Here is our first official #allthebookreviews title for the month of August!
A big thanks to Putnam Books for the copies in exchange for our honest reviews.
NOTHING STAYS BURIED by P.J. Tracy is book 8 in the Monkeewrench series and is available now!
Chandra’s Thoughts: 3.5/5 stars
Magozzi and Gino are after a serial killer who leaves a spade playing card on each of his victims. They’re afraid he’s trying to get through the whole suit or deck before he stops his killing spree. They bring in Grace (who happens to be pregnant with Magozzi’s first child) and her Monkeewrench team who use their computer skills for law enforcement. As more and more evidence accumulates, they’re in a race to catch this killer before he kills again.
Book 8 in the series, I was hesitant as I prefer to read series books in order. This does work as a standalone though I do wish I had a little bit more background on Magozzi and Grace. I love their relationship, how different they are and how well they play off each other. The banter between most of the characters in this novel is fun to read and they feel like family. I wish there had been more from the killer’s point of view. While we do get a glimpse into his mind, I needed just a bit more. I love the idea of the playing cards as calling cards. I’m not sure why this was so intriguing to me. Maybe the tattoos as reminders also made it a bit more sinister. The ending felt a bit abrupt and too easy for a couple of reasons but I won’t spoil you by going into that. Overall, I thought the book was well done and flowed nicely. What I enjoyed the most about this book was the relationships between the characters over the main storyline.
My Thoughts: 4.5/5 stars
While this was book 8 in the Monkeewrench series, I couldn’t pass up a murder mystery/thriller based in Minnesota! NOTHING STAYS BURIED by mother-daughter duo known as PJ Tracy (PJ and Traci Lambrecht) could definitely be read as a standalone. I was worried that I’d be completely lost that far into a series, but I wasn’t. I definitely want to go back and read the first books so I can get to know the Monkeewrench gang better!
The body of a young woman is found in a park and unfortunately for Detectives Leo Magozzi and Gino Rolseth, the crime scene is all too familiar. Months prior, a woman was found in a similar setting, but the killer was never found. Now the body count is rising and they have no leads. To make matters harder, a few FBI agents show up in Minneapolis to help, but their motives aren’t completely revealed.
Meanwhile, at Monkeewrench Software, they are trying to find a new case to solve. Harley finds an old missing persons case that has gone cold. Marla, daughter of farmer Walk Gustafson, went missing without a trace 2 months ago and no one has any clue as to what could have happened to her, or where she could have gone.
It was very interesting reading about the characters that many other readers have grown attached to. While I didn’t have the same connection to them as some, I felt that the character development was great even in book 8. Leo and Grace are having a baby together and they’re excited for their new life that is about to begin – I’m sure there is a lot to this relationship that I have missed, but I’m definitely wanting to go back and read the other books. In this book it’s definitely more focused on how these two investigations are affecting the lives of everyone involved. These killings are continuing, with no leads, and then is this missing persons case somehow tied in?
I did enjoy the few chapters that were from the killer’s perspective. Definitely a dark and twisted individual. I will always love serial killer thrillers that dive into the mind of the killer. Even if it’s just a little glimpse into their thought process or their motives. I find it fascinating – especially when an author does it so well. If it doesn’t make you cringe or feel uncomfortable, then it’s not a good enough serial killer!
Overall, I loved this! I loved it being set in Minnesota and knowing the areas they were referencing. Even the weather! This was a great thriller and mystery – no doubt about it that I’m going to find the first book, MONKEEWRENCH, now!
So excited to have our first of many great August titles finished! Have you read any of the Monkeewrench series?
–Jess
Jessicamap Reviews 
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