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Monkeewrench #6
Off the Grid
On a sailboat ten miles off the Florida coast, Grace MacBride, partner in Monkeewrench Software, thwarts an assassination attempt on retired FBI agent John Smith. A few hours later, in Minneapolis, a fifteen-year-old girl is discovered in a vacant lot, her throat slashed. Later that day, two young men are found in their home a few blocks away, killed execution-style. The next morning, the dead bodies of three more men turn up, savagely murdered in the same neighborhood.Ìý
As Minneapolis homicide detectives Leo Magozzi and Gino Rolseth struggle to link the three crimes, they learn that there have been similar murders in other cities around the United States. Piece by piece, evidence accumulates, pointing to a suspect that shocks them to the core, uncovering a motive that puts the entire Midwest on high alert and Monkeewrench in the direct line of fire. Before it's all over, Grace and her partners, Annie, Roadrunner, and Harley Davidson, find themselves in the middle of a shocking collision of violence on a remote northern Minnesota reservation, fighting for their lives..
As Minneapolis homicide detectives Leo Magozzi and Gino Rolseth struggle to link the three crimes, they learn that there have been similar murders in other cities around the United States. Piece by piece, evidence accumulates, pointing to a suspect that shocks them to the core, uncovering a motive that puts the entire Midwest on high alert and Monkeewrench in the direct line of fire. Before it's all over, Grace and her partners, Annie, Roadrunner, and Harley Davidson, find themselves in the middle of a shocking collision of violence on a remote northern Minnesota reservation, fighting for their lives..
320 pages, Hardcover
First published August 2, 2012
234 people are currently reading
2,221 people want to read
About the author
P.J. Tracy
24Ìýbooks1,744ÌýfollowersPJ 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:
Look them up on Amazon:
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:
Look them up on Amazon:
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 593 reviews
June 29, 2020
In this 6th book in the 'Monkeewrench' series, Grace MacBride and her colleagues are in a race against time to stop terrorist attacks. The book can be read as a standalone though familiarity with the characters is a plus.
Grace MacBride is on a relaxing sailing trip with her friend, retired FBI agent John Smith, when a couple of Saudi nationals try to kill John.
Grace handily dispatches the killers and John goes underground temporarily.
Turns out John has been tracking terrorist activities and may have information about their plans to attack American cities.
Thus John and his friends, especially Grace and her colleagues at the software company Monkeewrench, become targets for the terrorists.
So Grace, her Monkeewrench cohorts - voluptuous fashionista Annie Belinsky; big guy Harley Davidson; and beanpole Roadrunner - pick up John and make a run for it. They take back roads, drive dangerously, and so on to avoid being followed by the terrorist assassins.
Meanwhile, Somali gangs and Native American thugs have teamed up to kidnap young girls for the sex trade and detectives Leo Magozzi and Gino Rolseth are on the job.
Before long the hunt for terrorists and the pursuit of gang members and thugs dovetail because the sex trade is being used to fund terrorist activities.
While all this is going on terrorists around the country are being killed in their homes - a few at a time. Seems someone has been distributing information about where they live.
There's a race against time as 'the good guys' try to stop the planned terrorist attacks before becoming victims themselves. Before the end there are some exciting battles that involve guns, knives, and bows and arrows.
There's also some humor in the story: Gino's fear of flying provides a few laughs as does the banter between the secondary characters Claude and the Chief.
For me the book was just so-so. Grace wasn't in top form in her strategy to run from the terrorists and the book's ending was a bit of a let down. Still, fans of the series will enjoy visiting with favorite characters in the series and seeing how Grace's personal relationship with Leo Magozzi is affected by everything that's going on.
You can follow my reviews at
August 7, 2023
UPDATE 08/08/23 - Such a comforting series with characters I love even on reread!
I KNEW IT!!
Sorry, I just shouted that out when a certain twist was revealed.
Another tense one with the Monkeewrench crew and police rallying together when a frightening plot is unveiled. I have to say that I am ready for some relationships to progress. Just saying.
I KNEW IT!!
Sorry, I just shouted that out when a certain twist was revealed.
Another tense one with the Monkeewrench crew and police rallying together when a frightening plot is unveiled. I have to say that I am ready for some relationships to progress. Just saying.
July 22, 2022
4.5�
�‘Goddamned media puts out an hour special on making kids wear helmets on the playground when a white kid gets a bloody nose falling off a jungle gym, but never cover Native girls getting pumped into the sex trade slime bucket. The white kid with the bloody nose is a victim. The little Indian girl teetering on five-inch heels is just another drunk Indian hooker.�
Officer Bad Heart Bull is a ‘raging bull�, desperate to find out what’s happening to the young girls who’ve been disappearing. Five were taken from the reservation recently, with no sign of any of them until now. The body of the oldest girl, all of 15-years-old, has just been discovered.
Minnesota detectives Leo Magozzi and Gino Rolseth are on the scene with Jimmy Grimm’s crime scene team.
“By now, Officer Bad Heart Bull was approaching, looking like a carved piece of oak on the move. Jimmy looked over his shoulder at him and another man in a white jumpsuit who was hanging back a little.‘I’ll get back to it while you talk to Bully and get his take. You know him?�
Magozzi shook his head. ‘I don’t think I’d forget him.�
‘Yeah. He’s a big one.�
Gino looked the man up and down. ‘Big? He’s a building on legs.�
‘Well, cut him some slack today, will you? You know how it is. You can’t get mushy at a scene, so you just get mad, and let me tell you, that is one seriously pissed-off Indian.�
Gino watched Bad Heart Bull drawing closer and heard all the sound effects of Godzilla literally making the earth move under his feet. ‘Are we allowed to call them Indians?�
Jimmy shrugged. ‘Bully doesn’t much care what you call him. If he doesn’t like it, he’ll just fist your head into the ground and walk away. But he’s Ojibwe, just like the girls, and I think he knows some of the families. He’s just this side of losing it.��
Things become more complicated when other bodies are found, and they appear to be bad guys. Terrorists? Dead? Cue the FBI.
Isn’t there a watch list? Sure, but there are four hundred thousand people on it, and that doesn’t include the lone wolves.
Call the Monkeewrench crew. They are a team of four software developers who became rich with a game called Monkeewrench, and more recently they have been hacking into systems on behalf of the FBI when they need nationwide searches.
I particularly enjoyed seeing a new side of Monkeewrench partner Grace MacBride, who is customarily armed and cloaked in gothic black with high riding boots because she is paranoid about being hunted.
She has been taking a break, sailing in the Caribbean with a friend. It is only later in the book that she realises why it was so refreshing to let her guard down.
�‘Drop the mains’l, Grace, but slowly now, then we can come about without being dumped by the crosswinds�. It was easy to take direction because she hadn’t known a thing about sailing, and those were the first moments she’d felt the blessed relief of completely trusting in someone else to do the right thing. The feeling of abdicating responsibility for her own well-being had been stunning.�
There appears to be a connection to Vietnam vets, and the Chief is one himself. He is a hunter, a man of the forests, one tough dude, and the antithesis of Monkeewrench partner Roadrunner.
Roadrunner is a very long, very lanky cyclist who seems so terrified of his own shadow that I wonder if his aim is to cast one as narrow as possible. He rides at high speeds, as if trying to outrun his past. His real escape is into his mind, into the world of wires and circuit boards. As I said, the direct opposite of the very physical Chief.
“Roadrunner tried to fit his size fourteens on the steps and angled all his appendages to mount them. He looked like a praying mantis climbing a hill and dropped his head in front of the Chief, totally screwed by confusing protocol as usual, timid as always. ‘I’m Roadrunner.�
Chief nodded and took his hand, frowning down at the crippled fingers. ‘Looks like you tangled with some kind of machinery. Farm accident?�
Roadrunner blinked. �Foster father with a hammer.�
Chief tightened lips that were barely there to begin with, then looked Roadrunner in the eye. ‘Did you kill him?�
‘No. I ran away.�
‘How old were you?�
‘E¾±²µ³ó³Ù.â€�
Chief nodded. ‘Very smart. Of course you’re older now. You could pay him a visit with a hammer of your own.��
I’ve barely mentioned the plot, which I enjoyed, but this time I especially liked getting to know a bit more about the characters, both the old and the new, although they are really the ‘oldest�, the ‘Indians�.
