5★“‘I met this really nice guy I could set you up with ...’‘Last time you set me up it didn't exactly work out.’Annie rolled her eyes. ‘Grace. You pulled your gun on him. He still won't talk to me.’”Grace had her reasons, Annie. She still has her reasons, which Annie is well aware of. Grace and Annie are two of the five people who make up Monkeewrench, a company that sells their computer game where players investigate and solve a murder in order to progress to the next level – the next murder -

The novel started off a bit confusing with 2 murders in 2 different states. An elderly couple is murdered in a church in Wisconsin. It turns out that they had quite a bit of money, but there isn't a single relative since this couple has been in hiding. Just when I was getting into that story, we are brought to Minneapolis where a serial killer is killing people based on an online game that hasn't been released to the public yet. The novel focuses more on the gaming murders and those that are wor...

After a long waiting period, I was nudged in the direction of this series, promised that it would be full of both excitement and strong writing. I was not disappointed and think I may have found a binge-worthy series to begin the summer months. The murder of an older couple as they pray in church has Wisconsin authorities baffled, with few leads and a police force scratching their heads. Meanwhile, in Minneapolis, Detectives Leo Magozzi and Gino Rolseth have a new case that has the entire Homici...

I will admit I was reluctant to read this book. It was a gift from a friend who said it was one of her favorites. It's just that title - Monkeewrench - seriously? and the cover art was a bit...dodgy. Yeah, I know, I know - don't judge a book yadda, yadda, yadda... But we all do it! The book has been sitting on my shelf. I have both read and TBR books on there and I like to "shop" for my next book - it's fun. I must have passed over this one a dozen times, but my gaze kept snagging on it and I pu...

This debut novel is based on a clever idea which is very well executed. Monkeewrench are a team of computer game developers who have just designed a new game called 'Serial Killer Detective' in which players get to play detective by having access to all the forensic clues and crime scene evidence for a series of 20 imaginative murders. The trouble is someone has copied the first two murders and reproduced the crime scenes exactly and the police must figure out who before too many more murders ar...

I'm going to give this one full marks for a story which held me engrossed from page 1 to page 421. I loved it and read it in practically one sitting. The story was good, it was clever and it delivered. The characters were well written and interacted well. There was humour and there was suspense. What more can you ask for in a good crime novel apart from a surprise at the end. Well I got that too because the killer was not who I expected:) All in all this was a top read for me and I cannot wait t...

I really liked it. A fast paced serial killing police procedural with some twists and turns.

Want To Play? (also titled Monkeewrench) is the first book in the best-selling Monkeewrench series by award-winning American mother-daughter writing duo, P J Tracy. At their office in Minneapolis, the owners of software firm Monkeewrench are almost ready to launch their new game, Serial Killer Detective (SKUD). Over five hundred gamers have been trying out the game on their test site, and advance sales are encouraging. They’re doing some final stage tweaking when they learn of a murder at Lakewo...

One of the advantages of belonging to a good book club, in addition to the camaraderie and the great food and booze every month, is that you occasionally wind up reading and enjoying very much a book that otherwise would have flown under your radar. And such is the case here.For a long time I've been vaguely aware of the mother-daughter writing team, P. J. Tracy, but for whatever reason, I'd never picked up one of their books. Then this month, one of my book clubs picked Monkeewrench, the first

Confession time— yes, I sometimes choose books by their cover despite what Lin-Manuel Miranda and the rest of the Mary Poppins Returns cast reminded us so charmingly in song. But in the case of Monkeewrench, it was a clear case of not liking the title (okay, the blood red cover art didn’t help). So whenever it passed my view, with a slightly wrinkled nose, I said, “No, thanks.”What an idiot I am. Bookworms, don’t be like me. Read the blurbs and believe the reviews. This was a strongly written my...

Almost did not read this one--I got it as a gift and the title sounded odd. Glad I did not make that mistake!!!It is a novel about a group of colorful characters who own a software development company called Monkeewrench. Branching out from their education software, the team is devising a new game--"Serial Killer Detective".It soon becomes obvious that a serial killer is mimicking all of the murders in the game--playing with real victims. The Minneapolis police are very skeptical and suspicious-...

The Monkeewrench is the first book in an older series, c. early 2000s. I read the latest crime fic from the author and loved it so I went back to see if the other series was any good and I actually liked this one better. The dialogue is fantastic, quick and sharp. There are a ton of characters and, at one point, I realized I was very confused regarding who was who, but it all smoothed itself out rather quickly. The plot and the twist of the story was unique and the ending was one I honestly didn...

A new computer game is out for beta testing. Serial Killer Detective is a new venture for Monkeewrench, a Minneapolis software company. The company has produced educational software for years and is attempting to expand into more adult video games. But a copy cat murderer starts killing people and posing the bodies just like the crime scenes depicted in the new game. The killer sends cryptic, threatening messages to the staff at Monkeewrench after each murder. Turns out the software nerds are hi...

As the first in a series, much of this book is spent introducing the various characters. What an assortment they are, too. It was fun, although slow going at times, getting to know them. I haven't looked at Book #2 yet and have no idea which characters will carry over. I'll let that be a surprise.In addition to the characters, two storylines are followed. One takes place in Calumet, Wisconsin and the other in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Two police departments investigate multiple murders. Also invol...

Read this book some years ago and totally loved it. I would like to say a huge thanks to Scott who just reminded me that I had read this book. I highly recommend it.

“Hiding is no fun unless someone is looking for you.”A friend recommended this book to me as a fun thriller, with some good characters. As I read the excellent opening chapter I knew that this text would elicit some smiles, and boast some good characterization. And for the most part, “Monkeewrench” held up to that promise.The novel has some interesting and thoughtful characterization. I especially liked the priest, Father Newberry. A minor role who opens the book, he has some very good scenes in...

So good! I want to start book two real soon!

What an absolutely phenomenal crime thriller that I could not stop listening to! At some point today one of my teenagers was talking to me and I was smiling and nodding. They looked confused until they realised I hadn't listened to a word they were saying because I was so absorbed in my audiobook and didn't want to stop it. Never fear, I paused the book after being reprimanded for my neglect and some quality parenting ensued. Then back to the book I went! What a gripping storyline and a cast of

This was a very entertaining book, with a good mix of mystery, police work, technology, and humor. If not for my GR friends, I don't think I ever would have come across this winner.I liked the people in the story, mostly, although some names were a bit unusual and it took me a while to remember who was who. The plot was tricky as nobody knows anything about the perpetrator, not even whether it was a male or a female. There were several murders happening, and at first, the first one, in Northern

It’s not bad, but I had some problems with it. It’s interesting enough to pass the time if you like murder mysteries.STORY BRIEF:Monkeewrench is the name of a software company that creates computer games. There are five partners. Ten years ago something happened that caused all of them to change their names, move to Minnesota, live in secured homes, and carry guns. Their new game, just released, is about a serial killer with twenty crime scenes. A real life serial killer has just killed two peop...