoozi and Rolseth realize that they have a serial killer on their hands.
Working with Monkeewrench, Magoozi and Rolseth determined that their crimes scenes are connected to the theft of Cryptocurrency, which is unthinkable! The question of how remains to be seen. From war criminals to the art world, it was almost hard to follow the thread of who did what to whom and how it was all related! The end result was quite the doozy although I admit to guessing it early on.
My favorite parts of this novel involved Grace and baby Elizabeth! (What can I say, I’m a sap at heart!).
This was another fabulous buddy read with Kaceey!
Thank you to NetGalley, Goodreads and P.J. Tracey for the arc.
Published on Goodreads and NetGalley on 10.27.19.
Detectives Magoozi and Rolseth are called to the scene of a crime where a woman name Kelly Rampage was murdered in what appears to be a sex game gone horribly wrong. Meanwhile the Monkeewrench team is involved in the theft of over $40 Million in Cryptocurrency. When more bodies are found with crime scenes that match Kelly Rampage’s in one way or another, Magoozi and Rolseth realize that they have a serial killer on their hands.
Working with Monkeewrench, Magoozi and Rolseth determined that their crimes scenes are connected to the theft of Cryptocurrency, which is unthinkable! The question of how remains to be seen. From war criminals to the art world, it was almost hard to follow the thread of who did what to whom and how it was all related! The end result was quite the doozy although I admit to guessing it early on.
My favorite parts of this novel involved Grace and baby Elizabeth! (What can I say, I’m a sap at heart!).
This was another fabulous buddy read with Kaceey!
Thank you to NetGalley, Goodreads and P.J. Tracey for the arc.
Published on Goodreads and NetGalley on 10.27.19.
June 11, 2019
In this thrilling episode of this excellent series, the Monkeewrench crew are chasing major bitcoin fraud and detectives Gino Rolseth and Leo Magozzi are engaged in searching for a depraved serial killer who seems to have a link to an avant-garde artist and a creepy S&M sex club. Roadrunner has also found himself attracted to a women who hunts down war criminals and is helping her look for a particularly nasty general who tortured and annihilated whole villages and during the Balkan wars.
This makes for plenty of action on all fronts and very compelling reading right up to the dramatic conclusion. All the plots are presented seamlessly and some interesting and, in some cases dangerous, characters introduced. It's always great to revisit the fascinating Monkeewrench team of Annie, Grace, Harley and Roadrunner and now to see them extending their family with partners and a baby for Grace and Leo. I really hope we'll continue to see more of these amazing characters and their exploits in the future.
With thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for a digital ARC to read.
This makes for plenty of action on all fronts and very compelling reading right up to the dramatic conclusion. All the plots are presented seamlessly and some interesting and, in some cases dangerous, characters introduced. It's always great to revisit the fascinating Monkeewrench team of Annie, Grace, Harley and Roadrunner and now to see them extending their family with partners and a baby for Grace and Leo. I really hope we'll continue to see more of these amazing characters and their exploits in the future.
With thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for a digital ARC to read.
August 10, 2023
UPDATE: 11/08/2023 - Here endeth the amazingly enjoyable reread of a great series!
Ten books later and the cases are still thrilling and the characters engaging! Enough said.
Ten books later and the cases are still thrilling and the characters engaging! Enough said.
August 21, 2019
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, P.J. Tracy, and Crooked Lane for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
In the latest instalment of the Monkeewrench series, P.J. Tracy shows an ability to lure readers in from the start and hold their attention throughout. During a severe cold snap in Minneapolis. Homicide detectives Leo Magozzi and Gino Rolseth find themselves seeking anything to spice up their work lives. When a woman, reported missing by her husband, turns up dead, things take an interesting turn. The body was obviously tortured, its head wrapped in tape and some investigating proves she was killed meeting someone off a BDSM site. Magozzi and Rolseth are sure they have a twisted individual on their hands, though there is little to offer a concrete list of suspects. Meanwhile, the Monkeewrench crew have been contracted to work on a cryptocurrency scam that has siphoned millions of dollars (both actual and digital) from individuals. Baffled as to how to track down this specific criminal, the group look to unique approaches and find a few leads that end up blurring lines with the MPD murder investigation. How these two cases, as well as an ICE hunt for a former Baltic war criminal, meld together is only the beginning. While the mercury dips lower outside, the case has the ability to heat things up quite effectively. There is little hope for calm while the killer lurks somewhere and waits to strike again. A well-plotted tenth novel in the series that will have those who have followed along throughout wanting more, as well as the reader who enjoys a fast-paced police procedurals set outside the typical American locale.