A great addition to the series. If you haven’t read the earlier books, I recommend them, but I think you could enjoy this one on its own.
My review of Monkeewrench (Monkeewrench #1)
My review of Live Bait (Monkeewrench #2)
My review of Dead Run (Monkeewrench #3)
My review of Snow Blind (Monkeewrench #4)
My review of Shoot to Thrill (Monkeewrench #5)
�‘Goddamned media puts out an hour special on making kids wear helmets on the playground when a white kid gets a bloody nose falling off a jungle gym, but never cover Native girls getting pumped into the sex trade slime bucket. The white kid with the bloody nose is a victim. The little Indian girl teetering on five-inch heels is just another drunk Indian hooker.�
Officer Bad Heart Bull is a ‘raging bull�, desperate to find out what’s happening to the young girls who’ve been disappearing. Five were taken from the reservation recently, with no sign of any of them until now. The body of the oldest girl, all of 15-years-old, has just been discovered.
Minnesota detectives Leo Magozzi and Gino Rolseth are on the scene with Jimmy Grimm’s crime scene team.
“By now, Officer Bad Heart Bull was approaching, looking like a carved piece of oak on the move. Jimmy looked over his shoulder at him and another man in a white jumpsuit who was hanging back a little.‘I’ll get back to it while you talk to Bully and get his take. You know him?�
Magozzi shook his head. ‘I don’t think I’d forget him.�
‘Yeah. He’s a big one.�
Gino looked the man up and down. ‘Big? He’s a building on legs.�
‘Well, cut him some slack today, will you? You know how it is. You can’t get mushy at a scene, so you just get mad, and let me tell you, that is one seriously pissed-off Indian.�
Gino watched Bad Heart Bull drawing closer and heard all the sound effects of Godzilla literally making the earth move under his feet. ‘Are we allowed to call them Indians?�
Jimmy shrugged. ‘Bully doesn’t much care what you call him. If he doesn’t like it, he’ll just fist your head into the ground and walk away. But he’s Ojibwe, just like the girls, and I think he knows some of the families. He’s just this side of losing it.��
Things become more complicated when other bodies are found, and they appear to be bad guys. Terrorists? Dead? Cue the FBI.
Isn’t there a watch list? Sure, but there are four hundred thousand people on it, and that doesn’t include the lone wolves.
Call the Monkeewrench crew. They are a team of four software developers who became rich with a game called Monkeewrench, and more recently they have been hacking into systems on behalf of the FBI when they need nationwide searches.
I particularly enjoyed seeing a new side of Monkeewrench partner Grace MacBride, who is customarily armed and cloaked in gothic black with high riding boots because she is paranoid about being hunted.
She has been taking a break, sailing in the Caribbean with a friend. It is only later in the book that she realises why it was so refreshing to let her guard down.
�‘Drop the mains’l, Grace, but slowly now, then we can come about without being dumped by the crosswinds�. It was easy to take direction because she hadn’t known a thing about sailing, and those were the first moments she’d felt the blessed relief of completely trusting in someone else to do the right thing. The feeling of abdicating responsibility for her own well-being had been stunning.�
There appears to be a connection to Vietnam vets, and the Chief is one himself. He is a hunter, a man of the forests, one tough dude, and the antithesis of Monkeewrench partner Roadrunner.
Roadrunner is a very long, very lanky cyclist who seems so terrified of his own shadow that I wonder if his aim is to cast one as narrow as possible. He rides at high speeds, as if trying to outrun his past. His real escape is into his mind, into the world of wires and circuit boards. As I said, the direct opposite of the very physical Chief.
“Roadrunner tried to fit his size fourteens on the steps and angled all his appendages to mount them. He looked like a praying mantis climbing a hill and dropped his head in front of the Chief, totally screwed by confusing protocol as usual, timid as always. ‘I’m Roadrunner.�
Chief nodded and took his hand, frowning down at the crippled fingers. ‘Looks like you tangled with some kind of machinery. Farm accident?�
Roadrunner blinked. �Foster father with a hammer.�
Chief tightened lips that were barely there to begin with, then looked Roadrunner in the eye. ‘Did you kill him?�
‘No. I ran away.�
‘How old were you?�
‘E¾±²µ³ó³Ù.â€�
Chief nodded. ‘Very smart. Of course you’re older now. You could pay him a visit with a hammer of your own.��
I’ve barely mentioned the plot, which I enjoyed, but this time I especially liked getting to know a bit more about the characters, both the old and the new, although they are really the ‘oldest�, the ‘Indians�.
A great addition to the series. If you haven’t read the earlier books, I recommend them, but I think you could enjoy this one on its own.
My review of Monkeewrench (Monkeewrench #1)
My review of Live Bait (Monkeewrench #2)
My review of Dead Run (Monkeewrench #3)
My review of Snow Blind (Monkeewrench #4)
My review of Shoot to Thrill (Monkeewrench #5)
July 17, 2018
Just when you think a series must be running out of steam (for how can things remain explosive forever?), P.J. Tracy comes out with another stellar novel in the Monkeewrench series! Down in the Caribbean, Grace MacBride is enjoying a restful, platonic time with former FBI Agent John Smith, aboard his boat. When two masked men make their way on deck and try to kill Smith, MacBride has no choice but to neutralise them. She discovers a photo of Smith and learns that these Saudi nationals seem to have been targeting him for reasons unknown. Back in Minneapolis, Magozzi and Rolseth are neck-deep in a case where a young Indigenous girl has had her throat slashed, one of six kidnapped from a reservation and likely bound for a life of human trafficking. When the authorities arrive at the kidnappers� house, they find two of the perpetrators shot in the head, the apparent shooter across the way, and the five girls bound in the basement. A number of readings from the Koran and a calendar with a date is circled in red is found inside, leaving Magozzi and Rolseth to wonder if there is something brewing of the terrorist variety. While trying to piece together their case, Magozzi receives a call from Detroit, where a similar situation has occurred, two men killed and the same date circled on the calendar. This is soon matched by even more killings across America, reported by various police forces. Might there be a nation-wide terror plot brewing that the Feds inadvertently discovered? With John Smith off the grid, Magozzi and Rolseth must ensure that all connections to him are secured, including members of the Monkeewrench team. Still, there seems to be something in the works and yet a number of vigilantes stopping things at the same pace. P.J Tracy offers another poignant novel in this evolving series that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat throughout. Perfect for series fans and those who love a quick holiday read!
I have come to thoroughly enjoy this summer binge of P.J. Tracy’s work! The stories continue to find poignant ways to entertain me as I work and putter around the house, while not becoming too repetitive. Magozzi and Rolseth are always able to find new and great banter to keep me smiling, which is matched with their superior sleuthing skills to keep the reader hooked. Magozzi seems to be processing his distancing from Grace MacBride with ease, though the narrative does not spend too much time analyzing it, or his true sentiments about the John Smith angle. Rolseth has his own weak moments, particularly when speaking about child trafficking and his daughter, who is about the same age as these victims. The entire Monkeewrench crew is present, using their skills to crack the current case open and Tracy shows some development with them, if only peppered throughout the narrative. They are, truly, there to keep the series name going, rather than being firmly in the middle of this piece throughout. This novel keeps a dim spotlight on John Smith, while also spending time examining some of the indigenous ways of life, in which Tracy finds parallels to unite, rather than divide. The narrative flows well and the reader is treated to decent writing, something that lacks at times within this genre. Over the past ten years, the focus of thrillers has been to turn things on Muslim extremism and some of the evils that came from a post-9/11 world. While Tracy does hint at some of this throughout, there is less of a ‘beat the dead horseâ€� about good versus evil, which pleases me greatly. Smearing and using silly soapbox moments to colour an entire religion with a single brush gets old in the genre and I have read too many books where this hot button topic is used to sell manuscripts. Moving away from the traditional police procedural, P.J. Tracy entertains the reader with strong storylines, perfect for a vacation or summer binge. I am eager to keep racing through these books and have almost caught up to a great Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ friend who is bingeing as well.
