The second installment in the Detective Margaret Nolan investigative series. I was pleased to see the continued growth of Nolan and that Sam made it into the second book. A well thought out, interesting police procedural. I look forward to the next book in the series.

** I received an electronic ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review of this book.

PTSD attacks for many reasons and in different incarnations; losing one’s friends in Afghanistan and coming home severely disfigured; losing a son in the same war, but the military not teaching you how to grieve; losing a brother, but also taking a life, growing up with everything except knowing how to help your sister. These stories and much more are movingly told, but without easy answers in Desolation Canyon .
In P.J. Tracy’s first book written without her writing partner and mother Deep Into the Dark , Detective Margaret Nolan and injured vet Sam Easton meet in the aftermath of some Los Angeles homicides. They meet as Margaret has just joined the legendary LA Robbery Homicide Division (RHD) and with Sam just not doesn’t feeling like a viable suspect to Margaret.
Again in this book there are two separate stories. Lenny, a desert rat who runs a small store and gas station in Death Valley, asks Sam being to help a young girl and her daughter trying to escape from an abusive relationship. Their abuser is the leader of what so many others in the LA region think of as a miracle facility, Children of the Desert, located in Desolation Canyon. This place will cure what ails ya; addiction, depression, PTSD etc. It is run by a messianic Russian, who also starts a successful prison program.
At about the same time, Nolan agrees to have a drink with her colleague, Remy Beaudreau at the Bel- Air Hotel. Walking through the stunning gardens, their almost date is interrupted by a gruesome discovery in Swan Lake.
With Children of the Desert being the centerpiece, Tracy skillfully knits Margaret, Sam and Remy’s far-flung stories together.
Family is represented in dissimilar ways, but is ever present. Margaret’s mom decides to deal with her grief over the death of her son, Margaret’s dad is finding solace in action, and Remy, even after eight years, still hires detectives to find his mentally ill sister. For Sam, it’s friends who serve as his family.
Tracy turns some of the most familiar police procedural tropes on their head. For instance, Margaret’s partner is supportive and treats Nolan as an equal needing a bit of seasoning in the glamorous world of the RHD. Also, romance is almost non-existent in the first two books. Maybe a slight wafting in the air; for these are serious crime novels. If it comes, hopefully the romance won’t be the obvious pairing.
As usual, the writing is beautiful, with so much of it being quotable; “But stoicism doesn’t change what’s happening inside, it only makes it impossible to come to terms with it.” Also “Tomorrow wasn’t guaranteed, so why waste a single, precious second of life?”
The motive for the central murder is a true head scratcher for Margaret, Remy and Al. The victim is such a bland, quiet man; but then the crime gets more interesting when other crimes are discovered. Reading of their meticulous investigation and their subsequent discoveries was fascinating. The ending is exciting, using the military skills of Sam, and Margaret’s father, and the tight detecting skills of Margaret, Remy and Al Crawford.
The final results not completely surprising, but other shocking discoveries along the way were just heartbreaking. Some folks are just Earls, or maybe Aliens?
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions are entirely my own.

This is the second book in the Detective Margaret Nolan series and can be read as a stand-alone. P.J. Tracy offers a decent police-procedural with an intriguing premise and good characterization. However, the novel was moderately paced with inconsistent writing, making the management of multiple plot lines somewhat ambiguous. In addition, the storyline drew readers to Easton's character over that of Nolan's which is somewhat confusing as the novel namesake is Margaret Nolan. Overall, it was an okay read. Would recommend for those just getting into this genre.

Thank youth #NetGalley for the ARC of #DesolationCanyon which was read and reviewed voluntarily.

This review also appears on Amazon and Goodreads.

I enjoyed the story and fast paced action, but was confused several times by the lack of backstory. I did not read the first book and did not realize it was a series.

I unfortunately could not get into this book. I see that it is the second in a series and possibly that is the issue.
for me. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review but this one just didn't work for me.

I may try the audio version at some point but most likely not until I've read book # 1 of the series.

