Hmmm... As a big fan of Monkeewrench series, I may honestly say that I was expecting something more earth shattering, mind blowing from the author !

It was still a great start with complex storyline and relatable, well-developed, layered, interesting characters and action packed, moving, balanced pace writing. So you need to start this series without comparing it with previous works of the author for not being disappointed or raise the bar of your higher expectations.

We’re introduced two new characters in this book. Sam Easton,a veteran, survivor, returned back from Afghanistan to have a fresh start, divorced, bartender, joining to therapy sessions, still fighting with his past demons, carrying both psychical and mental scars.

LAPD detective Margaret Nolan also has dramatic past and invisible scars, taking a murder case and prime suspect is Sam who might have murdered his close friend Melody’s boyfriend because he was abusing her and Melody needed his help.

Margaret also lost her brother at overseas so she can easily relate with Sam and from the beginning she never thinks he is the killer. Then another murder case occurs at the other side of the town, changing the direction of investigation.

After I read the blurb, I thought this book was about Sam and Margaret but Sam and Melody who conduct their own investigation together to clear their names and find the real killer of the abusive boyfriend stole the show.

Thankfully I liked both of the characters from the beginning so I enjoyed to read their heart throbbing, intriguing, twisty adventure.

This is not the best beginning book of new series but it has still promising potential. I still want to give a chance to the upcoming books.
The killer’s identity was so obvious from the beginning which bothered me a little but character and story development, pacing were still well-crafted.

So I cut some points and rounding up 3.5 stars to 4 brand new mystery/ crime thriller series stars!

Fingers crossed. I hope the next book will be so much better!

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/ Minatour Books for sharing this exciting arc with me in exchange my honest review.

New York Times bestseller P. J. Tracy returns with Deep into the Dark, a brand new series set in LA and featuring up-and-coming LAPD Detective Margaret Nolan and murder suspect Sam Easton. I have been a fan of this authors Monkeewrench series set in Minnesota for years and had no doubt this book would be just as entertaining. There is less humor...this is a serious mystery with some serious characters and a suspenseful plot from page one. This new book did not disappoint and I am hoping for more of these characters in the future. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced readers copy for review.

I was apprehensive when I realized this was a new series for P.J. Tracy. Wow!!! Was I surprised. Fast paced mystery. Loved the new characters and can't wait for the next in the series. A solid 5 stars in my book.

This is the first book in a new series written by the daughter after the passing of her mother, the other half of the writing team for the Monkeewrench series.
Sam Easton is a veteran suffering from PTSD, hallucinations/visions and memory gaps. Recently separated from his wife, working at a bar and attending therapy sessions are the way he spends his days.
Sam offers shelter to a fellow coworker Melody after she was beaten by her boyfriend. When the boyfriend is murdered, Sam becomes a suspect. As the detectives investigate the murder, Sam is tied to another murder.
I really liked Sam who was doing his best to heal and move on.

At first I was sad that this was not a Monkeywrench book, but once you get into it, the characters are great, and this is a new exciting series! At least I hope it's the beginning of a new series. Very hard to put down, even though I knew or suspected the whodunits, you still couldn't put it down until the very end. Great book, great story, great characters, what's not to love? Highly recommend!!!

As a longtime fan of PJ Tracy's Monkeywrench series, I was eager to read their latest, a new series set in L.A. Like the Monkeywrench series, Deep into the Dark follows a pair of homicide detectives as well as the "damaged" individuals who are suspects in a series of murders. Bartender Melody Traeger is a recovered addict and abuse victim, barback Sam Easton is a vet suffering PTSD from his service in Afghanistan. When people close to them are killed, Melody and Sam are the top suspects on LAPD Detectives Nolan and Crawford's list, but the perspective the reader is given makes it hard to believe, so who did do it? Like the Monkeywrench series, the characters are well-written and draw you into the story, and the plot is fast-paced and keeps your interest.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC. I was so excited to read this because I loved the Monkeewrench books. I was also curious if a book just written by the daughter could live up to the previous books. The beginning of this book was slow-I felt like nothing was happening until about 50% through. But when the book got going it was really good. The ending was unexpected but exciting, even though for much of it the serial killer mystery didn't feel like the main focus. Thew actual ending puled it all together in a satisfying way! Will we see these characters again?

4.5 Stars

Oh, how I love Minotaur. This cover and title caught my eye, and I was thrilled to be approved for this title.

Sam, a veteran suffering from PTSD and possible hallucinations, and Melody, a former drug addict/rock star, are co-workers who are brought together by a series of unsettling developments. A serial killer is on the loose, and when both are connected to the victims, they have to find a way to not only prove their innocence, but also avoid a dangerous, psychopathic stalker.