Kudos, P.J. Tracy, for another wonderful piece. I am so happy to have found this series and hope to feel more chills throughout this summer reading binge!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: /group/show/...
I have come to thoroughly enjoy this summer binge of P.J. Tracy’s work! The stories continue to find poignant ways to entertain me as I work and putter around the house, while not becoming too repetitive. Magozzi and Rolseth are always able to find new and great banter to keep me smiling, which is matched with their superior sleuthing skills to keep the reader hooked. Magozzi seems to be processing his distancing from Grace MacBride with ease, though the narrative does not spend too much time analyzing it, or his true sentiments about the John Smith angle. Rolseth has his own weak moments, particularly when speaking about child trafficking and his daughter, who is about the same age as these victims. The entire Monkeewrench crew is present, using their skills to crack the current case open and Tracy shows some development with them, if only peppered throughout the narrative. They are, truly, there to keep the series name going, rather than being firmly in the middle of this piece throughout. This novel keeps a dim spotlight on John Smith, while also spending time examining some of the indigenous ways of life, in which Tracy finds parallels to unite, rather than divide. The narrative flows well and the reader is treated to decent writing, something that lacks at times within this genre. Over the past ten years, the focus of thrillers has been to turn things on Muslim extremism and some of the evils that came from a post-9/11 world. While Tracy does hint at some of this throughout, there is less of a ‘beat the dead horseâ€� about good versus evil, which pleases me greatly. Smearing and using silly soapbox moments to colour an entire religion with a single brush gets old in the genre and I have read too many books where this hot button topic is used to sell manuscripts. Moving away from the traditional police procedural, P.J. Tracy entertains the reader with strong storylines, perfect for a vacation or summer binge. I am eager to keep racing through these books and have almost caught up to a great Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ friend who is bingeing as well.
Kudos, P.J. Tracy, for another wonderful piece. I am so happy to have found this series and hope to feel more chills throughout this summer reading binge!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: /group/show/...
August 18, 2021
Another good episode in the Monkeewrench series sees Grace returning from her time away and the police and Monkeewrench working together again. A string of unusual murders alerts the Minneapolis police to a horrific plot that also sees the Monkeewrench crew and their friend FBI agent John Smith targeted. Very suspenseful with a high body count! If you haven't read this series before I recommend you start with book 1 and get to know the very unusual Monkeewrench team of software engineers and computer wizards.
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April 11, 2021I really enjoyed the first four Monkeewrench books but found the 5th disappointing, so I was looking forward to this and hoping that #5 was a blip. It was not to be.
This was a mess of a book. The plot was all over the place and oddly pointless. The bad guys were faceless stereo types and the finale was predictable and un-dramatic.
There were new characters I didn’t care about because they walked on and walked off � Bully for example � and the old characters also were peripheral or they acted completely out of characters for no reason: Roadrunner doesn’t notice he’s being followed? It doesn’t occur to anyone that they might have a bug on the car? Grace has been trussed up in leather from head to toe for 5 books and in the opening pages she’s done with it! All she needed was to get on a boat!
The POV kept slipping and anecdotes kept interrupting the narrative at inopportune times: Grace thinking of her mother’s lipstick colour when she’s seeing her friends blood on the snow. Gino thinking of choking on a candy when he was 5 at a critical moment.
And I was really disturbed by the casual racism and political agenda that subsituted for characterization, i.e. the Somalis that were all sex traffickers, and terrorists, and the First Nations people who were able to rediscover their dignity through honest work for honest pay rather than handouts. Some nuance and proper characterizations would have been nice.
If this had been my first exposure to PJ Tracy I wouldn’t have finished it and would have resolved to never pick up another book by them again. But I know they can write well and I hope there’s a return to form in the next book.
This was a mess of a book. The plot was all over the place and oddly pointless. The bad guys were faceless stereo types and the finale was predictable and un-dramatic.
There were new characters I didn’t care about because they walked on and walked off � Bully for example � and the old characters also were peripheral or they acted completely out of characters for no reason: Roadrunner doesn’t notice he’s being followed? It doesn’t occur to anyone that they might have a bug on the car? Grace has been trussed up in leather from head to toe for 5 books and in the opening pages she’s done with it! All she needed was to get on a boat!
The POV kept slipping and anecdotes kept interrupting the narrative at inopportune times: Grace thinking of her mother’s lipstick colour when she’s seeing her friends blood on the snow. Gino thinking of choking on a candy when he was 5 at a critical moment.
And I was really disturbed by the casual racism and political agenda that subsituted for characterization, i.e. the Somalis that were all sex traffickers, and terrorists, and the First Nations people who were able to rediscover their dignity through honest work for honest pay rather than handouts. Some nuance and proper characterizations would have been nice.
If this had been my first exposure to PJ Tracy I wouldn’t have finished it and would have resolved to never pick up another book by them again. But I know they can write well and I hope there’s a return to form in the next book.
September 19, 2016
I enjoyed this so much I read it in one day. After the way book 5 finished I had been waiting to see just what Grace was playing at and this book certainly resolved all of that!
As usual there was lots of action, lots of murders and other crimes and lots of nervous tension about just what was going to happen next. Now I am waiting for Magozzi to get it together - a little romance in the next book would not go amiss:)
As usual there was lots of action, lots of murders and other crimes and lots of nervous tension about just what was going to happen next. Now I am waiting for Magozzi to get it together - a little romance in the next book would not go amiss:)
February 25, 2023
English version below
****
Auch Band 6 der Monkeewrench-Reihe war für mich wieder ein spannendes Leseerlebnis.
Nur so viel sei gesagt: es geht um Terrorismus.
Natürlich ist auch diese Geschichte voller Klischees und ja, natürlich ist sie auch ziemlich trashig, aber trotzdem hat sich mich unheimlich gut unterhalten und bekommt von mir 5 Sterne. Ich sage nur: Forbidden Pleasures.
-------------------------------
Volume 6 of the Monkeewrench series was again an exciting reading experience for me.
This volume is about terrorism, but I want to disclose moire about the plot.
Of course, this story is also full of clichés and yes, of course it's also quite trashy, but I still had a lot of fun and I assigned 5 stars. I'm just saying: Forbidden Pleasures.
****
Auch Band 6 der Monkeewrench-Reihe war für mich wieder ein spannendes Leseerlebnis.
Nur so viel sei gesagt: es geht um Terrorismus.
Natürlich ist auch diese Geschichte voller Klischees und ja, natürlich ist sie auch ziemlich trashig, aber trotzdem hat sich mich unheimlich gut unterhalten und bekommt von mir 5 Sterne. Ich sage nur: Forbidden Pleasures.
-------------------------------
Volume 6 of the Monkeewrench series was again an exciting reading experience for me.
This volume is about terrorism, but I want to disclose moire about the plot.
Of course, this story is also full of clichés and yes, of course it's also quite trashy, but I still had a lot of fun and I assigned 5 stars. I'm just saying: Forbidden Pleasures.
June 21, 2019
3.5 Stars
Always like hanging out with Leo, Gino and the Monkeewrench crew. While this wasn't my favorite installment I still had a good time.
I think Leo has every right to be
Love Buck Schirner's performance! I've started the next audio book and they switched narrator, so I appreciate his brilliant narration even more with the comparison.