My attention was turned to this series last summer when I binged the entire collection. I was hooked from the outset and devoured many of the books along the way, learning much about the characters while being highly entertained. Tracy shows a strong ability to writer effectively, yet does not lose her reader with too many facts. One could make the argument that Leo Magozzi is a protagonist in this piece, but I felt strongly that there was a general equality to the characters and therefore, no one stole the limelight. Working a variety of cases in unique fashions, the Homicide team of the MPD and the Monkeewrench crew balanced the story out effectively. There was surely some character development, which will help series fans get more out of the story, but it was peppered throughout the narrative, rather than embedded in a single section. With short chapters, Tracy pulls the reader into the middle of the case and forces them to read ‘just a little more’ before agreeing to stop, albeit reluctantly. The plot was decent and varied nicely, bringing different cases together nicely in unexpected ways. I was pleased to see that things are going well for Tracy, whose mom-daughter team faced a tragic loss a few years ago. The quality is strong and I am happy to see things are still coming together. This is a series worth the attention of the reader who wants something light and easy to digest.
Kudos, Madam Tracy, for another great piece. You know how to tap into the best parts of mystery/criminal writing and I am always pleased to see when you have something new to offer your fans.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
In the latest instalment of the Monkeewrench series, P.J. Tracy shows an ability to lure readers in from the start and hold their attention throughout. During a severe cold snap in Minneapolis. Homicide detectives Leo Magozzi and Gino Rolseth find themselves seeking anything to spice up their work lives. When a woman, reported missing by her husband, turns up dead, things take an interesting turn. The body was obviously tortured, its head wrapped in tape and some investigating proves she was killed meeting someone off a BDSM site. Magozzi and Rolseth are sure they have a twisted individual on their hands, though there is little to offer a concrete list of suspects. Meanwhile, the Monkeewrench crew have been contracted to work on a cryptocurrency scam that has siphoned millions of dollars (both actual and digital) from individuals. Baffled as to how to track down this specific criminal, the group look to unique approaches and find a few leads that end up blurring lines with the MPD murder investigation. How these two cases, as well as an ICE hunt for a former Baltic war criminal, meld together is only the beginning. While the mercury dips lower outside, the case has the ability to heat things up quite effectively. There is little hope for calm while the killer lurks somewhere and waits to strike again. A well-plotted tenth novel in the series that will have those who have followed along throughout wanting more, as well as the reader who enjoys a fast-paced police procedurals set outside the typical American locale.
My attention was turned to this series last summer when I binged the entire collection. I was hooked from the outset and devoured many of the books along the way, learning much about the characters while being highly entertained. Tracy shows a strong ability to writer effectively, yet does not lose her reader with too many facts. One could make the argument that Leo Magozzi is a protagonist in this piece, but I felt strongly that there was a general equality to the characters and therefore, no one stole the limelight. Working a variety of cases in unique fashions, the Homicide team of the MPD and the Monkeewrench crew balanced the story out effectively. There was surely some character development, which will help series fans get more out of the story, but it was peppered throughout the narrative, rather than embedded in a single section. With short chapters, Tracy pulls the reader into the middle of the case and forces them to read ‘just a little more’ before agreeing to stop, albeit reluctantly. The plot was decent and varied nicely, bringing different cases together nicely in unexpected ways. I was pleased to see that things are going well for Tracy, whose mom-daughter team faced a tragic loss a few years ago. The quality is strong and I am happy to see things are still coming together. This is a series worth the attention of the reader who wants something light and easy to digest.
Kudos, Madam Tracy, for another great piece. You know how to tap into the best parts of mystery/criminal writing and I am always pleased to see when you have something new to offer your fans.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
October 6, 2019
This is my very first excursion into the Monkeewrench series and I liked it!
I liked all the characters except of course, for the bad guys, but they all had some unique, eccentric personalities which was interesting to read about.
There were so many different people involved in this story, but it was great because they all wove in together nicely and it was different from anything else I have read. I also really enjoyed the police procedural aspect of this story.
That Monkeewrench gang was such fun - what a group of IT misfits but they sure know their stuff and they are all live their livesin their own unique way. Eccentric, perhaps, but I think you’d have to be to do what they do and to work harmoniously together for the common good. I felt as if I was sitting there with them as they were cracking codes, setting up internet traps for the bad trolls, doing research. Pretty cool stuff!