Having enjoyed the Monkeewrench series by P. J. Tracy I was happy to see a new series but somehow was not paying attention - I missed the debut mystery. As soon as I finished this one I put Deep into the Dark on my TBR list. Having missed the first mystery didn't lessen my enjoyment of this one - it works fine as a stand alone.
Margaret is dealing with PTSD after a shooting in the line of duty. In a effort to find some relief she meets a friend at the Hotel Be-Air but it isn't long before things get complicated. While out for a stroll around the hotel's lake they come upon the body of a prominent local lawyer floating dead in the water. Suicide, natural causes or murder? Margaret has her own opinion and goes with it. At the same time Sam Easton is asked by his friend, Lenny, for help. Lenny helped a woman and her daughter escape from a cult. Soon enough the two cases start to merge and each chapter pulled me along with my saying just one more chapter, I can sleep later. The sign of a well written book. Both Margaret and Sam are well developed characters and I have promised myself I won't overlook any more books in this series.
My thanks to the publisher Minotaur and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Desolation Canyon is PJ Tracy’s second book in the series. In the first I really felt I became close to Sam and Melody. Sam’s PTSD and Melody’s strength drew me to the characters. Sam is just trying to put his life back together after being injured in war. He seems a little more put together this time around. Can’t say about Melody, I missed her this time around. Margaret the cop involved in the first book is also here.

I also missed Sam a little. He wasn’t in the book as much as I would have liked. None of the characters were. The story felt disjointed even as it came together. I feel like there were just too many characters, or that if there were this many characters to follow maybe it should have been longer. Margaret is more connected to the events in this story.

Aside from that, the cults and murders in this one are interesting enough and everything is brought together in the desert. To me the desert is one of the most haunting settings. All open and bright and empty. Even thought the plot depended on a lot of coincidences., it still had a satisfying conclusion.

Even though #desolationcanyon is the second in the Detective Margaret Nolan series I didn’t feel like I missed something and I am looking forward to more in the series. This procedural rolled along at a great pace and the setting came alive under P J Tracy’s writing. I couldn’t stop reading! There were enough twists and turns to keep me interested and I will look for the first in the series. Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for this copy to read and review.

I received this book as an ARC and this is my review. This story is loaded with twists and the characters are excellently flawed. Everyone has a hidden agenda and a different idea on how to move from here to there. I totally recommend this book to readers who enjoy psychological thrillers with interesting sub-plots.

This is the second book in the series with Margaret Nolan and just like the first one I was pulled in and never let go until the end. I enjoy reading about these characters and cannot wait to see what is going to happen with them next.

This is the second book in the series featuring LAPD Detective Maggie Nolan, her co-horts in her department, and Sam Easton, a young man suffering from PTSD and injury from his tour in Afghanistan. The book opens reminding us that in the first book Nolan had to kill someone in the line of duty, and is now suffering from her own PTSD and working her way back into police work after having taken some time off. Sam is also recovering from his involvement in the case where he met Nolan, and the death of his ex-wife as a victim. This book, much like the first book, manages to intertwine a few different things going on that while seemingly their own story, end up being connected. Nolan's family is dealing with the loss of her brother in Afghanistan, which has driven them apart, and her mother ends up going to a retreat to try to recover. Unknown to Nolan, her partner, Remy, is also looking into questionable activities at this retreat where convicts are employed through a prison work-release program with Father Paul, who is anything but a religious person. Meanwhile Sam is trying to help his friend, Lenny, who has disappeared with a young woman and her daughter who are running away from Father Paul, Russian mob members, connected to the desert retreat, are questioned over a dead body Nolan finds floating in a pool of water at an exclusive hotel, All of these stories come crashing together in another book that will keep you on your toes following the characters as they delve into the illegal things happening at this desert retreat, The Children of the Desert". The main characters of this series continue to develop their strengths and personal lives through the writings of P.J. Tracy, which will lead to more successful books in this series. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review this advance reader copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #NetGalley #DesolationCanyon