Always like hanging out with Leo, Gino and the Monkeewrench crew. While this wasn't my favorite installment I still had a good time.
I think Leo has every right to be
Love Buck Schirner's performance! I've started the next audio book and they switched narrator, so I appreciate his brilliant narration even more with the comparison.
September 6, 2013
I could not be more disappointed in this book. What this seriously written by the same authors as the previous entries in the series? These books have always centered around Monkeywrench, a small eccentric group of computer programmers who end up assisting the police in a series of cases throughout the novels. The group dynamics of Monkeewrench and the halting relationship of Grace Mcbride and police detective Magozzi has been the heart and soul of the books, but these elements are MIA in this latest entry. Although I have read all the previous books, I still needed a reminder of who the characters were and why I should care about them, which I was still piecing together at the end of the book. The characters, who I know and feel affectionate toward from the earlier books, still seemed two-dimensional and uninteresting. Such character development as did take place seemed unrealistic and almost insulting. Grace McBride, a deeply damaged women, paranoid and suspicious as a result of a horrific childhood, is on a cruise with a retired FBI agent as the story begins, and has discovered that wearing a sundress and sandals completely alters her outlook on life. Really? The writing is clunky, cliches abound, the Native American called Chief has sequoia-like legs, and blood is referred to as the liquid of life.... cringe. The big showdown at the end, with an army coming for our heroes who are waiting on platforms in the trees must have taken place off-screen; a few people die, and suddenly Harley is calling the all clear. What? To add insult to injury, I listened to this book on CDs borrowed from my library (so glad I ddin't pay for it); I disliked the reader and, at the end of each CD, some inappropriately upbeat music played underneath the narrator, often completely at odds with the tone of the book. Will I read the next Monkeewrench book? Only if it is pre-read by a trusted friend who assures me that the series has rediscovered its heart.
August 9, 2012
With Grace's choice at the end of the last book I was worried that things would change, I also didn't care for that choice. With this book I can see that it was just what Grace needed, to remember that life should be lived. I was surprised by the relationship between Grace and John, like Leo, I assumed it was more than friendship.
I loved how these random events turned out to be connected and the way they ended up connecting surprised me. I wouldn't have thought that one person's good deed could spin so out of control.
I am conflicted with Joe's role in the craziness. Part of me thinks his actions show him for the hero he is, the other part hates how wild west his actions really were. I mean what if the info he, and the others, had wrong info and ended up hurting innocent people.
I really liked how, at the drop of a hat, the Monkeewrench crew dropped everything to protect each other on the word of a trusted friend. I found the people that ended up helping them to be surprising. I can see why they would, how they felt they had a connection and this was their fight as well.
I liked how everything was tied up, the world was saved, people put to rest. But my jaw dropped as I read the epilogue, it makes me rethink the whole book, and want to go back and read it again with this new knowledge.
I look forward to the next book, to see what effect this one has on the Monkeewrench crew.
I loved how these random events turned out to be connected and the way they ended up connecting surprised me. I wouldn't have thought that one person's good deed could spin so out of control.
I am conflicted with Joe's role in the craziness. Part of me thinks his actions show him for the hero he is, the other part hates how wild west his actions really were. I mean what if the info he, and the others, had wrong info and ended up hurting innocent people.
I really liked how, at the drop of a hat, the Monkeewrench crew dropped everything to protect each other on the word of a trusted friend. I found the people that ended up helping them to be surprising. I can see why they would, how they felt they had a connection and this was their fight as well.
I liked how everything was tied up, the world was saved, people put to rest. But my jaw dropped as I read the epilogue, it makes me rethink the whole book, and want to go back and read it again with this new knowledge.
I look forward to the next book, to see what effect this one has on the Monkeewrench crew.
February 3, 2016
To say that I am frustrated with this book would be putting too mild a word on what I am feeling right now. The suspense part of me wants to hug the book tight and make kissy noises at it and the romantic in me wants to throw the book agianst the wall...hard...several times...ok take deep breaths and quit scaring the nice people.
Ok, let me start over. Grace decides to take off for three months on a boat with John, the ex-FBI man. Just leaves Leo standing there with his heart bleeding on his sleave. It is at the end of the 3rd month and Grace hears footsteps on the boat that don't belong to John. Turns out they were terrorist out to kill John. Meanwhile back in Monkeewrench territory 5 Ojibwe girls were kidnapped while they were walking home from school. One of those girls ends up dead in Leo and Gino's jurisdiction. Before they can get the crime scene processed, they get a call that not only were two dead bodies found, the 4 other little girls were found as well. The next night three more bodies turn up, but it looks like two men ganged up on another man he shot them and but they shot him too....or was it that cut and dried.
Grace comes back to town to report to the Monkeewrench crew on what has happened and that it seems that John has a hit out on him. Grace goes to Leo and lets him know as well. Once the team starts putting all the clues together is all becomes connected in a bazaar way and suddenly everybody's life is on the line as October 31st looms on the horizon.
The suspense was killer and I loved how all the strings tied together in the end. The romance SUCKED and I can't say that enough and that was left in a big tangled mess. Grace had a thousand chances to explain(beg forgiveness) to Leo as to why she ran away like a scared little girl. I wanted to scream at Leo to cut her loose and go find someone body else (ie. me) who would kill to have his half-Italian babies. Ok, I get a little carried away. But just a little bit more of page time beyond her saying, "John and I didn't sleep together" would have really made me feel a lot better. Grace didn't say one world to Leo and he didn't say anything either and just stood there with his damn heart in his eyes...it frustrated me beyond belief. Ok, I am done. If the next book doesn't move their relationship to the next level, I am done with the series for good. I love the books for the mystery, but I can't stand to read Grace stringing Leo along like a dog on a leash for the next 14 books.
Ok, let me start over. Grace decides to take off for three months on a boat with John, the ex-FBI man. Just leaves Leo standing there with his heart bleeding on his sleave. It is at the end of the 3rd month and Grace hears footsteps on the boat that don't belong to John. Turns out they were terrorist out to kill John. Meanwhile back in Monkeewrench territory 5 Ojibwe girls were kidnapped while they were walking home from school. One of those girls ends up dead in Leo and Gino's jurisdiction. Before they can get the crime scene processed, they get a call that not only were two dead bodies found, the 4 other little girls were found as well. The next night three more bodies turn up, but it looks like two men ganged up on another man he shot them and but they shot him too....or was it that cut and dried.
Grace comes back to town to report to the Monkeewrench crew on what has happened and that it seems that John has a hit out on him. Grace goes to Leo and lets him know as well. Once the team starts putting all the clues together is all becomes connected in a bazaar way and suddenly everybody's life is on the line as October 31st looms on the horizon.
The suspense was killer and I loved how all the strings tied together in the end. The romance SUCKED and I can't say that enough and that was left in a big tangled mess. Grace had a thousand chances to explain(beg forgiveness) to Leo as to why she ran away like a scared little girl. I wanted to scream at Leo to cut her loose and go find someone body else (ie. me) who would kill to have his half-Italian babies. Ok, I get a little carried away. But just a little bit more of page time beyond her saying, "John and I didn't sleep together" would have really made me feel a lot better. Grace didn't say one world to Leo and he didn't say anything either and just stood there with his damn heart in his eyes...it frustrated me beyond belief. Ok, I am done. If the next book doesn't move their relationship to the next level, I am done with the series for good. I love the books for the mystery, but I can't stand to read Grace stringing Leo along like a dog on a leash for the next 14 books.
September 23, 2014
It's unsettling.
So I've read the entire "Monkeewrench" series more than once and enjoy them. I like the characters, setting and crazy plot lines. But Off the Grid left a bad taste in my mouth.
Overall it has been a disappointing read. The tone and writing has been enough to make even a fan of the series reconsider whether or not to read the next in the series.
So I've read the entire "Monkeewrench" series more than once and enjoy them. I like the characters, setting and crazy plot lines. But Off the Grid left a bad taste in my mouth.