Since this is my first book to read in the series and my first foray into this author’s writing, I’m giving it four stars. I’m going to have to look into more of these books in the Monkeewrench series!
I liked all the characters except of course, for the bad guys, but they all had some unique, eccentric personalities which was interesting to read about.
There were so many different people involved in this story, but it was great because they all wove in together nicely and it was different from anything else I have read. I also really enjoyed the police procedural aspect of this story.
That Monkeewrench gang was such fun - what a group of IT misfits but they sure know their stuff and they are all live their livesin their own unique way. Eccentric, perhaps, but I think you’d have to be to do what they do and to work harmoniously together for the common good. I felt as if I was sitting there with them as they were cracking codes, setting up internet traps for the bad trolls, doing research. Pretty cool stuff!
Since this is my first book to read in the series and my first foray into this author’s writing, I’m giving it four stars. I’m going to have to look into more of these books in the Monkeewrench series!
August 12, 2019
Magozzi and Grace have a baby girl and they've settled in well to parenthood. Magozzi and Gino have been called in to investigate a nasty murder. It looks like a sex game that's gone wrong. But this is not the first victim. The case directs them to a local art gallery where some disturbing work is on display. Also, the Monkeyrench tram are also investigating crypto currency theft.
This book is well written and the plot is good. At the beginning of each chapter tells a different part of the story from a different point of view. The story is gripping, action packed and suspenseful. The book could be rad as a standalone.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Penguin UK - Michael Joseph and the author P. J. Tracy for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book is well written and the plot is good. At the beginning of each chapter tells a different part of the story from a different point of view. The story is gripping, action packed and suspenseful. The book could be rad as a standalone.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Penguin UK - Michael Joseph and the author P. J. Tracy for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 6, 2019
Ice Cold Heart opens with Detectives Gino and Magozzi investigating the murder of a woman tied up to a bed with bondage elements. The murder echoes the art exhibit she attended earlier in the evening. Is this a BDSM scene that went horribly wrong or a more sinister situation? This mystery was a disturbing one!
The Monkeewrench series grabbed my attention last year and I jumped in at book nine with no trouble, although, I didn’t appreciate all the relationships between Gino, Magozzi, and the Monkeewrench team as much as I would’ve had I read the series in order. Since then I went back and read all the previous books, and I’ve come to love this series! They open with a mystery for the Detectives and a separate one for the Monkeewrench team, that usually end up intersecting and merging by the end. I’d call this a crime police procedural, but with a little fun. Not the murders, obviously, most of those are disturbing and sad, but the relationships between the characters are filled with bits of humor. Detectives Gino and Magozzi are partners, but also best friends which comes through as they investigate each case. Whether ribbing each other or providing support both in work and personal matters, they have each other’s backs.
In book one, the Detectives and the Monkeewrench team come together, but there’s distrust and suspicions on both sides, and it takes solving the case to meld them together into what they are now. Monkeewrench is a computer software company. Each member, Grace, Roadrunner, Annie, and Harley a genius with a troubled past, more family than business partners. Their programs end up helping the police and FBI nail down the bad guys.
From book one Grace, and Magozzi have had an attraction that’s morphed into something amazing, and I’ve loved watching every small step they’ve made to be together. Their romance is one of my favorite things about the series, and this installment was especially sweet! But every character shines in their own way, and I’ve loved seeing the friendships formed and how they interact. I was excited to learn more about Roadrunner and his past in this installment and thrilled over some new developments for him! The Monkeewrench series continues to be an addictive one, not losing one bit of steam even after ten books! I can’t wait for the next one!
A copy was kindly provided by Crooked Lane books in exchange for an honest review.
The Monkeewrench series grabbed my attention last year and I jumped in at book nine with no trouble, although, I didn’t appreciate all the relationships between Gino, Magozzi, and the Monkeewrench team as much as I would’ve had I read the series in order. Since then I went back and read all the previous books, and I’ve come to love this series! They open with a mystery for the Detectives and a separate one for the Monkeewrench team, that usually end up intersecting and merging by the end. I’d call this a crime police procedural, but with a little fun. Not the murders, obviously, most of those are disturbing and sad, but the relationships between the characters are filled with bits of humor. Detectives Gino and Magozzi are partners, but also best friends which comes through as they investigate each case. Whether ribbing each other or providing support both in work and personal matters, they have each other’s backs.
