I was upset with myself yesterday because I awarded four stars to a novel … Now I’m giving one a five-star rating! I guess breaking a rule is a little like getting olives out of the jar or kisses from a pretty girl: once you get the first one, the others usually come more easily. The thing is, I really enjoy a good mystery, and “good” here generally means a very complicated plot that moves very rapidly, holding me spellbound — and this is probably the most complex plot that I have ever read, it moves at lightning speed, and despite my good intentions to do all sorts of good things today (things that really needed to be done as well as things I just wanted to do, and I’m going to be hurting tomorrow), I simply could not put this book down. I started reading it while eating my breakfast, and had been going back to it ever since, getting precious little else done during the day.This book is everything: two different teams of detectives suddenly besieged with homicide cases after months of inactivity (plus a retired cop doing his own thing), fascinating characters who turn out to be all too human, a budding romance that had me smiling all the way through the book, and subplot wrapped around subplot. Even when I knew the authors (P.T. Tracy is a mother/daughter act) were trying to trick me with false clues, I bit at the false clues and chased them. These people really can write!The novel begins when a little old lady finds her husband lying dead in the backyard with a bullet hole in his head. A fascinating pair of Minneapolis detectives gets assigned to this case even though they’re not yet on duty, because the on-duty detective team on the police force has just gone out to check out another murder, also of an old man — the first local murder in months. The very next day, before their investigation hardly gets started, they get called in to check out the murder of a little old lady in another part of the city. And the next day still another old man gets killed. The news media are up in arms, the chief of police is almost on the rampage, the FBI demanding to take over the case, and nothing makes sense.If you liked Monkeywrench, which was P. J. Tracy’s first book (and I did, very much), you will love this sequel which includes many of the same characters, including the fabulous Monkeywrench team (although they do not really have starring roles in this story).
The story here takes place during an April heat wave in Minneapolis; annoying since I read it during the coldest May in years. We are plunged immediately back into the lives of the Monkeewrench characters: Monkeewrench—Grace, Roadrunner, Harley, and Annie; the cops—Magozzi and Rolseth and too many others to keep straight. The book also assumes we remember these people from the first installment because there isn’t much back story on anyone, which gets really confusing with the litany of cops. Adding to the confusion is the authors’ use of Gino’s first name and Magozzi’s last name throughout, leaving me to feel that the authors thought the name Magozzi was horribly clever and wanted to see it in print as often as possible. The only clue to Roadrunner’s personality is that he’s skinny and has a tendency to wear bright head-to-toe Spandex. What we see of Harley and Annie is overdone. He’s a biker who cries listening to opera, and she’s fat but so sexy every man who comes across her path drools. Wow, people who don’t fit into a mold. How unique! Things start happening when homicide detectives Gino Rolseth and Leo Magozzi are dealt a number of cases: one Lutheran and three Jews, all elderly, all murdered. The victims don’t seem connected, except the dead Jews were all concentration camp survivors. When Grace runs a check through Monkeewrench’s new software, though, she uncovers some shocking secrets and things begin to unravel all at once. With some nice twists and turns, and a turning point for the haunted Grace, it all comes together for a satisfying conclusion.The authors have a good thing going with this series and do a fair job with their male characters, though they need to practice a bit more restraint in some areas lest they get carried away. The banter between the cops was almost too much and felt forced, and I’ve about had it with hearing about how sexy Annie is. Her sole purpose in these books seems to be to say, “Fat women can be sexy, too!” We get it already. But, aside from a few little character flaws, this was a pretty solid mystery. The pacing is good and the suspense well woven. I look forward to the next in the series.
What do You think about Live Bait (2005)?
**4.5 stars**Awesome, awesome book. As usual with this series, I laughed a lot (the characters are so damned funny) but I also cried my ass off. There were some very moving parts in this book.The mystery was really good but the overall theme of of the story had a deeper message: the nature of right and wrong, and how good people can do terrible things for what they think are the right reasons. I loved the progression of the relationship between Magozzi and Grace. With her past, it's obvious that she just couldn't become 'normal' overnight and I'm glad that her steps to recovery were addressed. And now we come to my favorite character in this series. I <3 Gino! This is the second book I've read in a row with an amazing best friend (and in this case also partner) and it doesn't get old. Gino is so freaking funny - he would say things that had me laughing hysterically - and sweet at the same time. Like when he asked Grace what where her intentions with Magozzi. The way he put it was simply hysterical but it also showed that he much he cared about his friend.As usual, Buck Schirner nailed the narration. I don't usually listen books in a series back to back but I'm really tempted with this one. That tells you how much I enjoyed this book. :)
—D.G.
What an awesome read! If you are fan of mystery suspense then this series may be for you. We met Leo and Gino, homicide detectives, in the first book of Monkeewrench. Now Milwaukee is in the middle of a mini heatwave (for them) in April and wonder of wonders they haven't had any murders in awhile. What is up with that? Just when Leo and Gino decide that it is safe to relax, BOOM! They get a call of a murder at a landscaping business and all bets are off as the murder incidents of geriatrics start coming in. Did they jinx the city with their good vibe thoughts? As they try to put the clues together, it becomes a race in order to stop the killer before all traces of the past are erased. Grace and her team of misfits just have a peripheral role in this particular story. But we still feel the potential romance between Grace and Leo, but it is just a light touch in the story. I can already tell it is important to read these stories in order as character development is going to play a part in the series.
—Keri
LIVE BAIT (Police Procedural) – VGP.J. Tracy – 2nd in seriesG.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2004 – HardcoverWhen elderly, well-loved Morey Gilbert is murdered, Milwaukee Dets. Leo Magozzi and Gino Rolseth are called to investigate a sad, but basic murder. However, when other elderly people in the same neighborhood and with a common history are also murdered, it’s clear there more going on than first seemed.***The Tracy’s have a wonderful voice with interesting characters. Grace and the gang from the first book, MONKEEWRENCH do appear, so you might want to read it first. But it’s the Detectives who are the major players here, and we certainly benefit from them. There is an excellent sense of place, wonderful dialogue, humor, suspense and a couple very well done twists along the way. I thoroughly enjoyed this book
—LJ