Overall it has been a disappointing read. The tone and writing has been enough to make even a fan of the series reconsider whether or not to read the next in the series.
May 8, 2018
It’s been many moons since I have read a Monkeewrench book. I was glad it didn’t take long to reacquaint myself with the characters. A tale that involve many factions of official people looking for Somalian and Jihad terrorists. I did giggle that it talked about factions showing up in major cities in New York, and Boston, and Minneapolis?? Lol Anyway, just to spoil it, the good guys win but with some tragic losses.
August 30, 2012
Monkeewrench is one of my favorite lite murder mystery series. It is funny, has engaging characters that I care about and which actually change over the course of the books, and the mysteries are not overly gruesome but are interesting. The series is written by a mother daughter team and typically most books are situated in Minnesota or northern Wisconsin. Being from the midwest, I love the setting. I can relate to it. Off the Grid is a book that I read, even though I had listened to the audio versions for the first five in this book. And I wish I had waited to listen to the audio book of Off the Grid. I think it is difficult to switch mid-series to print if it is started in audio. Having written that, I will say that I enjoyed the first 1/2 of Off the Grid immensely. I think I even enjoyed it more than the earlier books in this series that I listened to.
The book starts off with a literal bang. Book #5 ended with a complete game changer. Grace decides to make some improvements in her life and she leaves. I don't want to spoil anything if you haven't read #5, so I will just say -- she leaves at the end of #5 and #6 starts off with Grace's new life. But like the entire Monkeewrench series, Grace can't escape from murder and mayhem and so she is immediately fighting for her life and plotting to save the world. Off the Grid is fast paced and changes back and forth between the various characters that make up the series. There is the typical humorous exchanges with Leo and Magozzi. The impressive wardrobe changes of Annie and the funny comments and antics of Harley.
In Off the Grid, the entire gang is on the run (eventually). I enjoyed the change of location but ..... I didn't buy into the mystery. I am not going to spoil the what and the who of the story, but I will say I just don't believe in the threat and the scariness to the level it happens in Off the Grid. And yes, I know this is fiction but it was distracting to me. I am guessing it is hard to come up with complicated murder story lines that continue to affect the same characters and need to be solved by computer hackers. These authors have carried this storyline off successfully for multiple books. and they continue to be enjoyable.
So in the end Off the Grid was fun and enjoyable. A definite 3 star book. Nothing to get excited about, but for fans of the series it shouldn't be missed.
To read more reviews like this check out:
The book starts off with a literal bang. Book #5 ended with a complete game changer. Grace decides to make some improvements in her life and she leaves. I don't want to spoil anything if you haven't read #5, so I will just say -- she leaves at the end of #5 and #6 starts off with Grace's new life. But like the entire Monkeewrench series, Grace can't escape from murder and mayhem and so she is immediately fighting for her life and plotting to save the world. Off the Grid is fast paced and changes back and forth between the various characters that make up the series. There is the typical humorous exchanges with Leo and Magozzi. The impressive wardrobe changes of Annie and the funny comments and antics of Harley.
In Off the Grid, the entire gang is on the run (eventually). I enjoyed the change of location but ..... I didn't buy into the mystery. I am not going to spoil the what and the who of the story, but I will say I just don't believe in the threat and the scariness to the level it happens in Off the Grid. And yes, I know this is fiction but it was distracting to me. I am guessing it is hard to come up with complicated murder story lines that continue to affect the same characters and need to be solved by computer hackers. These authors have carried this storyline off successfully for multiple books. and they continue to be enjoyable.
So in the end Off the Grid was fun and enjoyable. A definite 3 star book. Nothing to get excited about, but for fans of the series it shouldn't be missed.
To read more reviews like this check out:
July 14, 2018
This book was, as usual with the series, strong on character interaction and humor, but a little short on plot development. Unfortunately, I forgot to write a review after starting the next in the series, and I've gotten this particular story a little confused with the next one.
I enjoyed this book, but the plot was a little scattered, I think. One possible source of confusion might be that the action that opens the story, a kidnapping of young girls on an Indian reservation, isn't really a major part of the main story.
I enjoyed the addition of the Native Americans from the reservation. I enjoyed their humorous outlook and way of thinking about things that I think of as typical of Native Americans, although this is mainly derived from books, movies, and TV, so I don't know if it's at all accurate.
If you like the Monkeewrench series, I think you'll probably like this one.
I enjoyed this book, but the plot was a little scattered, I think. One possible source of confusion might be that the action that opens the story, a kidnapping of young girls on an Indian reservation, isn't really a major part of the main story.
I enjoyed the addition of the Native Americans from the reservation. I enjoyed their humorous outlook and way of thinking about things that I think of as typical of Native Americans, although this is mainly derived from books, movies, and TV, so I don't know if it's at all accurate.
If you like the Monkeewrench series, I think you'll probably like this one.
March 8, 2015
The characters in this series are the reason I have stuck it out. They are a hodgepodge of individuals that I could see myself being friends with (just like real life). But other than that, the story lines don't do much for me. I find in the beginning of the books, there are two many plots to keep track of and I feel lost half-way through when new developments happen and I can't remember which details are supposed to go with what story.
Do I feel like I wasted time with this series? No. I have definitely read worse things. I guess when I see a thriller/mystery series, I expect it to wow me.
Do I feel like I wasted time with this series? No. I have definitely read worse things. I guess when I see a thriller/mystery series, I expect it to wow me.
October 1, 2012
I'd rather erase the memory of this book off my brain and pretend it never exists in this once terrific series. It's very over the top and inconsistent in many parts. One major character is offed in this book, but his/her death receives a page or so, while they give a chapter to each of the two other deaths of very relatively inconsequential characters. I consider myself very open-minded politically as I am usually able to enjoy books laced with agenda from any political stripes - right or left. But, this book paints the picture a bit too radical and too black-and-white in my view for a very complicated issue it wants to present. Onto character development, I used to be annoyed with one particular character in the previous book who seems to be flirting with Leo. I was all for Grace and Leo like so many others. Now, I want him to just go and be happy with someone else, anyone, really. Six books and she doesn't get better. She doesn't even care about your feeling. Time to move on, dude.
August 9, 2012
So nice to return and visit with the Monkeewrench crew again, characters that are very unique, as is the nature of their job. This storyline results on the death of one leading character and a few different threads to the story that eventually come together. My only complaint is the time elapsing between these books as I always feel that I need to go back and reread the one that came before. Love this rather unique series.
December 6, 2013
Please note: Read and reviewed Dec. 2012. Spoilers for book 5 are hidden.
Book Info: Genre: Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Reading Level: Adult
Recommended for: fans of the genres, fans of this series
Trigger Warnings: Terrorism, violence, terroristic threats
My Thoughts: This is the sixth book in the Monkeewrench series, following ( where formatting allowed), and the latest. A seventh book is scheduled to be released sometime next year, but that’s all I know about it—when I checked their website for details, they haven’t even updated to show the release of this most recent book, which was released way back in August! I noticed, however, that the books in this series all have different names in the UK—why is this done? It’s just confusing! I do wish someone would explain that to me... anyway. When I saw this available through Amazon Vine, even as an ARC, I was ecstatic and grabbed it up immediately, because I have loved this entire series.
I mentioned in the review for that the epilogue of that book made me lose my mind� I was dumbfounded, to say the least. At least they don’t keep us waiting too terribly long for those answers, so I was happy about that. I was also not happy about the threat to John Smith, who was a great character. However, we are still left wondering—what does Grace really feel for Magozzi? She’s such a mysterious character, we just can’t seem to figure her out. Maybe someday!