In book one, the Detectives and the Monkeewrench team come together, but there’s distrust and suspicions on both sides, and it takes solving the case to meld them together into what they are now. Monkeewrench is a computer software company. Each member, Grace, Roadrunner, Annie, and Harley a genius with a troubled past, more family than business partners. Their programs end up helping the police and FBI nail down the bad guys.
From book one Grace, and Magozzi have had an attraction that’s morphed into something amazing, and I’ve loved watching every small step they’ve made to be together. Their romance is one of my favorite things about the series, and this installment was especially sweet! But every character shines in their own way, and I’ve loved seeing the friendships formed and how they interact. I was excited to learn more about Roadrunner and his past in this installment and thrilled over some new developments for him! The Monkeewrench series continues to be an addictive one, not losing one bit of steam even after ten books! I can’t wait for the next one!
A copy was kindly provided by Crooked Lane books in exchange for an honest review.
June 2, 2019
“We’ve got an artist who might be a hacker, a war criminal who might be Kelly Ramage’s killer, possibly a secret code, and a client who’s been severely compromised by somebody really smart. And they might all be connected.”
Ice Cold Heart is the tenth book in the best-selling Monkeewrench series by award-winning American author, P J Tracy. Thoughts of an early weekend with Grace and Elizabeth go out the door for Detective Leo Magozzi when a young wife is found murdered in a bondage situation. It’s January in Minneapolis, and the cold hasn’t deterred the murderer, because hours later, the ageing medium who warned Gino and Magozzi about the murder is herself found slain.
Retracing the young woman’s steps, they are soon at a gallery facing the confronting work of a reclusive artist, whose work is so reminiscent of the murder that Gino and Magozzi if it’s the work of an acolyte. And as they become aware of another murder, Gino and Magozzi wonder if they have a serial killer on their hands. Further investigations send them to a gym, a sex club and a geodesic dome that serves as home for a flamboyant bon vivant.
Meanwhile, the Monkeewrench crew are kept busy trying to patch up the cyber security of a cryptocurrency merchant after a major breach resulted in a massive theft. When Roadrunner diverts his attention to helping his neighbour find a war criminal, they find unexpected links between their enquiries.
Tracy’s regular characters continue to develop with parenthood and coupledom altering priorities. Romance seems to be budding for Roadrunner although, much to his irritation, Harley poses them as a gay couple at one stage. The banter among the Monkeewrench crew and also between the cops is always a delight.
In a plot that dips into the Balkan war, BDSM, installation art and cyber theft, Tracy keeps the pages turning right up to the heart-stopping climax. And if the villains are on the radar, finding out when and how and why keeps even the most astute reader enthralled. While it can be read as a stand-alone, why deny oneself the pleasure of reading this excellent series? A very entertaining read.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books.
Ice Cold Heart is the tenth book in the best-selling Monkeewrench series by award-winning American author, P J Tracy. Thoughts of an early weekend with Grace and Elizabeth go out the door for Detective Leo Magozzi when a young wife is found murdered in a bondage situation. It’s January in Minneapolis, and the cold hasn’t deterred the murderer, because hours later, the ageing medium who warned Gino and Magozzi about the murder is herself found slain.
Retracing the young woman’s steps, they are soon at a gallery facing the confronting work of a reclusive artist, whose work is so reminiscent of the murder that Gino and Magozzi if it’s the work of an acolyte. And as they become aware of another murder, Gino and Magozzi wonder if they have a serial killer on their hands. Further investigations send them to a gym, a sex club and a geodesic dome that serves as home for a flamboyant bon vivant.
Meanwhile, the Monkeewrench crew are kept busy trying to patch up the cyber security of a cryptocurrency merchant after a major breach resulted in a massive theft. When Roadrunner diverts his attention to helping his neighbour find a war criminal, they find unexpected links between their enquiries.
Tracy’s regular characters continue to develop with parenthood and coupledom altering priorities. Romance seems to be budding for Roadrunner although, much to his irritation, Harley poses them as a gay couple at one stage. The banter among the Monkeewrench crew and also between the cops is always a delight.
In a plot that dips into the Balkan war, BDSM, installation art and cyber theft, Tracy keeps the pages turning right up to the heart-stopping climax. And if the villains are on the radar, finding out when and how and why keeps even the most astute reader enthralled. While it can be read as a stand-alone, why deny oneself the pleasure of reading this excellent series? A very entertaining read.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books.
