Rating: 
Summary: An engaging book, but...
Review: Like many of the other reviewers, I went through this book without taking too many breaks, although for the first half of the novel it was because I was genuinely caught up, and for the second half it was almost as if I'd already invested enough time that I might as well see how it ended.Don't get me wrong: Tracy does a wonderful job of creating a complex, looping plotline, and juggling all the plot threads and large cast of characters. When the threads start to mesh together, things become very interesting indeed. And the way she (well, they) puts sentences together is real pleasure to read. But none of the characters truly engaged me, except perhaps for the two teams of Magozzi-Rolseth and Halloran-Bonar, and as appealing as those two pairs are, they're almost too similar. The Monkeewrench crew's close friendship is well-presented, but I never fully bought them as 3D characters. Every last cop, no matter where he or she is from, is an easygoing team-player with a heart of gold wrapped in deadpan banter, prone to work overtime until their colleagues shoo them home. Which is nice, but doesn't really ring true; there must be a great many cops like this in real life, but every single one? As the plot progresses, there also seem to be an increasing number of moments where the killer gets away with murder by pure luck: cops ignoring a hiding-spot, cops venturing forth without working equipment, someone spotting something and being in just the right frame of mind to misinterpret it, people splitting up when they know someone's after them, etc. I doubt any games company would release their *entire* game (especially a game with levels) on the net. And just how did that final e-mail get sent? I want to like it more. But it's still a good read.
Rating: 
Summary: I understand all the hype
Review: When a debut mystery gets as much press and hooplah as Monkeewrench has received, I've just got to read it, but I read with some healthy skepticism. This book, however, deserves all the praise. A writing team of mother/daughter wrote it (how do they DO that??), basing the dense and riviting plot on a computer game that suddenly seems to be imitated in real life as people, based on characters in the game, keep turning up dead. The plot thickens (dum-de-dum-dum...) when we learn that one of the protagonists lives as a near recluse, surrounded by protective devices, due to having been threatened with murder years earlier - and the perp was never nabbed. And when it's discovered that the employees of the software company (the game's inventors) all have been given new IDs by the tight-lipped FBI, well, things get dicey. With 3-4 sub-plots unwinding, the book is a testament to the skill of the authors' ability to keep everything moving along with the skill and precision of a teenager with a joystick.
Rating: 
Summary: Grabbed Me from the first
Review: I started this book last night and could not put it down. The dialogue is snappy and funny, and the relationships between the two detective teams (and those around them) are believable and touching. I've been reading mysteries voraciously for 20+ years; almost never has a book grabbed me so quickly - I even dreamed I was a character in the book - a first for me! I think the strongest point of this book is its characters - I liked reading about them all. More by this duo please! I also loved the location - I know it well.
Rating:
Summary: A Pageburner with Great Characters
Review: A double murder in Wisconsin and a series of murders in Minneapolis are somehow related to the mysterious employees of Monkeewrench software. Telling any more would spoil the fun of letting this book reveal the story! The authors put a lot of life into the various characters: two Minneapolis detectives, a Wisconsin sheriff and two deputies, the five partners of Monkeewrench software, plus one wife, the victims of a double-murder, and a whole cast of supporting characters. That's probably what made this book so much fun to read, along with the fact that the book has a lot more humor than the typical murder mystery. The book isn't perfect though; there are one or two details in the mystery I was still wondering about after I finished reading the book. There's also a slight bit of misdirection going on in the plot, which is common enough in mysteries, but it always leaves me feeling a little cheated. So, it's a fun, fast read that draws you in and makes you want to finish. The great characters are part of what makes the books so engaging. Once you start the book, you'll want to keep reading until you finish the book - I read it in one evening!
Rating:
Summary: For once, a book that lives up to the hype!