There is a scene at the beginning of Chapter 9 that just makes me cringe, because it was obviously written by someone who has no understanding of gun culture and the proper handling of firearms. The two characters involved know how to handle guns, know how to respect guns, but the authors have one of them actually aiming his rifle at the other—in jest, mind you—and looking at him through the sights! Now, anyone who knows anything about proper gun handling knows: you never, ever aim a firearm at anything you do not intend to kill. My dad used to chastise me if I aimed toy guns at other people, for crying out loud, and I know anyone with any sort of sense of responsibility was taught the same when it came to handling firearms. In this case, the characters are both Vietnam vets, so I know they would know this basic rule of handling firearms. It’s unfortunate that in this day and age, when people are taught to fear rather than respect guns, that this basic piece of knowledge is not disseminated widely enough to allow writers to utilize it in an otherwise wonderful book.
Anyway, like all the rest of this series, I absolutely loved this book. We finally find out what happened to Roadrunner’s fingers, although not any specific details. And we had some great secondary characters in Claude and the Chief, as well as Joe Hardy. I hope we’ll run across Chief again, at least (since Claude is from Texas the odds against him showing up again are even higher). Fans of thrillers, mysteries and/or suspense novels should love this book—this entire series—so don’t be shy about picking it up!
Disclosure: I received an ARC copy of this book from the Amazon Vine program in exchange for an honest review (and was absolutely thrilled to find the latest in one of my favorite series available through the program!). All opinions are my own.
Synopsis: On a sailboat ten miles off the Florida coast, Grace MacBride, partner in Monkeewrench Software, thwarts an assassination attempt on retired FBI agent John Smith. A few hours later, in Minneapolis, a fifteen-year-old girl is discovered in a vacant lot, her throat slashed. Later that day, two young men are found in their home a few blocks away, killed execution-style. The next morning, the dead bodies of three more men turn up, savagely murdered in the same neighborhood.
As Minneapolis homicide detectives Leo Magozzi and Gino Rolseth struggle to link the three crimes, they learn that there have been similar murders in other cities around the United States. Piece by piece, evidence accumulates, pointing to a suspect that shocks them to the core, uncovering a motive that puts the entire Midwest on high alert and Monkeewrench in the direct line of fire. Before it's all over, Grace and her partners, Annie, Roadrunner, and Harley Davidson, find themselves in the middle of a shocking collision of violence on a remote northern Minnesota reservation, fighting for their lives.Ìý
Book Info: Genre: Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Reading Level: Adult
Recommended for: fans of the genres, fans of this series
Trigger Warnings: Terrorism, violence, terroristic threats
My Thoughts: This is the sixth book in the Monkeewrench series, following ( where formatting allowed), and the latest. A seventh book is scheduled to be released sometime next year, but that’s all I know about it—when I checked their website for details, they haven’t even updated to show the release of this most recent book, which was released way back in August! I noticed, however, that the books in this series all have different names in the UK—why is this done? It’s just confusing! I do wish someone would explain that to me... anyway. When I saw this available through Amazon Vine, even as an ARC, I was ecstatic and grabbed it up immediately, because I have loved this entire series.
I mentioned in the review for that the epilogue of that book made me lose my mind� I was dumbfounded, to say the least. At least they don’t keep us waiting too terribly long for those answers, so I was happy about that. I was also not happy about the threat to John Smith, who was a great character. However, we are still left wondering—what does Grace really feel for Magozzi? She’s such a mysterious character, we just can’t seem to figure her out. Maybe someday!
There is a scene at the beginning of Chapter 9 that just makes me cringe, because it was obviously written by someone who has no understanding of gun culture and the proper handling of firearms. The two characters involved know how to handle guns, know how to respect guns, but the authors have one of them actually aiming his rifle at the other—in jest, mind you—and looking at him through the sights! Now, anyone who knows anything about proper gun handling knows: you never, ever aim a firearm at anything you do not intend to kill. My dad used to chastise me if I aimed toy guns at other people, for crying out loud, and I know anyone with any sort of sense of responsibility was taught the same when it came to handling firearms. In this case, the characters are both Vietnam vets, so I know they would know this basic rule of handling firearms. It’s unfortunate that in this day and age, when people are taught to fear rather than respect guns, that this basic piece of knowledge is not disseminated widely enough to allow writers to utilize it in an otherwise wonderful book.
Anyway, like all the rest of this series, I absolutely loved this book. We finally find out what happened to Roadrunner’s fingers, although not any specific details. And we had some great secondary characters in Claude and the Chief, as well as Joe Hardy. I hope we’ll run across Chief again, at least (since Claude is from Texas the odds against him showing up again are even higher). Fans of thrillers, mysteries and/or suspense novels should love this book—this entire series—so don’t be shy about picking it up!
Disclosure: I received an ARC copy of this book from the Amazon Vine program in exchange for an honest review (and was absolutely thrilled to find the latest in one of my favorite series available through the program!). All opinions are my own.
Synopsis: On a sailboat ten miles off the Florida coast, Grace MacBride, partner in Monkeewrench Software, thwarts an assassination attempt on retired FBI agent John Smith. A few hours later, in Minneapolis, a fifteen-year-old girl is discovered in a vacant lot, her throat slashed. Later that day, two young men are found in their home a few blocks away, killed execution-style. The next morning, the dead bodies of three more men turn up, savagely murdered in the same neighborhood.
As Minneapolis homicide detectives Leo Magozzi and Gino Rolseth struggle to link the three crimes, they learn that there have been similar murders in other cities around the United States. Piece by piece, evidence accumulates, pointing to a suspect that shocks them to the core, uncovering a motive that puts the entire Midwest on high alert and Monkeewrench in the direct line of fire. Before it's all over, Grace and her partners, Annie, Roadrunner, and Harley Davidson, find themselves in the middle of a shocking collision of violence on a remote northern Minnesota reservation, fighting for their lives.Ìý
January 22, 2013
"A missing teenage girl lies dead in a parking lot. Two young immigrants are killed in their apartment. Three men are found dead in the street nearby".
Gino and Magozzi are the two homicide detectives that are faced with solving these murders. They enlist the help of computer analyst Grace Mcbride, putting her in danger in the process.
I think it's probably fair to stop my review here and ask: have you guessed the ending already? If you haven't worked it out, then that's brilliant, why not try Harlan Coben instead as an introduction to how thrillers should be written. Two Evils is the usual, run of the mill, crime-thriller, whodunnit novel.
I have never read a P.J. Tracy novel before but throughout the lackluster novel I felt myself comparing it to novels I've previously read. I felt like I'd met the characters a million times before in better written novels. I felt that this novel tried to deliver the standards of Tess Gerritsen with Rizzoli and Isles (actually, the main characters reminded me of these quite a lot).
This novel lacked the originality, pace and clever plot. I felt myself turning the page and crossing my fingers that the authors were going to pull something out of the bag.... but they didn't.
I hate to be so negative about a novel and I feel so awful in doing so, but when I'm faced with a plot I've read so many times before, it's really hard to not be so pessimistic.
Gino and Magozzi are the two homicide detectives that are faced with solving these murders. They enlist the help of computer analyst Grace Mcbride, putting her in danger in the process.
I think it's probably fair to stop my review here and ask: have you guessed the ending already? If you haven't worked it out, then that's brilliant, why not try Harlan Coben instead as an introduction to how thrillers should be written. Two Evils is the usual, run of the mill, crime-thriller, whodunnit novel.
I have never read a P.J. Tracy novel before but throughout the lackluster novel I felt myself comparing it to novels I've previously read. I felt like I'd met the characters a million times before in better written novels. I felt that this novel tried to deliver the standards of Tess Gerritsen with Rizzoli and Isles (actually, the main characters reminded me of these quite a lot).
This novel lacked the originality, pace and clever plot. I felt myself turning the page and crossing my fingers that the authors were going to pull something out of the bag.... but they didn't.
I hate to be so negative about a novel and I feel so awful in doing so, but when I'm faced with a plot I've read so many times before, it's really hard to not be so pessimistic.