Desolation Canyon is the second book in the Detective Margaret Nolan series. Sam Easton, who was injured in Afghanistan and suffers from PTSD is also back. Just for the record, I have nothing against Margaret, but to me, Sam is my favorite character.
Margaret's mother is struggling to manage the death of her son in Afghanistan. Margaret isn't far behind her, but she has her job, a semblance of a relationship, and she is also trying to assist her friend Lenny. He is trying to help a mother and her daughter, who escaped from a posh desert retreat. Margaret needs to figure out what is really going on there, especially since her devastated mother is headed there to try and find some peace.
Sam becomes involved in an investigation of his own, and soon his path crosses with Margaret. Together, they make a formidable team, but Father Paul, the leader of the wellness retreat is hiding a lot of secrets under his pleasant persona. Both plots kept me engaged, and I made a lot of guesses trying to figure out how everything would come together.
You could read this as a standalone, but the first book, Deep Into the Dark, was particularly good and it will help you to understand a bit more about the main characters. I may have liked this one a little bit more, but I think that mostly ties into my becoming invested after reading the first book. That is one of my favorite things about a good series, seeing the characters grow.

Thanks so much to the publisher and netgalley for my review copies in exchange for an honest review. DESOLATION CANYON publishes TODAY!

I read the first book in this new seres from the author last year January, and I remember really enjoying it. I just reread the synopsis for it on Goodreads, and I gave it 4 stars. I do think you can read these books out of order tho. The crimes are different in each book, and some detail is given in book 2, so you won't be confused.

This book felt completely different that the first book. It has all the same main characters from the first book, but that's about it. I felt it was too busy - so many different plot lines going on, it was hard to keep track of who was who, and what each character was involved in. One of the plots involved Russian crime, thus, Russian names were used, which just added to the game of "who are you again? what are you involved in?" This really took away the enjoyment of the overall plot for me. By the last 100 pages, I didn't really care too much for the story anymore, I was just reading it to be able to finish the book. I also felt there wasn't any character development, especially with the two main characters (Nolan and Sam).

Overall, I was really disappointed with this second book. I really enjoyed the first book, and was excited for this one. I recommend just reading the first book of this series

LAPD Detective Margaret Nolan has some issues she needs to resolve. She has been struggling for a while. Her brother passed away overseas and she also shot someone in the line of duty. So, she has some unresolved issues that need to be addressed. But, when a prominent lawyer is discovered floating in water, it is presumed accidental. But, Margaret has a sense, a sixth sense or whatever, this is not what it looks like.

I enjoyed Margaret. She is smart and tough, even though she is damaged. I like flawed characters. They add so much to the story when they feel human to the reader. Then there is Sam Easton…another flawed character. These two pair up to discover what is actually happening in the desert…religious cult…or…well, read the book to find out!

This story is a bit slow in places and did not pull me in. I had big expectations though and that sometimes throws off the real aspects. It is a bit disjointed in places. But, a cult drama is always intriguing to me.

Need a novel set in the desert to warm you up this winter…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

The reason I fell in love with PJ Tracy's Monkeewrench series is the same reason I'm loving her Margaret Nolan series....she gives us strong, unique characters. She continues to develop Margaret and Sam, add in a good mystery and you have another excellent read from Ms. Tracy. Short chapters keep the action moving along at a good pace as well. This is the second book in this series and I'm looking forward to seeing where it goes.
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Amazing fast paced book. Thank you Minotaur Books and NetGalley for an ARC of an awesome book.
If you like action packed books with many twists and turns you will love Desolation Canyon as much as I did. PJ Tracy writes in such a way that her characters are well developed and make the book impossible or to put down.
Margaret Nolan lands in a case when she goes to have drinks with an old acquaintance, Remy Beaudreau.. This leads them to take a walk and notice strange actions with the Hotel Bel Air swans where they discover the body of a very successful lawyer with international connections. What looks straightforward is anything but and this off the story goes.
This books takes place in LA and in the Death Valley where the Children of the Desert spiritual retreat is located.
#MinatourBooks #Netgalley