June 27, 2019
Thank you to Net Galley, the publishers,and the author for an ARC Copy for a review.
My first novel by this author PJ Tracey (formerly a mother-daughter writing team which in 2016 suffered the sad loss of P.J. (mother). Traci Lambert continues to write under the original team name.
Minneapolis detectives Leo Magozzi and Gino Rolseth join Grace MacBride and Monkeewrench to uncover a dark and ugly conspiracy that reaches deep into the safety of homes in this latest electrifying thriller from New York Times bestselling author P. J. Tracy.
It's a bitter winter in Minnesota--too cold to kill. There hasn't been a murder for a month, but the lull quickly comes to an end for Detectives Leo Magozzi and Gino Rolseth, when they're called to the gruesome homicide of Kelly Ramage. Found in a friend's vacant house, this was no random attack, and clues reveal that she was living a very dangerous secret life.
Magozzi and Gino trace her steps back to an art gallery where she was last seen alive. The gallery seems like a dead end, but the art is disturbing and exploitative. It may very well be inspiring a sadistic killer, because in this instance, art doesn't imitate life, it imitates death.
Tipped off about a year-old murder that is a mirror-image of Kelly's crime scene, Gino and Magozzi enlist the aid of Grace MacBride and her eccentric, tech genius partners in Monkeewrench Software to help them decipher the digital trail that might connect the cases.
As coincidences emerge, Magozzi, Gino, and the team have to work around the clock at breakneck pace to unravel a series of clues that form the framework of a larger, more sweeping, and insidious conspiracy than any of them could have imagined. Is Kelly the last person to die or just the most recent? And is there any way to stop it?
The first thing to mention is this being my first book by this author, so of course my first in this series, and now I know this is the tenth in the series, so in all honesty it took me a while to get into the many characters, from the police team to the monkeewrench team.
My own fault, but that happens when you are lucky to be approved a book to read to review. Saying that I followed the story which kept at a good pace, with a strong story, very little in clues but many nasty characters. As I read more I started to understand all the characters and how they fitted in the stories and they grew on me.
This book was a three star for me, until the last 30% of this book as the suspense built, the pace grew, and you could feel the atmosphere and urgency of the both teams, and I really enjoyed the last part and the pace.
So a four star book from me. I enjoyed the great characters, they grew on me.
My first novel by this author PJ Tracey (formerly a mother-daughter writing team which in 2016 suffered the sad loss of P.J. (mother). Traci Lambert continues to write under the original team name.
Minneapolis detectives Leo Magozzi and Gino Rolseth join Grace MacBride and Monkeewrench to uncover a dark and ugly conspiracy that reaches deep into the safety of homes in this latest electrifying thriller from New York Times bestselling author P. J. Tracy.
It's a bitter winter in Minnesota--too cold to kill. There hasn't been a murder for a month, but the lull quickly comes to an end for Detectives Leo Magozzi and Gino Rolseth, when they're called to the gruesome homicide of Kelly Ramage. Found in a friend's vacant house, this was no random attack, and clues reveal that she was living a very dangerous secret life.
Magozzi and Gino trace her steps back to an art gallery where she was last seen alive. The gallery seems like a dead end, but the art is disturbing and exploitative. It may very well be inspiring a sadistic killer, because in this instance, art doesn't imitate life, it imitates death.
Tipped off about a year-old murder that is a mirror-image of Kelly's crime scene, Gino and Magozzi enlist the aid of Grace MacBride and her eccentric, tech genius partners in Monkeewrench Software to help them decipher the digital trail that might connect the cases.
As coincidences emerge, Magozzi, Gino, and the team have to work around the clock at breakneck pace to unravel a series of clues that form the framework of a larger, more sweeping, and insidious conspiracy than any of them could have imagined. Is Kelly the last person to die or just the most recent? And is there any way to stop it?
The first thing to mention is this being my first book by this author, so of course my first in this series, and now I know this is the tenth in the series, so in all honesty it took me a while to get into the many characters, from the police team to the monkeewrench team.
My own fault, but that happens when you are lucky to be approved a book to read to review. Saying that I followed the story which kept at a good pace, with a strong story, very little in clues but many nasty characters. As I read more I started to understand all the characters and how they fitted in the stories and they grew on me.
This book was a three star for me, until the last 30% of this book as the suspense built, the pace grew, and you could feel the atmosphere and urgency of the both teams, and I really enjoyed the last part and the pace.
So a four star book from me. I enjoyed the great characters, they grew on me.