December 16, 2016
I loved the first book in this series. In Australia, it was called Want To Play?, which I think is actually a better title. What a thrill ride! The next three were all decent, but Play To Kill/Shoot To Thrill (once again it had a different title for Australia) was terrible. And Off The Grid/Two Evils (yet more re-titling!) is even worse! Faceless villains, needless head-hopping (which is still happening just chapters from the end) and a suspenseless "climax" that happens off-page and doesn't involve any of the main characters! Lord Almighty! As others have mentioned, there is casual racism (or at least racial profiling) and incorrect facts and terminology. How did this get published? And how did it get so many positive reviews? Am I too picky? Are others too easily pleased?
June 11, 2018
I was delighted with when I first read it and excitedly waited for the next novel. Sadly, time seems to have affected the sharp edge if the characters. was umimpressive in so many ways - the characters lacked character and the plot lacked cohesion. A disappointing novel.
January 14, 2020
Enjoyable Minnesota crime story, with the Monkeewrench cyperpunks encountering a terrorist threat.
Five missing Native American girls, kidnapped from Sand Lake Reservation in northern Minnesota, the youngest 10, the oldest 15.
Throw in some Somali bad guys, some human trafficking, and you have a fun ride.
Five missing Native American girls, kidnapped from Sand Lake Reservation in northern Minnesota, the youngest 10, the oldest 15.
Throw in some Somali bad guys, some human trafficking, and you have a fun ride.
April 18, 2022
Not as great as earlier Monkeewrench books, but enjoyable and well-written nonetheless. I hope the next books have some more computer magic in them, this one was a little low on that.
September 9, 2012
First Sentence: Sometimes the water was glassy and still, and the boat sat on it like a piece of paper on a flat table.
Grace MacBride, partner in Monkeewrench, finally takes a break, sheds her protective clothing and goes sailing with the friend only to end up saving him from having his throat slit by killing the two assassins instead. Grace’s friends, homicide detectives Leo Magozzi and Gino Rolseth are faced with a string of execution murders. Their investigation leads them to uncover a chain of such murders in cities around the country. The motive puts the Monkeywrench gang directly in the target and fighting to stay alive.
The first pages of a book are so important to a reader and Tracy’s descriptive opening provides a perfect introduction to the books characters, even those not present in the opening scene. We are even introduced to a metamorphosed Grace with an understanding as to how such a change transpired.
Between the police and the Monkeywrench gang, Tracy has established a wonderfully eclectic group of characters that work well together and balance each others strengths and weaknesses, including some of the most basic phobias. Tracy’s dialogue takes you from suspense to humor, providing a well-needed balance.
Tracy’s wonderfully evocative descriptions give a real strength to the story. They are the type of descriptions you don’t just read, you savor. Some you allow to build and form in your mind’s eye for their lyricism and inclusion of mysticism.
There are flaws, however. The character of plot’s villains were too easily set up to be the villains and too stereotypical. There was an unfortunate phrase which kept being used and should have been eliminated. The story had excellent suspense that ratcheted up with each chapter but the ending fell off the cliff. For a group of seemingly brilliant individuals, there was a major too-stupid-to-live event that was nearly unforgivable. The final climatic scene seemed abrupt, almost as though they weren’t certain how to write the dramatic action scene and suddenly, there we are; all done. Even though the epilogue was a good confirmation, it really wasn’t a necessary one, which is too bad. Rather than being a didn’t-see-that-coming revelation, it was I-knew-that confirmation.
“Off The Grid� is a good read. It certainly kept me turning the pages. Its strengths are definitely the characters, dialogue and descriptions. And although there were problems, I was entertained and would put it at the level of a good Sunday or airplane read.
OFF THE GRID (Police Proc/Unl Invest-The Monkeywrench Gang/Det.s Magozzi and Rolseth-Florida/Minnesota-Contemporary � Good
Tracy, P.J. � 6th in series
Putnam, 2012
Grace MacBride, partner in Monkeewrench, finally takes a break, sheds her protective clothing and goes sailing with the friend only to end up saving him from having his throat slit by killing the two assassins instead. Grace’s friends, homicide detectives Leo Magozzi and Gino Rolseth are faced with a string of execution murders. Their investigation leads them to uncover a chain of such murders in cities around the country. The motive puts the Monkeywrench gang directly in the target and fighting to stay alive.
The first pages of a book are so important to a reader and Tracy’s descriptive opening provides a perfect introduction to the books characters, even those not present in the opening scene. We are even introduced to a metamorphosed Grace with an understanding as to how such a change transpired.
Between the police and the Monkeywrench gang, Tracy has established a wonderfully eclectic group of characters that work well together and balance each others strengths and weaknesses, including some of the most basic phobias. Tracy’s dialogue takes you from suspense to humor, providing a well-needed balance.
Tracy’s wonderfully evocative descriptions give a real strength to the story. They are the type of descriptions you don’t just read, you savor. Some you allow to build and form in your mind’s eye for their lyricism and inclusion of mysticism.
There are flaws, however. The character of plot’s villains were too easily set up to be the villains and too stereotypical. There was an unfortunate phrase which kept being used and should have been eliminated. The story had excellent suspense that ratcheted up with each chapter but the ending fell off the cliff. For a group of seemingly brilliant individuals, there was a major too-stupid-to-live event that was nearly unforgivable. The final climatic scene seemed abrupt, almost as though they weren’t certain how to write the dramatic action scene and suddenly, there we are; all done. Even though the epilogue was a good confirmation, it really wasn’t a necessary one, which is too bad. Rather than being a didn’t-see-that-coming revelation, it was I-knew-that confirmation.
“Off The Grid� is a good read. It certainly kept me turning the pages. Its strengths are definitely the characters, dialogue and descriptions. And although there were problems, I was entertained and would put it at the level of a good Sunday or airplane read.
OFF THE GRID (Police Proc/Unl Invest-The Monkeywrench Gang/Det.s Magozzi and Rolseth-Florida/Minnesota-Contemporary � Good
Tracy, P.J. � 6th in series
Putnam, 2012
August 3, 2012
You may also read my review here:
When we last left the Monkeewrench crew, Grace McBride made the shocking decision to set sail with 20 years her senior FBI agent John Smith. After 3 months of sun in the Florida Keys, Grace finds herself facing down two men who have boarded the boat with the seemingly single motive of killing John. John has no idea why anyone would be gunning for him, so Grace contacts the team for help, as John goes off the grid. Meanwhile, Leo Magozzi and Gino Rolseth find themselves at a crime scene where the body of a young girl lies, her throat slashed. Soon, more bodies, and illegal weapons, are piling up, and there seems to be a connection. It will take the full resources of the police, the FBI, and Monkeewrench to figure this one out, but at what cost?
I admit, when I found out that Off the Grid was coming out, I had to stifle a fangirl squee. Ok, I may not have stifled it. It’s been 8 years since the wonderful Monkeewrench (book 1), and 2 years since the last book was out, so this one was very eagerly awaited. The authors are on their game, as usual, and Off the Grid is more than just a murder mystery. When Magozzi and Rolseth start putting the pieces together, and other crimes start popping up in other cities that are very similar to their cases, it’s obvious something very big is happening. They’re on the clock, and time is running out. So,the attack on John has brought Grace back to Minnesota and back into Magozzi’s life, a big group of baddies are after John, but nobody knows why, and it seems like something really big might be going down on Halloween, only a few days away. But what, and where? Off the Grid was a nonstop roller coaster ride from start to finish, and unlike previous books, the focus was more on Detectives Rolseth and Magozzi rather than the Monkeewrench crew, but that’s ok, because I loves me some Gino and Magozzi. I was hoping that we’d get some quality Grace and Magozzi time, but with everything going on, it just wasn’t to be. Maybe in the next book? Off the Grid was lots of fun and I couldn’t be happier to have the gang back! Can’t wait for the next one!