There are subplots and layers--military conspiracy, detectives working homicide, a movie director--I didn't cover in my summary, but this is the main story that carries the rest. And for the most part, I really enjoyed this read.

I won't lie: it took me a bit to really bite into the first few chapters. I found the language to be pretentious and a overly condescending. It reminded me of Prodigal Son (which I found to be a hit dramatic and whiny for my personal taste). But I liked the serial killer focus, and pushed through. After that, there was a real groove, and I devoured the rest of the book in a single sitting.

Sam is a wonderful character; he steals the show, in my opinion. His voice is authentic and powerful, his back story is compelling, and he's got a great rapport with Melody. What brings him to the next level, however, is the examination of veteran support, PTSD, and mental illness. Sometimes in thrillers, the audience is set up to assume the worst of anyone suffering from a mental illness. It's something to be ashamed of, an automatic indicator of guilt, or a source of discrediting. Here, though, Sam's PTSD is presented as not only an important part of his character, but also a progressive fact. His family, friends, and co-workers know he has issues. He has a shrink who is supportive and open and recognizes crisis but doesn't associate it with guilt. The detectives aren't quick to blame him because of his stressors; instead, there is a distinction made between the two, a fact that raises an important awareness to how those who suffer from mental illness are treated. I loved the healthy dialogue surrounding his triggers and for that alone, I can't wait to read more of him.

Additionally, the plot is structured well and flows. Never a dull moment, there's enough action to carry this from point a to point b without feeling melodramatic or forced.

Overall, Deep into the Dark is an action-packed, energetic military-esque thriller that explores relevant issues with punches and heart. I think this will hit the sweet spot for many readers, and I'm putting this high on my list of books to read in 2021.

Big thanks to Minotaur and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for honest review consideration.

I wasn't sure if I would like this, since it wasn't a Monkeewrench gang series. I was so wrong, she has proven she can go on without her Mom. Interesting characters and I hope to read more of Sam and Margaret.

Good detective story, mixed reaction. I enjoyed getting to know Sam, a veteran with PTSD. I wish more had been resolved wrt his “psychic” abilities. He was a great character, as well as LAPD Detective Margaret Nolan, a strong character with nowhere to go. I didn’t care for Sam’s sidekick Melody; she didn’t come off to me as particularly impressive or stable. The mixed reaction came from seeing some characters very well-developed, while others seems to be more vague. It made for a more confusing read. I figured out early what was going on, so no real mystery. An engaging read, kept my attention, but not my favorite. Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

1. This is not the Monkeewrench series.

2. It is supposed to be a series featuring LAPD Detective Margaret Nolan and murder suspect Sam Easton, but as it turns out, Nolan plays a pretty minor role. Sam and Melody Traeger take over the novel.

3. I knew the villain on his first appearance. That's fine if the author intends for you to, but I think it was supposed to come as a surprise.

Deep into the Dark kept my interest because of Sam and Melody, but the plot was not believable. Either plot, I guess, because there was a secondary plot thread.

The eccentric and endearing characters that helped make Monkeewrench such a fun series are absent in Deep into the Dark, which is more of a straight forward crime novel.

If I had not been hoping for some of the fresh and funny aspects of Monkeewrench, I would have liked it better, but the author (whose mother and partner for the Monkeewrench series has died) is entitled to take a new path with a different vibe.

Read in August. Blog review scheduled for Dec. 30, 2020

NetGalley/St. Martin's Press.
Crime. Jan. 12, 2021. Print length: 352 pages.

The new characters that P.J. Tracy developed for Deep into the Dark do not disappoint. The reader joins them in a riveting mystery that has many depths.

This was my first P.J. Tracy book and I requested it because of the war veteran character. I really enjoyed that aspect.
There are multiple storylines in this book- the war vet and a female police detective. Both have scars and demons that dominate their lives.
They are brought together by a killer and a stalker.
I loved the ending of this book!!

Thanks to Netgalley for my advanced ebook copy.

First, thank you to both NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for offering me the opportunity to review P.J. Tracy’s upcoming novel, Deep Into The Dark.

If you’ve ever read any of my previous reviews, then you already know that I am an absolute sucker for elaborate prose and intricate descriptions of scenery. This is my first P.J. Tracy novel and after finishing Deep Into The Dark, it certainly will not be my last. Between exciting plotlines, short and entertaining chapters, and well-written text, I was immediately hooked. Plus, I enjoy anything set in California even if it concerns the darker side of Hollywood.

There are a handful of characters and suspects that continuously keep the reader in suspense. While that may sound obvious for any mystery/thriller crime novel, not every author can pull it off in a way that is actually intriguing.