September 23, 2021
The story is set in a bitterly cold January in Minnesota. In this enchanting episode of the series we follow Kelly Ramage, a sexually unfulfilled woman veering towards BDSM, who falls prey to a depraved serial killer. There is no concrete list of suspects whilst the need to find the culprit lurking somewhere, waiting to strike again is precipitated by detectives Gino and Magozzi.
I was lured in the story from the start. The author marvelously dips her pen into the degradation and commodification of women as well as war atrocities. I found the story unspeakable and liked both detectives who stole the limelight. I got perplexed halfway in the story though and my attention drifted away. In hindsight, there are loose threads to tie it all together. I can definitely see why the book would appeal to many readers. It just wasn't my cup of tea. That's all I'm trying to say.
January 17, 2021
5*
9/80. Thoroughly enjoyed this! I’m a big fan of this mother-daughter writing duo and their Monkeewrench series. This was a fast, engaging read, a true crime mystery with lots of suspenseful plot twists and turns. I urge all who have yet to discover these books to go read number 1 ASAP, as you have no idea what delights you’ve been missing!!
9/80. Thoroughly enjoyed this! I’m a big fan of this mother-daughter writing duo and their Monkeewrench series. This was a fast, engaging read, a true crime mystery with lots of suspenseful plot twists and turns. I urge all who have yet to discover these books to go read number 1 ASAP, as you have no idea what delights you’ve been missing!!
October 15, 2019
For those of you who have followed this series, you're going to love this one! If you haven't read any or maybe just one or two, this one is easily read as a stand alone. I highly recommend starting at the beginner and indulging in a smorgasbord of sensational story lines, charac ters that will remain in your head for a long, long time.
Detectives Leo Magozzi and Gino Rolseth make another appearance, as well as two of their colleagues. Their day starts with a psychic paying them a visit, reporting she 'sees' the future murder of a woman. But who is she?
Kelly Ramage leaves her home, telling her husband she is attending an art show with a friend. Because the weather is so bad, she'll be spending the night with her friend. Kelly never returns home. Her body is found murdered in a bizarre way.
And this is not the only body that will be found.
ICE COLD HEART has just about everything .... an artist who might be a hacker ..... a war criminal who might be a killer .... a secret code ... a client that has been severely compromised .... a criminal with ties to organized crime. The entire Monkeewrench crew is present and accounted for. Two additional detectives are also involved.
What starts as an independent investigation for each of the detectives .... a separate case for a member of the Monkeewrench crew ... and an ICE employee hunting for a war criminal. It's when they all start merging that everything seems to spin out of control.
This is an action packed page turner with twists and turns to keep your eyes glued to the pages ... intense and well paced.
Many thanks to the author / Crooked Lane Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of this super addition to a fabulous series. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
August 29, 2019
Last year about this time, I discovered this very entertaining "Monkeewrench" series - and felt bad that I'd missed earlier issues. Missing out, I vowed, wouldn't happen again. Happily, I learned about this one and was delighted to once again be approved by the publisher (via NetGalley) for an advance review copy.
And I've got to say I enjoyed this one even more. In large part, that's because it's a really good story; it's also true that I'm more familiar with the very likable characters - some of them with quirky names like Harley Davidson and Roadrunner - and therefore never encountered any "Whoa, where did that come from?" feelings. Monkeewrench, you see, is a Minneapolis-based software development company that specializes in security. One of the partners, Grace, is married to Minneapolis Detective Leo Magozzi (a rather unlikely couple); together, they have an infant daughter.
At the police department, a psychic named Blanca Szabo insists on speaking with Magozzi. An unknown woman, she insists, is about to be murdered. Shift focus to a beautiful woman, Kelly Ramage, an arm-candy wife to a rich but unfeeling old codger; she's off to meet a friend for the evening, or so she claims - dressed to kill.
Or more accurately, be be killed. Magozzi and his trusty team begin are called in to begin the investigation, not quite believing that Kelly was the about-to-die woman Blanca had envisioned. The trail leads to a local art gallery and the sadistic but wildly popular works of a reclusive artist named Rado. Meanwhile, enter another character as readers get a look at Petra Juric, a historian and researcher who's come to Minneapolis, surreptitiously looking for a man with a lurid past.
Are these characters somehow connected? Can the computer experts at Monkeewrench find clues that will help the detectives find the killer before he or she kills again? I'll give you a couple of hints: The answer to the first question is yes; and to the second, yes and no. More than that, you'll just have to read for yourself. Loved this one - great fun!