When we last left the Monkeewrench crew, Grace McBride made the shocking decision to set sail with 20 years her senior FBI agent John Smith. After 3 months of sun in the Florida Keys, Grace finds herself facing down two men who have boarded the boat with the seemingly single motive of killing John. John has no idea why anyone would be gunning for him, so Grace contacts the team for help, as John goes off the grid. Meanwhile, Leo Magozzi and Gino Rolseth find themselves at a crime scene where the body of a young girl lies, her throat slashed. Soon, more bodies, and illegal weapons, are piling up, and there seems to be a connection. It will take the full resources of the police, the FBI, and Monkeewrench to figure this one out, but at what cost?
I admit, when I found out that Off the Grid was coming out, I had to stifle a fangirl squee. Ok, I may not have stifled it. It’s been 8 years since the wonderful Monkeewrench (book 1), and 2 years since the last book was out, so this one was very eagerly awaited. The authors are on their game, as usual, and Off the Grid is more than just a murder mystery. When Magozzi and Rolseth start putting the pieces together, and other crimes start popping up in other cities that are very similar to their cases, it’s obvious something very big is happening. They’re on the clock, and time is running out. So,the attack on John has brought Grace back to Minnesota and back into Magozzi’s life, a big group of baddies are after John, but nobody knows why, and it seems like something really big might be going down on Halloween, only a few days away. But what, and where? Off the Grid was a nonstop roller coaster ride from start to finish, and unlike previous books, the focus was more on Detectives Rolseth and Magozzi rather than the Monkeewrench crew, but that’s ok, because I loves me some Gino and Magozzi. I was hoping that we’d get some quality Grace and Magozzi time, but with everything going on, it just wasn’t to be. Maybe in the next book? Off the Grid was lots of fun and I couldn’t be happier to have the gang back! Can’t wait for the next one!
May 17, 2019
Lightning fast pacing and heart-pounding thrills made OFF THE GRID a real page-turner for me. Though not yet familiar with the Monkeewrench series, I was quickly sucked in by the well-developed characters. I really liked the touches of humor that the authors inserted which just seemed to emphasize the tension.
The story starts on a boat in the Caribbean. Two men come aboard and attempt to kill retired Special Agent John Smith. Only the quick action of Grace MacBride saves the day when she shoots and kills both assailants. They determine that Smith is being targeted because he is trying to locate terrorists before they can act on US soil.
Meanwhile in Minneapolis, a fifteen-year-old Native girl has her throat cut when she gets away from the Somali kidnappers who snatched her and four younger girls on their way home from school on the Reservation. This brings up the whole issue of conflict between Native Americans and Somali refugees in Minnesota.
Next comes terminally-ill-with-cancer Veteran Joe Hardy who kills two young men in the house holding the other four girls and who dies in a shootout with two other men who happen to have a room full of weapons and explosives. At first the police think Hardy was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Minneapolis Detectives Magozzi and Rolseth are called in and begin trying to find the links between these crimes. Magozzi apparently has a relationship with Grace MacBride who is one of the owners of Monkeewrench software. Monkeewrench made their money in games but are also making software that can be used to track down terrorists.
These seemingly unrelated crimes lead the detectives and the FBI to a much larger, national plan for a flash mob of terror. As they rush to stop this terrorist attack, they find that they aren't the only ones trying to shut it down. In many cases they find that the terrorists have already been killed when they get to the houses.
This was an excellent story. I recommend it to anyone who wants a fantastic, heart-pounding thriller for their summer reading.
The story starts on a boat in the Caribbean. Two men come aboard and attempt to kill retired Special Agent John Smith. Only the quick action of Grace MacBride saves the day when she shoots and kills both assailants. They determine that Smith is being targeted because he is trying to locate terrorists before they can act on US soil.
Meanwhile in Minneapolis, a fifteen-year-old Native girl has her throat cut when she gets away from the Somali kidnappers who snatched her and four younger girls on their way home from school on the Reservation. This brings up the whole issue of conflict between Native Americans and Somali refugees in Minnesota.
Next comes terminally-ill-with-cancer Veteran Joe Hardy who kills two young men in the house holding the other four girls and who dies in a shootout with two other men who happen to have a room full of weapons and explosives. At first the police think Hardy was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Minneapolis Detectives Magozzi and Rolseth are called in and begin trying to find the links between these crimes. Magozzi apparently has a relationship with Grace MacBride who is one of the owners of Monkeewrench software. Monkeewrench made their money in games but are also making software that can be used to track down terrorists.
These seemingly unrelated crimes lead the detectives and the FBI to a much larger, national plan for a flash mob of terror. As they rush to stop this terrorist attack, they find that they aren't the only ones trying to shut it down. In many cases they find that the terrorists have already been killed when they get to the houses.
This was an excellent story. I recommend it to anyone who wants a fantastic, heart-pounding thriller for their summer reading.
November 6, 2012
This book came highly recommended, and I really wanted to like it. But it seems to me the writing has gone downhill over the course of the series. I would describe this one as amateurish, which is not a good word for the sixth in a series. I'm picky about words, so it annoys me when a character, cornered by bad guys, grabs a gun and starts firing "with impunity" even while his body is being riddled with the bullets of return fire. Sounds like pretty good punity to me. And American Indians use blood quantum to determine tribal membership, not "blood quorum." This one is set in Minneapolis, where I live. A character is awakened by his clock radio at 6am on October 27th. He stumbles to the window and looks out at a bright sun and dark blue sky. On that date in Minneapolis the sun rises at 7:45. The author (not a character) makes the lay-lie mistake. Twice. As tension builds and a national terrorist disaster must be averted ASAP, two detectives find they have to go to northern Minnesota to pick up a computer, a five hour drive each way. The FBI says there's no time: they'll charter a small plane. We are then given a pages-long and unfunny description of how one of the detectives really, really hates flying; and then when they arrive in the north, rather than picking up the computer for the immediate return trip, they go off to a cabin with their hosts for a leisurely dinner and drinks, while a major storm blows in. Even the big payoff, to which the book has been building for many pages, mostly occurs off-stage and is never described in detail. And we are to accept that not only a nationwide terrorist plot, but also a nationwide private vigilante effort to prevent it all happened below the radar of the feds. Overall a very disappointing book.
February 8, 2013
I wish I could say that I really enjoyed reading this novel but I felt the whole time I was missing something. The story begins with the escape of a 15 year old captive running away from the men who are holding her along with other younger Native girls. These girls vanished and it seemed no one cared and that is what's most heart breaking. Sadly the 15 year old was recaptured and killed by the faceless bad guys. Gino and Magozzi are on the trail and soon find that their case is also linked to a sudden assassination attempt by Somali terrorist. Grace, of Monkeewrench, kills the two terrorist who were going to assassinate John Smith. Soon they are running from an extreme group of have placed a jihad on Smith's head.
wanted so badly to enjoy this book but I could never really get into it. I felt that I didn't know any of the characters at all and all the action seemed to be missing. There were conversations about the murders or terrorist plots but no real details. A lot of the characters made mistakes that only rookies would make. An ex-FBI agent would have to assume that if someone can hack into his computer they can also track a vehicle. And then the book just seemed to end. Overall, the Monkeewrench series is pretty popular so it pains me to be unable to endorse this but only readers who have been with this group from the beginning can truely enjoy this novel. I suspect their fanbase will enjoy this novel but I, personally, could not.
wanted so badly to enjoy this book but I could never really get into it. I felt that I didn't know any of the characters at all and all the action seemed to be missing. There were conversations about the murders or terrorist plots but no real details. A lot of the characters made mistakes that only rookies would make. An ex-FBI agent would have to assume that if someone can hack into his computer they can also track a vehicle. And then the book just seemed to end. Overall, the Monkeewrench series is pretty popular so it pains me to be unable to endorse this but only readers who have been with this group from the beginning can truely enjoy this novel. I suspect their fanbase will enjoy this novel but I, personally, could not.
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