LAPD Detective Margaret Nolan is central to the exciting plot in P.J. Tracy's second novel in this series. Nolan is grieving the recent loss of her beloved brother while he was serving in Afghanistan. Although she is worried about her parents and their response to their son's death, she has a murder to focus on. Nolan discovers a body floating in the lake of a swanky Bel-Air bar and the plot moves forward at a break neck pace. Connections to the Russian mob and a cult like leader are made and Tracy also focuses on a missing woman and her young daughter. Heroic war veteran Sam Easton and Detective Remy Beaudreau from Deep into the Dark are back in this story and their characters are developed even more than in the first novel. Desolation Canyon is difficult to put down. Hopefully we won't have to wait too long for the third installment in this series.

Desolation Canyon is a thriller/police procedural novel with some nasty characters. P.J. Tracy has managed to wrap the novel with killers, Russian Mafia, and a Cult with great characters in the police force. The balancing act of the great police work by Margaret Nolan and her squad with the freakish cult and the Russian Mafia keeps everyone on their toes.

I liked how the novel included Sam Easton in this book (He is from the first book in this series) and how once again he was able to help police discover what was happening. However, it was the struggle of Margaret Nolan between her parents, her job and her personal life that makes the book more emotionally relevant to the reader. She is balancing everything at a hard time and is concerned about her family, while trying to maintain a case that is exploding in leaps and bounds as well as twisting all over the place.

The timing of the plot was good, as were the various details (seemingly innocent) that were included. I read the book with anticipation wanting to know how all the strings were going to come together into one strong thread and I was not disappointed. Desolation Canyon was a good addition to the series about Detective Margaret Nolan.

Although I enjoyed the first book in this series, this book seemed a little disjointed with no clearly defined characters or introduction to the various storylines. An unknown woman finds the remains of bodies in a cave and Sam Easton, who was in the first book, is dealing with the death of his wife and his PTSD. Homicide Detective Margaret “Maggie” Nolan is recovering from her last case and the death of her military brother, Max, who died in Afghanistan. Her mother, instead of turning to Maggie & her father, seeks solace at a retreat, the Children of the Desert. Is the Children of the Desert a place of healing or a religious cult run by a madman? Meanwhile, Maggie begins a new investigation into the death of a lawyer. There just seemed to be too much happening without a smooth transition from case to case. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)

I received a free electronic ARC (Advanced Reader's Copy) of this Las Angeles police procedural from Netgalley, P. J. Tracy, and St. Martin's Press - Minotaur Books. I almost didn't ask to review this book as the blurb sounded pretty depressing. Then there is the cover, very desolate, and the title. But I have read Tracy before, and loved her style - and I am so glad I ask for it!

Desolation Canyon is the first of a new series by P.J. Tracy, so I'm in hog heaven. Our heroine Margaret Nolan is a LA homicide detective who just lost her brother in Afghanistan and has also just experienced her first personal on-the-job fatal shooting. The daughter of retired Colonel York Nolan, Margaret understood the unfortunate necessity of war casualties and the cost of enforcing the peace with a gun - or thought she understood, anyway. Not so.

Maggie hadn't considered that doing her job protecting the public would still bear the guilt and pain of taking a life experienced by every other conscientious killer. She takes her mandatory off-time to the gun range hoping for advice from friends there. Has lunch with her father, only to find out her grieving mother is going to a spiritual retreat in Death Valley and she must present a strong face for both father and mother. No help there. Meeting her best friend Remy for drinks at the Hotel Bel-Air doesn't help either, though they do encounter and visit with ex-homicide detective Malachai Dubnik, now a private PI re-investigating the disappearance of Remy's sister almost 10 years ago. The trail is very cold. Malachai's only hit on sister Charlotte's photo was from Mike, a "mentally compromised, possibly drug-fried cashier at the Furnace Creek service station... he also hears aliens on a regular basis." where Malachai gassed up when returning from an appointment with a friend of Charlotte's now living in Victorville. And then they find the body floating in the water while walking the paths between the hotel and Bel-Air's private cabins. Perhaps the diversion will help push the worries to the back of Maggie's mind. Or not...