And I've got to say I enjoyed this one even more. In large part, that's because it's a really good story; it's also true that I'm more familiar with the very likable characters - some of them with quirky names like Harley Davidson and Roadrunner - and therefore never encountered any "Whoa, where did that come from?" feelings. Monkeewrench, you see, is a Minneapolis-based software development company that specializes in security. One of the partners, Grace, is married to Minneapolis Detective Leo Magozzi (a rather unlikely couple); together, they have an infant daughter.
At the police department, a psychic named Blanca Szabo insists on speaking with Magozzi. An unknown woman, she insists, is about to be murdered. Shift focus to a beautiful woman, Kelly Ramage, an arm-candy wife to a rich but unfeeling old codger; she's off to meet a friend for the evening, or so she claims - dressed to kill.
Or more accurately, be be killed. Magozzi and his trusty team begin are called in to begin the investigation, not quite believing that Kelly was the about-to-die woman Blanca had envisioned. The trail leads to a local art gallery and the sadistic but wildly popular works of a reclusive artist named Rado. Meanwhile, enter another character as readers get a look at Petra Juric, a historian and researcher who's come to Minneapolis, surreptitiously looking for a man with a lurid past.
Are these characters somehow connected? Can the computer experts at Monkeewrench find clues that will help the detectives find the killer before he or she kills again? I'll give you a couple of hints: The answer to the first question is yes; and to the second, yes and no. More than that, you'll just have to read for yourself. Loved this one - great fun!
September 18, 2019
Again, this needs many more than five stars. These books are wonderfully filled with connections and strands that pull together and apart as the mysteries unravel. I am enjoying watching the Monkeewrench team grow and expand their world.
January 18, 2020
Book #10 of the Monkeewrench series. I love this series and Traci (the daughter of the PJ Tracy writing duo) is coming through with a great novel to continue on her and her mother's work. This novel takes place in snowy, frigid Minneapolis as Magozzi and Rolseth track down a vicious murderer. Monkeewrench is working on solving a cryptocurrency heist. Roadrunner saves a damsel in distress. And a controversial art show adds to the mysteries. PJ Tracy does a great job pulling all the storyline strings into one. Highly recommend and looking forward to the next book!
August 11, 2019
I love these novels and I’m so glad they are continuing after the sad loss of one half of this amazing writing duo, mother and daughter, I can only imagine how difficult it must be- but Ice Cold Heart doesn’t miss a beat, it is an intensely involving crime drama featuring our much loved group of characters, I devoured it in short order.
The main story itself is as compelling as ever, these cases always have a dark heart and inevitably end up being about something else than how it starts. This one was utterly addictive, the various threads of plot coming together into an explosive finale and reminding me why I’ve avidly followed the monkeewrench series from book one.
Overall this was a fantastic read- clever and intense with that strong page turning quality I’ve come to look forward to whenever I pick one of these up.
Excellent. Recommended.
The main story itself is as compelling as ever, these cases always have a dark heart and inevitably end up being about something else than how it starts. This one was utterly addictive, the various threads of plot coming together into an explosive finale and reminding me why I’ve avidly followed the monkeewrench series from book one.
Overall this was a fantastic read- clever and intense with that strong page turning quality I’ve come to look forward to whenever I pick one of these up.
Excellent. Recommended.
December 26, 2019
A definite uptick after book 9, Ice Cold Heart is up there as one of the stronger books in the fantastic Monkeewrench series.
The central mystery at the core of each book allows each one to stand alone, but you really are missing out if you don't have the backstory behind this found family of misfits - especially book one. Ice Cold Heart marked a return to that family dynamic that I felt was missing in the last couple of books, and most importantly, that return felt very natural.
A truly entertaining read and definitely one of the books in the series that I'll be coming back to in the future.
The central mystery at the core of each book allows each one to stand alone, but you really are missing out if you don't have the backstory behind this found family of misfits - especially book one. Ice Cold Heart marked a return to that family dynamic that I felt was missing in the last couple of books, and most importantly, that return felt very natural.
A truly entertaining read and definitely one of the books in the series that I'll be coming back to in the future.
December 30, 2021
An enjoyable read that kept me entertained throughout!
September 19, 2019
A little weaker than I was expecting but still a good mystery. Still a good series that I look out for the next one. I think I'm just not enjoying it as much as the Monkeewrench gang age or as I do.