Review: I was curious about this book after reading a glowing review in, I think, People magazine. I've been disappointed by reviews before, but this book was everything the review promised, and more. I love the characters, and especially the interplay between the characters. There are plot twists and enough kinkiness and gore to satisfy those with a blood lust; unlike another reviewer, I didn't find the language particularly obscene. True mystery buffs will have a good idea "whodunit" so the ending is not a total shock, but it is satisfying, nonetheless. It was a one-day read -- I couldn't put it down -- and I look forward to reading more by this/these author(s). I also enjoyed the Minnesota locale, though I can't vouch for its accuracy since I've never been there. If you liked this book, you might also enjoy "AKA Jane" and "Run Jane Run" by Maureen Tan.
Rating:
Summary: Strength in Character
Review: Technogeeks create a cybergame around a series of fictional murders -- and someone starts playing the game for real. This tale brings in two jurisdictions, at least six detectives, five-plus technogeeks, John Sanford's Minnesota, and some of the best dialogue I've read in years. The story is well plotted and well told. Its main strength though is in its characters. Grace McBride floats across the pages almost ghostlike, yet all too solid. The relationship that she develops with her initial adversary is only suggested, but nicely crafted. Sheriff Halloran's budding relationship with his deputy provides a comforting counterpoint to the ambiguities found in "The Cities." Gino, you have to invite me to your house to meet the angelic Angela. I want to learn more about Peterson -- and McLaren, I know what you went through with your mom. Charlie is both a character and a metaphor. The characters take this book over the top. After reading this book, being a John Sanford fan, and listening to Garrison Keillor weekly -- why do people live in Minnesota?
Rating:
Summary: monkeewrench
Review: This book was a whirlwind of action, secret romance, and tons of underlying themes, many that i still haven't figured out. The pace is much like the DiVinci Code, a group of people trying to find a murderer before he strikes again. The dinamic charecter of Grace made the rag-tag cast of the monkeewrench team complete I was sitting on the edge of my seat every word on every page. I definatly loved this book. The P j Tracy team is a hit and should continue to write for a long time to come.
Rating:
Summary: Shall We Play A Game?--Monkeewrench by P. J. Tracy
Review: One can't pick up the paper or watch the news these days without seeing a story about how video games are the root cause of all evil in the world. The theory being that because of the violence in video games, kids are acting out more and getting into serious trouble, even death. But what if a killer actually used a game as a way not only to kill but to also devastate the game's creators? That is the backdrop for this intense novel by a mother/daughter writing team using the name of P. J. Tracy. The game is SKUD, which stands for Serial Killer Detective. Created by the five somewhat eccentric owners of the computer company Monkeewrench, the game has 17 murder scenarios featuring increasing difficulty. The player is to work each crime scene as a real life detective and build upon the evidence while shrinking the list of suspects until the killer is found. A test version is up on the Internet for advance orders and so far, out of the large number playing the game, no one has gotten very far in playing their creation. But the orders are pouring in and the group stands to be rich. That is until someone in real life starts duplicating the cyber death scenes in the game down to every last detail. Not only is a serial killer using their game as a springboard to kill he begins to very personally taunt the police as well as the Monkeewrench group. While distrustful of the police for good reason as the complicated back-story explains, the group is forced into cooperating with the police in a search for the killer as their shared nightmare comes alive once again. Sometimes when a novel is written by more than one person, the resulting effort is a choppy and uneven read. That isn't the case here where this writing team has crafted a seamless thriller full of complicated characters, vivid descriptions, occasional humor, and a complex multi layered plot. Nor does the book go off into a tangent and in great detail about the game. The game is a backdrop but not the focus as the real focus is character development and the hunt for the killer. This book comes alive for the reader and the resulting work is extremely hard to put down unfinished.
Rating:
Summary: Enjoyed It Thoroughly
Review: I don't usually pick up a mystery at the supermarket, without reading a few reviews first, but something about this book tempted me. Perhaps it was the clever title...but at any rate, I'm glad I did. Lots of attractive characters, two murder victims who get what they deserve, more victims who don't deserve what they get, and a light touch throughout. I was especially charmed by Charlie. I finished "Monkeewrench" the same day I started it - always a good sign - and will look for the authors again, definitely.
Rating:
Summary: Not bad
Review: I liked the characters more than I liked the story itself, which seemed like a bit of a ripoff of the Prey novels by John Sandford.
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