Grace discovers that two recent murders are exact copies of
those in a game she’s designing – the prototype is already out there on the
web. And as the game has twenty
differing levels, that’s a total of twenty murders. The trouble is, she and her computer-whiz
team are also in the frame for the murders.
Her company was called Monkeewrench – which was the book’s title in the US
Somebody from their past seems to be putting a spanner in
their company’s works – but it’s something Grace and the team won’t talk
about. Whatever it was, now Grace never
goes anywhere without carrying a weapon, preferably two.
But the stars of the books are undoubtedly Leo Magozzi and
Gino Rolseth. The detectives’ banter and
slant on life make for some great laughs and also some sombre moments. The cops
are dedicated and cool and sound real; whether that’s Chief Malcherson (who
wears a suit to reflect the mood) or several essential patrolmen, they all have
a distinctive voice and attitude to life.
Grace’s team have aliases – Roadrunner, Harley Davidson and so on - and
according to traceable records they didn’t exist prior to ten years ago.
Somehow the Monkeewrench game copycat murders seem linked to
the death of an old couple in the church of a little Wisconsin
town. It needs patient detective work
and Grace’s computer wizardry to get to the bottom of the case – before the
deaths mount up into double figures. The
ending is fast-paced and poignant.
Due to her traumatic past, Grace hasn’t allowed anyone close
to her for over ten years. So Magozzi’s
relationship with her is tentative at best, but he can’t resist her. He too is one of the walking wounded, a
divorced cop.
Powerful writing when it comes to death and loss and
regrets.
There will be confusion about this book’s title and some other P.J. Tracy books.
The titles are:
Live Bait (2004)
Dead Run (2005)Snow Blind (2006)
Shoot to Thrill (UK title, Play to Kill) (2010)
Off the Grid (UK title, Two Evils) (2012)
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