October 27, 2019
When I started this book, I was already drawn in with the thrilling writing and how to book moved in a pretty fast pace and kept your attention and the suspense from page to page. It definitely was an unputdownable book. The story begins when a gruesome murder, of a beautiful married woman named Kelly Ramage, was discovered in a friend's house. Detectives Leo Magozzi and Gino Rolseth join the Monkeewrench Software crew to uncover a deep mystery that involves a war-criminal, a disturbing and highly controversial artist, and some underground bit currency criminal underground conspiracy. As the detectives deep-dive into the case, they are faced with the possibility that these conspiracies could be related to the murders in some way.
I started this book without the knowledge that it was book #10 of the Monkeewrench series, but it worked for me as a stand alone. I will be going back to read the entire series because I absolutely love the characters in this book and I need more! This is my first P. J. Tracy book and definitely am a fan! I highly recommend this book and the series. Amazing read. I thoroughly enjoyed this.
5 stars
I started this book without the knowledge that it was book #10 of the Monkeewrench series, but it worked for me as a stand alone. I will be going back to read the entire series because I absolutely love the characters in this book and I need more! This is my first P. J. Tracy book and definitely am a fan! I highly recommend this book and the series. Amazing read. I thoroughly enjoyed this.
5 stars
September 21, 2019
When P.J. passed away I was afraid that was the end of Monkeewrench. It’s back and better than ever. In the acknowledgments she credited PJ for her inspiration. Believe me, she is right there writing alongside! Bravo
September 2, 2019
Wow. "Ice Cold Heart" was intense and absorbing. I stayed up too late reading it but it was worth it. Tracy may be writing solo these days but the writing is still complex, detailed, tightly plotted, and hard-hitting.
After a lull in homicides Magozzi and and Rolseth get a doozy of a murder. As they investigate, they discover other cases that may be related. They dig and begin to make connections. Meanwhile, Grace and the Monkeewrench crew are hired to find out who hacked a digital coin company and stole millions. As everyone works their respective cases, links between them begin to appear and the cases converge. The coincidences were many but Tracy deftly made them believable and realistic. She combined some action, some suspense, police procedures, and character development into a gripping story.
I've been enjoying this series since the first book and the changes in the characters have been a delight to watch. Grace especially has changed, opening up a bit and taking emotional chances. We saw Roadrunner reach out in this story though I'll admit to some disappointment that he may not be asexual. That would have been something to see in a mainstream story.
The story itself addressed war crimes including rape, torture, and murder; suicidal ideation; infidelity; BDSM; torture; and touched lightly on mental illness. It was not a light and fluffy story, but then the Monkeewrench books never are. We get POVs from multiple characters that transition smoothly and provided insight into the characters. I became attached to several who didn't have much page time which speaks to Tracy's ability to create memorable and fleshed out characters. As for the various mysteries, Tracy drops clues and hints, some of which are red herrings of course. I was pleased that some of my calculations and theories were correct, but not all. There were a few twists and surprises.
"Ice Cold Heart" was a fantastic addition to both the series and the genre and well worth staying up to the wee hours of the morning to finish.
After a lull in homicides Magozzi and and Rolseth get a doozy of a murder. As they investigate, they discover other cases that may be related. They dig and begin to make connections. Meanwhile, Grace and the Monkeewrench crew are hired to find out who hacked a digital coin company and stole millions. As everyone works their respective cases, links between them begin to appear and the cases converge. The coincidences were many but Tracy deftly made them believable and realistic. She combined some action, some suspense, police procedures, and character development into a gripping story.
I've been enjoying this series since the first book and the changes in the characters have been a delight to watch. Grace especially has changed, opening up a bit and taking emotional chances. We saw Roadrunner reach out in this story though I'll admit to some disappointment that he may not be asexual. That would have been something to see in a mainstream story.
The story itself addressed war crimes including rape, torture, and murder; suicidal ideation; infidelity; BDSM; torture; and touched lightly on mental illness. It was not a light and fluffy story, but then the Monkeewrench books never are. We get POVs from multiple characters that transition smoothly and provided insight into the characters. I became attached to several who didn't have much page time which speaks to Tracy's ability to create memorable and fleshed out characters. As for the various mysteries, Tracy drops clues and hints, some of which are red herrings of course. I was pleased that some of my calculations and theories were correct, but not all. There were a few twists and surprises.
"Ice Cold Heart" was a fantastic addition to both the series and the genre and well worth staying up to the wee hours of the morning to finish.
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