For example, out of the several different subplots that are simultaneously occurring throughout the story, there is one particular thread that focuses on a potential government conspiracy/military cover-up. In general, I usually find these storylines fairly cliché since they have been done so many times, but the author brings a fresh perspective by providing the reader with well-researched information about the psychology and feelings of soldiers who are suffering from PTSD.

I enjoyed getting to know all of the characters, even ones who only made brief appearances. The reader can truly tell who is speaking without having to see the words, e.g., “Melody said.”

In addition, the author did a superb job at wrapping up every single storyline and didn’t just use them as red herrings or vehicles to move the plot. I had a number of questions written down while reading to write this review and there was only one that hadn’t been answered by the time I finished the novel.

My sole complaint was the ending (No worries! It was still great!) because I thought it ended too abruptly. I also see potential for carrying on this standalone novel into a new series. For now, I am looking forward to reading some of the author’s older works!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Deep into the Dark.

I've never read the author's previous books before but I was pleased when my request was approved. I'm always looking for a new author to read.

Deep into the Dark is about two interconnected narratives; a serial killer is lurking in L.A. at the same time two brutal murders occur in less than 24 hours, implicating Army veteran Sam Easton.

The writing is good, but the story is bogged down with the terrible 2s.

1. Too many characters,

2. Too many POVs; Sam Easton, his coworker and friend, Melody, brief monologues from the killer, the detectives investigating the double murder along with the detective probing the serial murders...AND, Sam's mother.

3. Too much happening; Sam's struggles with PTSD, his sessions with his psychiatrist, his 'psychic' ability (which is never resolved at the end), his coworker's abusive sort-of boyfriend, a stalker, a serial killer, Sam's estrangement with his wife.

What did bother me was despite the POVs of three detectives, there wasn't much detecting going on.

4. Too much chitchatting and the female detective mooning over her colleague.

5. Too little character development. Readers get to know is Sam, a good man suffering severe PTSD after being grievously wounded in Afghanistan that killed everyone in his unit.

It was hard to make a connection with anyone, and I had hoped the female detective, at least, would factor in as a major character.

The identity of the killer(s) was, frankly, unbelievable, and my ability to suspend disbelief was really being tested at the end, as well as Sam's attempts to plug in the gaps of his memory and the whereabouts of a soldier.

Overall, the writing was good, and though this wasn't for me, I think some readers would enjoy it.

I don't understand why authors feel it necessary to start a book with a prologue? And if they do, it better be good. Right off the bat in reading the prologue, I knew I was going to struggle reading this book. I did not connect with any of the characters and was not invested in the storyline or the outcome of the book.

Unfortunately, this book was not for me and did not hold my interest.

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.

This is not part of the Monkeewrench series and is set in Los Angeles. There are a fair number of characters: Melody, a former singer, now bartender; her abusive boyfriend Ryan; Sam, a veteran with PTSD who is estranged from his wife Yuki; Rolf, who wants Sam and Melody to appear in his film; police detectives Nolan and Crawford, tasked with investigating Ryan's murder; and finally police detective Remy, who is seeking a serial killer, the Monster in Miracle Mile.

I enjoyed this, and I liked Sam and Melody. The plot as it concerned them was well done, but the other strand featuring Remy and the Monster felt a bit tacked on - the book would have been better without it really. I believe this will be the first in a series, so perhaps that is why Remy had to be included, but his part of the story was dull, unbelievable, and slightly unresolved all at the same time.

P.J. Tracy's Monkeewrench team is one of my all-time favorite series...so I was super excited to read her new series featuring Sam (a war veteran with issues and baggage, but also a really good heart) and Melody (a bartender with a past she'd like to keep behind). They are thrust into a developing situation and catch the attention of Margaret Nolan, an LAPD Detective. These are some of the best written characters. It's hard to put the book down as Ms. Tracy has the reader totally invested in the cast by the end of the third chapter. With her signature twists and turns, Ms. Tracy's Deep into the Dark is an absolutely fantastic start of a series, and I personally cannot wait to delve more into it.

This is the first in a promising new series from one of my favorite authors.

There are multiple storylines in this book with the introduction of 2 main characters, both carrying demons that sometimes control their actions. One is a war veteran with scars, both seen and unseen, that dominate his life, and the other is an up and coming female detective with battle wounds of her own. A serial killer and a stalker permeate their lives and will bring them together in a stunning conclusion that will have you shaking your head.

If I have any comment on the book I felt there were too many stories competing with each other and maybe the narrative could be a little more fluid.

All in all a good read and I look forward to the next.

Hmmmm it wasn't for me, I was very confused through most of the book, and definitely lost in others?! I just couldn't figure out what was going on at times?! It seemed all over the place to me. It just wasn't for me. Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for sharing this book with me!